Cultural Religious Beliefs

Introduction

When trying to learn about a particular culture or religion, one often tends to ask themselves, “What does this group of people believe and value”? Jerry Looper (2006) defines values as, “deeply held beliefs about what is good, right, and appropriate. Values are deep-seated and remain constant over time. We accumulate our values from childhood based on teachings and observations of our parents, teachers, religious leaders, and other influential and powerful people”.

The Jewish religion is a monotheistic faith, meaning they only believe in one God. Pelaia (2010) states, “They also have the belief that Jews are uniquely connected with each other. Regardless of where we live in the world, all Jews are part of a global Jewish community”.

This projects a feeling that their communities have a unique respect for each other as well as themselves.

Aging

When reading the literature about Judaism and the Jewish culture, the Torah is mentioned frequently as a basis for teaching about life and death. Chabad.org quotes Rabbi Rebbe’s teaching, “Each additional year of life brings yield a wisdom which the most accomplished young prodigy cannot equal”. Aging in the Jewish community is a blessing which brings experience and wisdom that is to be respected by the younger generations. This seems to contrast the Western society’s views of aging as a liability.

The Torah teaches adolescents to respect old age as well as elderly citizens. In keeping with the Ten Commandments, the Jewish religions follows the commandment of “Honor thy mother and thy father” (Exodus 20:12) found written in the Talmud. It is interpreted to mean dignity at all costs towards your parents. Children of aging parents are to preserve their digni...

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...hat may be considered appropriate activities depend largely on the person in mourning. If one has, in the past, gone out to dinner and movie on a regular basis, resuming such activity would be reasonable. However, it would be inappropriate to begin activities of that type during this time.

References

Soul talk, the taharah, funeral and burial. (n.d.). Retrieved from

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/282505/jewish/Soul-Talk.htm

Pelaia, A. (n.d.). What Do jews beleive? Retrieved from

http://judaism.about.com/od/judaismbasics/a/whatdojewsbelieve

Klug, L.A. (n.d.). Jewish funeral customs: saying goodbye to a loved one. Retrieved from

http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?ID=937

Looper, J. (2006, August 10). What are Values? Retrieved from

http://personaldevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_are_values_