Download File

The
Ancient
Hebrews
and the
Origins of
Judaism
Ch. 11
Who were the Hebrews?
• The Hebrews were a group
of people who lived
northeast of Egypt.
• The Hebrew civilization
developed gradually after
1800 B,C,E, and flourished
until 70 C.E.
• The people who became
Hebrews originally lived in
Mesopotamia.
– Around 1950 B.C.E.,
they moved to the land
of Canaan (modern day
Israel)
Who were the Hebrews?
• The Hebrews were the
founders of Judaism
– Judaism: one of the
world’s major religions
• The Hebrews eventually
became known as the
Jews.
– Judaism is the Jewish
religion.
Yaweh and the Jews
• Jews believe that there is a single God
who not only created the universe, but
with whom every Jew can have an
individual and personal relationship.
• Jews believe that God appointed the
Jews to be his chosen people in order
to set an example of holiness and
ethical behaviour to the world.
Yahweh and the Jews
• A summary of what Jews believe about
God
– God exists
– There is only one God
– There are no other gods
– God can't be subdivided into different
persons (unlike the Christian view of God)
– Jews should worship only the one God
What is the Torah?
• The Torah
is the
Jewish
Bible (also
known by
Christians
as the Old
Testament)
.
• The word
Torah
means
“God’s
teaching.”
• The Torah
contains
the basic
laws of
Judaism
and tells
many
stories
about the
history of
the Hebrew
people.
The Early History of the Hebrews
According to the Torah, the ancestor of the Hebrews, a man
named Abraham, lived near Ur in Mesopotamia.
– Around
1950 B.C.E.,
Abraham and
his clan
migrated to
the land of
Canaan.
– In the land of
Canaan, the
Hebrews
became nomads
who herded
flocks of sheep
and goats.
The Early History of the Hebrews
•About 1800
B.C.E., many
Hebrews
moved to
Egypt.
•According
to the first
book of the
Torah,
Genesis, they
fled Canaan
because of a
famine.
EGYPT
The Early History of the Hebrews
• For a time, they prospered in Egypt, but eventually they
were made slaves.
• In time, one of their leaders, Moses, led the Hebrews in
their escape from Egypt.
- For 40 years,
says the Torah,
the Hebrews
wandered in the
wilderness, until
they settled
once again in
Canaan.
The Early History of the Hebrews
• By 1000 B.C.E., the
Hebrews had set up the
kingdom of Israel in
Canaan under King David
and his son, King
Solomon.
– David forged the Hebrews
into one united nation.
– Solomon built a
magnificent temple in the
capitol city of Jerusalem.
Important Hebrew Leaders
• The ancient Hebrews
told many stories about
their leaders in the
Torah.
• Four key leaders were:
–
–
–
–
Abraham
Moses
David
Solomon
• First, we will have a quick
overview of who each of
these men were and what
makes them so important.
• Then we will learn more
about each of these four
important leaders by looking
at some of the stories from
the Torah.
Important Hebrew Leaders
Abraham
• The “father of the Hebrews”
• According to the Torah, Abraham introduced
the belief in “one God” to the Hebrews.
– This was a new idea in the ancient world.
– At the time, most people worshiped many gods and
goddesses.
• Led the Hebrews from Mesopotamia to Canaan.
– According to the Torah, God promised to make
Abraham the father of a great nation and bless his
people if he would take the Hebrews to Canaan.
– As a result, many Jews consider themselves to be
God’s “chosen people.”
Important Hebrew Leaders
Moses
• The greatest leader of the Hebrews
• According to the Torah, Moses led his
people out of slavery in Egypt.
– Moses told the Hebrews that God would
lead them to Canaan, the “promised land,” in
exchange for their faithful obedience.
• Moses also gave Judaism its
fundamental laws.
– The Torah tells how God gave Moses 10
important laws engraved on two stone
tablets.
• These laws became the foundation of Judaism.
Important Hebrew Leaders
Kings David and Solomon
• After escaping from Egypt and
wandering in the wilderness, the
Hebrews came once more to Canaan.
– It was there that they created a kingdom
under King David and his son, Solomon.
•
King David established Jerusalem as a
holy city.
• King Solomon built Jerusalem’s first
great temple.
– The city of Jerusalem and its temple
became powerful symbols to the Hebrews
of their faith in God.
Beliefs
• Prayer
– Several times a day – when waking, before and after
meals, before bed and any other time you wish during
the day
• The Synagogue
– Jewish place of prayer and worship
• Usually led by rabbi; can be led by any adult
– He (or she in Reform and some Conservative
communities) leads services, educates, and officiates
at events like bar mitzvahs, weddings and funerals
• Main services held on the Sabbath (Shabbat) –
either Friday evening or Saturday morning
Beliefs
• Kosher Food laws concern:
• What foods can be eaten
• How foods must be prepared
• The laws are found in the Torah
• Trayf – food that is not kosher and cannot be
consumed
• Pareve – food that can be eaten at any time, with
any other food
–
–
–
–
–
–
Kosher animals chew their cud and have cloven hoofs (cattle, sheep, goats, deer)
Animals must be humanely slaughtered under the supervision of a trained shochef
Domesticated fowl can be eaten; birds of prey cannot
Reptiles, amphibians and insects are trayf
Blood cannot be consumed
Meat and milk cannot be consumed at the same meal
Traditions and Holy Days
• Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah
– Son or Daughter of Commandment – the child
officially becomes an adult in the Jewish
community
• Shivah (Mourning)
– 7 days after death of a family member
• Remain at home except for going to synagogue
• Wear black, No work
• Men don’t shave
Traditions and Holy Days
• Hanukkah- a holiday that celebrates the
rededication of the second temple
during the revolt of the Maccabees
• The Maccabees wanted to celebrate
their great victory
• According to legend they did not have
enough oil to perform the rededication
ceremony
Hanukkah
• Miraculously the oil the had, enough to only
last 1 day burned for 8 full days!
• Today Jews light candles in a special candle
holder called a menorah
• The 8 branched Menorah represents the 8
days the oil burned
• Most Jews exchange gifts each night of
Hanukkah
• Celebrated in December
Passover
• More important than Hanukkah
• A time to remember the exodus
– God had the Hebrews mark their doorways with
blood, then the angel of death took the first
born from Every house who did not have the
marking. Jews were “passed over”
• Celebrated in March or April
• Only bread is eaten during Passover