The History of the Chosen People• Descendants of Israelites (aka Hebrews)• Around the time of the exile and following it, they
became known as Jews, and their religion became known as Judaism, because their country was Judah
• Founders: Abraham and Sarah
Classical Judaism • End of first century – seventh century • The destruction of the second temple• The Jews of the classical lived under the
threat of Roman political oppression, which sometimes had violent consequences.
• The Romans issued a decree forbidding Jews to inhabit the region of Palestine.
• In the fourth century, Christianity arose to become the official religion of the roman empire
• A few centuries later, many Jews found themselves living under Muslim rule.
• During this period, a majority of Jews lived in the Diaspora. – Diaspora is aka Dispersion- it refers to
the Jews living outside their homeland
Medieval Judaism This period spans from the 8th century
to the middle of the 18th century Primarily under Muslim control and
free to worship In some areas Jews were forced to
pay taxesJews established a large middle
class Christian control
European AreasJews became successful money
lendersBrought about resentment and
persecutionSons of crucifiersIntentionally rejected
Christ
Medieval Judaism: Mysticism
Jewish mysticism or Kabbalah teaches that God can best be known with the heart, through love. God can be found by
looking inwardThe Zohar is the most
famous text of Jewish mysticism
Kabbalists observe the commandments of the Torah
Modern Judaism 18th Century- the period of the Enlightenment (or age of
reason) Filled with great change
Out with the Monarchies/ In with rule by the people Hasidism arose during this period.
Hasidism means pious It draws from some of the mystical teachings of the
kabbalist tradition It emphasizes personal relationships with God and the
community, rather than study of the Torah and strict observance of its commandments.
The center of each Hasidic community is the leadership of the zaddik, a holy man who is believed to have an especially close relationship with God
Modern Judaism cont. • Zionism– Arose in late 19th century– Committed to the re-
establishment of a Jewish homeland (Zion biblical for Jerusalem)
– Zionism refers generally to the support of Israel
– Feel that the only way to ensure the safety of the Jewish people is to have its own state.
Modern Judaism cont. Throughout the centuries Jews faced
persecution- known as anti-Semitism The Holocaust is an event/example of anti-
Semitism Holocaust
Hebrew for “mass destruction” Persecution of the Jews by German Nazis from
1933-1945 Lives lost:
An estimated 6 million Jews Many Jews looked at the holocaust as
punishment for wrong doings. Another response, such as the Zionist- was to
support the State of Israel. Israel was granted statehood in 1948
An area that is always in turmoil because the Palestinians also claim the area to be sacred
TaNakh • God’s revelation of the divine will to the Chosen People is recorded in the Hebrew Bible.
• The Hebrew bible is Judaism sacred scripture
• Hebrew Bible contains 3 parts:
1. Torah2. Prophets3. Writings
• In Hebrew, these words begin with the letters T, N, and k referred as Tanakh
• Hebrew Bible same as Tanakh• The contents of the Hebrew
Bible are also found in the Christian OT– But the books are named
and ordered differently
Torah • Means instruction • Translated as “the law” as well• Refers to the will of God as
revealed to humankind• Refers to the first five books of
the Bible
Torah cont.• Aka the Pentateuch
– Meaning 5 books• The Torah contains the law
– 10 Commandments– Other 613 laws– What Jews are expected to do
• Every synagogue contains a scroll of the entire Torah– Kept in a vessel called an ark– All stand when the doors of the ark
are open – It is buried after it becomes old
• The Eternal light– A lamp – hangs above the ark– The light is always burning, as a
symbol of God’s presence
Oral Torah• The bible or written Torah is
complemented by religious teachings of the “oral Torah”– Oral Torah refers to the
material taught and transmitted by Judaism’s great rabbis of antiquity.
– These teachings were eventually written down
– Oral Torah is the interpretation/explanation of the written Torah
Mishnah • The Mishnah is one form of Oral Torah
• It means repetition• It contains teachings
that were formulated and transmitted orally by rabbis– Rabbis are teachers of
Torah or leader of Jewish worship
• Most important text of the Oral Torah
Talmud • It means study • It is based on the Mishnah• Small portions of the Mishnah are
cited usually page after page• It presents a grand scheme of
interpretation of God’s will, blending together the oral and written forms of Torah (Torah and Mishnah)
TALMUD IN THE MAKING EXERCISE
