Judaism

The Hebrews

• Judaism is tied to the story of the Hebrews

• Hebrews are a Semitic people

• Semitic is a language classification

• Other Semitic peoples include the Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, and Arabs

• Thought to originate from the Arabian Peninsula and adjacent areas

• Were originally a pastoral people; practice animal husbandry

• Lived season lives; migrated between pastures; lived in tents, caves

• Appear to have lived on the fringes of more sedentary civilizations; people who cultivated crops

• At some point in ancient history, they migrated to Mesopotamia

• Mesopotamia the first region of civilization; most advanced cultures, civilizations on the planet

Map of Mesopotamia

Mesopotamian Culture and Religion

• Mesopotamian peoples were mostly Semitic peoples; similar languages to the Hebrews

• A patriarchal society; polygamy

• Warfare between city-states and people is common

• Have a well-developed religion

• Polytheistic faith

• Most important gods: An (Sky), Ki (Earth), Enlil (Agriculture), Enki (Freshwater), Ishtar (Love/Fertility)

• Anthropomorphic

• Rituals, texts, priesthood, animal sacrifice, high places, ziggurats (right)

• Familiar traditions: Flood Story, creation, folk tales

Overview of Hebrew History

• Hebrew history is difficult to reconstruct

• Biblical tradition was originally oral; earliest possible writing would be from 900s BC – But text was revised and not finished until c.200 B.C.

• Consequently, Hebrew Bible is unreliable as conclusive history

• No archaeological evidence for earliest parts of Hebrew history

• Tentative dates for Hebrew events and people

• Abraham: c. 2000 B.C. – From Ur in Mesopotamia

• According to tradition, this is the origin of the covenant

• Covenant is a special agreement between God and his people

• Not the first covenant, but considered the beginning of a binding relationship between Yahweh and his people; circumcision

• Also beginning of the concept of the Promised Land

Overview of Hebrew History

• Promise Land = Canaan; Canaan a diverse place – crossroads of empires • Here, Hebrew identity formed; Jacob and the 12 tribes • According to tradition, Hebrews migrate to Egypt; slavery • No archaeological evidence to support this claim; tentative date is 1200 -1100

B.C. • Exodus story – Important Jewish tradition • Following Exodus story, Biblical tradition moves to the settlement of Canaan;

archaeological evidence begins to confirm some of the stories • Kingship Period: Saul (c.1025 – 1000 B.C.), David (1000-960 B.C.), Solomon

(c.960 – 920 B.C.) • No archaeological evidence for Saul or David; evidence of unified Hebrew

kingdom during late 900s B.C.; capital is Jerusalem • This is during Solomon’s lifetime, but Solomon not named in archaeology • First Temple period; First recording of the oral traditions thought to begin here • Unity gone by 800s B.C. - Kingdoms of Judah and Israel

Evolution of Judaism

• Like all religions, Judaism has evolved

• We can understand the evolution of Judaism from Biblical sources and archaeology

• Judaism is monotheistic, but it has not always strictly monotheistic

• Archaeology and the Bible both reveal that the Hebrew God – Yahweh (also called Lord (Elohim)) was originally associated with sky/heavens

• Hebrews worshipped him as a personal god; akin to the Mesopotamian personal god

• But they did not deny existence of other gods

• Became strictly monotheistic – denying existence of other gods – during the 2 kingdoms period 800s -500s B.C.

• This is due primarily to the influence of the Prophets

Evolution of Judaism

• With the Hebrews in Jerusalem we have the Temple period

• Temple the home of the Ark of the Covenant (10 Commandments)

• Ark a physical gift of God according to tradition

• Temple the physical resting place of God

• Temples will develop in other Jewish communities; modeled on the Temple in Jerusalem

• Temple were key traditions, ceremonies, and celebrations occur

• Worship is animal sacrifice

• High Priests – In charge of ceremonial life

• Codification of Hebrew Scriptures and traditions

Challenges to Judaism

• 586 B.C.: Jerusalem conquered by Babylonians; First Temple destroyed; Babylonian exile.

• 539: Hebrews allowed to return home by Cyrus the Great of Persia; Judaism influenced by Zoroastrianism; Second Temple constructed

• Part of Alexander the Great’s Empire in 4th century B.C.

• Rebel against Greek rulers; Hannakah – 2nd century B.C.

• 63 B.C.: Come under Roman rule

• During Roman rule, Judaism dominated by Sadducees (Jewish aristocrats who serve as important priests)

• But challenges from other groups: Pharisees, Zealots, Essenes

• Also a strong Messianic movement

• 66 – 70 A.D.: Jewish Insurrection; Second Temple destroyed; rebel again 132-133 A.D.; diaspora

Judaism in the Diaspora

• Major trauma to Judaism; religion focused upon Temple worship – Now no temple

• Leadership assumed by Pharisees and the Rabbinic Movement

• Redefine Judaism; new focus upon scripture, rituals

• Make daily existence on offering to God; connect to God in new ways

• Important figure is the Rabbi; any Jewish male can be a Rabbi – must be educated at a Yashiva

• Principles of Judaism: 1.) The Synagogue

2.) Scriptures – Torah, Neviim, and Ketuvim (Tanakh)

3.) Commentaries – Midrash, Mishnah, Talmud

Medieval and Early Modern Judaism

• During diaspora, there are two Jewish communties

• Sephardim – Mediterranean, N. African, and Middle Eastern communities

• Ashkenazim – Central, Eastern European communities

• Sephardim thrive culturally and intellectually

• During 1400s, Jewish mysticism began to develop

• Mysticism = Union with God/Divine Essence; Transcendental experience

• Early mysticism focused upon effort to discover God’s human forms (kavod)

• Most famous mysticism= kabbalah

• Kabbalah originated in 12th century, but thrives after 1400

• Discover the spheres/emanations of God (spherots)

• Align these within oneself; participate in the divine

• Chief text = Zohar

Jewish Practices

• Prayer – Public and Private Prayers; ceremonial dress

• Sabbath – Sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday

• Dietary Laws – kosher foods

• Synagogue Services – Monday, Thursday, and the Sabbath

• Festivals – 1.) Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

2.) Sukkah

3.) Hanakah

4.) Purim

5.) Passover

6.) Shavout

7.) Ninth of Ab