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Survey of Jewish History

Survey of Jewish History. Introduction to Judaism Winter 2008. Two Centers: Babylon and Jerusalem (4th-10th Century). Jews in the Sassanid Empire . Long history in Babylon Is this Exile? “We have made ourselves in Babylonia the equivalent of Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel.)” (Talmud)

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Survey of Jewish History

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  1. Survey of Jewish History Introduction to Judaism Winter 2008

  2. Two Centers: Babylon and Jerusalem (4th-10th Century)

  3. Jews in the Sassanid Empire • Long history in Babylon • Is this Exile? • “We have made ourselves in Babylonia the equivalent of Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel.)” (Talmud) • Cultural split between Jewish communities

  4. The Sassanid Empire (224-642)

  5. Life Under the Sassanids • Political and religious autonomy • Exilarch (Resh Galuta) • Centralized and Recognized Leadership • Operate outside Roman Empire • Cultural autonomy • No need to respond to Christianity • Paradox of acculturation in Palestine vs. Babylon

  6. Babylon as Jewish Authority • Central academies move to Babylon • Babylonia Talmud (5th Century CE) • Longer, more sophisticated than Jerusalem Talmud • Central text from Babylon not Jerusalem

  7. The Babylonian Talmud

  8. Jews Under Islam and Christendom • What are similarities? • Theological place for Jews • Jews as second class citizen • Differences? • Islam sees Judaism as venerable precursor • Christianity ambivalent about Jews • The Problem with Monotheistic Truth

  9. Judaism and Early Islam • Jews already highly integrated into Arabian culture • Biblical Culture had become Arabized • Abraham as founder of sacred shrines • Muhammad expects Jews to become Muslims (submitters) • Jews (as recorded in Qu’ran) refuse to accept Muhammad

  10. The Rapid Rise of Islam • Muhammad (570-632) from Mecca • Emigrates to Medina with Followers • Following death, Islamic Empire spreads rapidly • Global Jewish popular share one culture

  11. The Spread of Islam and the Jews

  12. Jews Under Islam • “Fight against those who do not believe in God or in the Last Day, and do not forbid what God and His messenger have forbidden, and do not practice the religion of truth among those who have been given the book, until the pay the juzya[special tax] of hand, humbled.” (Qur’an 9:29)

  13. The Jew in Islamic Society • What do you know about Islamic-Jewish relations today? • Jews and Christians: People of the Book • Christians suspect--Trinity • Second Class Status-Dhimmis • Economic Restrictions • Social Restrictions (clothes, horses) • Religious Restrictions (new churches)

  14. Jews Thrive Under Islam • Islamic World center of culture, science, philosophy (7-13th century) • Center of Jewish life moves to Baghdad • Saadia Gaon (882-942) • Jewish philosophy in Arabic • Refers to God as Allah • First Jewish theology • Karaites-”People of Scripture” (8th century)

  15. The Golden Age of Spain (9th-12th Century) • Islamic Conquest spreads to Iberian Peninsula • Jews Completely integrated into society • Multi-ethnic, multi-religious • Polygamy • Rabbi Courtiers and Arabic love poetry • Kahal-Jewish Communal Infrastructure

  16. The Golden Age in Andalusia

  17. Cordoba Synagogue, 1314

  18. Wine, Woman, and Death “There came a voice: ‘Awake!’ Drink wine at morning’s break ‘Mid rose and camphor make A feast of all your hours… How can we be carefree Or raise our cups in glee, When by all men are we Rejected and despised?” (Dunash ben Labrat)

  19. End of the Golden Age • Almoravides from the South (12th Cent) • Christians from the North • Growing Pressure to Convert • Inquisition (1480) and “New Christians” • Expulsion in 1492 and Sephardim

  20. Jews in Medieval Christian Europe • Christendom vs. Islamic Empire • Frankish Kings bring Jews to Central/Western Europe (9th century) • Asheknazim • Sets up basic economic tension • Not in Feudal hierarchy • Rely fully upon King, baron, or bishop • Corporate communities

  21. What Brings Jews to Central Europe? • Economics • International Merchants • Settle at Political/Economic Centers • Sets up basic economic tension • Not in Feudal hierarchy-No Land • Rely on Imperial or Royal protection • What are some of the problems with this set-up?

  22. How do Jews in Christian Europe Live? • Corporate communities • Charters for self-rule-royal support • Not integrated into Feudal Structure • Jewish court in charge of religions and civil affairs • Not living in Ghettos • Social Mixing (trade, conversation, debates) • Polemical Interaction with Christians • Ecclesia vs. Synagoga

  23. Rabbinic Leadership • Scholasticism generates interest in Jewish texts by Rabbinic leaders • Rashi (1040-1105) in Troyes and disciples • Best way to study Old French!

  24. The Crusades and Medieval Persecution • Rescue Christian Holy Sites (1099) • Widespread massacres and forced conversion • Blood Libels (1144) • Fourth Lateran Council (1215) • Limited Usury, Jewish badge • Talmud on-trial-Why? • Black Death and Poison Wells (1348)

  25. Jewish Expulsion • 1290 Expulsion from England • 1306-1394 Jews expelled from France • 1492 Expulsion from Spain

  26. To Sum Up A Millennia • What new challenges does post Second Temple Judaism pose? • Is there a Jewish geographical, textual, linguistic center? • How do Jews fare similarly/differently in Christian vs. Islamic societies?

  27. Center Shifts to Poland • Polish nobles encourage Jewish immigration • “Po-lin” “Here we stay” • Jews fill need for business expertise, trade, and land management • Council of the Four Lands • 1791 Established as the Pale of Settlement

  28. Ottoman Empire (15th Century-20th century) • Welcome Spanish (Sephardic) refugees • Great economic opportunity • Multi-linguistic, tolerant Empire • Ladino

  29. Return to Palestine • Revival of Palestinian community • Importance of Safed • Center for Kabbalah • How to explain the exile? • Mystical approach

  30. Jews in the Modern Period • Emancipation • Recognition of Jews as equal citizens • The price of citizenship • Enlightenment • Reason over revelation • The challenge to Judaism

  31. The Enlightenment and Religion

  32. Jewish Integration • Rapidly enter the middle-class • Embrace citizenship and national culture • Judaism as a religion of reason • The Limits of Emancipation

  33. Major Developments • Rise of Zionism and Founding of the State of Israel • Holocaust and Destruction of European Jewry • Russian Revolution and Suppression of Judaism in the Soviet Union • Rise of the United States as Jewish Center

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