The History of Your People: An Abridged Version By Corey G. 14

Why? The tenth and eleventh grade Jewish History curricula cover content in great breadth and depth, leaving you with a lot of information to synthesize in the midst of your rigorous junior year To aid in your understanding of the progression of Jewish History, this presentation outlines the major eras and topics of study within Jewish History

Divisions of Presentation Review Tenth Grade Curriculum Preview Eleventh Grade Curriculum

Some Terms Acculturation Accommodation Assimilation Responses to Surrounding Culture Periodization Ancient Medieval Modern Post Modern

Why Are We Starting Here? We only have one source for the time leading up to this period: the Torah, the Five Books of Moshe This poses various challenges to our academic understanding of ancient Jewish history Benefits Challenges Starting point Preservation provides evidence Insight into cultural/social norms Religious information/Talmudic tradition Narrow window Lack of chronology Interpretation Contradicts archeology Theology book Emotional factor

Tenth Grade Curriculum The Divided Kingdoms and the Assyrians to Jews and the Birth of Islam

Identify this Primary Source Includes the first mention of Israel outside of the Tanakh, Haberew 1210 BCE This is the: Merneptah Stele http://mattakers.blogspot.com/2011/01/merneptah-stele.html

The Divided Kingdoms Israel had reached its zenith at the beginning of King Solomons rule; the Temple had been built The Israelites were divided in ancient Israel into twelve tribes which owned pieces separate of land Solomons reign had inherent difficulties He was the last king of the United Kingdom of Israel 922 BCE Solomons death 928 BCE Division of Kingdom

The Divided Kingdoms At the end of Solomons reign, the kingdoms split Northern Kingdom: Kingdom of Israel Southern Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah After invasions, attacks, and the division of the kingdoms, the Ten Tribes were exiled and assimilated among other peoples Beginning of diaspora Wikipedia

The Northern Kingdom and the Assyrians 738 BCE Assyrian King conquers a civilization by Canaan; deports the native population of dissenting thought and replaces these people with Assyrian loyalists (population transfer of the periphery) This weakens the chance of protests and rebellion, while diluting Israel 722 BCE Northern Kingdom conquered by King Sargon II of Assyria; upper class, women, and skilled workers deported The Assyrian imports and lower class Jewish remnants were called Samaritans Those deported either went to Judah or Assyria

The Southern Kingdom Deuteronomic reforms alter the practice of Judaism Personal responsibility Sole loyalty to God Central location for sacrifice Contrasts the pagan view of sacrifices Keeps Jews focused on Judaism and sacrifices halakhic Hezekiah, the ruler of Judah from 727 - 698 BCE, retains control despite the threat of the Assyrians in the Northern Kingdom

The Fall of the Southern Kingdom Babylonia replaces Assyria as the new world empire 597 BCE Jerusalem is captured, upper class is exiled (first exile) and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia puts in place a vassal king, Tzidkiyah 586 BCE Judah revolts and the Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians; Jerusalem emptied of Jews (second exile) 582 BCE Gedaliah, the new governor, revives Jerusalem economically, but is assassinated leading to the exile of the remaining Jews (third exile)

Destruction & Exile: Beginning of Jewish Life in the Diaspora Exiled Jews join emerging Jewish communities Leaders, exiled before the rest of the population, have set up these communities Diversified Jewish economy contributes to society Jews embrace personal responsibility when it comes to practicing their religion; they unite as they look toward the shared goal of a future in Israel

Destruction & Exile: Beginning of Jewish Life in the Diaspora 539 BCE Persia replaces Babylonia as the new world empire Book of Esther may have occurred during this time (no corroborating historical evidence) Cyrus presents a policy change; grants Jews permission to return to Israel, however most are comfortable and choose to remain in exile 516 BCE 70 years after Jeremiahs prophecy in 586 BCE, the Second Temple is built Jews were autonomous in the diaspora, yet secular rulers had connections to the Jewish communities and often enforced Jewish law (corporatism)

Destruction & Exile: Beginning of Jewish Life in the Diaspora Intermarriage first emerges as a problem in response to the enticing Persian culture The Jews of Elephantine assimilate yet remain connected to their Jewish roots; in their corporate community structure, they embrace aspects of outside culture yet remain connected to Israel from the diaspora

