The religion of Judaism The religion of Judaism cannot be separated from cannot be separated from the history of its people:the history of its people:A religion, a people/nation, a A religion, a people/nation, a culture, and ethnicityculture, and ethnicity
Jews are those who experience Jews are those who experience their long and often difficult their long and often difficult history as a continuing dialogue history as a continuing dialogue with Godwith God
The founder was Abraham, but The founder was Abraham, but many consider Moses to be the many consider Moses to be the founder as well.founder as well.
The God of Abraham was called El Shaddai
The God of Moses was called YHWH (Yahweh)- “I am that I am”
Another name for God used in the Old Testament was Elohim
Look up the roots of the words El Shaddai, Elohim and YHWH.At least Two Paragraphs answering these questions:What do they mean ?Is there any connection to Allah?
Judaism is a strongly earth focused religion. It is more concerned with this life than the afterlife- The main focus is that of ethics and doing God’s will.Judaism sees man as having free will and being constantly faced with the choice between good and evil
Jewish path is one of loving God and trying to be like himGod offered to share the divine law with 70 nations, but only the tribes of Israel answered the call to enter into a living covenant with their creator
Jews still feel this call is open to all“Israel” refers to all who answer the call, who acknowledge and strive to obey the one God through teachings given to the patriarchs, Moses, and the prophets
Tanakh- Jewish Scriptures stories end @2nd century BCE
Talmud- Jewish Law and Lorecompiled in 6th century CE
Torah- whole body of Jewish teachings and law
Pentateuch- 5 books of MosesBeginning of Tanakh, most sacred part
of scriptures
Most Hebrews were not truly monotheistic- many wavered back and forth w/ Old gods and animal spiritsCanaanites were polytheistic
Main idea in early Judaism: rejection of gods of surrounding peoples
Israelites came to see themselves as having been chosen by a single divine patron:God was seen as a ruler:
like a parent to children or sovereign to vassals
Judaism resembles a family
Names/Terms: “Hebrew” comes from the term habiru
(term for low class, landless people) “Ibri” biblical word for Hebrew-
Children of Eber “Israelites”- mixed ethnic stock-
Hebrews, Aramaean, and Canaanite “Semite”- modern word applied to
Jews, Arabs and others of Eastern Mediterranean origin (often used inaccurately as an ethnic designation)
People who 1st became known as “Israelites” were the offspring of Israel (Jacob)- grandson of Abraham
Early History:Stories from
the Pentateuch
Sweeping poetic creation of Heaven and earth by God in 6 days
God is a transcendent Creator w/o origin, gender or form
EC assignment:What happened on
each of the 6 days? At least one FULL paragraph.
Some creation accounts see YHWH as a supreme male deity, created all but woman; offshoot of Adam blames woman for all
troubles in humanity not supported in
Hebrew manuscripts
This legend shows though how after being tempted and having strayed from God’s path= exileTheme repeats in Hebrew history
People risk God’s displeasure every time they stray from God’s commandments
OR Jewish people were spread throughout the
world by God’s will, to be good citizens in whichever land they live, and spread God’s word.
Way out of exile is through study and righteous livingBut.. people continually stray from God’s will
Noah legend: all men wicked but him: God makes covenant with Noah
catastrophic flood, but spares Noah and his family and two of all the creatures of the earth
• God makes covenant- promises to never destroy the world by flood or interfere with the natural order
1900 BCE: left Ur (present day Iraq), rejects polytheism, “chooses” to worship one God, God “chooses” Abram and his followers.
Canaan The “Promised Land”
Abraham’s JourneysAbraham’s Journeys
Abram promises to be loyal and obedient to God
God will protect Abram, his descendants, will make a great nation
Settle in the land of Israel Circumcise males on 8th day- sign of
the living covenantBlood Promise to the one God
Changes names to Abraham and Sarah
Abraham fears he will not have a son (86 years old) (Wife Sarah 77)
Genesis 16“And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her
maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.”
Hagar bears Ishmael Sarah becomes jealous; casts out
Hagar and Ishmael Ishmael- Father of Arabs: Muhammad
said to be direct descendant
Abraham 99 and 1st wife Sarah 90 have son Isaac
Isaac- Father of Israelites
Abraham tested- will sacrifice own son to prove loyalty to GodGod stops Abraham’s hand
Pleased with his loyaltyRosh Hashanah (sept) and Eid al Adha (nov)
Abraham’s GeneaologyAbraham’s Geneaology
ABRAHAMABRAHAM SARAHSARAHHAGARHAGAR
IsaacIsaac
EsauEsauJacobJacob
12 Tribes of Israel
12 Tribes of Israel
Ishmael
Ishmael
12 Arabian Tribes
12 Arabian Tribes
Jacob received the name “Israel” after wrestling with an angel- Israel- “One who struggles with God”
Research the 4 wives of Jacob. Who were they? Why did Jacob have 4 wives? What role do they play in Jewish History?
