Building Blocks in the Construction of Jewish Identity

Clinton Bennett, PhD

What is Judaism? When did it begin?

Name: Judaism - from GREEK. Probably not used until after beginning of Common Era.

No exact equivalent in Hebrew: Yahadut = Jewish identity.

Some Jews think the word "religion" too narrow.

hardly any speculation about after-life

Many scholars date beginning of Judaism from 70 CE (destruction of Second Temple). However, it draws on/builds on/ earlier experience, events, and personalities:

"Judaism is the religion - and in a broader sense, the culture

- of a unique people which, in the course of its history of nearly

four thousand years, has been variously known as Hebrews,

Israelites and Jews" (Goldberg & Rayner, 1987 p xii).

Abraham's call/ covenant may mark an historical beginning but this is linked with the earlier chapters of Genesis and God's dealings with humanity from creation through until Abraham's time. The history of the Jews can be divided into five Periods: pre-Exodus, pre-first Temple, Exile, post-exile (Second Temple), Rabbinical Post 70 CE. During each period, essential building blocks are added towards the construction of Jewish identity, that contribute to how a Jew today might answer the question, "Who are you?"

GENESIS 1-12. Human origins/pre-history/universal history. Genesis 3 "no Fall"! Dispersion of language and peoples/ the flood and the promise never again to destroy the earth by water. The Noachide covenant (Genesis 9), marked by the rainbow, which Jews believe is a covenant between God and all people.

Genesis 12: covenant with Abraham; circumcision; people-hood; chosenness; obedience; promise of land and nation (sometime between 2000 and 1500 BCE). Now the focus shifts from universal to particular history, from the many to the few BUT purpose of Abraham's covenant is so that eventually all people will be blessed. God chooses the few for the benefit of the many. You will be my people, I will be your God, if you keep my covenant.

Abraham journeys from the known to the unknown, by faith, to receive God's promise of a people and of a land. Isaac is born to him in old age!

Abraham's 12 great grandchildren = 12 tribes.

Joseph in Egypt = settlement there = bondage (probably Hyksos dynasty). Moses = Exodus = God�s great act of redemption = gift of Torah = Holiness (Lev. 20: 26) = Monotheism = Dt. 6: 4.

Torah = identity/badge (doorposts = mezuzah, forehead = tefillin) = separation from profanity = 613 mitzvot = Jew's peculiar responsibility.

TORAH offered to 70 nations. Pre - existed. Given COMPLETE to Moses. From "yarah". Chumash/Pentateuch/Tanakh (Torah, Neviim, Ketuvim; law, prophets, writings). Sepher Torah/mappah (fastener), me'il (binder) tas (plate) keter (crown). Canon: 36 books fixed by 200 BCE. Not a burden but a joy: the theme of my song (Psalm 119: 54).

"Shabbath: central to Jewish identity. Gentiles should not keep Shabbath. Israel's bride.

Pre -Monarchy: God as king/ tribal confederacy/charismatic leaders. People demand a king. God "hesitates" (1 Sam 8: 5f). Saul is a failure but David = God's anointed. Jerusalem becomes capital. Temple built under Solomon.

922 Kingdom splits. North, Israel. South, Judea.

internal squabbles/justice is neglected/ religion corrupted (Baal).

God�s Prophets plead that justice and righteousness must accompany worship and sacrifice. "Simon the Just: the world rests on three things, Torah, worship and benediction. "As the navel is set in the center of the human body, so is the land of Israel the navel of the world... situated in the center of the world, and Jerusalem in the center of the land of Israel, and the sanctuary in the center of Jerusalem, and the holy place in the center of the sanctuary, and the ark in the center of the holy place, and the foundation stone before the holy place, because from it the world was founded." Midrash Tanchuma, Qedoshim.

North falls to Assyria (722 BCE), South to Babylon (587 BCE)

First Temple destroyed.

EXILE: period of reflection. God would restore Israel. Elijah and Enoch might return. Jerusalem would be exalted. Gentiles would come and worship there. Peace and Justice would be established under a descendant of David (Messiah). A great battle between good and evil might be fought. See Isaiah 65: 17f

Jews must keep Torah. beit ha'knesset (Synagogue) probably begin in Exile as places of Torah study. Jewish faithfulness = Torah obedience, which does not depend on the Temple or priesthood.

538 Cyrus allows Jews to re-build Temple (Ezra and Neremiah) TORAH still CENTRAL.

333 BCE Alexander captures Palestine. Hellenizing project begins/Jews exposed to Greek culture.

Maccabean revolt (Emperor put idol in Temple) 169 BCE

Judas Maccabeus led revolt and won independence.

Temple center stage. Appointed own high priest, eventually the Maccabees (Hasmoneans) assume title high priest, dismissing the Zadokite incumbent. Essenes set up alternative at Qumran.

63 BCE Pompey, roman General, invades in support of Antipater, chief minister (Herod's father).

37 BCE Herod seized power with Roman support

Loses direct control of Jerusalem due to general unrest

High priest now appointed by Roman govnt. Advised by council.

Many regarded as collaborators. Start of Zealot movement. Sadducees = aristocrats/Temple; Pharisees = people/Torah.

Thousands executed for sedition, including would-be Messiahs.

66 BCE Temple funds misused. Zealots take over Temple.

70 CE rebellion crushed. Tax imposed on all Jews (10% of Roman Empire).

Masada stronghold (mass suicide) 73 CE

Last Revolt 132 CE. Jews banned from living in Palestine.

birth of Rabbinical Judaism.

Mishnah (200 CE) Oral Torah, gets recorded.

Talmud (400/500 Jerusalem/Babylon) Mishnah plus Gemara, additional commentary/stories.

Jews believe that God continues to speak to them through the Torah, as interpreted by the sages. In other words, the same text may have a different meaning for each generation. However, the authority of dead sages is always considered greater than that of the living, which discourages immodesty.

Stress on Jeremiah 29: 4 marry, work, pray for the prosperity of all people = Jewish faithfulness to the covenant. Jews COULD survive and thrive without a Temple.

Philo (30BCE - 45 CE) combat anti-Jewish prejudice by civilizing an irrational world. Supplicants before God on behalf of humanity. This is similar, perhaps, to the concept of 'cosmic repair' encountered in Jewish mysticism (see my lecture on Kabbalah). However (until 1947 and the creation of the State of Israel), the loss of Temple and Land leaves the Jewish people as refugees and migrants, rarely treated as equal with other subjects of the lands where they lived, often persecuted, blamed by Christians for rejecting and killing the Messiah. Often expelled, often confined to ghettos, often excluded from many professions, from Universities, compelled to wear distinctive dress. Yet the people survive. With them, their sense of a peculiar relationship with God (never named in Hebrew) also survives, the concept of being a nation as well as a religious and/or an ethnic group. For many, a return to Jerusalem was a sustaining and motivating hope.

I continue the story in my lecture on Modern Judaism.

References:

Johnson, Paul (1987) A History of the Jews, London, Weidenfeld and Nicolson

Goldberg, David J and Rayner, John D (1987) The Jewish People, Harmondsworth, Penguin