Background Reading – Israel and JudaismThe Jewish Homeland

The Jewish people established the first Jewish Kingdom, c. 1000 BCE, in a region they call the Land of Israel. Approximately 3,000 years ago, their ancestors formed the Kingdom of Israel in this area and King David made Jerusalem the capital. After a period of foreign rule beginning in the 6th century BCE, Jews reestablished an independent kingdom, called Judea. However, in 63 BCE, Rome began to dominate the area. In 6 CE, Rome incorporated the Jewish kingdom into its empire as a province. Roman rule and taxes were harsh on the Jews. At times Romans interfered with Jewish religious practice. In 66 CE, the Jews began a revolt to regain their independence. By the year 70, the Romans had crushed the revolt and destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem – the center of Jewish religious life.

In 131 CE, the Romans began to build a temple to one of their gods on the ruins of the Jewish Temple. Jews rose in rebellion again in what is now known as the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Following Bar Kokhba, the majority of Jews in the province were killed, exiled, or sold into slavery. Although some Jews continued to live in the province, most were forced to live outside of their ancient homeland. In an effort to sever the Jewish connection to the province, the Roman emperor ordered that its name be changed from Judea to Syria Palaestina, which was eventually shortened to Palaestina.

In exile, Jews maintained their connection to their ancient homeland and Jerusalem, its capital and the site where their Temple had stood. Over centuries of foreign rule, some Jews remained in the area and others immigrated there. Around the world, Jews expressed their connection to this land and their hope to be able to return in the future through prayer, the psalms they recited from the Hebrew Bible, folktales, artwork, and song. Today, Jews outside Israel continue to pray toward Jerusalem and are deeply attached to Israel.

Describe the Jewish connection to Ancient Israel:____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Western WallWhy is the Western Wall important for the Jewish people?

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Temple Mount

Why is the Temple Mount important for the Jewish people?_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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What other religion considers the Temple Mount sacred? Why?

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Mount of Olives

Why is the Mount of Olives important for the Jewish people?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What other religion considers the Mount of Olives sacred? Why?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Important Holidays or Holy DaysRosh Hashanah (rohsh hah-shah-nah) is the Jewish New Year. It usually occurs in September or October. During the prayer service, a ram’s horn is blown to symbolically “wake-up” the congregation to think about how they can lead better lives. It is customary to eat apples and honey on these days as a symbol of a wish for a sweet new year.Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance which end on Yom Kippur. During this time, Jews reflect on their actions during the past year, seek forgiveness from those they may have upset, and think about how they can improve inthe year to come.

Yom Kippur (yohm ki-poor), the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn holiday in the Jewish calendar. It is devoted to fasting and prayer and marks the end of the Ten Days of Repentance when Jews ask for forgiveness from other people and from God. A ram’s horn is blown to mark the end of the fast which lasts from sundown to nightfall the following day.

Chanukah (khah-noo-kah, the ch is pronounced like Loch Ness Monster or Bach; Hanukah is acceptable if you can’t make the sound), the Festival of Lights, occurs in December. It commemorates the survival of Judaism after an emperor outlawed Jewish practices and tried to force Jews to worship idols. It is observed in Jewish homes by lighting candles in a special candleholder called a menorah for eight nights, beginning with one candle and adding a candle each night. According to Jewish tradition, this represents a miracle that happened when Jews rededicated their Temple in Jerusalem. Even though there was only enough lamp oil in the temple for one day, the oil lasted for eight days. In America, giving gifts at this time is common.

Passover is the Festival of Freedom that celebrates the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. In Hebrew it is called Pesach (pay-sahkh, the ch is pronounced like Loch Ness Monster or Bach;), but many American Jews call it Passover. This weeklong holiday usually occurs in March or April. Families join together in an elaborate ritual meal and use a special religious text to retell the struggle of the Jewish people to gain their freedom and to celebrate the cause of freedom for all. According to tradition, when the Jews fled Egypt there was not time for the bread they were preparing to rise, so they took the unleavened bread in their escape. Jews therefore eat unleavened cracker-like bread called matzah instead of normal bread during the week of Passover.