The Significance of Each Epoch in Jewish History

2439 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Zoroastrianism and christianity

Judaism Reading Guide 1 Invitation to Religions Terms are should know: Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Baal Shem Tov, Covenant, Diaspora, Election, Ethical monotheism, Exodus, Hasidism, Holocaust/Shoah, Kabbalah, Moses, Messiah, Maimonides, Pesach/Passover, Rosh Hashanah, synagogue, Tanakh, YHWH, Yom Kippur, Zionism. Note the significance each epoch of Jewish history had on the formation of the Jewish people’s identity and religion. Biblical Period: Exodus, Davidic Kingdom, Judah & Israel, Exile: Exodus was really the foundation of Judaism; it was the reason the Israelites settled in Israel. Exodus gave the Jews hope that God would take care of them. It marked the time when the Israelites were delivered from bondage as slaves in Egypt. Exodus is commemorated by Jewish people every year at Passover. Davidic Kingdom was founded by King David. God’s promises to David that someday, out of his lineage, the Messiah would come and would save us from eternal damnation, building up a kingdom that would last forever. Judah & Israel are the two kingdoms of Israel: Judah-South and Israel-North. The tribe of Judah located themselves in Jerusalem and the Israelites in Samaria. Both kingdoms had a rich abundance of corrupt kings who would disobey God. The kingdoms are very complicated. Exile made the Jews more opened-minded to secular and religious ideas. It is through the Exile that the Jews were exposed to a new, monotheistic faith, Zoroastrianism while religious leaders were trying to get rid of polytheism. The Second Temple Period: Return, Division and Revolt The Second Temple Period marks the span between the Old and New Testaments and when most all of the New Testament events began. It encompasses when the Persian Empire took over Jer... ... middle of paper ... ...n ‘it’ in the presence of God” (96-97). I thought it was a good statement to reflect upon. So many times we forget how dependent we are on God. By saying that each of us must humble ourselves before the Lord as an ‘it,’ it truly allows us to realize the vast difference of rank we have compared to Him. From the moment we were born, we were given names with a significant¬¬ amount of power to them as they make up who we are. To be viewed in a state of an ‘it,’ we are to be humbled so that we can understand deeper the amount of dependence we have on God; to know that we live because of Him and, in that sense, need Him in our lives. Questions What kinds of prayer does God respond to? The needs of what is on our heart-what we want-or what we need? In other words, does he only respond to prayers that bring us closer to Him or does he also answer materialistic prayers?

Show More
Related

  • History and Function of the Bar Mitzvah

    1423 Words  | 3 Pages

    Oxtoby, Willard Gurdon. "Jewish Traditions." World religions: western traditions. 1996. Reprint. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2011. 127-157. Print.

    Read More

  • Jewish-American Culture in the United States

    1124 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e Menorah Journal And Shaping American Jewish Identity: Culture And Evolutionary Sociology. Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal Of Jewish Studies, 30(4), 61-79. doi:10.1353/sho.2012.0095

    Read More

  • Difference Between Sephardic And Ashkenazi Jews In Modern Times

    2260 Words  | 5 Pages

    Such debates are naturally meaningless in the rest of the world, where the Jews are to follow the laws of the land. The different historical background of the two movements of Judaism has created a noticable gap in their culture, their traditional laws and their adherence of those laws. It has shaped the manner of their developement and the final result of it. The history itself was shaped by the environment in which the exiled Jews found themselves, and the attitude of the people who surrounded them.

    Read More

  • Religion in the Old Testament

    1368 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Exodus of the Israelites is the equivalent to our present day Fourth of July or Bastille Day to the French. Israelite writers discuss the Exodus the most out of any other event in history. The story of the Exodus is one of the most famous stories of the Old Testament. Three of the most significant aspects of the story of Exodus are the call of Moses, the use of plagues as miracles, and the Passover.

    Read More

  • Differences Between The Pact Of Umona Disputation

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Jewish people realized that as a minority they were never going to overcome these higher religious, so they took what they got and built off of it. In history the Jewish people have overcame so much whether it was the Pact of Umar, Barcelona Disputation or the Holocaust the Jewish people have done so much for the world in which we live

    Read More

  • Judaism

    1576 Words  | 4 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... I learned how the Jews were forced to scatter because they did not have a home. I also learned that though the Jews were persecuted over years, Judaism survives today because of the shared beliefs, and spirit of God. One of the main lessons I learned was, for years people have been using religion for some type of power, financial gain, land or just control over people by just taking some verses in a text and not interpreting properly.

    Read More

  • The History of Jewish Persecution

    2340 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Jewish people's problems began long before the Common Era; they were persecuted long ago by King Nebuchadnezzer. Because of the treaty that was signed with King Nebuchadnezzer the Jews were uprooted from their home in Jerusalem and were forced into exile in the city of Babylon. The Jews were not treated poorly, though they were bitter because of being taken away form their beloved Jerusalem. Due to this bitterness they became more intensely Jewish than ever before. (1)

    Read More

  • King Solomon

    1673 Words  | 4 Pages

    12) The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia. Volume 9, 636-7. New York: KTAV Publishing House inc., 1969.

