2. Background Knowledge
● Very early monotheistic religion (c. 4000 years old)
● People were originally known as Hebrews
o Hebrew is the name of the Jewish language
● The Hebrews later took on the name of
Jews in honor of one of their tribes, Judah,
and of the new territory they claimed in
Judea, in modern day Israel and Palestine.
● Today, there are about 15 million Jews
3. Background Knowledge (continued)
● Jews are classified as a separate race of
people. Meaning a separate distinct people.
Not referring to skin color.
● Known by many names:
o Hebrews, Israelites, Children of Israel, Jews, and
Israelis
o All mean the same thing
4. Historical Origins
● Founded by Abram (c.2000 B.C.E)
o Came from eber (meaning “the other side of the
river” (Euphrates)...from the ancient city of Ur
o From then on, he was known as Abraham
● According to Hebrew scripture:
o God and Abraham sealed a covenant (promise)
stating that Abraham’s descendants would forever
revere and worship that God, and God, in return,
would forever watch over and protect them.
5. Historical Origins
● Moses (1300 B.C.E.- 1200 B.C.E.)
o Became one of Judaism’s patriarchal leaders
o Born Hebrew, raised as Egyptian in Pharaoh’s house
o Led the Hebrews out of Egypt into The Promised
Land (Canaan, in modern day Palestine)
o Ten Commandments revealed to him at Mount Sinai
o Authored the first 5 books of the Old Testament
Pentateuch (Latin/Greek: penta (five) teuch
(book)
6. Central Ideas
The Faith of Judaism
● Self-restraint
● Family
● Value of Human Life
● Formal Worship
● Monotheistic
● Stresses moral & ethical behavior
7. Central Ideas
● Mosaic Law (Torah)
o 1st five books of Old Testament
o “eye for an eye” style but with a greater emphasis
on human life
o Slavery required kindness to slaves
o Polygamy - early on
o Dietary laws
o Kindness to poor and strangers
8. Central Ideas
● The Ten Commandments
● Old Testament
o 39 “books”
o History, poetry, religious instructions, prophecy,
and law
● Prophets
o 11th-5th centuries B.C.E.
o Theologians, Conscience of the people
o Nathan - prophet under David
9. Central Ideas
● YHWH
Hebrew designation for the name of God
o Yahweh or Jehovah
English translation from Hebrew
● “Only God is God”
o Creation is not God, Man is not God, and kings are
not divine
● Stressed moral behavior over ritual
