Ch. 3/3 “The Growth of Judaism” • The Jews called their time in Babylon an exile because they were forced to live in a different land. • During their exile, the Israelite religion became what we call Judaism today. • Small groups of Jews met on the Sabbath, their weekly day of worship and rest. • They prayed and discussed their religion and history in Jewish houses of worship called Synagogues.
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Ch. 3/3 “The Growth of Judaism” The Jews called their time in Babylon an exile because they were forced to live in a different land. During their exile,
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Ch. 3/3 “The Growth of Judaism”• The Jews called their time in Babylon an exile
because they were forced to live in a different land.
• During their exile, the Israelite religion became what we call Judaism today.
• Small groups of Jews met on the Sabbath, their weekly day of worship and rest.
• They prayed and discussed their religion and history in Jewish houses of worship called Synagogues.
Why Did Jews Return to Judah
• During the 500’s BC, a group of people called Persians swept across southwest Asia.
• The Persians defeated the Chaldeans and took over Babylon.
• In 538 BC, the Persian king Cyrus allowed the Jews to return home to Judah and he helped to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem.
• He appointed officials to collect their taxes and control their government.
The Hebrew Bible
• The Hebrew Bible is really a series of books collected together.
• It includes the 5 books of the Torah and 34 other books describing events in Jewish history.
Jewish Leadership
• The leaders of the Jews became the temple priests and scribes, or religious scholars and writers.
• A scribe named Ezra, wrote the 5 books of the Torah on pieces of parchment sewed together to make scrols.
• The Torah and writings that were added later made up the Hebrew Bible.
Daniel and the Lion’s Den• Parts of the Bible described God’s plan for a
peaceful future.• Daniel lived in Babylon and was a trusted
adviser of the king.• However, he refused to worship Babylonian
gods and was punished.• The Chaldeans threw Daniel into a lion’s den,
but God protected Daniel from the lions.• The story is meant to remind Jews that God
would rescue them.
Greek Influences
• In 334 BC, a king named Alexander the Great began taking over kingdoms around the Mediterranean.
• In 331 BC, his armies defeated the Persians, so Judah came under his control.
• Alexander allowed the Jews to stay in Judah, but he also introduced the Greek language and ways to Judah.
Diaspora Spreads Jewish Ideas • At the time, Jews were also living in other parts of
Alexander’s empire in places like Egypt and Babylon.
• The Jews outside of Judah became known as the Diaspora (Scattered).
• They learned the Greek language and ways of life but they remained loyal to Judaism.
• A group copied the Hebrew Bible into Greek which helped people who were not Jews read and understand it throughout the Mediterranean.
The Maccabees
• In 168 BC, a Greek ruler named Antiochus controlled Judah.
• He decided to make the Jews of Judah worship Greek gods and goddesses.
• A priest named Judas Maccabeus and his followers rebelled.
• They fled into the hills and formed an army known as the Maccabees.
Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights
• They drove the Greeks out of Judah and destroyed all traces of Greek gods and goddesses in their temples.
• Each year Jews recall the cleansing of the temple when they celebrate Hanukkah.
• Priests from Judas Maccabeus’s family became the new rulers of Judah and took over land that had been part of the kingdom of Israel.
Jewish Way of Life
• Jewish law set out many rules for Jews to follow that affected their daily life and dealt with their education, diets, and clothing.
• The laws emphasized self-control and reminded Jews of their religion which was important when they no longer had their own land and king.
Family Life
• The Jews placed great importance on family.• Sons were especially valued because they
carried on the family name and upon the father’s death, the son became the head of the family.
• Mothers were Jewish children’s first teachers.• When sons grew older, fathers taught them
how to earn a living and worship God.
Religious Education for Boys
• Later, elders took over the religious education of boys and taught them the Torah.
• Because reading the Torah was central to Jewish life, religious teachers became important community leaders.
Education for Girls
• Mothers educated their daughters at home.• The girls learned to be good wives, mothers,
and housekeepers.• They learned Jewish laws about food and
clothing.• They also learned about the courageous
women of ancient Israel like Ruth and Naomi
The Jewish Diet• Jews could only eat certain animals like beef
and lamb but not pork.• They could eat scaly fish, like salmon, but not
smooth-skinned fish like eels, or shell fish.• Today food that is prepared according to
Jewish dietary law is called Kosher.• The animals used must be killed in a special
way, and the meat must be inspected, salted, and soaked.
• They do not cook or eat milk products with their meat.