jewish religion?

Question

who do the jewish people pray to? I am doing a powerpoint presentation for school and I cannot find the name of their god. Also why is the star of david significant, and what does it stand for?

Answer 1

We pray to God. He has many names used throughout the Torah (what you would call the Five Books of Moses). Among them are Elohim, Adonai, Shalom etc. We never say the Teragamatton since
1) we don't know how to pronounce it (in the days of the Temple it was only pronounced once a year by the Kohen Gadol {High Priest} when he had been purified and was at a spiritual level higher than anybody else.
2) We are not at the necessary spiritual level to say it.

The Magen (Star or Shield, it can mean either) of David was the shape of the shield that King David used. The Midrash (homilectic stories and lessons on the Tanach- what you refer to as the Old Testament) states that King David great knowledge of the mystical world- and his shield protected him from the mystic powers of his enemy in battle. On a more mundane note- modern armourers point out that the shape makes for a far better, and stronger, shield than the plain round or square shields common in those days. It has been a popular image related to Judaism for millenia- being found on the ruins of synagogues from as far back as 2300 years ago.

Aside from its popular associatin to the Jews, and the midrashic explanation of it providing mystical protection to David in battle, it has no religious connotations in Judaism.

Answer 2

Jews worship the same God that Christians do, albeit differently. The Jewish faith has many names for God, and regularly just call Him God. Yahweh is another, (the source from which Christians get the word Jehovah). The star of David is significant because it represents the Jewish people. According to "The Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism", : "In southern Italy, a tombstone dating back to 300 CE (AD) was found with a six pointed star on it. In the year 1354, King Carl IV insisted that the Jews of Prague make a flag for themselves that would feature this six-pointed star, as well as the five-pointed star of King Solomon. The words Magen Dovid literally mean shilde of David. Some say that King David's personal seal was not a star, but rather a shepherd's staff and a bag. His son, King Solomon used a five-pointed star for his personal shield. The significance of the Magen Dovid, according to the Jewish mysticism of the Kabbalah, is that the number 6 represents the heavens and the earth and the four directions. That suggests the idea of God's Omniprensesnce. Interestingly, the words Magen Dovid in Hebrew are made up of six letters. The Magen Dovid also has twelve sides. David, as King, unified the twelve tribes. Later scholars such as Franz Rosenzweig, suggest that the top triangle strives upward toward God, while the lower triangle strives downward toward the real world. The interrwining makes the triangles inseparable and pictorially captures a major ideal of Judaism".

Sorry for the long quote, but I think it gives you your answer. Typically, the Jewish God is the same God- the God of Abraham- worshipped by virtually all monotheistic religions (at least the "big three"- Judaism, Christianity and Islam).

Answer 3

Yes - to praying.

Magen David is the name of the Star and is the shape of King David's shield. Now this is used much like a cross to many Christians as a symbol of religious affiliation.

God's name:
Exodus 3:
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Hebrew- אהיה אשר אהיה, pronounced Ehyeh asher ehyeh

All the others that get listed are titles or qualities of God Almighty.

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” (ESV)

In English YHWH is given modern definition JHVH and eoa from Elohim /Adonai.
bad - very bad transliteration/translation

"E'yah" is God Almighty.

Here is a link:

Answer 4

The Jewish people pray to the same God that Christians pray to the god of the Old testament which is the god of Abraham aka Yahweh or as Jews put it YHWH. The Star Of David is a symbol of Israel.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism

http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm

http://www.religioustolerance.org/judaism.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_of_David

Answer 5

"I AM" is supposedly what God told Moses to tell the Jewish people to call God. Not sure about the star of david. Could go back to the sybolisim for man and woman. But not sure.

Answer 6

Yes they pray

"I AM" or E'yah is God's name.

Exodus 3:
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

The Star of David began to be used in the 17th century to identify Jewish churches called synagogues.

The Star of David also called Magen David or the Shield of David is reputedly the shape of King David's shield.

Answer 7

God's name is not to be written, but most often is called Yahweh or Jehovah which are the same name - Hebrew does not specify vowels, so the same symbols can sound different to us who expect meaning in the vowel.
David was the greatest King of the Jews and his star (the interlocking triangles) became a symbol of them for good or bad.
(this is a vague Christian's version)