Dinah was the one daughter of Jacob. Who was she? What is known about her life?
Sold into slavery by jealous brothersRose to become Pharaoh’s chief advisor
for helping the Egyptians to prepare for famine
Brought family down from the famine in Canaan to the land of Goshen in Egypt (1740 BCE) Israelites lived for 430 years in Egypt until led
out of Egypt by Moses
Land of Goshen, EgyptLand of Goshen, Egypt
Pharaoh ordered midwives to kill all Hebrew baby boys Pharaoh had dreamed of a
leader from the Hebrews who would destroy him
Moses: son of the tribe of Levi- mother hid him away for 3 months Basket/Nile river
Pharaoh’s daughter found him and raised him as her own. Moses : “to draw”
Sister Miriam approached the Queen and offered a wet nurse for the child
Grew up as Egyptian princediscovered heritage
killed an Egyptian overseer
fled Pharaoh’s wrath
lived with and married into desert tribe on Sinai Peninsula for 40 yearsZipporah- his wife
Burning Bush- God speaks directly to Moses
Moses was chosen by God to free the Hebrew’svery conflictedhow to free them and lead them back to
Canaan?
Moses goes back to Egypt; brother Aaron spoke for Moses.
Chapters of Exodus tell of the Miracles God performed.Each miracle more impressive than the
last, but Pharaoh’s magicians seemed to match them
Final miracle- Killing of all the 1st born in the land- Israelites spared this fate by marking their doors with blood of a lamb- so that the Angel of Death would Pass Over them.Passover holiday- remembers this event.
Research the 10 miracles/plagues of EgyptName and describe each; take into
account how these plagues would have affected the people of Egypt
@1450 BCE Pharaoh frees the Hebrews. Red Sea incident
Reed Sea? Translation error?
travel to Mt Sinai to reestablish the covenant btwn God and his people
Route of the ExodusRoute of the Exodus
God gave the people a set of rules through Moses:Ten CommandmentsSet of social normsPrescribed religious feasts Detailed instructions for the holy ark- Ark of the Covenant- keep stone tablets on which God inscribes the commandments
A new Covenant with Yahweh
Mount SinaiMount Sinai
St. Catherine’s Monastery
at Mount Sinai
St. Catherine’s Monastery
at Mount Sinai
40 days on the mountain: people became impatient
Wanted a God they could see- melted down gold jewelry and cast it into the form of a golden calf- Idol worship- strictly forbidden!
Moses smashed the stone tables and destroyed the idol- ordered the Levites to slay the 3000 who had strayed from YHWH
Moses went back up on Mt Sinai and received tables againAaron and sons became priestsconstructed the Ark and went to Canaan
w/ the word of the Lord with them Wandered 40 years/ long sojourn in
the wilderness- metaphor for spiritual search- faith is continually tested by difficultiesEven in the wilderness, God did not
abandon them. Manna and water, protection from enemies
1410-1050 BCE Jews settle in the land of IsraelThere they divide into 12 tribes each of
which is led by a judge.
Merge with people who lived there, often strayed from YHWH, worship other gods, idols/ easy prey for other tribes
1050-933 BCE Saul, 1st King of Israel unites the 12 tribes
David, 2nd King: chosen by prophet Samuel: anointed with oil, God’s choice, Israel’s greatest kingmade several alliances, defeated several nations, captured city of Jerusalem and made it his capital, wanted permanent place for Ark.
King David’s EmpireKing David’s Empire
Solomon’s
Kingdom
Solomon’s
Kingdom• Solomon, 3rd King: Constructed the Holy Temple. permanent place for Ark, place for offerings, God was said to have blessed the Temple, Central place for sacrifice for Israelites
Recreation of Ancient Jerusalem
Recreation of Ancient Jerusalem
King Solomon’s Temple Floor Plan
King Solomon’s Temple Floor Plan
The First TempleThe First Temple
Inside the Temple Tabernacle
Inside the Temple Tabernacle
The Arcof the
Covenant
The Arcof the
Covenant
The Temple Mount, Jerusalem Today
The Temple Mount, Jerusalem Today
Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall
Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall
After Solomon’s death the kingdom was divided into the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of JudahKingdom of Israel:
10 northern tribes/independent of Jerusalem and dynasty of David
Kingdom of Judah: continued allegiance to House of David and kept Jerusalem as its capital
Prophets: Early ones, like Elijah- spoke out
against idolatry, later ones spoke out against social injustice and moral corruption
Prophets speak God’s words- not necessarily to predict the future but to keep people on the pathOffer “corrections”
EC assignment: research two Prophets from the Torah; Summarize their lives and their message
586 BCE- Babylonians conquer the Kingdom of Judah and destroy the TempleMany taken to Babylonia became known
as Jews (from Judah), build new places of worship-synagogues
538 BCE a new Babylonian King:King Cyrus allows Jews to return to Judah
and rebuild the Temple Temple completed in 515, central symbol to
the scattered Jewish people.