Hellenism 331 BCE Greece replaces Persia as the new world power; Alexander the Great conquers Greeks impose rule and culture, leading to hellenization Greek becomes the official language in much of the territory Greek intellectual culture is enticing (modern western world influenced by Graeco-Roman ideology) Gymnasium demonstrates assimilation; circumcision contradicts the cult of the body Seders demonstrate acculturation Jews must determine how much of Greek culture they will embrace

The Septuagint Translation of the Torah into Greek Completed in Alexandria, Egypt by 70 rabbis For Ptolemy IIs personal library (supposedly) Some Jews embraced the assimilation and the Greek culture/language while others believed that the Septuagint was terrible for Jewish tradition

Jews During the Greek Empire Life in Judea Greek rule with Jewish autonomy Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek were all spoken High priest collected taxes Great influence of Hellenism Life in the Diaspora Introduction of synagogues; new form of worship without temple Increasing Jewish populations; Jews concentrated in some areas

The Effect of Hellenism on Judea Factionalization of Jews Embrace Greeks and Hellenism Hellenizers Upper Class City dwellers Pious ones Hasidim Lower class Less urban

Judea Under Seleucid Rule 200 BCE Seleucids (Syrian Greeks) take control of Judea Jason purchases his position of high priest; Hellenization increasingly corrupts Jerusalem 175 BCE Antiochus IV Epiphanes takes power New priest, Menelaus, replaces Jason and steals Temple funds 168 BCE revolt is led by Jason, but it is crushed by Antiochus; greater Greek scrutiny and encroachment on autonomy; extreme outlawing of Jewish observance and practice

Maccabean Revolt Maccabean Revolt begins as a guerilla war For the first time, Jews fight on Shabbat They chose to break commandments, live, and win battles ( ) 166 BCE Mattathias is killed in battle Judah takes command and leads the revolt into Jerusalem Antiochus dies 164 BCE Maccabees win and retake the Temple Idols and pagan objects removed from the Temple; rededication Chanukah Story (rabbinic- miracle of oil, Book of Maccabees military, Josephus religious freedoms) 160 BCE death of Judah Maccabee in battle; Jonathan takes over; war with Greece NOT OVER

Beginning of the Hasmonean Dynasty 5-7 years after the Chanukah miracle the Greeks were defeated militarily Confluence of factors allow for independence for Judea and the birth of the Hasmonean Dynasty 1. Rome doesnt conquer but keeps Greeks in check through sphere of influence 2. Breakup of Seleucid Empire into warring factions 3. Maccabees (Judah, Jonathan) were especially strong leaders 4. Growing population continually growing army Through military victory and God said so Maccabean leaders established their legitimacy Establishing your legitimacy does not mean you are illegitimate! Mrs. Frank

The Hasmonean Dynasty 140 BCE - Simon becomes the founder of the Hasmonean dynasty Hellenization continues; building campaigns sweep Israel; coercive conversion campaign by Jews Hasmonean leadership breaks with the people of Judea when Alexander Yonai crucifies 800 Pharisees; corrupt Diaspora Jews remain connected to Judea Encouraged Cleopatra to protect Judea and not alienate Jews in Egypt 37 BCE - Civil war breaks out and Rome is invited in to keep order; end of Hasmonean Dynasty

Meanwhile Jewish Sectarianism Different views of Judaism and ways of accessing the Jewish establishment emerged From 2nd century BCE to 2nd century CE Why? Period of transition and upheaval in response to Hellenistic influences Urbanization leads to alienation Problematic nature of Hasmonean leadership

Meanwhile Jewish Sectarianism Small, voluntary frameworks with unique identities Urban, wealthy, educated people associated themselves with sects (Jerusalem society) All sects were equally passionate about Judaism Pharisees Progressive group of people Forerunner of rabbinic Judaism Saducees Connected to the priestly class Believed Pharisaic Judaism was wrong Essenes Emphasis on holiness Communitarian rules Zealots grew to capture the majority of the Jewish public opinion by the time of the Great Revolt

