The History and Beliefs of Judaism

1. The History and Beliefs of Judaism

2. The Beginnings of Judaism The Hebrew God told a man named Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia and journey west. Abraham settled in Canaan and his descendants, known as the Israelites, lived there for many years until a famine, when many moved to Egypt. This is the beginning of Judaism’s history.

3. Egypt and the Exodus As the Israelites’ population grew in Egypt, so the Pharoah began to enslave the Israelites. They remained enslaved until the Hebrew God told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. The Pharaoh refused to free the Israelites, and so ten terrible plagues struck the Egyptians. The Pharaoh was so afraid of the plagues, he allowed Moses to lead them out of Egypt. This event is called the Exodus and it is remembered during Passover.

4. The Ten Commandments As the Israelites traveled back to Canaan, the Hebrew God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai. This was when Moses received the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments shaped their society and were a promise the Israelites made to their God.

5. Return to Canaan Upon returning to Canaan, the Israelites needed to gain control of the land before they settle. After they re-conquered Canaan, they lived in scattered communities with separate judges, leaders and laws. To protect themselves from the Philistines who lived along the Mediterranean, they united under King Saul, the first King of the Israelites.

6. Kings of Israel King David, who was recognized by the King of Israel when he slew the giant Goliath, was admired by many and established the capital of Israel in the city Jerusalem Solomon, David’s son, was also a strong king, who built the Kingdom of Israel through expansion into Egypt and Phoenecia. After Solomon’s death, the Kingdom of Israel weakened and split into Israel and Judah.

7. Captivities and Diaspora Between c. 725 BC and 60 BC, the Israelites (of Israel) and the Jews (of Judah) were held captive and released by different cultures. During the Babylonian captivity, they were marched to the Fertile Crescent. When they were freed and protected by the Persians, they were allowed to go back to Israel and Judah, but many scattered throughout the Persian Empire. This spreading out is called the Diaspora.

8. Captivities and Diaspora The Jews and Israelites were conquered when the Persians were and were ruled by foreign control for over two hundred years. They fought for independence and ruled themselves for one hundred years before they were held captive by the Romans. Over many centuries, after the Romans forced them out of Jerusalem, two cultural traditions developed: one in Eastern Europe and the other in Spain and Portugal.

9. The Central Beliefs of Judaism • Belief in one God – monotheism – It is believed Judaism is the first monotheistic faith • Belief in education – religious teachers named rabbis guide many in their religious lives • The ideas of justice and righteousness – being fair and doing what is proper • Observing the moral laws of the Commandments and the later Mosaic law

10. Religious Texts • The Tanakh– or Hebrew Bible – is broken into three parts: The Torah, the works of the prophets and books of history and culture. • The Torah- Most of the Mosaic Law can be found five books of the Tanahk • Prophetsare people believed to receive messages from God • The Talmud is not part of the Tanakh but it contains commentaries and explanations and it is respected as a holy text • The Torah is read at synagogue, or Jewish house of worship