Story of Judaism - Timeline

God creates the world by speaking; therefore, Hebrew letters have creative power.

God of Jews is Creator of the World – not tribal.

Creation of Humanity Year 0 Special place to Humans. Two stories. No original sin.

Abraham: God chooses Abraham

Covenant – promise and contract: the chosen people

Moses: Leads people of out of slavery in Egypt

Inscription of Merneptah – first mention of Israel in recorded history (1206 BCE)

C BCE C

th 12

Moses receives the law on Mt Sinai – ten commandments, sacrificial system, other

-

th commandments

14 Beginning of Judaism

King David: Model of king for Israel

Kingdom of Israel C BCE C

Temple is built (under his son, Solomon) th Sacrifices at the temple – means of forgiveness 10 Centralized political and religious system

Assyrians invade and destroy the northern kingdom of Israel

They seem to disappear from history 722 BCE

Babylon conquers the southern kingdom of Judah. Temple is destroyed Leaders and others taken into exile in Babylon 586 BCE Development of first synagogues – place of prayer and study Return to – gradual

Many stay in Babylon for more than 2000 years there is a Jewish community in that region Ezra and Nehemiah are early leaders 520 BCE Temple is gradually rebuilt: it is smaller but sacrifices begin again Political kingdom never becomes as large and powerful as before Seleucid Greeks conquer Israel

Desecrate the temple by sacrificing a pig in temple C BCE C

Maccabees revolt and expel the Seleucids nd 2 Re-dedication of temple leads to holiday of Chanukah Story of Judaism - Timeline

Roman General, Titus, destroys Jerusalem and the 2nd temple What should we do after destruction of temple and Jerusalem?

4 answers: (Josephus, mourn, die, Rabbinic)

Beginning of Rabbinic Judaism

70 CE Redefinition of Judaism – no longer sacrifices at temple Rabbis (teachers), Torah, Talmud, Study and Synagogue replace priests, temple and sacrifices. Beginning of the development of the Talmud THE DIASPORA

(BEGINS BEFORE THE DESTRUCTION OF ROME)

Simon bar Kokhba – Last Jewish rebellion against Rome Jews were forced out of Jerusalem and Israel/

Jerusalem renamed Aelia Capitolina 135 CE

Dispersion of Jewish people into Europe, Spain, and Asia/Middle East

200 200 CE > Ashkenazim Jewish people who lived in Europe Practiced monogamy under European Christian influence Isolated in ghettoes (Western Europe) and shtetls (Eastern Europe) Jew-hatred – becomes anti-Semitism. Blood Libel

Scapegoating

C

th Many expulsions and pogroms (pogroms esp. in east Europe) 500 CE Earliest expulsion of Jews from regions and cities in Europe 13th C Major expulsions of Jews from England and France

Limited occupations through through 18

Often banking, jewelers, small shops th 7 Filled a place in society (Christians not allowed to charge interest) Some Jews became relatively wealthy Self-governed communities Rabbis functioned as judges and authorities (Kahal) Nation within a Nation Language: Yiddish Inward-looking (isolation) Story of Judaism - Timeline

Sephardim Sephardim in Spain until expulsion by Christians (1492, then spread through North Africa, Middle East and some in Europe Golden Age in Muslim Spain (8th to 11th C) Possibility of advance in government and society Education with Philosophers, scientists, poets, doctors, advisors, etc. Jewish writers in both Hebrew and Language: Ladino

Some periods of tension and persecution

C the Almohades and Reconquista th Moses Maimonides (13th C) leading philosopher, also chief physician to the Caliph (Egypt) Jews left Spain

through through 18 Much interaction between Jews and (no isolation)

th

7 Outward-looking Self-governing religious communities Rabbis as judges and authorities Mizrahim Mizrahim in Yemen, Iraq and Middle East Sepharidim also come to Middle East Usually better conditions than Europe Possibilities of Political office Outward-looking and some integration Language: Judeo-Arabic

French Revolution and Enlightenment

C Ideas of equality – beginning acceptance of Jews in Europe

th Jews expected to give up some primitive ways 18 Religion became less important as a category Development of Nation-States (over religion) Crisis of Inclusion Jews were accepted (at least somewhat) Able to go to secular universities

More occupations become open

C Required some integration (dress, language, etc.)

th Judaism becomes a Religion 19 One becomes a German Jew or a French Jew, rather than a Jew (of the Jewish nation in diaspora) living in Germany or France, etc. Reform Judaism Decorum – becoming quieter, orderly, etc. Looking intentionally more like a church service: choirs, preaching

Continuing anti-Semitism C

Protocols of the Elders of Zion – written in Russia th

19 Dreyfus Affair in France End of Story of Judaism - Timeline

Zionism Next year in Jerusalem Rejected by Orthodox: no messiah, too secular Rejected by Reform: adapt to country of residence Began as primarily a secular movement Theodor Herzl Father of Zionism

World Zionist Organization in Basel (1897) C to present to C

Slow, but steady Jewish immigration to Palestine th

19 Increase after 1917 (Balfour Declaration) Increase after the mid-1930s.

Late Continued anti-Semitism Cemeteries destroyed in Europe and USA Synagogues vandalized in Europe and USA Alt-Right Political Ads

Holocaust/Shoah

- 6 million Jews were killed 1945

1933 Reform Jews and many Orthodox Jews became supportive of Zionism

Creation of the State of Israel

How do you find your way in an ethnically based nation-state? 1948