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