Dissatisfaction with Roman Rule 37 BCE - Herod ascended to the throne, hated by Jews (b/c he kills wife and opposition) but embraced by the secular population (building campaigns, strong leader) Puppet ruler for Rome which has seized power Rules until he dies in 4 CE Procurators reign after Herod; bought their positions and were often corrupt Dissatisfaction with Roman procurator rule led to increased Jewish zealotry

Meanwhile The Birth of Christianity During his lifetime, Jesus was a Jew 30 CE Jesus was crucified (Christians blame San Hedrin, however only Romans utilize capital punishment and Christ was dangerous to Roman rule) A Jewish sect, Christianity, emerges with innovations like baptism, proselytizing, and Graeco-Roman influences Paul (5-67 CE) was the founder of normative Christianity, a separate religion; innovations including Acceptance by pagans and gentiles Freedom from Jewish law The New Covenant: God has rejected the Jews and chosen the Christians New theology of God: the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Meanwhile The Birth of Christianity Religions of the Roman Empire In 30 CE Normative Christianity grew quickly; it attracted many because Baptism and faith were the only requirements Jewish Pagan Christian Balanced between the more sophisticated monotheism and the generally accepted paganism 30 CE first pope, St. Peter, becomes spiritual head of the religion

The Revolt Against Rome 66-73 CE: Great Revolt 68 CE: Destruction of Qumran 70 CE: Temple Destroyed Proximate cause: Flavius, the emperor, disrespected Jewish sensibilities and a priest refused to offer a sacrifice on his behalf Zealots supported the revolt while the Pharisees were split After the revolt: 73 CE: Masada Captured Jewish rule of Israel is over until 1948 Accommodation is the only way for Judaism to survive

A Departure from Temple Based Judaism Mourning for the Temple must be permanent, but not constant Pharisees gain power as rabbis become the prime leadership Judaism can no longer rely on the Temple Shift to only synagogues portable Judaism

Dissatisfaction with Roman Rule 132-135 CE Bar Kochba Revolt Causes: Hadrians rule was oppressive and the Jews situation led to a messianic fervor Impact: the Jews managed to hold off the Romans for a while and achieved some autonomy Ultimately the revolt failed

Advances in Rabbinic Literature 220 CE Mishnah codified by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasih He aimed to make a framework, not a complete, definitive code, for Jews in the diaspora and for future generations

The Early Church and the Jews Early Fourth Century CE Rome adopts Christianity and Constantine moves the capital to Constantinople Constantine kept Judaism a religio licita (permitted) as Jews are needed for the Doctrine of the Witness Evidence of Christian superiority Witnesses to the Bible and Jesus Vulgate is a Latin translation of the Bible to further marginalize the Jews 361-363 CE Julian the Apostle rejects Christianity and wishes to return to paganism; strengthens the Jews to weaken Christianity; perishes in a fire

Meanwhile Developments in the 5th Century Fifth century CE Midrash put together; very important for diaspora Jewry as it contributed to Oral Law and clarified aspects of Written Law Midrash Aggadah: narrative expansions Midrash Halacha: laws and legal notes 475-476 CE Germanic tribes and other eastern invaders bring an end to the Roman Empire

Jews and the Birth of Islam Mohammed (572-632 CE) was born in Mecca; he preaches monotheism Mohammed taught that the Torah is distorted Islam descends from Ishmael instead of Yitzchak Judaism and Islam share a similar calendar, law code, and are both strictly monotheistic

Jews and the Birth of Islam Mohammed tries to convert Jews in Mecca to Islam, prompting some to convert and others to leave Major conflicts between religions even though Judaism aligns closer to Islam than Christianity Torah corrupted? Land conflict 632 CE Mohammed dies 638 CE Palestine becomes a Muslim territory 750 CE Muslim empire expands from Persia to Spain

Jews Under the Islamic Empire Some Jews in Babylonia after the first exile (these Jews created the Babylonian Talmud) A handful of Jews were in Rome and would later settle in Europe Majority of Jews are under Muslim rule Pact of Umar ensures minorities like Jews and Christians safety and protection but requires that they stay separate and quiet about their religions Dhimmi status allows Jews to preserve their religion safely but assigns Jews second class status

