wr_ch11notes

8/9/2019 wr_ch11notes

1/15

CHAPTER ELEVEN: JUDAISM

Chapter Outline and Unit Summaries

I.

Introduction

A. The Challenge of Defining JudaismB. The Religion of Judaism Generally Unified by Belief in One God who

Acts in Human Affairs and Chose the Jewish People as Agents

II. Biblical PatriarchsA. God Promises Abraham He Will Have Descendants and They will

Gods Special People with their Own Land

B. Abrahams Son Isaac, Grandson Jacob, and Twelve Great-GrandsonsBecome the Fathers of the Hebrew People

C. Hebrew Patriarchal Religion1. Worshipped One God, Often Referred to as El2. God Worshipped by Burning Animal Sacrifices in the Open

Air; Temple Worship Comes Much Later

3. Basic Animistic Tendencies in Patriarchs Worship4. Patriarchs Circumcised Males as Sign of Covenant with

Abraham (although circumcision not unique to Hebrews)

5. Patriarchs Kept a Sabbath DayIII.Exodus

A. Abraham Promised Homeland (Canaan) by God, but DescendantsBecome Slaves in Egypt

B. Story of Liberation from Slavery and Journey Out of Egypt (Exodus)are Heart and Soul of Judaism

1. God, Calling Self YHWH, Asks Renegade Murderer Mosesto Lead Hebrews Out of Egypt by Speaking to Him through a

Burning Bush


2/15

2. Ten Miraculous Plagues Afflict Egypt before the King(Pharoah) Agrees to Release Hebrew Slaves to Moses

3. Pharoah Pursues Runaway Hebrews While Cross the Red (orReed) Sea, Which Opened Miraculously for Them and

Closed Again to Drown the Egyptian Army

IV.Sinai and the LawA. YHWH Gives the Law to Moses on Mount SinaiB. The Ten Commandments and the Renewal of the Covenant with

Abraham

C. The Formation of Mosaic Law During Forty Year Journey in Deserton the Way to Canaan becomes Basis for the Pentateuch (First Five

Books of the Hebrew Scriptures)

V. Post-Sinai Religious InstitutionsA. The Ark of the Covenant

1. Box Carrying Relics of Exodus and Commandments2. Eventually Placed in Solomons Temple3. Likely Destroyed with Temple by Baylonians in 586 B.C.E.

B. The Tent of MeetingC. Hebrews Invade and Conquer Land East of Jordan River, and Under

Joshua Invade and Gradually Conquer / Displace Canaanite Peoples

VI.Religion in the Time of the Hebrew MonarchyA. David, the First Effective King of the Hebrews

1. Captures Jerusalem and Makes it Capital2. David Develops Israel into Powerful and Wealthy Nation

B. The Temple1. Davids Son Solomon Builds Temple in Jerusalem2. Design for Temple Similar to Canaanite Baalim Temples


3/15

3. Class of Priests Practice Animal Sacrifice in Temple4. Possibly Sacred Dancing Before Ark a form of Worship

C. The Prophetic Movement1. Prophets as Ecstatic Visionaries with Healing Powers2. The Royal Prophets: The Religious Advisors to the King3. Some Prophets Denounced Wickedness Among the People

and the Kings

4. Four Classical Jewish Prophets of the Eighth Century B.C.EDenounce Social Injustice and Call for Fidelity to Covenant

a.

Amosb. Hoseac. Isaiahd. Jeremiah

5. Classical Prophets Warn that YHWH Will Reject the ChosenPeople and Take Away their Land if They Do Not Repent

D. Civil War After Solomons Reign Divides Nation into Two Countries:Israel in the North and Judah in the South

E. People of Israel Erased Forever from History by Assyrian Invaders in722 B.C.E.

VII. Exile and ReturnA. Babylonian Empire Invades Judah (586 B.C.E.) Exiles People

1. While in Exile the Judeans Encounter Zoroastrianism2. Prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah Teach that YHWH is God of All

People in All Lands, Not a Geographically Limited Deity

3. Cyrus the Persian Liberate Judeans from ExileB. The Priest Ezra (428 B.C.E.) Reforms Judaism After Exile, Begins

Process of Forming Hebrew Scriptures

C. Second Temple Built in Jerusalem Sixth Century B.C.E., Lasts Until70 C.E.


4/15

VIII. DiasporaA. Diaspora: Scattering of Jews All Around World

1. Diaspora Both Voluntary and Forced2. Large Jewish Community in Alexandria Compels Jews to

Translate Hebrew Scriptures into Greek (the Septuagint)

B. Synagogue1. From GreekSynagogue, Assembly2. Offers Jews outside Jerusalem Opportunity to Pray and

Worship Together

3.

