You're Christian, and want to teach your child about Judaism? Are you a Jewish kid but have a Christian friend who just doesn't get it? WikiHow can help you explain. Keep reading for detailed instructions.
Steps
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Tell your child that Judaism is the religion that believes in one God. They don't worship idols or people.
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Tell your child that Abraham became the first Jew by making a covenant with God.Advertisement
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Tell your child that both Jews and Christians are children of Abraham (as are Muslims and Baha'is).
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Tell you child that while Christians believe that Lord Jesus is the holiest person who ever lived, (because they also believe he is the son of God) Jews believe that Moses was their greatest prophet, because God gave the law to the Jewish people through him (however, Judaism is not centered on Moses in the same way Christianity is centered on Jesus Christ).
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Tell your child that Judaism was the religion that Jesus had belonged to, when he was on Earth.
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Tell your child that Jewish people worship the same god as Christians do, but do not believe the Messiah has come, like the Christians do.
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Tell your child that while Christians call the first part of the Holy Bible, The Old Testament, the Jews call it the Tanakh. Emphasize that it is the same book and that Christianity came from Judaism.
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Tell your child that while Christians worship on Sundays at church, Jews worship on Saturdays in a synagogue.
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Tell your child that while Christians eat whatever they want, Jews follow a special set of dietary laws called "kosher."
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Tell your child about parallel holidays or rituals between Christians and Jews. For example, Jews celebrate Hanukkah while Christians celebrate Christmas; Jews celebrate Passover, while Christians celebrate Easter, etc.
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Tell your child that while Christians have their babies Baptized, Jews have a baby naming ceremony for boys called a Brit Milah and naming ceremony for girls called a Zevad Bat.
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Tell your child that instead of Communion and Confirmation, Jewish boys have Upsherins and Bar Mitzvahs, while Jewish girls have first candle lighting ceremonies, and Bat Mitzvahs.Advertisement
Community Q&A
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QuestionDo Jewish people believe in Jesus being God's son?Community AnswerJewish people only believe that Jesus is God's son in the sense that we are all children of God. They do not believe that He is God's only begotten son, as Christians do.
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QuestionWhat does sunset mean to Judaism?Sam StanleyCommunity AnswerIt's the start of the next day. We use the lunar calendar, so days start at sunset.
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QuestionWhy do Christians worship God on Sunday, or where did they get that Sunday is the day of worship?TreeofHolzCommunity AnswerChristians worship on Sundays in celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
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Tips
- Encourage your child to have friends from the Jewish faith.Thanks
- After you teach your child about Judaism, you may want to tell them about other faiths as well.Thanks
- If you or your child still have questions on Judaism, make an appointment to speak with a rabbi at a local synagogue, temple or Jewish community center.Thanks
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Warnings
- Try to avoid summing up the differences between Judaism and Christianity by saying that a Jewish person is someone who doesn't believe in Jesus, because you may inadvertently cause your child to become bigoted towards their Jewish peers.Thanks
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