Hebrews & Judaism
Vocabulary:
Judiaism: religion of Hebrews
Abraham: ordered by God to move family and people out of Mesopotamia toward west to create new nation.
Moses: leader who lead Israelites out of Egypt
Exodus: journey of Israelites out of Egypt
Ten Commandments: laws to live by given to Moses from God during Exodus at mount Sinai
David: first respected king of Israel, defeated Goliath, defeated Philistines, made Jerusalem the capitol of Isreal
Solomon: David’s son who expanded Israel, built Solomon’s Temple, made allies with Egypt and Phonecia and increased Israel’s wealth
Diaspora: scholars call this period of time when Jews separated after being freed from Chaldeans by Persians, Some stayed with Persians while some returned to Israel.
monotheism: belief in one god
Torah: most sacred Jewish book. 613 commandments, first 5 books of the Hebrew Bible
synagogue: Jewish church
prophets: people who receive messages from God to teach others
Talmud: Commentaries of religious Jewish texts
Dead Sea Scrolls: told of Jewish history and beliefs found in 1947 AD
Zealots: sect who believe Hebrews Jews should be ruled by God only. Led revolt against Romans but lost.
rabbis: teachers of Jewish texts
Passover: holiday that celebrates Exodus
High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah celebrates new year, Yom Kippur (most important holy day) when Jews ask for forgiveness of sins and fast and do good deeds.
Israel Geography:
- Located in Middle East bordered to west of Mediterranean Sea
- Mostly desert
- Rain falls during winter months
- Jordan River is the only major river in the country and main source of water flows into Dead Sea
- Dead Sea lowest place on Earth (1300 feet below sea level)
- seven times saltier than sea due to evaporation of sea water from desert heat.
- Salt is a natural resource for Israel.
Important Hebrew Cities:
Bethlehem: where Jesus Christ was born
Jericho: located on the West Bank of the Jordan River
Tel Aviv: busy city
Jerusalem: capital of Israel, largest city, built around 3000 BC, has been destroyed and rebuilt twice.
Hebrew History
- Hebrews ancestors of Israelites and Jews arrived in south west Asia around 2000- 1500BC
- God spoke to Abraham and instructed him to create Israel, only believe in God, and migrate people from Mesopotamia to Canaan (Israel) then to Egypt in exchange for a son, Issac.
- pharaoh enslaved them for fear of being overpowered and out numbered for 200 years.
- God instructed Moses, Hebrew brought up by Pharaoh who fled Egypt, from a burning bush to return to Egypt and lead Israelites out of Egypt,
- Pharaoh refused and disasters struck Egypt then pharaoh freed Israelites. Israelites journeyed to return to Canaan.
- During Exodus, Moses and the Hebrews roamed the desert for 40 years then at mount Sinai God gave Moses two stone tablets with moral code, Ten Commandments inscribed which shaped their society. Moses died before Canaan was reached.
- Israelites returned to Canaan, overtook land and settled without government but with selected leaders and judges to enforce laws.
Invasions & Leaders
- Philistines (modern name Palestines), from Mediterranean coast invaded Canaan in 1000’s BC
- Israelites banded together under weak leader named Saul. Not fully accepted by Israelites.
- David became influential and admired for strength and poetry when he defeated Goliath.
- From influence King David ruled when Saul died, was fully accepted by Israelite leaders, defeated Philistines and established capital of Israel in Jerusalem.
- King Solomon, son of King David, expanded Jerusalem. created wealth, built a great temple to God and developed allies with Egypt and Phonecia
- At death of King Solomon nation split between Judas (Jews) and Israels (Israelites). Lasted only a few centuries then
- Assyrians defeated Israel around 722 BC and disbanded their civilization. (lost tribes)
- Later Judahs were conquered and enslaved (called “Captivity”) by Chaldeans (Neo Babylonians) who also burned down Jerusalem’s Solomon’s Temple to God.
- Persians conquered Chaldean’s around 530 BC and freed Jews, where some returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt Solomon’s Temple now called Second Temple. Some lived with Persians event called of disbandment called Diaspora by scholars.
- 330 BC Persians conquered by invaders. Later Maccabees (Jewish family) revolted in 160’s BC and were once again Jewish ruled but were conquered in 63 BC by Romans.
