JUDAISMThe Tenets

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EARLIEST KNOWN WORLD CIVILIZATIONS

3100 BC: Nile River Valley (Egypt)

3000 BC: Tigris-Euphrates River Valley (Iraq) – “Fertile Crescent”

2000 BC Hebrews migrated to Canaan with sheep and goats

The Early History of the Jews

Also known as the Israelites and Hebrews

Their history effects relations in the Middle East today!

Genealogy1750-1700 BCE

•The Israelites were monotheistic, believing in one true God. •The Israelites believed God to be all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere.• The Israelites believed that they were God’s “chosen people.”

Judaism

Israelites

The ancestors were pastoralists who migrated from southern

Mesopotamia around the twentieth century B.C.E. Driving their livestock according to seasonal rainfall

patterns, the early Israelites moved south into the region of present-day Israel.

In Egypt Drought may have forced them to seek greener pastures in

Egypt Enslavement in Egypt and then flight, or Exodus, are a

central part of the Hebrew Bible. Exodus

May have led to forty years of wandering in the desert that the Israelites developed many of their religious beliefs

Map of Exodus

Escape from Egypt Moses leads the Hebrews out of

Egypt 10 plagues

Water to blood, frogs, lice, flies, livestock disease, boils, thunder and hail, locust, darkness, and finally death of first born

Waters Part-> Red Sea ->10 Commandments from Mt. Sinai -> 40 years of wondering-> Promise Land

Why 40 years of wondering?

Kings of Israel Saul – established the

monarchy David – second king,

completed the transition to monarchy

King Solomon – Israel reached its greatest height

After Solomon, Israel was divided into two kingdoms

Assyrian destruction of northern kingdom (Israel 721 BCE)

Fall of southern kingdom (Judah) to the Babylonian monarch Nebuchadnezzar in 587 BCE Led to diaspora

Teachings on Law and MoralityThe laws of the Torah address all aspects of life, from cleanliness and food preparation to criminal matters.

Define: The Diaspora of the Jews • The regained their homeland in 1948 when

Israel is reestablished by the United Nations. -Took Arab land? What do you think? -Why Would the UN do that? -What has been the result?

• Still great prejudice, why?

As a way of life, Judaism is based on…

Is written and should be read in Hebrew 613 commandments found in Torah (“Written Law”) Talmud (“Oral Law”) – commentary of ancient rabbis

that elaborates on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life through: Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher) Dress and other symbols Prayer and devotion to the one God The Temple and Temple rites Observance of Holy days Proper social relations between male and female, in

business, judicial rulings, etc. Thus sanctifying life, blessing it in every way

How does Judaism sanctify life?

Life cycle celebrations: Bris – ritual circumcision, sign of the

covenant Bar/Bat Mitzvah – full adult status and

responsibility within the religion Marriage - "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen.

1:22) Death – funerals, mourning (sitting

“Shiva”), and memorials (“Yartzeits”)

Important Holidays in Judaism Passover

Commemorate Exodus from Egypt, 7-8 days, usually in April

Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Years, between Labor Day & Columbus

Day, look back on last year, make resolution, start preparing for Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur Day of atonement, fasting & repentance, late Sept.

or early Oct., many take off work/school Chanukah

Festival of lights, rededication of Temple on Jerusalem, 8 days, usually in December, light of the Menorah

After Life