The document summarizes important figures and concepts in Judaism. It discusses the patriarch Abraham and how he was known for refusing to worship idols and receiving God's promises. It describes Moses as receiving the Torah which contains 613 commandments that guide Jewish life. Naomi is mentioned as Ruth's mother-in-law who accompanied her back to Bethlehem. Ruth is noted for her kindness and becoming the great-grandmother of King David, who united Israel and introduced the Ark of the Covenant. The document also discusses Yohanan ben Zaccai founding a new center of Jewish law after the destruction of Jerusalem.

1. Abraham, Moses, Naomi,
Ruth, David, and Yohanan
ben Zaccai of the Jewish
religion
by J. Chao
for Mr. Haskvitz

2. AbrahamAbraham
Abraham was a respectedAbraham was a respected
Patriarch. He was known asPatriarch. He was known as
“Our Father Abraham” and“Our Father Abraham” and
made promises from God.made promises from God.
One promise was that heOne promise was that he
would have unlimitedwould have unlimited
offspring and discover theoffspring and discover the
land of Canaan. It was alsoland of Canaan. It was also
remembered as theremembered as the
“Promised Land”.“Promised Land”.
According to the Jews, theAccording to the Jews, the
first person who refused tofirst person who refused to
worship idols was Abraham.worship idols was Abraham.
This shows that heThis shows that he
symbolizes the monotheisticsymbolizes the monotheistic
religion.religion.

3. Moses
 Moses had gotten the Torah for Israel. The Torah is
not precisely a law, but a leadership, manual, or
assistance. There are exactly 613 commandments that
explain every part of life. For example, laws, relations,
personal hygiene and a person’s eating habits. The
Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses on
Mount Sinai about the Mosaic law

4. Naomi
 Naomi was the wife of
Elimelech and was a mother
of Mahlon and Chilion. She
was also a mother-in-law of
Ruth. When Naomi and her
husband left their home, the
district of Bethlehem-Judah,
they found one in the
uplands of Moab. As they
settled in Moab, Naomi’s two
children married to non-Jew
women and soon Elimelech
died. Soon both her sons
perished and she mourns for
her return to Bethlehem-
Judah. Ruth, another
daughter-in-law insisted that
she goes with Naomi.

5. RuthRuth
• She became the great grandmother of David. She was generous and
true. She married Naomi’s son who was an Israelite. Her husband’s
family had to move to Ruth’s country to live in. After her husband
died, she wanted to accompany Naomi as she set out her journey
back to the country of Israelites. Her saying was “Whither thou
goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge.” When Ruth
arrived at the country of Israelites, Boaz became Ruth’s husband
because he admired her kindness. Her life was written in the Book
of Ruth which was told in the Old Testament.

6. DavidDavid
 When David became powerfulWhen David became powerful
after overpowering Jerusalem,after overpowering Jerusalem,
Israel surrendered. During hisIsrael surrendered. During his
reign, he was the first monarchreign, he was the first monarch
to unite Israel. David hadto unite Israel. David had
introduced the Ark of theintroduced the Ark of the
Covenant with religion andCovenant with religion and
principles to the Jews.principles to the Jews.
 He created a nation for theHe created a nation for the
Jews by using Moses’ work,Jews by using Moses’ work,
Torah so Judaism would lastTorah so Judaism would last
for thousands of years. Manyfor thousands of years. Many
other nations did not favor theother nations did not favor the
idea so they plot on destroyingidea so they plot on destroying
it, however, David became veryit, however, David became very
successful.successful.

7. Yohanan ben ZaccaiYohanan ben Zaccai
 During the Great Jewish Revolt,During the Great Jewish Revolt,
Jerusalem was being conquered. While theJerusalem was being conquered. While the
siege began, Yohanan ben Zaccai escapedsiege began, Yohanan ben Zaccai escaped
out of the country to speak without of the country to speak with
Vespasian who would possibly be the nextVespasian who would possibly be the next
emperor. After negotiating with him, threeemperor. After negotiating with him, three
wishes were given to him. One of them waswishes were given to him. One of them was
to recreate the Sanhedrin. After theto recreate the Sanhedrin. After the
destruction of Jersusalem, the center ofdestruction of Jersusalem, the center of
Jewish law in Jamnia was founded byJewish law in Jamnia was founded by
Yohanan.Yohanan.

8. JudaismJudaism
 Judaism is aJudaism is a
Jewish religion.Jewish religion.
It is a belief inIt is a belief in
one god. Theone god. The
principles andprinciples and
foundations werefoundations were
based on the Oldbased on the Old
TestamentTestament

9. HanukkahHanukkah
Hanukkah was alsoHanukkah was also
known as the Feastknown as the Feast
of Dedication. Itof Dedication. It
was an eight daywas an eight day
holiday celebratingholiday celebrating
the Maccabees’the Maccabees’
victory over thevictory over the
Syrians and theSyrians and the
miracle that oil wasmiracle that oil was
burnt for eight daysburnt for eight days
in the holy temple.in the holy temple.

10. Menorah and Dreidl
• The menorah is a candelabrum. It
has nine branches and is used on
the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah.
• The dreidl is a spinning top with
four sides. It is used in games by
children and adults during the
celebration, Hanukkah.