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History of Judaism
The History of Judaism is the history of the Jewish people, their religion and culture, tracing back to the Biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob of the 18th c. BCE. The earliest mention of Israel as a people was discovered in an inscription on the Merneptah Stele from the 1200s BCE.
1,396 Questions
Are the Jews the cause of all the world's wars?
No, that is an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory without basis in fact. It could be said that some Jews played some part in a minority of wars, but that's it. One who actually studies history soon learns to dismiss conspiracy paranoia.
How did Britain treat the Jews during world war 2?
Continental European Jews were often prevented from arriving in British ports and the British actively prevented Jews from immigrating to Palestine, detaining caught individuals in Cypriot Jails until 1946.
Where did the Jewish people go to live after world war 2?
Approximately six million European Jews were killed during the Holocaust during World War II. Many of the European Jews who survived the persecution and death camps had nowhere to go after V-E Day, May 8, 1945. Not only had Europe been practically destroyed but many survivors did not want to return to their pre-war homes in Poland or Germany. Jews became Displaced Persons (also known as DPs) and spent time in helter-skelter camps, some of which were located at former concentration camps. The preferred migration destination for almost all survivors of the genocide was a Jewish homeland in Palestine. That dream eventually came true for many.
What is the definition of a pogrom?
Pogroms were violent riots and massacres launched against Jews and frequently encouraged by government authorities.
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It was, above all, Tsarist Russia that was associated with pogroms. In Russia the whole period from about 1881-1917 was charcterized by pogroms.
Nazi Germany staged the Night of the Broken Glass, but on the whole preferred to avoid public disturbances when implementing its anti-Jewish policies.
In 1941 there were pogroms in Romania, especially Bucharest and Iasi, with Jews being beaten up and killed in the street.
One of the best know pogroms was that at Kishinev in 1903. See the link.
See also the second link, which has a map of some of the places where pogroms occurred in the Russian Empire.
What is the Jewish name of God?
We use the Hebrew names of God, in prayer and in reading the Torah:
Adonai - the Lord
Elohim - God
Shaddai - the Almighty
El - a name indicating the power of God
Tzevaot - Lord of hosts
In daily conversation, we use the name Hashem.
Why did jews leave europe in 1900s?
For the same reasons as non-Jewish Germans. There were huge waves of emigration from Germany from about 1830-1910. A few were fleeing from oppression, but most migrated mainly for economic reasons: prospects, especially in the US, were generally much better.
What are the names of Naomi's sons?
Mahlon (pronounced MAW'-Len)-possibly from a root word meaning 'fall sick/grow weak'.
Chilion (pronounced CHIL'-ee-en) means 'one failing/coming to an end)
What did the Jews do to gain the human rights back?
It depends on the country or time-period, Jews have lost and gained rights numerous times through history. Generally speaking, they gained their rights back through advocacy, but this was not the only way. Please resubmit this question referring specifically to the country and/or time-period in question.
When was the Jewish nation and religion founded?
God founded the Jewish nation and religion when He promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation in Genesis 12. According to some, that was around 2000 years BC.
Answer:
Tradition states that Abraham (18th century BCE) founded Judaism, and Moses later received the Torah from God.
The Kuzari (Rabbi Judah HaLevi, 1075-1141) states that Abraham was gifted with high intelligence; and, as Maimonides (1135-1204) describes, Abraham didn't blindly accept the ubiquitous idolatry. The whole populace had been duped, but the young Abraham contemplated the matter relentlessly, finally arriving at the conclusion that there is One God and that this should be taught to others as well. This is what is meant by his "calling out in the name of the Lord" (Genesis ch.12). As a young man, he remonstrated with passersby in public, demonstrating to them the falsehood of their idols; and our tradition tells how he was threatened and endangered by Nimrod.
Subsequently, Terah relocated to Harran; and it is here that Abraham began to develop a circle of disciples (Rashi commentary, on Genesis 12:5). Later, God told Abraham in prophecy to move to the Holy Land, which is where he raised his family. He continued his contemplations, eventually arriving at the attitudes and forms of behavior which God later incorporated into the Torah given to Moses.
Abraham became the greatest thinker of all time. His originality, perseverance, strength of conviction, and influence, cannot be overestimated.
He founded the Jewish people and lived to see his work live on in the persons of Isaac and Jacob; and he taught many other disciples as well (Talmud, Yoma 28b).
