Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 2

Exploring the Religions of Our World Chapter 2: Judaism

Chapter 2: Judaism A Living Religion 1. Judaism is the religion practiced by Jesus when he was living on earth; Jews not responsible for his death. 2. Judaism is the religion of the Hebrew Bible and a religion still longing for God’s chosen one but not essence of Judaism 3. Personal & communal prayer, Torah study, & lived holiness rather than abstract doctrine, one God, the nation & people of Israel, sacred places & times 4. Being a Jew has both an ethnic & a religious connotation. 5. A religious Jew practices Judaism; an ethnic Jew may or may not practice Judaism; worldwide; focus on religious 6. Mark Twain’s description in 1899 Harper’s Magazine

Modern Period 1783 CE- present Medieval Period 638 CE - 1783 CE Rabbinic Period 323 BCE – 625 CE Biblical Period 1800 BCE – 323 BCE Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism Periods of Jewish History

Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism n Thousands of years of twisting history beginning with Moses & Abraham n Minority group from the Sinai desert; vast contribution to Western culture Biblical Period (1800 BCE – 323 BCE) n Abraham to death of Alexander the Great n Faith and obedience of Abraham to leave Ur, Mesopotamia with Sarah n Settled in Fertile Crescent & 3 promises fulfilled (land = Canaan, people = Isaac to habiru to Hebrews, blessing = later with Law and Covenants) n Nomadic and foreign controlled to agricultural to Egyptian slaves to covenantal people under Moses and Joshua believing in one God n After 400 years necessary to reconquer Promised Land n Confederation of tribes to kingdom under Saul, David, & Solomon n Jerusalem with Temple by Solomon became a political & religious center n Oral tradition began to be written down as Torah = law or instruction n Power and comfort led to secularism so God sent prophets like Samuel & Nathan to call back to covenant & monotheism away from idolatry n Kingdom divided; conquered—North 722 Assyrians; South 586 Babylonians n Exile purified culture & religion; Cyrus allows Jews to return; Torah completed, Temple rebuilt, & Wisdom literature emerges

Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism Rabbinic Period (323 BCE – 625 CE) n n n n Classical Judaism--Death of Alexander to Muslim conquest of Jerusalem Foreign occupation & conquest led to Diaspora = Jews not in Judea Greek Antiochus IV seized Temple & banned Judaism Maccabean revolt in 168 regained Temple in 165 BCE Hellenization led to synagogues & schools under Philo of Alexandria Synthesis of Greek philosophy & Jewish theology—septuagint = 70 Sectarianism—Sadducees (Zadok, strict), Pharisees (loose, resurrection, angels, & miracles), & Essenes (monastic, scrupulous, Qumran, Dead Sea S. ) n Romans conquered Greeks in 63 BCE and Temple in 70 CE n Sectarianism disappeared in ebb of rabbis—spiritual leasders of Judaism today n Shammai & Hillel most prominent among dozens & interpretations • n n The Golden Rule—“Whatever is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor. ” Babylonian and Jerusalem/Palestinian Talmud— 200 CE Growing tension between Jews & Jewish Christians aggravated by Gentiles led to separation by 150 CE to protect Jewish religion & culture

Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism Rabbinic Period cont. (323 BCE – 625 CE) n Hadrian put down Simon bar Kociba’s (“Kochba” & “son of the star”) revolution in 130 CE, built shrine to Jupiter, renamed Palestine & banned Jews n Hybrid Jews of the Diaspora were protected by Roman Empire & attracted converts due to moral code & monotheism as did Christians n Empire declined & Diocletian split at end of 3 rd century CE n Constantine reconquered & legalized Christianity due to vision of cross n Judaism declined in the Empire but not before allowing Christianity to spread through their network of synagogues n As Empire totally fell in the West, Christianity was strong enough to form alliances with barbarian “states” that were emerging—spiritual & temporal pope

Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism Medieval Period (638 – 1783 CE) n n n Diaspora spread further away from Palestine Resurgence of learning—commentaries of Shlomo ben Itsak “Rashi” French Jew Moses Maimonides attempted to reconcile philosophy & Jewish theology “No contradiction between Aristotle and Jewish religion” Jews were persecuted as another monotheistic religion Islam surfaced • Paid taxes for protection but free to worship & rule self as second class Jerusalem captured and Dome of the Rock built over Holy of Holies Babylonian Jews flourished under Persian rule & exploded when Muslims moved capital from Damascus to Baghdad & reintroduced Greek culture—G to A to L Jewish merchant class arose with Muslim trade expansion as mediators First time Jews expand out of the Middle East—Spanish center, Sephardim Muslim Berbers oust including Moses ben Maimon or Maimonides (RAMBAM) Persecution continued with Fr. & Ger. Crusaders—clothing, houses, & land Jews became moneylenders as trade system moved from barter to cash

Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism Medieval Period (638 – 1783 CE) n n n n n Pogroms in 13 th century England spurred immigration to Poland under Boleslav Security ended in the 17 th century—Ashkenazim & Yiddish Persecution spread to France, Germany, & Austria in 14 th century—black death Spread back to Spain in 15 th century in the Spanish Inquisition & Reconquesta under Ferdinand & Isabella—conversos = false killed & never expelled in 1492 Disappeared from Spain where flourished in the 8 th-12 th centuries *Fled to Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, & Turkey (flourished under expansion of the Islamic Ottoman Empire) Protestant Reformation was no kinder—Martin Luther’s Concerning the Jews and Their Lies advocated the destruction of everything Jewish Medieval Jews left materially and religiously poor on the margin of society 17 th century Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer “Master of the Good Name” emphasized the presence of God in all aspects of Jewish life Message spread into 18 th century Polish movement of Hasidism = pious found today in Orthodox Judaism—devotion to God is as important as Torah study

Chapter 2, Section 1: A Brief History of Judaism Modern Judaism (1783 CE -- Present) Age of Enlightenment led to Jewish philosophy of enlightenment Czarist Russia under Alexander III “May Laws” & The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion; led to immigration Reform Judaism – advocates full integration into the culture where one lives; Germany and late U. S. Conservative Judaism – counteracts reformed Judaism, modifying Jewish traditions in a limited manner; U. S. Orthodox Judaism – the most traditional wing, insists its members strictly follow the Torah Reconstructionist Judaism – advocates Judaism as a culture, not only a religion; God not omnipotent and Torah not inspired Zionism – 19 th century movement to restore Jewish homeland in Palestine; Holocaust catalyzed; 1948 State of Israel by UN *Six Day War 1967 captured Jerusalem & opened holy sites to all; tension continues to this day

You Tube Videos: Judaism n The Promised Land of the Jews n Overview of Judaism

Chapter 2, Section 1 Review Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. What did the Hebrews become in the 40 years it took to return to Canaan from Egypt? After the death of Solomon, why did the kingdom become more vulnerable to outside attacks? What is the diaspora? According to Rabbi Hillel, what is the summation of the Torah? Who is Moses Maimonides, & what did he argue for? Define Hasidism Name the four types of Judaism in the Modern era.

Chapter 2, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures n Several sources of Sacred Jewish writing centers around the Torah or first 5 books of the Hebrew bible; not just theoretical but practical & concrete n Bible central to Jewish life; Hebrew Bible = Christian Old Testament Tanakh (acronym) n Torah—law in Gn. , Ex. , Lv. , Nm. , & Dt. ; most important; Five Books of Moses (author); source of 613 laws (248+ & 365 -); not all livable; handwritten artistic scrolls; 1 year cycle beginning after Sukkot n Nevi’im--prophets n Ketuvim--writings n Oral Torah = explanation & interpretation of Written Torah • Written, codified, & arranged near 200 CE by Yehudad Ha Nasi (Judah the Prince) • Mishnah = teaching • 6 Sections—agriculture & land; holidays; family life; relations with others; sacrifices & dietary laws; ritual purity