The Rabbi (literally my master) Emerges as Teacher andLeader

a. How Does One Apply Laws Written Nomadic andAgricultural People to Jews in the Iron Age?

b. Rabbis Sought Hermeneutical Principles forApplying Gods Law in Torah to the People

c. Debates Between Rabbinical Schools Arised. Rabbis Guide Jews in Diaspora Seeking to Live

Differently than Non-Jew (Gentile) Neighbors

C. Diaspora Jews and Hope for Coming Messiah to Defeat the Enemiesof Jews and Re-establish the Davidic Monarchy

1. Some Jews Consider the Messiah a Political Figure2. Some Jews Consider the Messiah a Military Figure3. Some Jews Consider the Messiah a Spiritual Figure

D. Jewish / Zealot Uprising of 66 C.E.1. Violent Revolution Against Roman Rule of Palestine

Smashed by Roman Military in 68 C.E.

2. Romans Besiege Jerusalem 70 C.E., Destroy Temple3. Rabbis Meet in Yabneh to Discuss Future of Judaism, Decide

on an Official List of Books in Jewish Scriptures; AffirmFive Books of Torah, Prophetic Books


5/15

E. The Mishnah1. Jewish Rabbinical Leadership Moves Center of Discussion to

Galilee Region in Second Century

2. Judah ha-Nasi Brings Together All Jewish LegalCommentary and Disputes Since Days of Ezra in the

Mishnah (Repetition)

3. The Mishnah Illustrates Dilemma of Being Jewish without aJewish Nation or Temple

4. The Mishnah Redefines Judaism as Religion of the Lawa. Secondary Level of Laws Added so that Keeping

them Will Prevent Violating Primary Law (Torah)b. The Mishnah Adds Detail and Specifics to theTorah in order to Guide Religious Practice to theTrue, Deeper Meaning of the Torah

F. The Talmud1. After Compilation of the Mishnah Center of Jewish Life and

Learning Moves to Babylon

a. Zoroastrians in Babylon Accepted Jews, WhoProspered There

b. Constantines Granting Official Status toChristianity in Roman Empire Made Life Difficult

for Jewsc. Jewish-Christian Tensions Drive Many Jews to

Zoroastrian Babylon

2. The Gemara Offers Additional Commentary on JewishMishnah and Torah, Plus Commentary on all Areas of Jewish

Life

3. When Gemara Added to Mishnah the Result is the Talmuda. Palestinian TalmudCompleted in 425 C.E.b. Babylonian TalmudCompleted in 500 C.E.c. Babylonian TalmudThree Times as Large as

Palestinian Talmud(2.5 million words)


6/15

4. Talmud ContainsHalachah andHaggadaha. Halachah (the proper way): Legal Material,

Debates, Decisions

b. Haggadah (tale, narrative): History, Folklore,Sermonsc. 30 Percent of Babylonian TalmudisHaggadah

5. Jewish Scholars Form Academies for Study ofTalmuda. Talmud Scholars Who Ran Academies Known as

Gaon

b. Period from 600-1000 C.E. Known as GaonicPeriod

c. Saadiah ben Joseph (882-942 C.E.) Last GreatGaon

d.

Karaite Rebellion Against Authority ofTalmud,Appeal for Return to Pure Biblical Law

IX.Medieval JudaismA. Judaism and Islam

1. Jews in Babylon, Palestine, Egypt, Turkey, North Africa,Spain Come Under Islamic Rule in Seventh and Early EighthCenturies C.E.

2. Jews Suffer Sporadic Periods of Persecution Under Muslimsa. Jews and Muslims Live in Relative Harmony and

Intellectual Cooperation Under Abbasid Dynasty,Baghdad Becomes Center of Jewish Religious

Authorityb. Persecution Begins in 847 B.C.E.c. Internal Strife Afflicts Judaism asExilarchs and

