Judaism

Judaism

6th Grade Social Studies

Essential Question

​​In what ways did the ancient Hebrews influence religions and societies in ancient and modern times?

Anchor Question

Do Judaism and Christianity have more similarities or differences?

Introduction to Judaism

The kingdom of Israel split into the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah after the death of King Solomon in about 930 B.C.E. This division weakened both kingdoms.

Israel was the first to fall. In 722 B.C.E., the Assyrians conquered the kingdom and took its leaders to Mesopotamia. The people of Israel were sent to many lands. In 597 B.C.E., another Mesopotamian power, Babylon, invaded Judah. The Babylonians laid siege to Jerusalem. The Babylonians captured the city. In 586 B.C.E., Nebuchadrezzar burned down Solomon's great Temple of Jerusalem. Most of the people of Judah were exiled as captives to Babylon.

Introduction to Judaism

The Babylonian Exile was the start of the Jewish Diaspora. The word diaspora means "a scattering over a wide area.” This was the first exile of most of the Jewish people from their homeland.

Yet the Jews were able to keep Judaism alive. In this chapter, you will first learn about four important Jewish teachings. Then you will read about why the teachings of Judaism have survived to modern day.

Multiple Choice

Why did many Jews move to Babylon?

• They were fleeing from attack by the Assyrians.

• They were taken there as captives by Nebuchadrezzar and the Babylonians.

• They were hoping to spread the idea that there is one God.

• They were looking for a land with a more stable food supply.

Central Teachings

• Monotheism: the doctrine or belief that there is only one God

• Judaism is the world's oldest monotheistic religion

• Judaism teaches that God is the source of morality (standards of right and wrong)

• Jews learn about and follow their religion by studying their sacred texts

Central Teachings

• Following the teachings in the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud (TAHL-muhd) is central to Jewish life

• The Torah instructs Jews about how to lead moral lives

• Among Judaism's oldest laws and teachings are the Ten Commandments

• The Ten Commandments tell how to lead upright and honorable lives

• The Ten Commandments are essential to both Judaism and Christianity

Multiple Select

Which of the following are central teachings of Judaism? There are multiple answers. Select all that apply.

• Belief in one God

• Belief in many gods

• Holy text include the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, and Torah

• Ten Commandments

• Five Pillars

Equality and Social Justice

• Judaism has always been concerned with a code of ethics, or moral values of right and wrong

• Two important values that have influenced many societies are equality and social justice

• Israelites believed that there is only one God, and even kings had to obey God's laws and teachings

• Judaism teaches that God considers all people equal

• Many stories and sayings in the Hebrew Bible, or Tanakh, teach about treating everyone fairly

Importance of Study

• Studying the Hebrew Bible and Torah is very important in Judaism

• Rabbis and scholars who interpreted the basic teachings of the Torah made decisions that were passed down orally

• In the 200s, Jewish scholars began to write the Talmud, which contains this oral tradition along with academic analysis

• The Talmud became a basic source of Jewish law

• Jews learn about Jewish history, law, and traditions by reading and discussion

Multiple Choice

All of the following are true of Judaism EXCEPT:

• God considers all people equal

• The Hebrew Bible teaches about treating everyone fairly

• The Talmud is a basic source of Jewish law

• Kings were above the laws of Judaism

• Equality and social justice are critical components of Judaism

Foreign Rule

The invasion of Judah in 597 B.C.E. and the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple in 586 B.C.E. threatened the survival of Judaism. 1000s of Jews were exiled in Babylon. By this time, the Israelites were known as Jews. Members of the Israelite tribe of Judah called themselves "Judaeans,” and their homeland, Judah.

Jewish Diaspora

The Jewish Diaspora had begun. From this time on, the followers of Judaism were dispersed, or scattered, in many lands. Those who did return home found their land dominated by foreign rulers. It would not be easy to keep Judaism alive.