Many Jews chose to remain in Babylonvery profitable city, not much in Jerusalem
Israelites in CaptivityIsraelites in Captivity
In the 400s the priestly Class under Ezra began to edit and revise the Pentateuch430 BCE Ezra began reading for hours- the
scrolls in public- setting the precedent to read and study them (sacred covenant)
New ideas blended with early Jewish thoughts as more Jews were exposed to Persians, Greeks and RomansConcepts of Satan, angels, reward or
punishment in afterlifeResurrection of body on Day of Judgment are thought by many to have been introduced by Zoroaster’s. (Persians)
322- 164 BCE King Antiochus and the Greeks:
Tried to force Greek ways upon Jewish peoples.
Abolished the Torah as Jewish lawBurned copies of TorahKilled families with Circumcised sons
Built an altar to Zeus in Temple of JerusalemSacrificed a hog on the altar
Goes against Mosaic law against eating /touching dead pigs as unclean
Under the leadership of the Hasmoneans (particularly Judah Maccabee) the Judeans successfully revolt against AntiochusThis established a new independent
Kingdom once again called Israel. Btwn 164 BCE and 63 BCE
Hasmonean Family ruled Israel family of priests
This only lasted 100 years- conquered by the Romans in 63 BCE (Pompey)
Last independent Jewish nation until 1948 CE
3 Sects of Jews formed1. Sadducees-
priests, wealthy business people, conservatives intent on preserving the letter of the law
2. Pharisees- liberal citizens from all classes, wanted to study how Torah could apply to everyday life
3. Essenes- thought the priesthood was corrupt. Very
strict in interpretation, set up a fortified compound at Qumran (near the Dead Sea).Leader “Teacher of Righteousness” priest/reformer- name not utteredTheir library found in 1947 (Dead Sea Scrolls)
Essenes emphasized discipline, communal living, obedience, study and preparation for Day of Judgment
Under Roman rule Messiah idea began to grow- a man who would rescue his people from suffering.Prophet Daniel in Babylon exile days had spoken
of a man who would come and save his people. By 1st century CE this Messiah would set up
Jewish sovereignty over the land of Israel again.All nations would then recognize that Israel’s
God was the God of all the world. This messianic time would 1st be preceded by
a time of great oppression and wickedness Many felt Jesus was the Messiah, his
followers became the 1st ChristiansMost Jews saw Jesus as a radical who did not
fulfill prophecy
Zealots: Jewish resistance fighters who fought the Romans66-73 CE Revolt fails miserably, Romans
destroy the 2nd Temple.Only foundation stones remain.
Temple has never been rebuilt- foundation stones are Western Wall- a place of Jewish pilgrimage and prayer
The Temple Mount, Jerusalem Today
The Temple Mount, Jerusalem Today
Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall
Solomon’s Temple Wall: The “Wailing” Wall
By 135 CE Jews were forbidden to read the Torah, observe Sabbath or circumcise sonsNone allowed to enter Jerusalem
On anniversary of destruction of the Temple, the Romans would allow Jews to go to the remaining wall. had to pay to enter city
Judea renamed Palestine- after ancient Philistines Judaism no longer has a physical heart or
geographic center.