Karaites Challenge Academic Heads, Goanim

d. Jewish Religious and Intellectual Leadership Movesto Spain

B. Judaism in Spain1. Jewish Presence in Spain Dates to First Century C.E.2. Jews in Spain Persecuted By Christianity: Forced to Convert

or Be Expelled; Law Unevenly Enforced


7/15

3. Muslim Conquest of Spain in 711 C.E., Begin Golden Age ofFreedom and Tolerance for Jews

4. Many Leading Jewish Intellectuals Emerge from Spaina.

Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides) 1135-1204)Excelled as Physician, Talmud Scholar, Philosophy

b. Maimonides Guide to the PerplexedEndeavors toSynthesize Aristotles Philosophy and Judaism

5. Muslim Rule of Spain Declines in Thirteenth Century, andResurgent Christians Persecute Spanish Jews

a. Forced Conversions to Christianity Common, ButMany Conversos Secretly Practice Judaism

b. Thousands of Jews Massacred in 1391 C.E.c.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella Expel Jewsfrom Spain in 1492 C.E.

d. Jews Flee to Portugal, Italy, Morocco, Balkans,Turkey

C. Judaism in Other European Nations1. After Babylon and Spain, No Clear Center of Jewish Life2. Jews Settle in Many Places in Christian Europe and Muslim

Countries

D. The Crusades1. Crusades Begun in 1096 by Pope Innocent II2. Crusaders Undertake both Attacks on Muslim Countries in

Middle East but also Widespread Attacks on Jews in Europe3. By 1286 Many Jews Fled to Poland and/or Muslim Lands

E. TheKabbalah1. TheKabbalah (literally: tradition) Collects Esoteric Jewish

Writings on Angels, Demons, Magical Incantations, Charms,Witches, Ghouls, Interpretations of Dreams, Date of the

Messiahs Coming

2. Process of CompilingKabbalah Began in Babylon Between500 and 900 C.E., Produces the Sefer Yetzrich (Book of

Creation)


8/15

3. The Sefer Hazohar(Book of Splendor), or theZoharLikelyComposed by Spanish Mystical Jew, Moses de Leon

1. TheZoharBecomes More Popular with MedievalJews than Talmud

2.

TheZoharMixes Theology, Cosmogony,Discussions of Angels, Evil, and Far-FetchedNumerological Analyses of Scripture

4. Kabbalistic Group of Spanish Exiles forms in Galilee UnderDirection of Isaac Luria (1534-1572)

5. Worldwide Judaism Under Persecution and Expulsion fromMany Christian Countries Find Solace inKabbalahs

Mysticism, Found in it Hope for a Coming Messiah

X.

Judaism and the Modern World

A. By End of Fifteenth Century Jews Expelled or Made Unwelcome inNearly Every European Country

B. Jews Begin to Find New Home in Eastern Europe1. By End of Sixteenth Century a Half Million Jews in Poland2. Many Jews in Poland Work as Tax Collectors and Landlords3. In 1648 C.E. Peasant Rebellion in Poland Leads to Pogroms

Against Jews, Who Were Identified with Nobility

4. 1648-1656 C.E. 300-500 Thousand Polish Jews KilledC. Protestant Reformation Negative Impacts Jews

1. Luther Made Fierce Anti-Jewish Statements2. Catholic Counter-Reformation Develops an Inquisition

System that Persecutes Jews

D. The Ghetto System Develops to Segregate Jews in One Section ofEuropean Cities

1. Jews Live Under Curfew and Many Restrictions2. Fourth Lateran Council (1215) of Catholic Church Decrees

that Jews Must Wear Yellow Badges


9/15

XI.Responses to ModernityA. Shabbatai Zevi

1.

Seventeenth Century C.E. Charismatic Figure Who Claimedto be the Messiah, Raising Hopes of Jews Worldwide

