Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Section 1: The
Essential Question:
How did the Hebrews defend
themselves and maintain
their beliefs?
Early Hebrews
The Big Idea:
Originally desert nomads.The Hebrews
established a great nation called Israel.
If you were there…You and your family are herders, looking for
large flocks of sheep. You grandfather is the leader of your tribe. One day
your grandfather says your whole family will be moving to a new country
where there is more food and water for your flocks. The trip will be long and
difficult.
How do you feel about moving to a far away land?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Main Ideas
 Abraham and Moses each led their people to Canaan
and a new religion.
 Strong kings united the Israelites to fight off invaders.
 Invaders conquered and ruled the Israelites after their
kingdom fell apart.
 Some women in Israelite society made great
contributions to their history.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Abraham and Moses Led their People
Between 2000 and 1500 BC, a new people appeared in Southwest Asia, they were
the Hebrews, ancestors of the Israelites. The Israelites were sheep herders.
Much of what is known about the Israelites comes
from accounts written by scribes on their early
history and the laws of Judaism, their religion. In
time, these accounts became the Hebrew Bible.
The Hebrew Bible traces back to a man named Abraham. One day god spoke to
Abraham and told him to leave his land. God promised the new land would make his
people into a mighty nation. Moses left Mesopotamia and settled in Canaan. Later
many moved to Egypt perhaps because of famine in Canaan. As the Israelites lived
well in Egypt, The Pharaoh, feared they would take over, so me made them slaves.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
The Exodus
According to the Hebrew Bible, A leader named Moses went
to the Pharaoh and demanded that the Israelites be freed.
Moses claimed God told him to lead his people out of Egypt.
Soon a serious of plagues or disasters struck Egypt. The
Pharaoh was frightened by the plagues so he freed the
Israelites.
Overjoyed with this news, Moses led his people out of
Egypt in a journey back to Canaan called the Exodus.
During their journey God gave Moses two stone tablets.
On the stone tablets was written the moral code known
as the Ten Commandments.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Kings Unite the Israelites
In the mid 1000s BC the Philistines invaded the Israelites’ lands. The
Israelites' banded together to support a single ruler that would lead
them.
King David was a sheep herder
that the Hebrew Bible tells us how
he slew the giant Goliath. David
was admired for his military skills
and he used his support to become
king. King David established the
capital of Israel in Jerusalem.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
David’s son, Solomon, took
the throne about 965 BC. Like
his father he was a strong
king. He expanded the
kingdom. He built the great
temple to God in Jerusalem.
This temple became a symbol
of the Israelites faith.
Finding the Main Idea- Why did the Israelites unite under a king?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Invaders Conquer and Rule
After Solomon’s death about 930 BC, revolts broke out about who would
be the next king. Israel spit into two kingdoms, called Israel and Judah.
The two kingdoms were defeated by the Assyrians and the people of Israel
dispersed. Later the Chaldeans defeated the Jews and Judah lasted no
longer.
The Chaldeans destroyed Solomon’s temple and
forced the Jews to work as slaves. In the 50s BC a
people called the Persians conquered the
Chaldeans and let the Jews return to Jerusalem.
Many never took the opportunity to return. Others
scattered over other parts of the Persian Empire.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Invaders Conquer and Rule
Scholars call the dispersal of Jews outside of Israel and Judah the Diaspora.
Independence and Conquest
Tired of foreign rule, a Jewish family called the Maccabees
led a successful revolt in the 160s BC. For a hundred years
the Jews were ruled by their own king until the Jews were
again conquered by the Romans. The Romans heavily taxed
the Jews. They had no respect for Jewish religious beliefs.
The Romans forced the Jews to worship the Roman
Emperor. This was too much for the Jews to bear so they
called upon to revolt against the Romans.
Reading Check-Summarizing: How did Roman rule affect Jewish society?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Women in Israelite Society
Israelite society was dominated by
men. Women had to obey their
fathers and their husbands. A women
could not choose her husband or own
property. Queen Ester and Deborah
saved people from their enemies.
Other women such as Miriam,
became spiritual leaders.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Section 2: Jewish
Essential Question:
How did the Hebrews defend
themselves and maintain
their beliefs?
Beliefs and Texts
The Big Idea:
The central ideas and laws of Judaism are
contained in sacred texts such as the Torah.
If you were there…You live in a small town in ancient Israel. Some
people in your town treat strangers very badly. But you have been taught to
be fair and kind to everyone, including strangers. One day, you tell one of
your neighbors he should be kinder to strangers. He asks you why you feel
this way.
How will you explain your belief in kindness?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Main Ideas
 Beliefs in God, education, justice and obedience anchor
Jewish society.
 Jewish beliefs are listed in the Torah, the Hebrew Bible,
and the Commentaries.
 The Dead Sea Scrolls reveal many past Jewish beliefs.
 The ideas of Judaism have shaped our culture.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Jewish Beliefs Anchor Their Society
Religion is the
foundation upon which
the Jews base their
whole society. The
central ideas of Judaism
are beliefs in God,
education, justice, and
obedience.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Belief in One God
Most importantly, Jews believe in one God.
The belief in one god is called monotheism.
In an ancient world where most people worshipped many gods, the
Jews’ worship of only one God set them apart. This worship also
shaped Jewish society. The Jews believed that God had guided their
history through relationships with Abraham, Moses and other
leaders.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Belief in Education
Teaching the Jewish children the basics of Judaism has always
been important in Jewish society. Older boys, not girls, studied
with professional teachers to learn their religion. Even today,
education and study are central to Jewish life.