Chapter 2, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont. Talmud n In the wake of the destruction of the second Temple in 70 CE two centers of rabbinic Judaism emerged—Judea outside Jerusalem (refugees) & Babylonia (ancestors of exiled Israelites) n Commentaries & discussions known as learnings from reading & studying the Tanakh, especially the Torah, & Mishnah n Two versions arose—Palestinian or Jerusalem & Babylonian (more authoritative) Midrash (key word) n Means to examine or seek out n A way of interpreting the Tanakh • Uses imagination & story to see how far the text will go like hist. fiction n Found in the Talmud but not a particular book n Makes use of various literary genres as a literary genre itself n Assumes that the Scriptures provide answers for every question & situation n Not unique to Judaism—Ben Hur

Chapter 2, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont. Sacred writings Tanakh Torah First five books The Hebrew Bible Nevi’im Prophets Ketuvim Writings

Chapter 2, Section 2: Sacred Stories & Scriptures cont. Other sacred writings Jerusalem Talmud commentary Babylonian Talmud Midrash commentary Biblical interpretation

Chapter 2, Section 2 Review Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. What are three divisions of the Tanakh? DO NOT HAVE TO ANSWER #2 What is the difference between the Oral Torah & the Written Torah? What is Midrash?

You Tube Videos: Judaism n The Hebrew Bible n Jewish Scriptures

Chapter 2, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices n Summary = “God gave the Torah to Israel” (people w/ a purpose not an area) God n n Sh’ma (daily)—“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” (Dt. 6: 4) Monotheistic, Exists, One, Creator, Good, Supreme No formal doctrines that articulate beliefs Desires goodness from his creation (Dt. 10: 12 -13) • Fear, walk ways, love, serve all heart & soul, keep commands & decrees Torah n n n God’s self revelation that provides central source for living Most sacred of objects—formality/reverence/exord. & intimacy/familiarity/ord. Ark, prayers b 4/after, procession, reverence by touch, kiss, or dance, joyous Law or teaching that penetrates all aspects of life—encounter with God & will Not sterile or intellectual but spiritual exercise

Chapter 2, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont. Torah (cont. ) n n Keep Torah to keep law/commandments of God = relationship 613 words of Decalogue for 613 commandments not 10 = mitzvot Guide for happiness & freedom not bondage History = interpretation & application of mitzvot to new situations = halakhah Israel n n n God’s Chosen People in the sense of holy and separate Originate with Abram—Abraham (Gn. 12) leaving fatherland of Ur Faith in one God gifted with progeny, land, & blessing/curse for own & others Privilege—covenant = solemn binding agreement between God & man Responsibility—active not passive choice to accept God & his commandments, to lives of holiness, that are examples to humanity n Passed down among generations—traditionally by blood n Traditional Judaism = observe commandments & halakhic obligations

Chapter 2, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont. Sh’ma “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” (Deuteronomy 6: 4)

Chapter 2, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont. Mitzva 613 commandments God gave Moses Two Torahs: § Oral § Written Judaism can be summed up in three words: § God Torah, Israel

Chapter 2, Section 3: Beliefs & Practices cont. God’s covenant with Israel: “The Chosen People” “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations” (Isaiah 42: 6)

You Tube Videos: Judaism n Beliefs & Practices n Shema

Chapter 2, Section 3 Review Questions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What do Jews believe about God? What do Jews understand the Torah to be? How are both reverence & familiarity operational with the Torah? When did the call to be a Chosen People originate with the Jews? What does it mean to say that Jews are God’s Chosen People?

Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Times Annual Feasts: Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year, feast of Trumpets Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (10 days after Rosh Hashanah ) Pesach – Passover (God’s saving Hebrews) Sukkot – Feast of Tabernacles/Booths (Desert times) Shavuot – Harvest festival / Moses’ reception of Torah Hanukkah – Festival of Lights (menorah) Purim – Feast of Lots

Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Times (continued) Shabbat – the Jewish Sabbath • Weekly event • Begins Sunset Friday through sunset Saturday • Obedience to fourth commandment • Jews rest on the seventh day, as God did • Shabbat dinner – Friday evening • Celebrated as a family with Ritual Prayers, candles, wine, bread (at home more than the synagogue

Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces Temple is associated with ritual sacrifices Temple was destroyed in 70 CE Synagogue House of prayer House of study House of assembly Home Sabbath and Passover Prayer

Chapter 2 Judaism Sacred Places and Sacred Spaces (continued) At Passover, Jews pray, “Next year in Jerusalem” Land of Israel (AKA: ) • Israel • Canaan • Promised Land • Judea • Palestine • State of Israel Jerusalem (AKA: ) • Holiest city • City of David • Temple • Holy city for: Judaism, Christianity, Islam

Chapter 2 Judaism through a Catholic Lens Judaism Commonalities History Scripture Liturgy Rituals Theology Christianity

Chapter 2 Judaism through a Catholic Lens (continued) Differences Judaism Still awaits a Messiah or messianic age to come Messiah would be a human (not God) warrior-king, political figure from the House of David Christianity Jesus was the Messiah Jesus is God Jesus will return at the 2 nd coming

Chapter 2 Judaism through a Catholic Lens (continued) Jewish influences in Catholicism Jewish The Hebrew Bible Passover meal Passover Shavuot Christian Old Testament The Lord’s Supper Holy Thursday Pentecost

Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary n n n Torah Idolatry Diaspora Hellenization Septuagint Sadducees Pharisees Essenes Rabbi Talmud Monotheistic n n n n n Pogroms n Yiddish n Hasidism n Zionism n Tanak n n Mishnah n Midrash n Sh’ma n Conversos Holy of Holies Mitzvoth Covenant Shabbat Pesach Yom Kippur Rosh Hashanah Mezuzah Kosher Arranged marriage

Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary Torah – 1 st five books of the Bible, Pentateuch, Idolatry – giving worship to something other than God Diaspora – Jews living outside Judea (Holy Land) Hellenization – The adoption of Greek ways and speech Septuagint – “ 70” translators of Jewish scriptures to Greek Sadducees – Jewish leaders who strictly interpreted Torah Pharisees – Loose interpretation of Torah (resurrection) Essenes – Monastic Jews responsible for Dead Sea scrolls Rabbi – My Teacher religious leader who teaches and judges Talmud – Books of commentaries on the interpretation of Torah Monotheistic – A belief on one God Shoah – Hebrew for “calamity”, refers to holocaust in WWII

Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary Pogrom – the massacre and expulsion of a minority Yiddish – a language developed from German and Hebrew Hasidism – Meaning pious, founded by devout Polish Jews, called Orthodox Jews today Zionism – the movement which sought the creation of a Jewish home state (now Israel) Tanakh - The Hebrew word for the Jewish bible Mitzvot – A commandment of the Jewish law Mishnah – the oral Torah or teaching Midrash – Biblical interpretation typically found in the Talmud's, which can provide answers for every situation in life Sh’ma – “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” Dt 6: 4

Chapter 2 Judaism - Vocabulary Covenant – a binding, solemn agreement or sacred promise between God and His people Shabbat – The Sabbath, begins at sunset on Friday Pesach – Passover, an annual meal celebrating the Exodus Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year Mezuzah – the parchment of Sh’ma in the right doorpost Kosher – Hebrew for proper, refers to permitted dietary laws Rosh Hashanah – Jewish New Year Holy of Holies – The sanctuary inside the tabernacle in the Temple of Jerusalem Conversos – the Spanish Jews who converted to Christianity at the time of the Spanish Inquisition