Babylonian & Persian Rule

The Jewish captives lived in Babylon for about half a century. From then on, Jews outside their homeland prayed to return. During this exile in Babylon, men the Jews believed to be great prophets rose up to encourage the people to remain faithful to Judaism. In 539 B.C.E., the Persians conquered the Babylonians. The Persian king, Cyrus, ended the Jews' exile. Many Jews returned to Judah, where Cyrus allowed them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and to practice their religion. The rebuilt Temple became known as the Second Temple. Other Jews stayed in Babylon.

Greek Rule

For nearly 400 years, Judah was ruled by foreigners. After the Persians came the Greeks. Often, the foreign rulers were harsh.

One Greek ruler, Antiochus, tried to force the Jews to worship idols of Greek gods in the Second Temple. In 168 B.C.E., the Jews rebelled and started a war that spanned more than 20 years. During that war, in the year 164 B.C.E., they drove the Greeks from Jerusalem and reclaimed and rededicated the Temple. Jews today celebrate Hanukkah to honor this victory and the rededication of the Temple.

Multiple Choice

What of the following best decribes the term "diaspora?"

• Bring together

• Compress

• Tighten up

• Scatter

Roman Rule

For about 80 years after the war with the Greeks, the Jews lived as an independent kingdom in Judah, now called Judea. Then, in 63 B.C.E., they fell under Roman rule.

Roman Rule

More than 50,000 Jews were brutally executed under Roman rule. The Romans did allow the Jews to practice their own religion. In 22 B.C.E., the Romans appointed King Herod to rule all the Jews. Herod announced a big project to expand the Second Temple in Jerusalem, on an even grander scale than Solomon's Temple. The work took 46 years to complete.

Roman Rule

In 66 C.E., the Jews rose up against the Romans. For three years, they managed to keep the Romans out of Jerusalem. Then, in 70 C.E., a Roman military leader named Titus led an army of 60,000 soldiers against the Jews. The Jews fought back fiercely, but they were hopelessly outnumbered. They watched in horror as the Romans destroyed the great Temple in Jerusalem. All that was known to remain of the Second Temple was its western wall. To this day, Jews consider the Western Wall their most sacred place.

Roman Rule

In 135 C.E. the Romans put down another Jewish revolt. This Roman victory began the final exile of the Jewish people from their homeland. The Romans seized Jewish land and forbade the Jews from entering Jerusalem. Although some Jews always remained in the land of Israel, thousands were sent to other parts of the Roman Empire.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are true concerning foreign rule in Judah? There are multiple answers. Select all that apply.

• The Babylonian destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple in 586 B.C.E.

• The followers of Judaism were dispersed in many lands after the destruction of Jerusalem.

• King Herod did not allow the Jews to practice their own religion.

• The Greeks destroyed the great Temple in Jerusalem.

Preserving the Teachings of Judaism

• Creativity and dedication has allowed Jews to keep Judaism alive

• Ben Zaccai met with a Roman general named Vespasian and gained permission to open a Jewish school in the town of Yavneh

• The rabbis at Yavneh introduced new practices such as the synagogue, which is a house of worship

• The rabbis also created a religious service for synagogues

• Prayer and study of sacred texts became a new way to worship God without the Temple rituals

• These new practices helped Jews preserve their religion in communities around the world

Multiple Choice

Jewish forms of worship and ways of life were taught in many different countries by:

• priests

• professors

• prophets

• rabbis

Israel

In 1948, a new Jewish state, Israel, was created in part of the lands once ruled by David and Solomon. Jews from many places settled in their ancient homeland. For other Jews around the world, Jewish traditions have enabled their religion to thrive.

Important Days of Judaism

• Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year

• Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism

• Hanukkah is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.

• The festival of Passover celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. It commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel who were led out of Egypt by Moses.

Multiple Choice

The festival of Passover celebrates the:

• Jewish Diaspora

• Exodus from Egypt

• rededication of the Temple

• end of the Babylonian Exile

Open Ended

What is one central teaching of Judaism? Briefly explain your example.