History of Judaism

Eric Sessoms

REL/134

November 10, 2014
Mrs.Perry

History of Judaism

Jewish history goes back two thousand years and longer. There a historical event that has everyone theory and opinion revolving over and over. The destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE brought about the end of the temple-based ceremonial religion of that region. Following the calamity of the temple’s destruction, the earlier religion had to develop in new ways to survive. This is why there is distinction made between biblical Judaism and rabbinical Judaism. A lot of the Jewish laws practice and structure comes from the Hebrew Bible. The Hebrew Bible sets a foundation for development in the Jewish way of life.

Moses and the Law
Moses is one of the most important and key characters in Jewish history. Let us start off with the fact that since the Hebrew population grow so large the Egyptians saw them as threats to be. The pharaoh in command at this time was so scared he ordered all baby boy Hebrew to be killed at birth. Moses was spared because he was hidden. After three months is mother afraid for his life and send him up the Nile River in and watertight basket. Story tells us that an Egyptian princess discovers him and raised him as her own. Also Moses are era occurred during the polytheistic culture of Egypt. This is the era when God showed he is “the one true God”. In Moses era this is when the story of the ten great plaques, the journey out of Egypt through a large body of water. Moses is later to be recognized as the prophet that bring forth the Ten Commandments. Underlying the commandment is the conviction that a covenant is made between God and his people. The Book of Leviticus begins with detailed structure about animal sacrifice and outlines many special laws that is important still in Judaism today. These