- Romans did not respect Jewish culture and appointed their own priests to preside over Second Temple which caused Jewish rebellion in 66 AD led by Zealots who believe Jews should only be ruled by God. Zealots fought for 4 years, lost many lives, destroyed land including the Second Temple and eventually lost the battle against Rome.
- After Temple burned most Jews surrendered but about 1000 Zealots locked themselves in mountain fortress called Masada. Roman soldiers took 2 years to build a ramp to Masada and once completed in 73 AD the remaining Zealots took their own lives rather than be ruled by Romans.
- Romans killed most of Jewish population and destroyed Jerusalem as punishment for the revolt and but kept some as slaves. Many Jews left Jerusalem and fled to Alexandria and joined other Jewish communities.
- Another unsuccessful revolt was attempted and as a result Jews were banned/exiled from Jerusalem or faced death. Jewish Migration throughout the Mediterranean increased.
- Synagogues became more important and rabbis, religious teachers, were responsible for teaching the Torah. Religious schools were created.
- Jews were not welcomed among other religions and were force to migrate to other lands many times.
- Women did not have many rights, couldn’t inherit property, and couldn’t choose husbands. But some were influential such as Ruth and Miriam
Jewish Religion: Judiasm
- Jewish religion based on God, education, justice and obedience and taught through Torah (5 books), Hebrew Bible, and Commentaries
- Torah: 613 commandments, consisted of 5 books and is most sacred, is the first part of the Hebrew Bible, includes history of Jews and death of Moses. Readers do not touch Torah out of respect and instead use pointers, each synagogue (Jewish house of worship) has one
- Hebrew Bible (Tanakh): Has 3 parts 1st is Torah, 2nd describe messages of prophets, 3rd part 11 books of poetry, songs, stories (Proverbs and Psalms), lessons, and history. ie Daniel and the Lion
- Commentaries (Talmud) 200 – 600 AD: transcriptions of Hebrew Bible by scholars about how everyday life should be lived
- Dead Sea Scrolls: 100 BC and 50 AD written by Jews over 2000 years ago discovered in 1947 AD. Includes prayers commentaries, letters, and passages from Hebrew Bible. Helped historians understand how early Jews lived.
- First known culture to believe in one god. (monotheism)
- Most important Jewish law is the Ten Commandments. Other laws sent from God to Moses called Mosaic Law also important which described how to follow laws ie resting on sabbath day of week and what foods eat and to avoid (pork shellfish) Kosher described how food is meant to be prepared for Jews.
- Followers of ancient Mosaic law called Orthodox Jews. Others known as Reform Jews do not follow ancient teachings. Conservative Jews fall in between.
- Judiasm spread across the world since Jews were disbanded to different places
- Judiasm influenced Christianity, largest religion of west and Islam. Jesus was Jewish and Islam believe themselves to be descendants of Abraham
Jewish Culture:
- Ashkenazim: descendants of Jews who moved to France, Germany, and eastern Europe during Diaspora
- Spoke new language called Yiddish (similar to German but written in Hebrew alphabet)
- Had different customs from natives did not mix with non-Jewish
- Sephardim: Jewish descendants who settled in Portugal and Spain in Western Europe during the Diaspora.
- Spoke Ladino: mixture of Spanish, Hebrew, and Arabic.
- Mixed with non-Jewish people which led to cultural diffusion. Advances in medicine, mathematics, astronomy, art, and philosophy
Jewish Holidays:
- Hanukkah: celebrated during December in re-dedication of Second Temple during Maccabees revolt. Only had enough oil to light for one day but burned for 8. menorah, eight branch candle holder burned used to signify the 8 days the oil burned. Gifts are exchanged.
- Passover: celebrated in March and April where Jews remember Exodus. Only flat bread eaten in remembrance that during Exodus Jews fled Egypt so fast, bakers didn’t have enough time for their bread to bake. Also celebrated with ceremonies and a meal called seder (SAY-der) where people recall events of Exodus.
- High Holy Days: (Days of Awe) Most important two days during September or October Rosh Hashanah which celebrates the new year and Yom Kippur where Jews ask for forgiveness of sins. Holiest day of the year. Jews fast the entire day.
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