Abraham entered into a covenant with God (Genesis ch.15 and 17), welcomed guests into his home (Genesis ch.18) unlike the inhospitable Sodomites (Genesis ch.19), prayed for people (Genesis ch.18), eulogized and buried the deceased (Genesis ch.23), and fulfilled God's will unquestioningly (Genesis ch.22). He became renowned as a prince of God (Genesis 23:6).
All of the above practices of Abraham were based upon the ways of God. These, and similar traits, were the teachings of Abraham and his descendants (unlike idolatry, which had no moral character; with worship of the gods accompanied by things such as human sacrifice, "sacred" prostitution, and animal worship). It is therefore clear why God expresses His love for Abraham (Isaiah 41:8) and calls Himself the God of Abraham (Genesis 26:24), and says that Abraham obeyed Him fully (Genesis 26:5).
The gravesite of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives (Genesis 49:29-32) is located in Hebron and has been known and attested to for many centuries.
Where did the Jewish children go to school in the time of Jesus?
Jewish boys were taught by rabbis.
Girls received no formal education, but bit by bit, some acquired some rudimentary skills and continued to develop them . The boys were taught to read their Holy Books, and math skills deemed suitable to their station in life.Scibes were taught towrite, and men of business to sign their names.
How did Christianity build on Jewish beliefs about the future?
The Christian Religion comes directly out of the Jewish religion. If man had not done wrong and had made the right choices back through history then the Jewish religion would not exist because all Jews would be Christians. But - man has a will of his own, and just like in the garden of Eden at the begging of time, man still makes wrong choices.
Its like this, Jesus came and fulfilled all of the Old Testament by dying on the cross as the perfect atonement for ALL mankind's sin, thus fulfilling the Old Testament prophesies. But all of the Jews did not believe and accept him. So of course, they kept on doing what they had always been doing - waiting for the coming Messiah and performing the laws of the Old Testament and other Jewish traditions while they still waited for their coming Messiah.
Modern Christians, understanding who and What Jesus was all about through the complete cannon of scripture, follow Christ's teachings; hence the term, Christians (Little Christs)
a good study of the Bible can show you how closely the two faiths are related and how the one comes out of the other. Both Jews and Christians worship the same God, but in differing ways. The Jews follow what they were taught in the Old Testament (The Law) and the Christians follow the whole of Scripture (Both Old and New Testaments)
A Note on end times: The Bible teaches that when Christ comes again, all Believers who accepted Christ Jesus as their Savior will be Raptured up to heaven with Him. The Jews will then suffer 7 years of judgment along with the rest of the unbelieving world. But God will not forsake them even then. The Bible tells us that God has a special plan for the Jews as they will then enjoy the blessings of living and ruling with Christ in the thousand year reign on Earth which follows the 7 year tribulation judgement.
The seven year judgment on Earth is God's wrath upon the unbelieving Jews and the Unbelieving World. This is what all the "doomsday" prophecies are about. It is known commonly as the End Times. And yes, we are near this time. God very likely return within the next 70 years or so; He actually might come as soon as 2018 (this year is important because it is a generation from the founding of Israel in 1948)
a Personal Note: Here's what I think: I'm Jewish, and I can tell you now that Jews don't have beliefs about the future. That's it, because I go to all of my Jewish services, so we don't.
What was the Arab reaction to the increase in Jewish immigrants from Europe?
The Arabs in the Middle East flocked to Palestine in their tens of thousands when Jews began developing it in the mid to late 19th century. However, despite benefitting enormously, Arabs regularly attacked Jewish civilians, often whole villages, and perpetrated the most appalling violence and bloodshed. A typical example is the Hebron Massacre of 1929.
How many Jews were there before the Holocaust?
There were about 16 million Jews worldwide before the Holocaust; afterwards, about 10 million.
What deprived Jews of their citizenship and banned marriages between Jews and non Jews?
The process of depriving German Jews of their rights started in April 1933. A hailstorm of anti-Jewish decrees followed, in all about 430 between 1933 and 1943. For example, in late 1933 most Jewish students were expelled from the German universities. It sounds from your question as if they are thinking of specifically of the Nuremberg Laws of September 1935.
Was Hitler engaged to a Jewish women?
No. The only woman Hitler was ever known to be involved with was Eva Braun.
How many Jews lived in Germany as of June 1933?
The estimate usually given is about 525,000 German Jews in Germany when the Nazis came to power in January 1933 (out of a total population of about 61 million). This figure relates to Jews in the religious sense (members of Jewish congregations, whether active or nominal). In addition, there were an estimated 80,000-90,000 foreign Jews resident in Germany at the time.
