BELLRINGER: 10/7 and 10/8
1.
Pick up the papers by the door.
2.
There should be at least FOUR (4) people
sitting at each table. Only then can there be
a 5th person added.
3.
On a piece of notebook paper, list two
accomplishments from the Phoenician, the
Hittite, and Assyrian civilizations.
AGENDA:
1.
2.
3.
Bellringer
Notes: The Hebrews and Judaism
Project: Judaism Notebook
HOMEWORK:
1.
2.
3.
Read pages 67-71 in your textbook if you
have not yet done so.
Study for your Peoples of the Mediterranean
and Middle East Quiz on FRIDAY/TUESDAY
(next class meeting). Review your notes and
your textbook to prepare.
Work on your Judaism Project (due 10/16
by midnight via email submission)
The Hebrews and Judaism
How Religion Began:

When religion first developed,
most people believed in many
gods (called polytheism).
 If you believe in many
gods, you are polytheistic.
 What previous civilizations
have we studied that
considered themselves
polytheistic?
 Why so many gods?
 Often, there were gods for
water, land, sea, air, and
other natural forces.
Egyptian gods and goddesses
Judaism vs. Polytheism
Hebrew conception of
God
God is universal and is
superior to nature.
Nature is not to be
worshiped but is part of
God’s creation.
God is eternal.
Polytheistic view
Gods are limited to
specific locations and to
nature. Forces of nature
were worshipped as
gods.
Gods were created and
may be destroyed.
Gods were subject to
God is subject to nothing. human needs and
desires: hunger, pain,
He is supreme.
illness…
The Origins of Judaism

The area of Palestine (Canaan) was the ancient
home of the Hebrews.
 It was a “crossroad to the ancient world”

According to the Bible, Canaan = promised to the
Hebrews.
Origins of Judaism (cont’d)


However, there was one early
religion that did away with
many gods in exchange for
one all-powerful god.
The Hebrew people believed
in only one god, called
Yahweh.
 Means Hebrews were
monotheistic, as they
believed in only one god.
 The first monotheistic
religion in history
The Story of the Hebrews
So how does the monotheistic Jewish religion emerge?
•
•
Around 1800 BCE, there is a
man named Abraham
•
He lived in Sumer, in Ur (a
city-state).
Abraham says no to polytheism
•
Rejected polytheism practiced
by the Sumerians
•
Believed in only one god
which he called Yahweh.
The Story of the Hebrews (cont’d):
•
Abraham made an agreement
(covenant) with Yahweh:
•
Abraham = agrees to obey
Yahweh
•
Yahweh = will protect
Abraham and his descendants
(the Jewish people)
•
Yahweh commanded Abraham to
move his family
•
•
Mesopotamia (Ur)  Canaan.
Fun fact: Canaan means
“promise land”.
• Canaan is in modern-day
Palestine.
Hebrews Leaving Canaan

1650 B.C.: Hebrew people
are forced to leave Canaan
 Why? famine and drought

Where do they go?
 Go west to Egypt, where
they were welcomed as
neighbors 

Friendship turns sour 
 Eventually Egyptians
enslaved Hebrews
The Rise of Moses

Who is Moses?
 Adopted member of the Egyptian royal family (found
by an Egyptian princess as baby)
• Raised unaware of Hebrew heritage = IMPORTANT!
 Once he learned of who he really was, he fought
Egyptian leaders for the release of the Hebrews
• Happens after pharaoh orders all male Hebrew
babies be killed
 Frees Hebrews from their enslavement by the Egyptians
 Then, the EXODUS HAPPENS
The Exodus
 Hebrews

fled Egypt (the Exodus)
Remembered during Passover
A New Covenant

Moses spoke with God at the top of Mt. Sinai.
 When he came back down, he brought 10
Commandments.
 Became the basis for civil and religious laws of Judaism
 Hebrews believe the 10 Commandments formed a new
covenant with God
 Ten Commandments
The Torah

First 5 books of the Hebrew Bible (part of the Old
Testament in the Christian faith)
 God chose Abraham to be the “father” of the
Hebrew people.
 Abraham a shepherd from Ur
Wandering Days and Arrival in
Canaan

Post-Exodus: The Jews wandered for 40 years in
the Sinai Desert. (The Wandering Years)
 After Moses dies, Hebrews returned to Canaan.
 Constantly fought with the Philistines over land

Only the beginning of conflict the Jews will find
themselves involved in regarding their homeland in
the Middle East
System of Rule

When the tribes arrived in Canaan, they were
loosely organized into 12 tribes.
 The Tribes were self governing, but would come
together during periods of fighting.
Kingdoms Established:

From 1020-922 B.C. the Hebrews united under
3 Kings: Saul, David, and Solomon.


No longer city states but banded together under a
single leader
New Kingdom was called Israel
1. Saul
 Drove
out the Philistines from the central
hills of ancient Palestine
2. David
 David
united the tribes and established
Jerusalem as the capital
 Legend of David and Goliath
3. Solomon
 Solomon
beautified Jerusalem.
 Built a great temple to house the Ark of the
Covenant
 Contained the tablets of Moses' law
 After Solomon's death, the Kingdom splits
into Israel and Judah.
Hebrew Downfall:
Babylonian Captivity and Diaspora
 Israel
and Judah begin paying tribute to
Assyria
 Assyrians eventually attack and destroy
the capital of Israel.
 The Babylonians destroy Judah.
Hebrew Downfall
 King
Nebuchadnezzar ran Egyptians out of
Syria and ancient Palestine, and twice
attacked Jerusalem.
 (586 B.C.) Destroyed Solomon’s temple
Babylonian Captivity
Jewish Diaspora
Judaism Project
 For
this project, you have the option of
working independently or in groups of 2.
 If you want to work in a group of 2, please
find a partner now and sit next to them.
Judaism Project Rubric



5 points: Title slide (must include images, a clear title, and your
names and block #)
5 points: Sources slide at the end of the presentation
10 points per page:
 2 points: At least 2 images per page
 2 points: Basic information about the subject of that page
 2 points: Additional information that goes beyond what was
learned in class, found through additional research
 2 points: A quote about the subject of the page
 2 points: An explanation of what that quote means and how
it relates