2. Entered Turkey in 1665 C.E., Arrested and Given Choice:Convert to Islam or Die

3. Zevi Converts to Islam, Disappoints World JewsB. Moses Mendelssohn (b. 1729)

1. German Eighteenth Century Jew Who Won Respect as Poetand Philosopher Among German Intellectuals

2. Befriends Lessing, Possibly Subject ofNathan the Wise3. Encouraged Jews to Leave Ghettoes, Enter Modern World,

Speak German Rather than Yiddish

C. Baal Shem Tov (1699-1760 C.E.)1. Israel ben Eleizer Preaches God Found Not in Scholarly

Research on Bible or Talmud, but in Simple Heartfelt Faith

2. Renamed Baal Shem Tov (master of the good name)3. Followers, Known as the Hasidim, Centered in Eastern

Europe

4. Hasidim Meet Opposition from Orthodox Rabbisa. Contrary to Mendlssohn, Baal Shem Tov Teaches

Jews to Shun Modern World, Live Own TraditionFaithfully in Own Jewish Enclaves

b. Hasidim More Interested in Mystical-KabbalahTradition Than Orthodox Rabbis

D. Reform Judaism1. Prohibitions Against Jews Ending After French Revolution,

Jews Entering Mainstream European Life


10/15

2. Many Modern Jews Seek to Reform Judaism to Update it andMake it Easier for Jews to Live as Mainstream Europeans

3. German Jewish Leaders in 1843 Teach Basics of ReformJudaism

a. There Is a Continuation in Development of Judaismb. The TalmudHas No Authority For Modern Jewsc. Jews Seek No Messiah, and Know No Homeland

But the Land of Their Birth

4. Vernacular Displaces Hebrew in Reform Jewish Worship andKosher Food Laws Relaxed

5. Eastern European and Russian Jews Did not Reform, FacedSerious Persecution by their Governments, Many Flee

E. Zionism1. Latent European Anti-Judaism Resurfaces in Dreyfus Case

a. 1894 French Captain Alfred Dreyfus Accused ofBetraying French Military Secrets During Franco-Prussian War

b. Anti-Jewish Hysteria Grips Francec. Dreyfus Convicted on Weak Evidence, Later

Declared to be Erroneous Evidence

2. Jewish Reporter Theodore Herzl Covered Dreyfus Case3. Herzl and Others Decide that Despite Liberal-Tolerant

Faade Jews will Never be Treated Fairly in Europe, Must

Seek Own Homeland

a. Zionist Movement Centered on Herzls IdeasEmerges, Settles on Palestine as Best Site

b. Early 1900s C.E. Jews Begin Buying and SettlingLand in Palestine

c. 1909 City of Tel Aviv Foundedd. By 1920 50,000 Jews Living in Palestinee. By 1928 100,000 Jews Living in Palestinef. By 1931 175,000 Jews Living in Palestineg. By 1933 220,000 Jews Living in Palestine


11/15

4. British Balfour Declaration of 1917 Sows Seeds of FutureMiddle East Wars

a. British Govern Palestine Early Twentieth Centuryb. Balfour Declares Britian views with favor the the

establishment in Palestine of a national home for theJewish peoplec. Arab Muslims and Christians in Palestine Object to

Jewish Occupation of Their Land and Homesd. British Seek to Limit Jewish Emigration to

Palestine to 15,000 Per Year in 1939 as ManyEuropean Jews Seeking Escape from Hitler

F. The Holocaust1. Background Facts

a. Nazi Germanys Nuremberg Laws of 1935 ReduceJews to Second Class Citizens in Europe

b. Nazi Military Moves Across Europe, ReestablishesGhettos and Segregates Jews

c. Thousands of Jews Arrested and Deported toPoland and Eastern Europe to work as Slaves

d. 1941 Nazi Government of Germany Designs FinalSolution of Jewish Problem: Systematic MassExecution of at Least Six Million Jews

2. Possible Causesa. German Racismb. German Troubles Following WWIc. Nazi Madnessd. Modern Efficiencye. The Silence of the Rest of the World

3. Profound Lasting Impact on Judaisma. World Jewish Population Reduced by One-Thirdb. Zionism Given a New Moral Imperative among

Some Jewish and Non-Jewish Thinkers

c. Jewish Theology Undergoes CrisisG. The State of Israel

1. 1947 United Nations Partitions Palestine into Jewish andArab States


12/15

2. British Leave Palestine in May 1948, Israel ProclaimsStatehood

3. Israel Attacked by Five Arab States but Survives4.

Palestinian Refugees Flee, Live in Squalid Camps forDecades

5. 1967 and 1973 Arab Nations Attack Israel, Lose More Landto Israeli Military Advances, Including Old City in Jerusalem

H. Current Variations in Judaism1. Currently 14,117,000 Jews in World, with 1.8 Million in

New York City AloneLargest Concentration in the World

2.