Where did the first Jews in Poland come from?
The first Jews in Poland migrated there from the German regions as Jews moved eastward into Russia. However, the return journey from Russia back west seeded Poland's largest Jewish communities.
What was the importance of canaan to the history of the ancient hebrews?
Historians and Archaeologists now believe that there never was a separate Hebrew Nation and that the Israelites were just a minor tribe of the Canaanite nation; even their language is similar.
How many others people were killed during the holocaust?
Aside from the Jewish, Jehovah's Witnesses, Roma Gypsies, courageous resisters, other pastors and priest, homosexuals, the disabled and masons were executed by the Nazis. Prior to World War I, there were very few dark-skinned people of African descent in Germany. But, during World War I, black African soldiers were brought in by the French during the Allied occupation. Most of the Germans, who were very race conscious, despised the dark-skinned "invasion". Some of these black soldiers married white German women that bore children referred to as "Rhineland Bastards" or the "Black Disgrace". In Mein Kampf, Hitler said he would eliminate all the children born of African-German descent because he considered them an "insult" to the German nation. Many husbands and wives of Jews in Germany were forced to choose between divorce or concentration camps. Hitler would not allow "interracial" marriages. Those that chose to remain married were punished by imprisonment in camps where many died.
What places in the world is Judaism practiced?
Judaism is practiced all over the world, because Jewish people live all over the world. There are active synagogues in places where many might not think Jews live. Jamaica, Spain, South Africa, New Zealand, Morocco, Russia, Iraq...and even Hong Kong are some countries that have Jewish populations.
The largest population of Jews tends to be Israel, USA, Canada, England and South America.
Interesting fact: Judaism is one of the world's major religions, while Jews are one of the world's minorities. Go figure :)
What is the Zionist movement and what was its main goal?
Who were the Zionists: The Zionist leadership was ardently secularist with one or two critical exceptions. These leaders included Theodor Herzl (who developed the concept of Modern Jewish Nationalism or Zionism), Eliezer ben Yehuda (who developed the Modern Hebrew Language), Ze'ev Jabotinsky (Jewish Advocate to the British and Leader of the Palmach), Menachem Begin (Leader of the Irgun and future Israeli Prime Minister), and the Halutzim in general (the Jewish pioneers who arrived in the British Mandate of Palestine in the 1920s and 1930s). On the religious side, there was primarily Rabbi Avraham Kook (First Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel and founder of Religious Zionism) who was treading a new theological doctrine to back up Zionism with Jewish religious values.
What were the goals of the Zionists: Being a Zionist only means one thing: Believing that the Jews have a right to an independent State and that this State should be in the Land of Israel. Many people incorrectly believe that Zionism refers to the Anti-Semitic depictions of a worldwide Jewish Cabal or some other conspiracy theory. However, that is not what Zionism is.
What did a Jewish ghetto look like?
The only architecturally intact ghetto in Europe is in Venice. It covers two islands, and when Jews were forced by law to live in the ghetto it was crowded and somewhat run down. The inhabitants built upwards from about 1630 onwards in order to make the best possible use of limited space. Ironically, the Venice ghetto has become a rather upmarket residential area in the last 30 years or so.
What were non-Jewish people from the Roman Empire called?
Pagans
Most Romans were non-Jews. The Jews were a very small people and a negligible portion of the population of an empire which was huge. It included western Europe up to southern Germany and parts of central Germany + the Balkan peninsula in eastern Europe + Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and a slice of Saudi Arabia + North Africa.
The population of the empire had been estimated at 60 millions, which in days when population levels were much lower than now, was massive.
What happened to the Jews in Europe after they were emancipated?
if you are relating it to the Holocaust, when you say 'emancipated' do you mean when the German Jews had their citizenship restored, or do you mean the creation of Israel was their 'emancipation'?
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When used in connection with the Jews, emancipationgenerally refers specifically to the removal of civil disabilities from the time of the French Revolution on. In the German-speaking countries this includes the initial granting of citizenship (from 1812-1869) and the abolition (in the 1800s) of laws stating exactly what the Jews were allowed and not allowed to do and the abolition of special taxes and the like on Jews. (Compare with the use of the word emancipation in connection with other groups subject to civil disabilties).
If you mean emancipation in this sense, most Jews in Germany and Western Europe tried to assimilate to the society around them.
