Transcript Judaism
JUDAISM Chapter 4 A BRIEF HISTORY OF JUDAISM • Origins: back 3800 years to Abraham (patriarch) & Sarah (matriarch) of Israelites • Abraham • Isaac • Esau + Jacob (also known as Israel) • Jacob (Israel) • 12 Sons, Joseph • Israelites in Egypt • COVENANT: a promise between God & the People • God is their God, they are God’s people KINGDOM • Saul (1st King) • David (Jerusalem the capital city) • Bathsheba, wife of Uriah • Solomon (3rd King) • Builds the Temple • Israel in the North • Judah in the South INVASION & CAPTIVITY • Assyrians invade Israel 721 BCE • Babylonians invade Judah, destroy the Temple 586 BCE • Return to Jerusalem 539 BCE • Maccabean Revolt 164 BCE, rededication of Temple • 8 day miracle Hannakah BIRTH OF MODERN JUDAISM •66 CE, Judea ruled by Romans •Zealots, rebelled, Romans laid siege to Jerusalem •Temple destroyed 70 CE •Christianity & Rabbinic Judaism survived, but changed MESSIAH •Anointed One •Christ •Christos in Greek •Christians accepted Jesus as the Messiah RABBINIC JUDAISM • Halakhic Judaism • Begun by Pharisees • Temple destroyed • New focus: sacred writings • Synagogues, study houses • Torah, “the teaching” (instruction) • The Law • The Five Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) • Interpreters of Torah: scribes or rabbis DIASPORA •135 CE, Romans expelled Jews from Judea •Most Jews scattered, dispersed outside Israel •The desire to return to Israel & Jerusalem is a key aspect of Jewish history and faith JEWS IN CHRISTIAN EUROPE Ashkenazim • Northern, Central, Eastern Europe Sephardim • Spain, Portugal, North Africa • Both groups had immeasurable influence on the intellectual, economic, cultural and spiritual lives • Yet: still considered “other” & set apart JEWISH MYSTICAL MOVEMENTS Kabbalah • 12th Century • Text: Zohar • Journey into self of each person • God indescribable, “Ein Sof” means “without end” Hasidism • 18th Century • Founder: Israel ben Eliezer • Communion with God through prayer, good deeds, humility, joy • Humorous stories • Leaders: “rebbes”