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The Faith of Father Abraham Antiquities of the Jews (a History) 2000 BC – Traditional Date for Abraham 1500-1350 BC – Disputed date for Moses and “Exodus” 1450 BC – Writing of the Torah – first 5 books 1000 BC – United Kingdom under King David 960 BC – Solomon builds the First Temple 722 BC – Assyrian Captivity of Northern Kingdoms 600 BC – Babylonian Talmud - second most important Jewish book of literature is finished 587 BC – Babylonian Captivity of the Southern Kingdoms (in Exile – distanced from homeland) 450 BC – Return to Jerusalem; Ezra rebuilds the Temple 332 BC – Conquered by Alexander the Great 167 BC – Invasion of Antiochus “Ephiphanies” 164 BC – Maccabeen Revolt (Hannukah) History Part II 63 BC – Roman invasion by Pompey 37 BC – 4 AD – Herod the Great rebuilds the Temple Called: The Second Temple 66-70 AD – Jewish revolt against Roman rule Josephus captured – becomes Roman translator 70 AD – Temple destroyed 136 AD – Simon Bar Kochba executed; Jerusalem destroyed Diaspora – the fleeing of the Jews from Jerusalem 200 AD – Mishna written down 700-1100 AD – Islamic domination (tolerant) European Jews begin speaking a Heb/German mix = Yiddish 1100-1500 AD – Christian persecution of Jews 1933-1948 AD – World War II; 6 Million Jews executed (Holocaust) Israel becomes an independent nation-state What’s In A Name? YHWH – Judaism’s One God’s revealed name; it means “I am that I am” Judaism is Monotheistic When used in the Hebrew Bible, it often appears as “LORD” Tetragrammaton – the four-letter word for the Jewish God Biblical Names are often associated with the narrative of the character: “Adam” – man “Eve” - alive “Abraham” – father of many “Benjamin” – favorite son “David” – beloved “Isaiah” – the Lord is my salvation “Joel” – the Lord is God “Joshua” – the Lord’s help “Samuel” – the Lord Hears “Israel” – wrestles with God (Jacob’s name change) Judah- 1 of the 12 sons of Israel (Jacob); 1 of 2 remaining tribes after captivity Origin of the word “Jew” The People of the Book The Hebrew Bible = TaNaKh Torah – the Teachings/Law 613 Commandments Nevi’im – The Prophets Kethuvim – the Writings Major Stories: The Beginnings – story of origins The Patriarchs – the faith of the fathers The Law – the story of deliverance and expectation The Rulers – kings and judges who may or may not follow the Law The Exile and Captivity – the story of bondage; and why bondage exists in the first place The Return – the story of coming back to the homeland Themes of the Hebrew Bible God is Creator of the World and Humans (in His Image) Humans are Sinful Sin – to go against the life to which God has called The Law shows the life to which God has called a Jew Sin Must Be Paid For Via A Sacrifice System (Atonement) Atonement – to bring back into right relationship Holiness (uniqueness) of the Community of Chosen People Family and Community is Central Laws on Children, Sex, Marriage, Relationships, etc. God Will Save His People From Hardship Salvation – release from oppression The Reason for Pain is Often a Personal Sinful Error God Will Fulfill His Promises to His People Often At The Expense of Other Peoples Abraham’s family and land (often violent taking of the land) Holy Land – Jerusalem (place God led Moses) A Future Deliverer Will Come (Messiah - anointed one) Major Groups (circa 165 BC) Sadducees – group of priests living in Jerusalem Pharisees – group of teachers who believed in Hebraic holiness and following the Law Rabbis - teachers Zealots – Jews who desired a “free” Jewish people willing to use violent means to accomplish this goal Herodians – Jews who bent to the will of Roman rule and preferred their rule to others Essenes – a private group of Jews living in community and following seemingly odd practices Lived near Qumran – the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1950s Jewish Beliefs Maimonides – Jewish medieval scholar 1. Belief in God One God, All-Knowing, Eternal, Creator, Just, and Loving Justice – to do what should be done for a certain situation Fairness - equality Belief in Prophet’s Words 3. Belief in God’s Law to Moses 4. Belief in Future Messiah 2. Belief in Resurrection of the “Good” 5. 6. A future deliverer will save the Jewish people Understanding of a future “world to come” Main Goal: Live a Torah life in order to live with God Human Beings are Made in “God’s Image” Belief vs. Practice Most Jewish people are more focused on orthopraxy (way of living) than orthodoxy (way of believing) Most Central, Most Common Practice: Sabbath 7th day of the week is without work Day = Sundown to Sundown (Friday night – Saturday night) Practice continues to this day Most Known Practice: Kosher Laws Holiness in diet is a reflection of holiness in life All meals must be eaten, prepared, and followed according to the Law Celebration of uniqueness and holiness Ex: No pork, Separate meat and dairy utensils, No shelled fish Other practices: Circumcision – 8 days after birth, reminder of the uniqueness of God’s people Bar/Bat Mitzvah – Rite of passage into adulthood for Jewish boys (bar) and Jewish girls (Bat) Holy Days Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year Normally in the Fall Consider Obligations and Pay Off Debts Daily blowing of the shofar – ram’s horn Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement Along with Rosh Hashanah, called the High Holy Days Sins are “paid for” by the High Priest Sukkot – the Feast of Booths Families make tents to sleep out in the fields Ends the readings of the Torah from the year before Celebration of the Harvest Hanukkah – Feast of Dedication/Feast of Lights Rededication of the (Ezra) Temple Menorah – candle holder of 8 lights during Hanakkah More Holy Days… Purim – celebration of Esther’s saving of the Jews Late-winter celebration Freedom from annihilation Passover – celebration of the Exodus from Egypt Seder – meal taken during Passover Thin bread, lamb, parsley in salt water, bitter herbs Place for Elijah with a cup of wine The Exodus story is retold throughout the night Yom Hashoah – remembrance feast for the Holocaust April or May Shavuot - calling for fasting to remember the destruction of both Temples Not widely observed anymore “A People of Prayer” After the Temple and Diaspora, the Jews decided which practices were most important. Two became central: Assembly and Prayer Assembly shifts from Temple to Synagogue After the Second Temple is destroyed the Jews shift their focus to becoming people of prayer Synagogue – means “house of prayer” Some Jews give up and call synagogue buildings “temples” Practice shifts from Sacrifice to Prayer Prayer Aides: Tefillin – or “phylacteries”, small boxes containing scriptures bound to the forehead with leather straps Talit – prayer shawl Zitzit – tassels attached to the talit (613 knots) Yarmulke – or “yamaca”, skullcap worn to remember God’s holiness in prayer Mezuzah – small container of scriptures placed at the doorpost of the house Divisions of Judaism Orthodox – attempt to live according to the Law and react against Culture Separation of Males and Females in Worship Quorum – 10 Jews males must be gathered for an official meeting Services conducted only in Hebrew Only Males can be Rabbis Males must keep their heads covered at all times Some males must wear all black clothing at all times Strict Kosher and Sabbath keeping Hope and Pray for a Return to the Holy Land Conservative – moderate approach to Judaism Kept beloved traditions: Hebrew only worship, Sabbath keeping Often separate men and women in worship assemblies In the US, half of the practicing Jews are Conservative Often have a desire to have the Jews return to Holy Land More Jewish Divisions Hasidic - group of Jews who attempt to lives as separately from the world as possible Reform – began out of a desire to stop being persecuted in Europe (especially Germany) Give up the desire to return to the Holy Land Advocates for Cultural and Religious tolerance (or “acceptance”) Men and Women do not sit separately in worship Services are in Common Speech and Hebrew Modern music is common in worship Both Men and Women may become rabbis Reconstructionist – evolving form of Judaism that allows Jews to adapt and interpret the Laws for modern and common practice Newest of the branches of Judaism The “Messiah” The Expectations for the Messiah vary: Religious Leader Political/Military Leader Social Reformer Mixture of the Above Theological Myth Nonexistent Ideal Human Failed Jewish Messiahs in History: Judas Maccabeus (fight led to temporary freedom, celebration of Hanukkah, eventually executed) Jesus of Nazareth (peaceful, accused of blasphemy, executed by the Romans, followers become Christians) Simon Bar Kochba (fight led to temporary freedom, many Jews followed him as Messiah, forced to sacrifice to Zeus and, then, executed) Jewish Mysticism Mysticism – a religious desire to become “in tune” with the higher power through emotional “breakouts” Kabbalah – group of Jews hoping to find a special revelation from God The Zohar – book written by a Jewish rabbi in 1250AD The World emerged from “pure spiritual reality” Unity comes from 10 sefiroths – divine powers Sefiroths include wisdom, intelligence, love, etc. Sefiroths are God’s links to creation The more sefiroths shown in the world results in God’s presence being able to exist in the world If more people practice the sefiroths, the “deliverer” will come and bring all things back to shalom Shalom – Jewish concept of peace, harmony, rightness, and completeness The Problem with the Holocaust Anti-Semitism – the hatred of Jewish people because of the Jewish race Existed in most European or post-European countries after the 1500’s (including the Americas): Could not hold positions in government, ghettos, etc. Attitude expressed by the German, Christian priest: Martin Luther Christians theologically viewed Jews as the “group who killed Jesus” After a embarrassing defeat in World War I and the depression that followed, Hitler decided to pin the blame on the Jewish people (because they were a “lesser race”) 6 Million Jewish people are killed by the Hitler concentration camps Anne Frank: “…in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart…” Faith Crisis: If God works for the good of His chosen people, has God turned His back on the Jews? God let it happen: What kind of God would allow this? God made it happen: Is God this unjust and changing? God could not have stopped it: Is God worthy of following since he is powerless? A Sin Caused This: What kind of sin deserves this punishment? Zionism - The Nation State of Israel is created, in large part, to appease the slimming number of Jewish people