Orthodox

a. Largest Group, Seeks to Preserve TraditionalJewish Culture and Religion and Resist the

Secularizing Elements of Modernityb. Follow Biblical and Talmudic Law, Favor Hebrew

as Language of Worshipc. Tends to Segregate Genders in Worship

3. Reforma. Centered in United States and Western Europeb. Emphasizes Univeralsity of Traditional Jewish

Values, Interfaith Dialogue, and Social Activism

c. Values Modernity, Seeks Perpetual Updating of theAncient Faith

d. Prefers Vernacular to Hebrew in Worshipe. Does Not Segregate Genders in Worship; Ordain

Woman as Rabbis

4. Conservativea. Arises in Nineteenth Century C.E. Under

Leadership of Sabata Morais as Reaction Against

Extremes of Orthodox and Reformb. Intellectual Center in Jewish Theological Seminary

of American in New York Cityc. Grounded in Rabbinic Tradition but More Relaxed

than Orthodox


13/15

d. More Interested in Scientific Study of the Bible thanthe Orthodox

e. Prefers Vernacular to Hebrew in Worship5. Reconstructionist Judaism

a. Grows Out of Conservative Judaism UnderLeadership of Mordecai M. Kaplan

b. Judaism is More than a ReligionIt is a Culturethat Must be Lived as a Whole

c. Strongly Support the State of Israel6. Fundamentalist Sectarian Judaism

a. Hostile to Non-Jewsb. Many Active in Israels Settlement Movementc.

Missionary Action Directed to Non-Observant Jews

XII. Jewish Festivals and Holy DaysA. Sabbath (Shabbat)

1. Most Important Holy Day2. Begins Friday at Sundown, Ends Saturday at Sundown

B. Passover (Pesach)1. Commemorates the Exodus from Egypt Under Moses when

Angel of Death Passed Over Jewish Homes and Killed on

Egyptians (first born sons)

2. Celebrated with Seder Meal in March-AprilC. The Feast of Weeks (Shavuot)

1. Celebration of Weeks Fifty Days after Passover (May-June)2. Commemorates Giving of the Law to Moses on Sinai

D.New Year (Rosh Hashanah)1. Celebrated in September-October Commemorating First

Days of Creation

2. Season Begins with Period of Penitence


14/15

E. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)1. Follows Rosh Hashanahs Period of Penitence2.

Day of Abstinence from Work, Food, and Drink

3. Spend Day in Synagogue Praying for Forgiveness of Sins andReconciliation

F. The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot)1. Five Days After Yom Kippur2. Originally Autumn Harvest Festival, Later Attached to

Exodus Memorial

3. Commemorates Wandering in Desert Living in MakeshiftTabernacles

G. The Feast of Dedication (Chanukah)1. November-December Commemoration of Judas Maccabaeus

Retaking Temple from Greeks in 165 B.C.E.

2. Oil Remaining in Temple Miraculously Lasted Eight Days3. Jews Light Candle for Eight Days to Commemorate

Dedication of the Recaptured Temple

4. Proximity to Christmas Has Increased Importance ofChanukah for Jews in the United States

H. The Feast of Lots (Purim)1. February-March Commemoration of Jewish Victory Over

Enemies Plotting to Kill them (Book of Esther)

2. Days Name Comes from Story of the Plot: Lots Were Castto Determine Which Day Jews would be Killed

I. The Son of the Commandment (Bar Mitzvah)1. Rite of Passage for Thirteen Year Old Boys2. Reform Jews Introduce Bat Mitzvah for Jewish Girls


15/15

XIII. Judaism TodayA. Interpreting the Holocaust Central to Jewish Identity TodayB.

Future of the State of Israel Central to Many Jews Today

1. Many Contemporary Jews See Israel as Culmination of alltheir Centuries of Diaspora Wandering

2. Israel is the Haven for Jews Seeking Peace and Security fromPersecution and Oppression

3. Israels Wars Often Interpreted Theological by Many Jews4. Many Disagreements about the Extent to Which Israel Ought

to be a Secular or a Religious State

C. Preserving Identity in Modern Secular Would be a Concern for JewsKey Names, Concepts, and Terms

Torah Diaspora Dreyfus CasePatriarchs Synagogue Theodore Herzl

Moses Mishnah ZionismSinai Covenant Gemara Nuremberg Laws

First (Solomons) Temple Talmud Final SolutionTen Commandments Gaonic Period Orthodox

The Prophets Maimonides ReformKings David and Solomon Converses Conservative

Messiah Kabbalah ReconstructionistAmos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah Zohar Shabbat

Israel and Judah Ghetto Passover Babylonian Exile Shabbatai Zevi Yom Kippur

Ezra Mendelssohn ChanukahSecond Temple Baal Shem Tov Bar Mitzvah

Deuteronomy Hasidism State of Israel

wr_ch11notes

Documents

Transcript of wr_ch11notes