Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.

Section 1: The Early Hebrews Essential Question: How did the Hebrews defend themselves and maintain their beliefs? The Big Idea: Originally desert nomads.The Hebrews established a great nation called Israel. If you were there… You and your family are herders, looking for large flocks of sheep. You grandfather is the leader of your tribe. One day your grandfather says your whole family will be moving to a new country where there is more food and water for your flocks. The trip will be long and difficult. How do you feel about moving to a far away land?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.  Invaders conquered and ruled the Israelites after their kingdom fell apart. Main Ideas  Abraham and Moses each led their people to Canaan and a new religion.  Strong kings united the Israelites to fight off invaders.  Some women in Israelite society made great contributions to their history.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Between 2000 and 1500 BC, a new people appeared in Southwest Asia, they were the Hebrews, ancestors of the Israelites. The Israelites were sheep herders. Abraham and Moses Led their People Much of what is known about the Israelites comes from accounts written by scribes on their early history and the laws of Judaism, their religion. In time, these accounts became the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew Bible traces back to a man named Abraham. One day god spoke to Abraham and told him to leave his land. God promised the new land would make his people into a mighty nation. Moses left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan. Later many moved to Egypt perhaps because of famine in Canaan. As the Israelites lived well in Egypt, The Pharaoh, feared they would take over, so me made them slaves.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. According to the Hebrew Bible, A leader named Moses went to the Pharaoh and demanded that the Israelites be freed. Moses claimed God told him to lead his people out of Egypt. Soon a serious of plagues or disasters struck Egypt. The Pharaoh was frightened by the plagues so he freed the Israelites. The Exodus Overjoyed with this news, Moses led his people out of Egypt in a journey back to Canaan called the Exodus. During their journey God gave Moses two stone tablets. On the stone tablets was written the moral code known as the Ten Commandments.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. In the mid 1000s BC the Philistines invaded the Israelites’ lands. The Israelites' banded together to support a single ruler that would lead them. Kings Unite the Israelites King David was a sheep herder that the Hebrew Bible tells us how he slew the giant Goliath. David was admired for his military skills and he used his support to become king. King David established the capital of Israel in Jerusalem.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. David’s son, Solomon, took the throne about 965 BC. Like his father he was a strong king. He expanded the kingdom. He built the great temple to God in Jerusalem. This temple became a symbol of the Israelites faith. Finding the Main Idea- Why did the Israelites unite under a king?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. After Solomon’s death about 930 BC, revolts broke out about who would be the next king. Israel spit into two kingdoms, called Israel and Judah. The two kingdoms were defeated by the Assyrians and the people of Israel dispersed. Later the Chaldeans defeated the Jews and Judah lasted no longer. Invaders Conquer and Rule The Chaldeans destroyed Solomon’s temple and forced the Jews to work as slaves. In the 50s BC a people called the Persians conquered the Chaldeans and let the Jews return to Jerusalem. Many never took the opportunity to return. Others scattered over other parts of the Persian Empire.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Scholars call the dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and Judah the Diaspora. Invaders Conquer and Rule Tired of foreign rule, a Jewish family called the Maccabees led a successful revolt in the 160s BC. For a hundred years the Jews were ruled by their own king until the Jews were again conquered by the Romans. The Romans heavily taxed the Jews. They had no respect for Jewish religious beliefs. The Romans forced the Jews to worship the Roman Emperor. This was too much for the Jews to bear so they called upon to revolt against the Romans. Independence and Conquest Reading Check-Summarizing: How did Roman rule affect Jewish society?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Women in Israelite Society Israelite society was dominated by men. Women had to obey their fathers and their husbands. A women could not choose her husband or own property. Queen Ester and Deborah saved people from their enemies. Other women such as Miriam, became spiritual leaders.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Section 2: Jewish Beliefs and Texts Essential Question: How did the Hebrews defend themselves and maintain their beliefs? The Big Idea: The central ideas and laws of Judaism are contained in sacred texts such as the Torah. If you were there… You live in a small town in ancient Israel. Some people in your town treat strangers very badly. But you have been taught to be fair and kind to everyone, including strangers. One day, you tell one of your neighbors he should be kinder to strangers. He asks you why you feel this way. How will you explain your belief in kindness?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.  The Dead Sea Scrolls reveal many past Jewish beliefs.  Beliefs in God, education, justice and obedience anchor Jewish society. Main Ideas  Jewish beliefs are listed in the Torah, the Hebrew Bible, and the Commentaries.  The ideas of Judaism have shaped our culture.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Jewish Beliefs Anchor Their Society Religion is the foundation upon which the Jews base their whole society. The central ideas of Judaism are beliefs in God, education, justice, and obedience.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. In an ancient world where most people worshipped many gods, the Jews’ worship of only one God set them apart. This worship also shaped Jewish society. The Jews believed that God had guided their history through relationships with Abraham, Moses and other leaders. Belief in One God Most importantly, Jews believe in one God. The belief in one god is called monotheism.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Belief in Education Teaching the Jewish children the basics of Judaism has always been important in Jewish society. Older boys, not girls, studied with professional teachers to learn their religion. Even today, education and study are central to Jewish life. The Jews believed in kindness and fairness in dealing with other people. This includes helping the poor, sick and the orphans. Jews are also expected to be fair in business dealings. Justice and Righteousness