Judaism could have died after the 2nd destruction of the Templepeople spread throughout
Mediterranean and Western Asia Two reasons for survival of ideas:
1. Rabbis- Jewish teacher today spiritual leader of Jewish
congregation Kept Jewish law and lore alive
2. Christians also survived and carried on a lot of Jewish ideas
Both groups have kept teaching of Tanakh alive, both use Hebrew Bible as a foundation document
Rabbis: teachers, religious decision makers, creators of prayersNo longer priests for Temple sacrificesSubstitute for animal sacrifice was prayer
and ethical behavior W/O Temple- communities of Jews
became very tight knitSynagogues (house of assembly)Torah read, worship together, praying to
God Minyan: ten adult males had to be
present for community worshipAll learn basics of Torah
Only men allowed formal study originally only male rabbis
Literacy highly valued for men Jews sometimes only ones who knew how
to read Centering the religion in books and
teachings replaced a geographic center, has unified the people with common law, language and practices
American Judaism:By 1880, @ 250,000 Jews had immigrated
to the US More in the 1920s Mainly from Eastern Europe
Anti Semitism in Germany and RussiaToday US has 2nd largest Jewish
Population in the world Israel: 5.3 million US: 5.2 million World wide: 13.2 million
Zionism:The Jewish movement to establish a politically viable, internationally recognized Jewish state in the Biblical land of IsraelLate 1800s
Rise of Anti Semitism in Western Europe encouraged immigration EC assignment: Dreyfus Affair: Two
Paragraphs
British support for Jewish settlement in Palestine after WWI Also supported a
continued Palestinian state
Part of the cause of continued conflict today
1948 United Nations creates a modern Israel
1. Daily Study of the Torah:Boys education must include knowledge
of Hebrew More girls included today
Keeps the Word alive
2. Daily prayer and observance of commandments
3. Circumcism4. Sabbath:
Sundown to sundown ( Fri-Sat)
Reading the TorahReading the Torah
5. Kosher: Ritually acceptable meats
Warm blooded animals with cloven hooves that eat greensCows, goats, sheep..Only if prepared by Jewish Slaughterer
Sharp knife Traditional cuts Drain blood Meats must be soaked in water and drained
before cooking Try to avoid eating blood
Poultry is kosher; not birds of prey Shellfish is NOT Kosher Meat and Milk cannot be eaten
togetherSeparate dishes maintained for
preparation and serving Eggs, meat, milk, organs of forbidden
animals cannot be eaten Fruits and vegetables are permitted
Must be checked for bugs Wine made by non-Jews NOT Kosher
6. Morning Prayer: Before opening eyes and at bedtime
Thank God for restoring the soulShould offer at least 100
prayers/benedictions a day Before eating bread, drinking wine, upon
seeing the ocean…. etc…“Blessed are you, Oh God, Ruler of the
Heaven, who gives us bread”Hands must be washed before reciting
blessings3 prayer services are chanted daily in
Synagogue
7. T’filllin:Small leather boxes on forehead or upper
right armPrayers/verses
8. Talit: Fringed Prayer Shawl
Fringes are reminders of God’s commands
9. Coming of AgeBar/Bat Mitzvah
Religious instruction Learning to read and pronounce Hebrew Read a portion of the Torah Recite a passage from book of Prophets Celebrate and party!!!
Spiritual new year begins with High Holy Days
1. Rosh Hashanah:New Year’s Day
A time of spiritual renewalCelebrated on the 1st two days of the 7th month
@ the fall equinox30 days prior to Rosh Hashanah
Each morning synagogue service brings blowing of the ShofarTo remind people that they stand before God
• At the service on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, a prayer is recited asking:
• that all humanity will remember what God has done
• that there will be honor and joy for God’s People and
• that the righteous will triumph while all wickedness vanishes like smoke
Ten Days of Awe follow R. H.People are encouraged to change inwardly
look at mistakes of the past yearAsk forgiveness from any you have wronged
http://www.history.com/videos/ask-a-rabbi-rosh-hashanah#ask-a-rabbi-rosh-hashanah
2. Yom KippurCompletes the High Holy DaysDay of repentance and forgivenessRenewal of the sacred covenant with God in a
spirit of atonement and cleansing
Celebration of the victory of the Maccabee RebellionWhen Jews regained access to Temple
Found only one jar of oil undefiled Still sacred and blessed by a priest
Was only enough for one day/night Burned for 8
Judah Maccabee declared this to be a time of remembrance and prayer Now a gift giving time
http://www.history.com/videos/ask-a-rabbi-rosh-hashanah#ask-a-rabbi-hanukkah
Celebrates the liberation from bondage in Egypt and the spring time renewalBeginning of Passover
Seder DinnerEating of unleavened bread and bitter herbs
http://www.history.com/videos/ask-a-rabbi-rosh-hashanah#history-of-passover
5.Holocaust Memorial Day
April 30/May 1Close to date of Warsaw uprising
Orthodox Judaism: Stand by the Hebrew Bible as the
Revealed Word of God and the Talmud as the Legitimate Law Bound by Tradition Very Family oriented
Ex: Hasidic Jews Growing in #, esp in Israel
Reform Judaism: began in the 19th Century Germany as an
attempt to modernizeReligion applied to today; not an ancient
practice Open ended, evolving religion Making it more modern could help it survive
Choirs added to servicesSabbath was shortened and translated
into Vernacular
Conservative Judaism:Largest group in the USTraditional in interpretation of the Law
But restructure and modernize to keep it alive
Reconstruction Judaism:Rejects the idea that Jewish People were
specially chosen by God An exclusionist idea They see it as they chose to be a people of God New prayer book
More respect given to women and gentilesWomen accepted fully in synagogue
participation
Messianic Judaism: Accept that Jesus was the MessiahKeep to traditional Jewish Calendar,
holidays and practicesGrowing in number
Judaism as a whole is shrinkingOver 50% of Western Jews marry non-Jews
Being counted as minyan Emphasizing the importance of women
in the TorahHow women shaped the stories
Becoming cantors and rabbis More gender neutral texts
Original Hebrew scripture describes God as formless; neither male nor female essence
More accepted today than ever before in history
Less fear about the unknown More people researching Judaism Continues to influence Christianity and
Islam
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