What role has history played in the development of Jewish identity?

Answer 1

The textbook states that the whole of Jewish history covers more than 4000 years. It cannot be summarized in single book or story. Mainly there are two types of Jews, practicing and "ethnic" Jews, who are less strict in their observance of faith but still embrace their Jewish ethnicity, history, and culture. The story of early Judaism is found in Tanakh, the Hebrew scriptures and it begins with Abraham, who is credited for spreading the Judaic faith. These were his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, whose name was later changed to Israel, which means "he who wrestled God", after he fought with the angel of God all night long. Israel's children became forever known as "children of Israel." Israel was father to twelve sons, who became known as the twelve patriarchs of Israel. From each of these sons sprang a tribe of people, named after their "father" and collectively called the Twelve Tribes of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah (from whom the Hebrew people would eventually come to be called Yehudi, "Judeans," eventually shortened to Jews), Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin. Fifteen million people in the world now claim to be descendants of Abraham through one of these twelve patriarchs.

Judaism does not exist just on one spot of ground. Throughout the history it has transformed itself. The three main Jewish divisions carry on the tradition, even though, often they do not get along at all. The Orthodox are the traditionalists, holding to scripture and Talmud. They are often seen in their traditional garb of black suits and beards, black hats and prayer shawls, watching over the production of Kosher foods and participating in ceremonies that go all the way back to early rabbinical times. The Reform branch is the liberal branch, applying tradition to contemporary society and visualizing Judaism as a living, breathing tradition that must constantly reform to new social conditions. The Conservative branch is a bit of a compromise, seeking to place rabbinical Judaism in a modern context. Other, smaller branches of Judaism include Reconstructionist and Secular Humanistic Judaism. Sometimes they disagree, but at the core of each branch is the tradition, the love, and the history that binds them to the faith of their fathers.