The Roots of Judaism

יהודה שורשים של

• Judaism originated in ancient Israel• Group of people known as the Hebrews founded it about 4,000

years ago

Where it Began

Basic Beliefs• The Hebrews > unique > monotheistic

• Belief in one God• Belief > history and faith were interconnected, and everything

that happened reflected God’s plan for their people• Written in the Torah, their most sacred text

History of Judaism• Starts with Abraham

• Father of the Israelite people• Lived in region called Canaan

• God made a covenant with Abraham• Two declarations

• God has special relationship with Abraham and his people• Canaan promised to Israelites

• Later, Israelites forced to move to Egypt• Moses leads them in their exodus

Kingdom of Israel Est.• 1000 BC > Kingdom of Israel est.

• 12 separate tribes fighting• King David unites them into one nation

• Solomon follows as king • Makes city of Jerusalem an impressive capital• Completes a temple to God

Israel Falls• Revolts caused

• Kingdom split into Israel in the North and Judah in the South• Later

• Assyrians conquered Israel • Babylonians conquered Judah

• 539 BC > Cyrus of Persia defeated Babylon and freed the Jews• Still lived under Persian rule

Jewish Law• Torah is often referred to as the Book of Law

• Dealt with everyday matters to criminal law• Patriarchal society

• Men held the power > eldest in the family

Jewish Law Cont.• Heart > Ten Commandments

• Example > Keeping the Sabbath • Prophets taught ethics, moral standards by which to live

• All are equal before God• Jews believed their leaders were fully human, but bound by

God’s law

Judaism Spreads

• For a 500-year period beginning at the Babylonian Captivity, many Jews moved to different parts of the world• This spread of people is called Diaspora

• Maintained their unique culture by living in close-knit communities.• This leads to persecution.

• Judaism served as the bases for Christianity and Islam.• These are the Abrahamic religions, since the first prophet was

Abraham.