Justice and Righteousness
The Jews believed in kindness and fairness in
dealing with other people. This includes helping the
poor, sick and the orphans. Jews are also expected
to be fair in business dealings.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Observance of Religious Moral Law
Jews believe that God gave them laws to follow. The most important
Jewish laws are the Ten Commandments. The Jews believe this is only
part of Jewish law. Jews believe that Moses recorded a whole system of
Jewish laws called Mosaic law. Mosaic law guided Jews’ daily lives. For
example, Mosaic law governed how people prayed and celebrate
holidays. The laws forbid the Jews to work on holidays or the Sabbath,
the seventh day of the week. Mosaic laws determined the rules for eating
food and preparing food. For example, Jews can not eat pork or
shellfish. Many Jewish communities today follow strict Mosaic law.
Reading Check-What are the most important beliefs in Judaism?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Texts List Jewish Beliefs
The laws of Judaism are described in several sacred texts, or
writings
Ancient Jews recorded their laws and history in five books called
the Torah, the most sacred text of Judaism.
Readings from the Torah are central to Jewish religious services
today in every synagogue, or Jewish house of worship.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
The Hebrew Bible
The Torah is the first part of group of writings called the
Hebrew Bible Tanakh (tah-NAHK.) The second part is
made up of eight books that describes the messages of
Jewish prophets.
Prophets are people who are said to receive
messages from God to be taught to others.
The final part of the Hebrew Bible is eleven books of poetry, songs,
lessons, and history. The final part also contains proverbs and
short expressions of wisdom.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Commentaries
For centuries scholars have studied the bible. Because some laws
were hard to understand, the scholars wrote commentaries to help
explain them.
Commentaries about everyday life from the
bible are contained in the Talmud.
Will you join the rebellion? Why or why not?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Scrolls Reveal Past Beliefs
The Dead Sea Scrolls were
writings by the Jews 2,000 years
ago. The scrolls contained
prayers, commentaries, letters,
and passages from the Hebrew
Bible.
Readings from scrolls helped
historians find about the lives of
Jews during this time.
Reading Check- What did the Dead Sea Scrolls contain?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Judaism and Later Cultures
For centuries Judaism has influenced many
cultures. Judaism helped shape the largest religion
in modern society, Christianity. Jesus’ teachings
were based on the Jewish religion. The first people
to adopt Islam were descendants from Abraham and
followed the Jewish religion. The Ten
Commandments became a guide to many people in
running the way they should live. Helping the needy
through charity was a concept largely based on
Jewish teachings.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Section 3: Judaism
Essential Question:
How did the Hebrews defend
themselves and maintain
their beliefs?
Over the Centuries
The Big Idea:
Although many Jews were forced out of Israel
by the Romans, shared beliefs and customs
helped the Jews maintain their religion.
If you were there… Foreign soldiers have taken over your
homeland forcing you to obey their laws. So, some people are urging you to
stand up and fight for freedom. But your conquerors come from a huge,
powerful empire. If your people revolt, you have little chance of winning.
Will join the rebellion? Why or why not?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Main Ideas
 Revolt, defeat, and migration led into great changes
in Jewish culture.
 Because Jews settled in different parts of the world,
two cultural traditions formed.
 Jewish traditions and holy days celebrate history
and religion.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Revolt, Defeat, and Migration
The Jews in Jerusalem had grown tired of foreign rule. Many
Jews thought they could revolt and re-create the kingdom of
Israel.
A group of Jews called the Zealots, led the Jews in a revolt
against the Romans.
The Jews lost the battle and the Romans burned
down the second temple. After the temple was
destroyed the Jews surrendered and became Roman
slaves.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Results of the Revolt
The Romans killed many of the Jews as
punishment and took the surviving Jews
to Rome to be slaves. Some Jewish people
escaped and moved to other Jewish
communities outside of Jerusalem in the
Roman empire. A second revolt against
the Romans, buy the Jews was crushed by
the Romans. Any Jews caught in the city
were killed so the Jews migrated
throughout the Mediterranean.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Migration and Discrimination
Without a temple, Rabbis, or religious teachers,
took on an important role in guiding the Jews in
their religious lives.
Rabbis shaped how Judaism was practiced for the next few
centuries. Over the centuries, Jews moved out of the
Mediterranean region to other parts of the world. Jews were
discriminated against by many other religious groups. They
eventually settled in Asia, Russia, and much later the United States.
As you read earlier, this dispersal around the word was called the
Diaspora
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Traditions and Holy Days
The Jews felt that by celebrating holidays it
would help them understand and celebrate their
history.
Chanukah (Hanukkah)
A Jewish tradition that honors the rededication of the second
temple during the revolt of the Maccabees.
According to a legend, the Maccabees didn’t have enough oil to
perform the rededication ceremony of the temple. Miraculously, the
oil they had-enough to burn on day- burned eight full days.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Passover
More important than Chanukah, Passover was a time the Jews
remember the Exodus,
the journey of the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.
According to Jewish tradition, the
Israelites left so quickly that the
bakers didn’t have time to let their
bread rise. Therefore Jews only eat
Matzo on Passover.
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
High Holy Days
The High Holy Days are the two most sacred of all
Jewish holy days.
They take place in September and October. The first holiday is
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The second holiday, Yom
Kippur, in which Jews ask for forgiveness from their sins. On Yom
Kippur, Jewish people fast for an entire day. Modern day Jews hold
services for these holidays in a synagogue during these holy days.
Reading Check- Finding Main Ideas-What name is given to the two most
important Jewish Holy Days?
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.
Flag of Israel
Common Core Standard: Reading Informational Texts R.I.8.2, Key Ideas and Details. Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its
development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text.