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The Jewish Temple
• Why was the Temple Important• Zion Theology• Symbol of the chosen people• A king, a capital, and a nation• Choose Jerusalem as their capital
First Temple Period
• 1020 BCE – 598 BCE• Jewish Kingdom of Judah• Capital city in Jerusalem• Centre of political and religious
power• Royal Palace and Temple• Zion Theology
Jerusalem was like a modern day New York, Paris, or Tokyo
Decline of First Temple Period
• Very rich and powerful• Enjoyed God’s favour• Jews lost interest in religion• Surrounded by powerful
countries• Tried to play these nations off
against each other
During this time, other worldly things became more important to the Jews. They felt like they had everything they needed…and therefore, didn’t need God anymore.
Babylonian Exile
• 597 BCE• All middle and upper classes of
Judah relocated• Babylonians destroy temple• Outlaw Judaism• End of the Jews? • End of the world?
During Exile
• Jews no longer have a temple• Begin writing down their faith• Local teachers (Rabbis or
Pharisees) help people learn their faith
• Start going to synagoguesSimilar to Star Wars, after the destruction of Judaism, those who remained worked hard to mentor new Jews to carry on the faith.
New Beginnings
• 538 BCE• Babylonians defeated by
Persians• Cyrus the Great• Allowed to return• Laid Foundations for a new
Temple
PERSIAN RULER CYRUS THE GREAT Dubbed “God’s Anointed” by the
Jewish People
Greek Rule
• Greek Superpower rising• Alexander the Great• Conquers Mediterranean and
Middle East• Hellenization
Maccabean Revolution
• Revolt against Greek Generals• Judas Maccabeus• Retake the Temple• Hanukkah • Become Independent in 142 B.C.
Internal Fighting
• 100 years of Independence• Different groups fighting for
control• Sadducees invite Rome• 63 B.C. Rome takes over Palestine
Jesus’ Time
• 63 years before Jesus’ birth, Rome had conquered the Middle East
• Priests loyal to Rome• Betrayed the Religion• Jesus’ warning in Mark
Destruction of Temple
• 70 CE, Revolt in Jerusalem suppressed
• Temple destroyed• Two Jewish groups
survive– Rabbinic– Christians
Jews and Culture in History
• Most of Jewish history, Jews maintained independent identity
• Accomplished this in two ways • Independent Nation• Local communities set apart from
main culture• Conflict when came into contact
with other cultures• This conflict is not unique to
Judaism
Enlightenment Period
• 17th and 18th centuries• Mysticism and Religion being
replaced with reason and science
• Migration from rural farms to cities
• How should Jews respond to changes
Above picture shows the advances of industry, mass production, and efficient shipping.
Left picture shows the novel Frankenstein, one of the fundamental questions author Shelley asks is how far should science go?
Orthodox Judaism
• Live by ancient Jewish laws• 613 Laws• Accept Torah written by Moses• Worship in Hebrew
Conservative
• Reaction to Reform Judaism• Worried reform movement no
longer Jewish• Divine origins of Judaism, but
humans help shape it too• Do not follow all 613 laws• Flexibility interpreting the law
Application and interpretation of the law always requires a slick lawyer
Reform Judaism
• Originally developed in Germany
• Wanted to partake in intellectual freedoms
• Modern methods for looking at scripture (redaction criticism)
• Services held in the vernacular
• Female rabbis • Individualism