Eleventh Grade Curriculum Medieval Christendom to American Jewish History

Jews in Medieval Christendom 10401105 Rashi, and French rabbi, lived and contributed greatly to commentaries Jewish life precarious under charters; life at the whim of the current ruler Two periods of anti-Semitism in medieval Jewish history Up to 13th century (Jews widely tolerated this) 13th to 15th centuries (increasing due to political, economic, ecological stress) Blood libels targeted Jews Accusations of host desecration Expulsion

Jews in Medieval Christendom Christians saw Jews as a necessary witness (Doctrine of the Witness) of Gods New Covenant with the Christians Jewish autonomy: Jews lived in a corporate unit while struggling with rabbinic authority Dont tell them because they may come to do wrong acts on purpose instead of by accident authority was weak Cultural cross pollination between Jews and Christians 1290-1492 All of Western Europe [with the exception of Italy] expelled Jews

Expulsions Sparked Jewish Migration Jews fled Central and Western Europe Arrived in the Polish-Lithuanian Empire Arrived in the Ottoman Empire

Jews in the Polish-Lithuanian Empire Conditions deteriorated in Southern and Western Europe; after expulsion many fled to Poland Polish nobles invited them to manage their estates Jews had strong legal status in Poland; less precarious life Jewish life flourished and Jews had autonomy Yiddish remained the predominant language Minimal integration Council of Four Lands representative communal organization 1648-1649 Chimielnicki massacres leads to the murder of of the Jewish population in Poland Peasant uprising targeting nobles

Meanwhile Jews Flee to the Ottoman Empire In Spain 1391 Pogrom like attacks on Jews, sometimes forcing Jews to convert 1478 Spanish Inquisition targets New Christians (Jews who converted insincerely) 1492 Alhambra Decree expels Jews from Spain; most go to Portugal In Portugal 1497 Jews face forced coversion 1506 Conversos flee to the Ottoman Empire

Meanwhile Jews in the Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, and Islamic Empire, historically had good associations with the Jews Jewish communities left to themselves Similar status to dhimmi Great commercial freedom; religious autonomy Kabbalah emerges Shabbetai Tzvi false messiah of the period; clear that he is false when he dies

Era of Mercantilism 16th century early 18th century Mercantilism the state exists to make money Jews start to return to countries from which they were expelled Jews create successful communities with some former conversos and some Ashkenazim; very close knit and not integrated with other communities; only economically integrated Relationship with State is good; see Jews as useful and doesnt expel them any more; corporate community structure

The Birth of Chassidism 1700-1760, in Poland BeSHT, a mystical healer with revolutionary ideas, emerges in Poland and begins the Chassidic movement Maggid of Mezrich, the BeSHTs student, sent out disciples to attract people to Chassidism Emphasis on prayer, joy, kindness toward fellow Jews, kavanah (intent with mitzvot), the centrality of the rebbe, etc. After 1760, Mitnagdim emerge in opposition to Chassidism; they felt that Chassidism was anti-intellectual and anti-halakhic

Haskalah: The Jewish Enlightenment Transition between mercantilist ideas (Jews are useful) to Enlightenment ideas (Jews are human and have some intrinsic value) Early 18th mid 19th centuries Only affected Germany and only spread among the elite and well educated Yiddish was not accepted; only German and Hebrew Later movement spreads Jewish enlightenment thought to Eastern Europe in a different form Yiddish is adopted as Jews prefer it to Russian and Hebrew is a dead language

Moses Mendelssohn Father of the Jewish enlightenment Encourages Jews to modernize: Speak the vernacular (German) Have secular educations Join accepted trades Be better, more loyal, more integrated citizens of their states Declared that states had to be more accepting of Jews in return (tolerance, humanism)

Meanwhile Colonial Jewry 1654-1820 1654 Recife 23; 23 Jews come to the British North American colonies 1776 2000 Jews in the United States High assimilation, low observance, pockets/communities Primarily Sephardic

