JUDAISM Chapter 4

A BRIEF HISTORY OF JUDAISM Origins: back 3800 years to Abraham (patriarch) & Sarah (matriarch) of Israelites Abraham Isaac Esau + Jacob (also known as Israel) Jacob (Israel) 12 Sons, Joseph Israelites in Egypt COVENANT: a promise between God & the People God is their God, they are God’s people

KINGDOM Saul (1 st King) David (Jerusalem the capital city) Bathsheba, wife of Uriah Solomon (3 rd King) Builds the Temple Israel in the North Judah in the South

INVASION & CAPTIVITY Assyrians invade Israel 721 BCE Babylonians invade Judah, destroy the Temple 586 BCE Return to Jerusalem 539 BCE Maccabean Revolt 164 BCE, rededication of Temple 8 day miracle  Hannakah

BIRTH OF MODERN JUDAISM 66 CE, Judea ruled by Romans Zealots, rebelled, Romans laid siege to Jerusalem Temple destroyed 70 CE Christianity & Rabbinic Judaism survived, but changed

MESSIAH Anointed One Christ Christos in Greek Christians accepted Jesus as the Messiah

RABBINIC JUDAISM Halakhic Judaism Begun by Pharisees Temple destroyed New focus: sacred writings Synagogues, study houses Torah, “the teaching” (instruction) The Law The Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) Interpreters of Torah: scribes or rabbis

DIASPORA 135 CE, Romans expelled Jews from Judea Most Jews scattered, dispersed outside Israel The desire to return to Israel & Jerusalem is a key aspect of Jewish history and faith

JEWS IN CHRISTIAN EUROPE Ashkenazim Northern, Central, Eastern Europe Sephardim Spain, Portugal, North Africa Both groups had immeasurable influence on the intellectual, economic, cultural and spiritual lives Yet: still considered “other” & set apart

JEWISH MYSTICAL MOVEMENTS Kabbalah 12 th Century Text: Zohar Journey into self of each person God indescribable, “Ein Sof” means “without end” Hasidism 18 th Century Founder: Israel ben Eliezer Communion with God through prayer, good deeds, humility, joy Humorous stories Leaders: “rebbes”