Download Origins of Judaism

The Hebrews
Origins of Judaism
Hebrews
Became known as the Jews
 Moved from Mesopotamia to Canaan;
became slaves in Egypt
 Practiced the world’s first monotheistic
religion: Judaism

Basic Beliefs of Judaism
Believe in one God
 Believe that God will send a messiah
(savior) to save the Jewish people
 Believe the following are central to their
society:

– Education
– Justice and righteousness
– Obedience and law
Sacred Texts
The Torah is the most sacred text of
Judaism were all of the origins and basic
laws of Judaism are recorded.
 The Torah is the first of three parts of the
Hebrew Bible or Tanach. It also contains
the messages of the Hebrew prophets
(people who are said to receive messages
from God).
 The final part contains books of poetry,
songs, stories, lessons, proverbs, and
history.

Four Important Hebrew Leaders
Abraham – called the “father of the Hebrews;”
introduced belief in God to the Hebrews; lead
the Hebrews into Canaan
 Moses – great leader of the Hebrews; lead the
Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt; God gave
Moses the Ten Commandments (10 most
important laws to live by; foundation of
Judaism) to give to the Hebrews
 King David – founder of the Kingdom of Israel;
established Jerusalem as a holy city
 King Solomon – built the first great Jewish
temple; making Jerusalem and its temple
powerful symbols of the Jewish faith in God
