The Stories of Abraham and Moses
Where did the Hebrews first inhabit, and what Is it known as today?
The Hebrews inhabited a land on the eastern coast of the mediterranean known as Canaan in 1800 BC, the region later known as Israel and Palestine
What is the Sabbath?
Once a week there is a day of rest where they gather for religious readings, festivals and meals to get away from work and leave stress for the next day.
Who were the Israelites attacked by and who did they appoint to king after the attack?
The Israelites were attacked by a people called the Philistines and appointed Saul to king after the attacks.
What is the Western Wall and what do people do with it?
The Western Wall is a remaining portion of the Second Temple at which people pray or leave written prayers in the cracks of the wall.
How did Judaism affect Western civilization?
Judaism through It's focused on justice and morality affected Western civilization not only in religion by influencing Christianity, but also helping western civilization developed law.
What did the Hebrew practice that most other early civilizations not practice?
The Hebrews practiced monotheism (believing in only one god).
After the death of Moses, What happened in 1250 BC according to the Hebrew Bible?
Around 1250 BC after the death of moses, the new leader named Joshua brought the Israelites back to Canaan where the went to war against the polytheistic canaanites, and over the course of 200 years they eventually won
What had David done during his tenure as king and what other event is he famous for?
During his tenure, David had captured Jerusalem and made it his capital, and he is famous for slaying the Philistine Goliath.
What was the Babylonian Exile and how long did it last?
The Babylonian Exile was the forced and harsh removal of Jews from Judah to Babylonia where they were kept in captivity for 50 years.
When, and what was the first foreign power to take over Judah after the Persians, as well as how did they treat the Jews?
The Egyptians in 300 BC, who largely left the Jews alone rather than indoctrinating them into their religion.
When did the Israelites return to Canaan, what was the journey called, how long was the journey, and what significant event did Moses have during the journey?
They were estimated to have returned in the 1200's B.C. on a journey called the Exodus which is estimated to have taken 40 years. Along the way of the journey, Moses climbed Mount Sinai, where God gave him many laws, most notably the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments are the basis of many of today's laws.
The Israelites eventually broke up into 12 tribes. What were they called, and when the 12 tribes split up into different groups, what did they act as and how were they led?
The Israelites eventually broke up into 12 tribes known as the twelve tribes of Israel since each tribe descended from a son of Jacob, who was called Israel. Later, the tribes then lived in different areas, acting as a confederation with powerful leaders at the top of the confederation who were allowed to lead battles, make policy decisions, and overall, keep the tribes united.
Tax burdens led to people becoming resentful of a ruler of Israel, and it led to a war. Who was under rule, what were the sides called, what regions were those sides in, and how many of the original tribes were on each side?
Solomon was ruling at the time, the sides were called Israel and Judah, Israel being the north and containing ten of the original tribes, and the south being Judah which contained the other two tribes.
How did the Babylonian Exile change Judaism?
The Babylonian Exile changed Judaism in ways like first introducing synagogues, replacing all tribal divisions with religious unity, and holy texts being transferred into a new script by scribes. However, the most important development was the Jews developing their own ability to maintain their culture and faith in foreign lands, which would help Judaism develop into a worldwide religion.
What foreign power followed the Egyptians, when did they take over, and how did they treat the Jews (Including specific actions) causing an uprising?
the Seleucids in 198 BC who later began treating the Jews unwell in 168 BC where the king attempted to force them to worship Greek gods, and redirecting one of their temples to focus on Zeus, causing the Jew to rebel and defeat the Seleucids, rededicating the temple which would later start the tradition of Hanukkah.
Why did the Hebrews move and settle in northern Egypt and when did they do so? What happened to them while they were in Egypt? Who helped them escape?
The Hebrews were suffering a large drought, which resulted in a food shortage, and due to that, they settled in Egypt in 1650 B.C., where they were enslaved. Moses helped them escape after centuries of suffering.
The Israelites followed the rules of the Hebrew Bible given to Moses at all moments of their daily life. What were their rules and customs?
These laws include no worshiping false idols and gods, food restrictions, no work on the sabbath (weekly rest day), as well as just pressure against marrying outside of their faith, adopting foreign customs, and cultural diffusion. The Israelites also focused on treating guests, women, children and foreign travelers with the same level of respect and kindness.
In 722 B.C., an empire conquered Israel. What was the name of the empire? Which side held their own against them?
The empire was the Assyrian Empire, and the kingdom of Judah was able to hold them off while Israel disappeared from history.
Who was Cyrus the Great, what was he known for, and why was he a hero to the Jews?
Cyrus the Great was the king of the Persian Empire who conquered Babylon in 539 BC and was known for being a wise conqueror with a powerful military. He also had a policy of tolerance which allowed conquered people to keep their faiths and caused him to welcome Jews back into the Persian controlled Judah to rebuild the Jewish society, being considered a hero after doing so.
What group took over the Jews in 63 BC, and how did they cause a war lasting from 66 AD to 70 AD?
The Romans took control of the Jews in 63 BC and slowly began trying to force Jews to worship roman gods as they took more control of Judah, eventually Jewish zealots began a war in 66 AD, however they were no match and lost around 70 AD.
What things did the Hebrew Bible mention that had to do with a shepherd?
The Hebrew Bible explains that God told a Mesopotamian shepherd to settle in Canaan as promised land. It also mentions that the shepherd's family would forever have an agreement with God religiously, and the Hebrews would be protected no matter what.
The Hebrew Bible influenced both the Old Testament of the Christian Bible and the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. What were the three sections of the Hebrew Bible, and specifically what was the origin of the Torah, and how is it used today?
The three categories of the Hebrew Bible are the Writings, the Prophets, and most commonly known, the Torah, which translates to "The Teachings." The Torah is believed by Jews to contain the word of God spoken to Moses on mount Sinai. Because of its moral and religious detailing about life that would even to Jewish law, the Torah is kept in every synagogue on a handwritten parchment scroll that is read from beginning to end over the course of the year and is explained writings from early rabbis known as the Talmud.
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What two warring major kingdoms conquered Israel, and in what order?
Egypt and Babylon both conquered Israel, first Egypt, then Babylon.
Many Jews decided to stay in Babylonia and create a century spanning Jewish community in present day Iran and Iraq. However, 42,000 Jews returned to Judah in 538 BC, so what did they do and how did they modernize Judaism?
Of the Jews that went back, many worked to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem known as the Second Temple. During this period, religious leaders brought Judaism closer to modern conditions by both finalizing the Hebrew Bible and beginning public readings of the Torah.
What was the Diaspora and how did it cause rabbis to change Judaism?
The diasporal was the forceful migration of Jews to places around the world after the Babylonian exile, which caused rabbis to change the religion into a synagogue-based religion which allowed Jews to better hold on to their religion and customs, allowing Judaism to become a worldwide religion.