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Judaism Unit
4 - Got it
3 - Almost there
2 - Moving in the right direction
1 - Just getting started
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Learning Targets
1
I can describe the main beliefs of Judaism.
2
I can describe the geographical origin of Judaism. Where did Judaism begin?
3
I can map how Judaism spread across the world from its start until 300CE.
4
I can describe major historical events in the origins of Judaism.
5
I can identify and describe how Judaism influenced beliefs, customs, and
cultures around the world. How does Judaism affect people’s lives (clothing,
food, holidays, etc.)?
Comments/Questions:
Reading notes: Using Michigan Open Book, Chapter 5:
Section 1 “What is Religion?” Introduction…these three questions are just good to know:
1. What is monotheism?
__The belief in one God__________________________________________
2. What is polytheism?
__The belief in many Gods__________________________________________
3. What are the five major world religions? (Just list them)
Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism
Section 2: What is Judaism?
History of the Israelites:
4. Connected to: LT 5: What is one way Judaism has influenced Western civilization? (Western
civilization includes the Americas, Canada and parts of Europe.)
(More than one possible answer) Judaism has influenced Western civilization in many ways.
For example, common names like Adam and Sarah have their roots in Judaism.
5. Jewish people are also called Israelites and __Hebrews_.
6. (LT 1-4) Which sources do historians use to learn about the ancient Israelites?
They use many ancient artifacts and texts.
7. (LT1) One source that is used often by historians to learn about the Hebrews is Judaism’s
most sacred text. What is this text called? The Torah
8. (LT 1) The Torah is the first 5 books of the Jewish __Bible_.
9. Did you know that the Jewish Bible is the same as the Old Testament in the Christian Bible?
What might this tell you about the religions of Judaism and Christianity?
____This tells us that these two religions are very related and similar. _________________________
10. (LT 4) In the space below, create a timeline covering 2000BCE to 1000BCE. Include the
below dates on your timeline and a brief description of the event occurring on that date.
1950 BCE, 1800 BCE, 1250 BCE**, 1000 BCE, Exodus (just place it on the timeline, there
is not exact date of this.)
**1250 BCE is not in this chapter, but this is the approximate date that Hebrews were
enslaved by Egyptians.
Can’t make timeline on computer but here is the order:
1950 BCE: Abraham moves his family from Mesopotamia to Canaan.
1800 BCE: Hebrews move from Canaan to Egypt due to famine.
1250 BCE: Approximate date that Hebrews were enslaved by Egyptians.
Exodus: Hebrews leave Egypt to escape slavery.
1000 BCE: The Hebrews establish the Kingdom of Israel.
11. (LT 4) What was the Exodus?
It was when the Hebrews left Egypt to escape slavery. They were led by Moses and went
back to Canaan.
12. (LT 2) Having now read the History of the Israelites section, answer this question: describe
the geographical origin of Judaism. Where did Judaism begin? Explain why you think this.
Canaan is the geographical origin of Judaism. According to the Torah, God told Abraham that
Canaan was the Hebrew’s promised land as long as Abraham and his descendants worshipped
God and only God.
13. On the map below, put a star where you think the geographical origin of Judaism is:
14. (LT 4 and 5) Continue Reading the section Titled: Important Jewish Leaders. Fill in the
chart below. (page 102-109 in your History Alive textbooks also have some good
information about these leaders).
The below are possible answers:
Stop reading the Michigan Open book chapter at Exile and Rule by Foreign Power.
Get out your History Alive book and turn to chapter 12 on page 111.
15. LT 4: Read the introduction of chapter 12 and answer this question: What does the word,
diaspora mean?
A scattering
16. (LT 1) Read Section 12.2 to help you fill out the chart below.
Directions:
-In the first column, identify the four central beliefs and teachings of Judaism, as discussed
in Section 2. An example is fill out for you.
-In the second column, briefly describe each belief or teaching.
-In the third column, explain how each belief or teaching is influential today. You may have
to make some inferences to answer this part.
Last page of packet: Diaspora Page 12.3 and 12.4: Answers may be slightly different:
Student:
Rabbi:
Student: How did the Jewish
Diaspora begin, and why was it
difficult for followers of Judaism?
Rabbi: The Jewish Diaspora began in
597 B.C.E., when the Babylonians
conquered Judah. Thousands of Jews
entered captivity in Babylon. From
this time on, the followers of Judaism
were scattered in many lands or were
dominated by foreign rulers. It would
not be easy to keep Judaism alive.
Student: Which foreign powers ruled Rabbi: The Babylonians were
Judah, and how did they treat the
conquered in 539 B.C.E. by the
Jews?
Persians. The Persian king Cyrus
ended the exile of the Jews, and many
of them returned to Judah. For nearly
400 years, Judah was ruled by
foreigners. Most rulers were harsh.
The Greek ruler Antiochus tried to
force the Jews to worship idols of
Greek gods, but the Jews rebelled and
drove the Greeks out. The Romans
conquered Judah in 63 B.C.E. While
they did allow Jews to practice their
religion and govern some affairs, the
Romans were quick to act against any
sign of rebellion. They executed more
than 50,000 Jews.
Student: What happened after the
Jews rose up against the Romans in
66 C.E.? in 135 C.E.?
Rabbi: The Jews kept the Romans
out of Jerusalem for three years, but
in 70 C.E., Titus led a Roman army
against the Jews. The Jews were
outnumbered, and the Romans
destroyed Jerusalem and the Second
Temple. In 135 C.E. the Romans
ended another Jewish revolt and
forced most Jews to move away. This
began the final exile of the Jewish
people from their homeland.
Student: Where did the Jews live
during the Jewish Diaspora?
Rabbi: After losing control of their
homeland, Jews were exiled
throughout many gentile, or nonJewish, lands.
Student: Who was Yohannan ben
Zaccai, and why was he significant?
Rabbi: Yohannan ben Zaccai was a
rabbi who gained permission from the
Romans to start a Jewish school in
the town of Yavneh. He was afraid
that Judaism would not survive
because of the fighting with the
Romans. When Jerusalem fell,
Yavneh became the center of Jewish
learning. Ben Zaccai’s rabbis trained
teachers and rabbis, who returned
home to share what they had learned.
The rabbis at Yavneh made sure that
Jews still had leaders to guide them.
Student: What new practices
developed over time that helped
Judaism survive?
Rabbi: New practices were
introduced to ensure that the
teachings of Judaism would be passed
on. The rab- bis at Yavneh made the
synagogue more important. They also
created a religious service for use in
the synagogue.