Chapter 6, Lesson 3
The Development of Judaism
Return to Judah
► The
families of the Judeans who were exiled to
Babylon spent 70 years away from Judah.
 During the exile, they became known as Jews.
 Their religion is known as Judaism.
► While in Babylon, the Jews no longer had a temple
to worship God.
 It is believed they instead used synagogues
(Jewish houses) of worship.
► The Jews would worship on the Sabbath, which
according to tradition, last from sundown Friday to
nightfall Saturday.
 During this weekly day of worship and rest, Jews
prayed and spoke of their religion and history.
Rebuilding Judah
► While
some Jews were ok with living in Babylon
permanently, others hoped to return to Judah.
 It was finally achieved when the Persians swept
across Southwest Asia, defeating the Chaldeans
and taking over Babylon.
 In 538 B.C., the Persian king Cyrus II let the
Jews return to Judah.
► Some would stay in Babylon but many would
return to Judah and rebuild Jerusalem.
 They also constructed to replace the one
destroyed by the Chaldeans known as the
Second Temple.
Rebuilding Judah
► The
Persians set up officials to rule the country
and collect taxes from the people.
 The Jews were not allowed to have their own
government or king.
 Mostly depended on religious leaders such as
temple priests and scribes to guide them.
► Many priests were religious scholars who had a
deep understanding of the faith.
 Scribes lectured in synagogues and taught in
schools.
Rebuilding Judah
► Ezra,
a scribe, led them in writing five books
of the Torah on pieces of parchment.
 The pieces were sewn together to make long
scrolls.
► The
Torah and writing that were added later
make up the Hebrew Bible.
What Is In the Hebrew Bible?
► The
Hebrew Bible clearly defined rules for
the ancient Jews and is made up in three
parts.
 The Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings.
► It
contains a series of 24 books written and
collected over many centuries.
 Explains the laws and rules of the Israelites.
 Reflects the Culture of the people through
Jewish history, art, literature, poetry, and
proverbs.
What Is In the Hebrew Bible?
Genesis, the first book of the Torah, presents the
Israelite view of human beginnings.
 According to this, God created the Earth in six days,
and rested on the seventh.
► Also explains how God punished the world for wicked
behavior.
 In this book, God warns Noah that a flood is
coming, and commands him to build an ark, or
large boat.
 Noah, his family, and two of every animal in the
world boarded the ship as the world flood.
 After the flood God placed a rainbow in the sky to
signify a flood would never destroy the world again.
►
What Is In the Hebrew Bible?
► God
also explains in Genesis why people in
the world speak different languages.
 Tells how the city of Babel tried to build a tower
to reach heaven.
 God did not approve of this and made the
people speak different languages to prevent
them from completing the tower.
 He then scattered the people around the world.
► Later
parts describe what the Jews hoped
for a future.
What Is In the Hebrew Bible?
►
The Book of Isaiah described God’s plan for a peaceful
world:
“[W]ill beat their swords into plowshares and their spears
into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against
nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” – Isaiah 2:4
►
The book of Daniel explains that evil and suffering
would one day be replaced by goodness.
 Daniel, a Jew, was an advisor to a Babylonian King
but did not worship Babylonian Gods.
 He was punished by being thrown into a lion’s den
but God protected him serving as an example that
God would save them.
 Christians and Muslims also share hope of a better
world in which good triumphs over evil.
Jewish Daily Life
► The
Torah provides teachings for daily living
and it shaped the family life of early Jews.
 It gave instruction on what foods to eat and
what clothes to wear.
 Also dealt with helping the poor, being honest
with their neighbors, and applying laws fairly.
 Finally, it also spoke of individual worth and
responsibility, self-discipline, and served as a
reminder to be loyal to God.
The Jewish Family
► The
Torah specifies roles for the father and mother of
the house.
 If a father died, his sons would take his place as
head of the household.
► Jewish families also stressed education, especially for
young men.
 Once a son was old enough they learned to
worship God and learned a trade.
 Under the guidance of religious leaders they would
learn to read the Torah. (Much of all they learned
was from the Torah.)
 Because reading the Torah was central to Jewish
life, religious teachers became community leaders.
The Jewish Family
► Daughters
learned from their mothers to be wives,
mothers, and housekeepers.
 It also included learning about Jewish food, the
Sabbath, and holidays.
► They also learned about the ancient women of
Israel such as Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi.
 According to the Hebrew Bible, Naomi’s husband
and her two sons died.
 One of the sons was married to Ruth though she
was not Jewish and she made the ultimate
decision of being with her Mother-in-law in
Bethlehem.
 This showed the girls how important family was.
Dietary Laws
► Jewish
law tells what they can eat.
 They could eat beef and lamb but not pork.
 Laws about food were known as kashrut, which
meant “that which is proper.”
 They believed that by following these laws they
showed their obedience to God.
► Food
that is prepared according to Jewish
dietary laws are considered kosher.
 Many items you see in the store have a symbol
to show if it is kosher.
 Animals used in kosher meat must be killed in a
certain way.
Dietary Laws
► The
meat must be inspected, salted, and
soaked in water.
 If the food is not kosher it is considered
unclean.
 They are not allowed to eat meat and dairy
together.
 They cannot eat shellfish (crabs, etc.) or
shrimp.
► Some
foods have religious significance.
 The seder (say-duhr) is a special meal eaten
over Passover and is used to celebrate the
Exodus of the Jews from Egypt.
Dietary Laws
 Foods such as lamb, hardboiled eggs, vinegar,
salt water, herbs, and matzoh (flatbread) are
served at the seder.
 During the meal, the youngest child at the table
asks questions about Passover.
 The Adults and older children at the table recite
the answer to the question together.
 Example: Eating bitter herbs reflect the bitter
experience of the Jews living in exile.
 The tradition of eating special foods at Passover
and reflecting on history is sacred to the Jewish
people.