First Period of Emancipation 1750-1789 Pre-emancipatory period Affected by Enlightenment ideas French Revolution occurs during this time Rational humanitarianism is a belief that it is useful for a society to enfranchise its members to create a productive society; this led to emancipation

Second Period of Emancipation 1789-1871 Emancipatory period Started with France and ended with Germany Non-Jewish enlightened thinkers are reluctant to extend rights despite enlightenment thought

Emancipation in France 1790 - Sephardim (seemingly more sophisticated) are emancipated before Ashkenazim 1791 - Berr Isaac Berr wrote A Letter to my Fellow Citizens telling the Ashkenazim of Alsace Lorraine how to integrate to make the French like them; actually targeted the French 1806 Napoleon convenes the Assembly of Jewish Notables to answer 12 questions on behalf of the Jewish community; sends a message to Napoleon, the French, the Jewish people, and the world 1807 Napoleon convenes the Sanhedrin to ratify the Assemblys answers, setting a standard for the international Jewish community and yielding more control to Napoleon

Emancipation in Germany To attain emancipation, Jews had to become cultural Germans Religious reform Aesthetic organs, vernacular sermons Ideological temples, removing Hebrew, Temple references, sacrifice references, abandoning ritual halakha 1818 first Reform Temple: Hamburg Temple

Neo-Orthodoxy: A Reaction to Reform in Germany In Germany, Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch (1808-1888) led this new movement in response to Reforms declaration that ritual law was no longer binding Encouraged aesthetic reform and secular education Did not encourage getting rid of messianism, abandoning Israel, removing Hebrew

Incarceration in Russia 1796 Catherine creates the Pale of Settlement to avoid integration with the Jews; here the Jews are forced to lived 1827 cantonism, a policy of forced conscription for Jews in the French army, led to many conversions and young Jews dying Crown schools were created by the czars to appear as Jewish day school but actually encourage assimilation and conversion Jews were not welcome to integrate; did not want to integrate; were too big of an impoverished population Led to the formation of political movements like socialism, nationalism, and Eastern European Zionism (1870s)

Third Period of Emancipation 1871-1945 Backlash period Jews integrated but still not liked Resurgence of anti-Semitism in this period 1881, Poland Alexander II assassinated and rumors blame Jews, leading to pogroms prompts a massive migration of Eastern European Jews west to the US and Palestine from 1881-1924 1894 Dreyfus Affair: French Jewish soldier unfairly convicted of treason Inspires Herzel to push for a Jewish state because assimilation is not working

Meanwhile German Migration 1820-1880 Population increases from 5,000 to 250,000 60% German, 40% Eastern European First rabbi, rabbinical school (Hebrew Union College) Minimal rabbinic authority

Meanwhile Eastern European Migration 1880-1924 Population increases from 250,000 to 5.5 million Quota Act restricts vast waves of immigrants Yiddish emerges in the US 1902 JTS founded 1916 YU founded

Emancipation Turns to AntiSemitism Turns to Nazism 1902 Protocols of the Elders of Zion: created by the Russian secret police; a fake account of Jews planning to take over the world 1911 Bellis Affair: Jews is accused of ritually murdering a Christian boy Western Europe Eastern Europe Created advocacy organizations for Jews in trouble Lots of political activity Socialists Zionists Anarchists Emigration in mass numbers Sent monetary aid to E.E. Jews Wary that E.E. Jews status would jeopardize their status in Western civilization

World War I August 1, 1914 November 11, 1918 1.5 million Jews in armies across Europe Jews excited for war effort; excited to show loyalty to countries

The Holocaust 1933 Hitler comes to power without being elected by a majority; overstepped his authority November 9-10, 1938 Kristallnacht; The Night of the Broken Glass September 21, 1939 Heydrich Order calls for Jews to become concentrated in areas near railroads for the purpose of deportation The Holocaust begins in 1939 1941-1942 The term final solution is used as extermination is decided upon 1945 The Holocaust ends after 6 million Jews have perished

Meanwhile Interwar & WWII Years 1924-1945 Jewish community nervous by the tumult across seas In the US, Jews remain reasonably comfortable and safe

The End Until the twelfth grade curriculum: Zionism & Israel