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Observance of Religious Moral Law Jews believe that God gave them laws to follow. The most important Jewish laws are the Ten Commandments. The Jews believe this is only part of Jewish law. Jews believe that Moses recorded a whole system of Jewish laws called Mosaic law. Mosaic law guided Jews’ daily lives. For example, Mosaic law governed how people prayed and celebrate holidays. The laws forbid the Jews to work on holidays or the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week. Mosaic laws determined the rules for eating food and preparing food. For example, Jews can not eat pork or shellfish. Many Jewish communities today follow strict Mosaic law. Reading Check-What are the most important beliefs in Judaism?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Texts List Jewish Beliefs The laws of Judaism are described in several sacred texts, or writings Ancient Jews recorded their laws and history in five books called the Torah, the most sacred text of Judaism. Readings from the Torah are central to Jewish religious services today in every synagogue, or Jewish house of worship.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. The Hebrew Bible The Torah is the first part of group of writings called the Hebrew Bible Tanakh (tah-NAHK.) The second part is made up of eight books that describes the messages of Jewish prophets. Prophets are people who are said to receive messages from God to be taught to others. The final part of the Hebrew Bible is eleven books of poetry, songs, lessons, and history. The final part also contains proverbs and short expressions of wisdom.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Commentaries For centuries scholars have studied the bible. Because some laws were hard to understand, the scholars wrote commentaries to help explain them. Commentaries about everyday life from the bible are contained in the Talmud. Will you join the rebellion? Why or why not?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Scrolls Reveal Past Beliefs The Dead Sea Scrolls were writings by the Jews 2,000 years ago. The scrolls contained prayers, commentaries, letters, and passages from the Hebrew Bible. Readings from scrolls helped historians find about the lives of Jews during this time. Reading Check- What did the Dead Sea Scrolls contain?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Judaism and Later Cultures For centuries Judaism has influenced many cultures. Judaism helped shape the largest religion in modern society, Christianity. Jesus’ teachings were based on the Jewish religion. The first people to adopt Islam were descendants from Abraham and followed the Jewish religion. The Ten Commandments became a guide to many people in running the way they should live. Helping the needy through charity was a concept largely based on Jewish teachings.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Section 3: Judaism Over the Centuries Essential Question: How did the Hebrews defend themselves and maintain their beliefs? The Big Idea: Although many Jews were forced out of Israel by the Romans, shared beliefs and customs helped the Jews maintain their religion. If you were there… Foreign soldiers have taken over your homeland forcing you to obey their laws. So, some people are urging you to stand up and fight for freedom. But your conquerors come from a huge, powerful empire. If your people revolt, you have little chance of winning. Will join the rebellion? Why or why not?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.  Revolt, defeat, and migration led into great changes in Jewish culture.  Because Jews settled in different parts of the world, two cultural traditions formed. Main Ideas  Jewish traditions and holy days celebrate history and religion.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Revolt, Defeat, and Migration The Jews in Jerusalem had grown tired of foreign rule. Many Jews thought they could revolt and re-create the kingdom of Israel. A group of Jews called the Zealots, led the Jews in a revolt against the Romans. The Jews lost the battle and the Romans burned down the second temple. After the temple was destroyed the Jews surrendered and became Roman slaves.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Results of the Revolt The Romans killed many of the Jews as punishment and took the surviving Jews to Rome to be slaves. Some Jewish people escaped and moved to other Jewish communities outside of Jerusalem in the Roman empire. A second revolt against the Romans, buy the Jews was crushed by the Romans. Any Jews caught in the city were killed so the Jews migrated throughout the Mediterranean.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Migration and Discrimination Without a temple, Rabbis, or religious teachers, took on an important role in guiding the Jews in their religious lives. Rabbis shaped how Judaism was practiced for the next few centuries. Over the centuries, Jews moved out of the Mediterranean region to other parts of the world. Jews were discriminated against by many other religious groups. They eventually settled in Asia, Russia, and much later the United States. As you read earlier, this dispersal around the word was called the Diaspora

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Traditions and Holy Days The Jews felt that by celebrating holidays it would help them understand and celebrate their history. A Jewish tradition that honors the rededication of the second temple during the revolt of the Maccabees. Chanukah (Hanukkah) According to a legend, the Maccabees didn’t have enough oil to perform the rededication ceremony of the temple. Miraculously, the oil they had-enough to burn on day- burned eight full days.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. More important than Chanukah, Passover was a time the Jews remember the Exodus, Passover the journey of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. According to Jewish tradition, the Israelites left so quickly that the bakers didn’t have time to let their bread rise. Therefore Jews only eat Matzo on Passover.

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. The High Holy Days are the two most sacred of all Jewish holy days. High Holy Days They take place in September and October. The first holiday is Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The second holiday, Yom Kippur, in which Jews ask for forgiveness from their sins. On Yom Kippur, Jewish people fast for an entire day. Modern day Jews hold services for these holidays in a synagogue during these holy days. Reading Check- Finding Main Ideas-What name is given to the two most important Jewish Holy Days?

Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. Flag of Israel