Transcript Section 5 Judaism

Section 5 Judaism
•
•
•
•
Torah-Most sacred text of Judaism and
recorded events and laws important to
the Israelites.
Made up of 5 books: Genesis (Very
beginning of Judaism), Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
Christians adopted these books as the
first five books of the Old Testament.
Early Israelites believed that God took
part in their history.
Beliefs in Judaism
• History and religion were closely
connected
• Each event showed the people God’s plan
• Monotheistic
• God is present everywhere, knows
everything, and has complete power
• Through the Torah, God promised
Abraham that his people would become
kings and build nations
Beliefs in Judaism
• Because of this covenant or promise made by
God the Israelites were considered God’s
chosen people.
• Covenant was renewed by Moses where he told
his followers that God would lead them to
Canaan or ‘the promise land” and in return the
Israelites had to obey God faithfully
• Dead Sea Scrolls-discovered in 1947. They
showed an early history of Israelites
Ten Commandments
• God delivered them through Moses
• Some set out religious duties to God
while others are rules for correct
behavior
• There were other laws for crime and like
Hammurabi’s code the punishment
should match the crime
• Religious teachers pressured the leaders
to carry out the laws with justice and
mercy
Judaism and Women
• Some laws protect women such as the one of
the commandments that requires a mother to be
treated with respect
• They were considered of lower status
• The man was the head of the family and owned
his wife and children
• A father could sell his daughters into marriage
• Only the man could seek divorce
• A few women in early Israelite history won honor
as religious leaders but later they were not
allowed to take part in many religious leadership
roles
Justice and Morality
• Prophets or religious teachers who are regarded
as speaking for God told the Israelites how to
live.
• They warned people not to disobey God’s law
and if they did it would bring disaster
• Preached a code of ethics
• Rich and powerful should protect the poor and
weak
• All people were equal before God and all had to
follow God’s rule. Not like in other societies
were the ruler was seen as a god.
Effects of Judaism
• After exile from Judah in 587 B.C., the Jews or
people who follow Judaism saw the homeland
controlled by various powers including the
Romans
• 135 A.D. Romans drove Jews out of homeland
• Jewish people scattered to different parts of the
world.
• Pg. 59-Map
• What role do you think the Mediterranean Sea
had on movement of Jews?
New Settlement
• Romans continues the Jewish Diaspora or
the scattering of groups of people.
• Wherever the Jews settled the heritage was
always preserved by living in close
communities.
• Took care to obey all religious laws, worship
at their temples, and follow the traditions
such as Passover.
• Passover was a holiday that celebrates a
time where they believed that their children
were spared from destruction or death
“passed over” them and they were lead out of
Egypt by Moses.
Effect on later religions
• Had a great influence on two later religions:
Christianity and Islam
• Both have their beginnings in Judaism
• Both originated from the same geographical
area
• Both monotheistic
• All honor Abraham, Moses, and prophets
• Share the same moral point of view as the
Israelites
Questions
• Why did Israelites believe they were God’s
chosen people? The torah showed a covenant
between God and Abraham and was renewed
by Moses
• How does Judaism compare and contrast with
the beliefs of other people in the ancient world?
Most ancient people believed in many gods that
were connected to specific places or people.
The Israelites believed in one all powerful God
that was everywhere.