Judaism: Central Beliefs, History & Diaspora
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Chapter 12 Notes Mr. Tsolomitis’ class
Introduction • After the death of King Solomon, the Hebrew kingdom split in two. • Israel in 722 B.C.E. was conquered by the Assyrians. • Judah in 597 B.C.E. was invaded by the Neo-Babylonians • The split of the Hebrew kingdom and the captivity in Babylon was the beginning of the Jewish Diaspora (diaspora= “scattering”)
12.2: The Central Beliefs and Teachings of Judaism • Monotheism • Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion • God is all-powerful and all-knowing • Many Jews feel they have a personal relationship with God: they speak to Him through prayer • God is the source of morality (the standards of right and wrong) • Jews believe in a solemn duty to honor and obey God
12.2: The Central Beliefs and Teachings of Judaism (continued) • Following God’s Law • The oldest laws are the Ten Commandments • Set aside a holy day for rest and prayer, called the Sabbath. • Set laws of right and wrong, such as not stealing or murdering. • Over time, Jewish religious leaders developed a much larger set of rules about things like food preparation and what foods should be avoided. • Developed practices such as Passover (holy days celebrating God’s rescue of the Hebrews from Egypt)
12.2: The Central Beliefs and Teachings of Judaism (continued) • Equality and Social Justice • Hebrews did NOT view their leaders as gods. • Even kings had to obey God’s laws. • All people who keep the laws are equal in God’s sight. • Caring for the less fortunate people in society is a basic value in Judaism. • Many stories and sayings in the Torah teach about treating everyone fairly. • “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor.”
12.2: The Central Beliefs and Teachings of Judaism (continued) • The Importance of Study • In addition to studying the Torah, Jews also study interpretations made by scholars and rabbis. • In the 200’s C.E., Jewish scholars began writing the Talmud(the collection of ancient Jewish writings that interpret the law of the Torah). • Jews have kept their reverence for study and learning. • Many Jews stay in touch with Jewish history, laws and traditions. • Also pass on their knowledge to other members of the faith.
12.3 Foreign Domination and the Jewish Diaspora • In 586 B.C.E. Jerusalem and the Jewish temple were destroyed. • This destruction, along with the fall of Judah, threatened the survival of Jewish beliefs. • Many Jews would not return to their homeland after being freed from Babylon • Those who did would find it ruled by foreign leaders.
12.3 Foreign Domination and the Jewish Diaspora (continued) • Ruled by the Babylonians, Persians and Greeks for nearly 400 years. • In 539 B.C.E. the Babylonians were conquered by the Persians, who set the Jews free. • Many returned to Judah and immediately began building a new temple. • Others stayed behind in Babylon. • Greek rulers tried to force them to worship Greek idols. • Jews rebelled in 168 B.C.E. and started a war that lasted 27 years. • In 164 B.C.E. the Jews reclaimed Jerusalem from the Greeks and re-purified the temple. • Hanukkah is celebrated to honor this victory.
12.3 Foreign Domination and the Jewish Diaspora (continued) • Rule by the Romans • In 63 B.C.E. the Romans conquered Judah. • The Romans executed more than 50,000 Jews during the occupation. • Allowed the Jews to practice their own religion and govern some of their own affairs. • In 22 B.C.E. King Herod was allowed to begin rebuilding the temple to be more magnificent than Solomon’s temple.
12.3 Foreign Domination and the Jewish Diaspora (continued) • Rule by the Romans (continued) • In 66 C.E. the Jews rose up against the Romans and kicked them out. • In 70 C.E. the Roman leader named Titus led a large army and destroyed Jerusalem and the temple (again). • Only remaining part standing is the Western Wall, which Jews consider sacred. • Romans seized Jewish land and forbade Jews from entering Jerusalem. • Thousands of Jews were sent to other parts of the Roman Empire.
12.4 Preserving and Passing on the Teachings of Judaism • Rabbi Yahanan ben Zaccai • Worried that if the rabbis died and the temple was destroyed, Judaism would have nothing. • Ben Zaccai begged the Jews to surrender to save Judaism. • When they refused, he turned to the Romans for help. • Ben Zaccai faked his death and was smuggled out of Jerusalem in a coffin. • Came to an agreement with the Roman general Vespasian to start a Jewish school in Yavneh. • Yavneh became the center of Jewish life, where they created a new religious lawmaking body and trained other rabbis (who would return to their communities)
12.4 Preserving and Passing on the Teachings of Judaism • New Teachers and Practices • Traditionally, only religious leaders were allowed to read from the Torah. • The rabbis at Yavneh decided any adult Jewish male could read it. • Made the synagogue more important in Jewish life. • Build a synagogue wherever there are at least 10 adult male Jews. • In 1948, Israel was created and many Jews moved back to the Holy Land.