1. THE HEBREWS & JUDAISM Global History I - Adamiak

2. The Hebrews  Nomadic group that lived in Mesopotamia  Abraham migrated from the city of Ur to a region known as Palestine

3. The Hebrews  According to tradition, the Hebrews migrated to Egypt after a drought in Palestine  In Egypt the Hebrews were enslaved until Moses led them out of bondage

4. The Hebrews  After years of wandering in the desert, the Hebrews return to Palestine  Establish the Kingdom of Israel King Saul: First king of the united Kingdom of Israel

5. Beliefs  Monotheism  belief one God  There is only one God (Yahweh)  He is not only the God of the Jews, but the God of all peoples  He created the entire world  Omniscient and Omnipotent All knowing and all powerful

6. Beliefs  A chosen people  Jews believe they are a favored people  Covenant  an agreement or contract with God If the Hebrew people obeyed God, he promised to take special care of them “A peculiar treasure unto me above all people”

7. Beliefs  Sacred Scripture  The Torah First 5 books of the Bible (Old Testament) Establishes law and morality The Ten Commandments  code of behavior, moral guidelines Explains why the world is the way it is Adam & Eve, Tower of Babel, Noah’s Ark The Torah

8. Beliefs  The Prophets  Messengers from God Preached God’s word on ethics, standards of behavior, morality Warned the Hebrews that if they failed to keep God’s commandments, they would be punished Called for social justice & condemned rich for oppressing the poor

9. The Diaspora  The Land of Israel – The Romans expelled the Jews from their land in 135 C.E.  For the next 2000 years, Jews were guests in other people’s lands  Diaspora  a scattering of people  In 1948, the U.N. established Israel as a Jewish homeland

10. Final Facts  All people could know & communicate with God, NOT only priests  Hebrews always refused to accept the gods of their conquerors  Influenced the development of Christianity & Islam