    Read More

  • The First Jewish Diaspora

    1502 Words  | 4 Pages

    The word Diaspora in Greek means dispersion. The Jewish Diaspora had three main periods to it: the Babylonian exile, the Hellenistic dispersion, and the Roman War (R. Sands, 1). The Jewish Diaspora began in 586 BCE when the Jews were deported from their motherland, Judea, as a result of shifts of power and war (R. Sands, 1). After this came the Hellenistic part of the Diaspora which was the voluntary movement of the Jews. In the Roman War, Jews were again forced to leave their homeland after the Romans destroyed their temple again for a second time. Despite these hardships, however, the Jewish people never forgot about God and His promises for His people. They believed that these things had to happen because they had been prophesized. The Diaspora as a whole did change the religion as the traveled, and it also impacted the places they went to. Although the Jewish Diaspora created hardships for the Jews, it was ultimately a beneficial thing for the Jews because they were able to spread throughout the world and grow in numbers.

    Read More

  • History of Judaism

    2136 Words  | 5 Pages

    Judaism is one of the most ancient religions in the world. Abraham, his descendants, and Moses are believed to have been the founders. According to Jewish beliefs until Abraham man worshiped many Gods. The story begins with Abraham and his wife Sarah trying to conceive a child. When Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 God came to Abraham and told him they would have a son. After the child was born God again came to Abraham and tested his beliefs by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Isaac willingly went with Abraham to be sacrificed. Before Abraham could sacrifice Isaac God sent an angel down to stop him. As a reward for his faith God made a covenant with Abraham that he and his descendants would be protected as long as they continued to show faith in him and live a life that was wholesome. Also from this it is said God blessed Abraham with many children. His son Isaac had two sons Jacob and Esau, Jacob who changes his name to Israel had twelve sons. Israel’s had twelve sons they are the “12 tribes of Israel” and their descendants are later known as the Israelites also called Hebrews.

    Read More

  • Exodus And Genesis Analysis

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    Around 1400 B.C. Exodus was written in Hebrew. The Exodus, which is one of the books in the Old Testament, are rules, similar to Hammurabi Code placed by God for the descendants of Abram. This literature gives insight into the structure of the Jewish community, which includes the hierarchy of their community as well as the roles important in this community. Scholars can further understand the Hebrew community by reading Genesis. Genesis consists of religious stories that talks about how farming, slavery, and the world came into being. But overall, scholars can see a society very much center on religion.

    Read More

  • Anti-Semitism

    1480 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...es. The Jews struggled with keeping their faith alive because of the oppressive rulers. They have dealt with various labels and hatred for something their ancestors did a long time ago.

    Read More

  • The Kingdom of God

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Kingdom of God defined by the Israelites as a physical place here on earth. The Kingdom of God is also called the “Kingdom of Heaven.” It means God’s rule in the lives of His chosen people and His Creation. In the Old Testament, the people in God’s kingdom were the Israelites. In the New Testament and now, the people in God’s kingdom are those who believe in and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus comes again, then God’s kingdom will become visible to all people. The term “Kingdom” according to (Kingdom of God,2011) means the rank, quality, state, or attributes of a king; royal authority; sovereign power; rule; dominion; monarchy. It can also be used in the context of a divine kingdom, the term Kingdom appears 13 times in Matthews, 7 times in Luke and 2 times in John.

    Read More

  • The Effect of the Babylonian Exile

    848 Words  | 2 Pages

    Overall, the significance of the Exile left upon the Jews were astounding with the changes through their identity, life and religion. The experiences made from the Babylonian invasion to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem taught the Jews the importance of the covenant made with God. During the exile, the Jews never lost hope in YHWH with the continuous faith and practices through their everyday life. The reestablishment of the Temple and Jerusalem were steps that were taken to renew the commitment of the covenant made with YHWH. The experience of the exile has transformed the laws, practices and faith in which remains and influences the religion from that point on.

    Read More

  • Yom Kippur: A Very Brief History Of Judaism

    987 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the Bronze age in the Middle East Jewish history starts. The beginning of Jewish people and the start of Judaism is presented in the first five books of the Bible. Jews believe that God chose Abraham to be the father of the people who would be special to God, and who would be an example of satisfactory behavior and holiness to the rest of the world. Jewish worship was focussed on the Temple, as it contained the Ark of the Covenant, and was the only place where certain rituals and ceremonies could be preformed. Around 600 BCE the temple was destroyed, and the Jewish leadership was killed. An abundant amount of Jews were commissioned into exile in Babylon. Although the Jews were not long after permitted to come back home, a great number of Jews stayed in exile, beginning the Jewish tradition of the Diaspora - living away from

    Read More

More about The Significance of Each Epoch in Jewish History

Open Document