Abraham: First Hebrew Patriarch

• Abraham is the first Hebrew patriarch, revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• God called Abraham to journey to a new land and found a nation.

Key Events in Abraham's Life

• 2000 BCE: Abraham had a vision from God, understanding there was only one God.
• God commanded Abraham to leave and journey to Canaan.
• God promised Abraham that his descendants would possess Canaan one day.
• Abraham and his family moved north and founded Haran, named after his deceased brother.
• God told Abraham to move to Canaan, where his descendants would live.
• God changed Abraham's name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many).
• God made three promises to Abraham.
• A great nation would emerge from Abraham.
• Abraham and his descendants would inherit Canaan (Israel) forever.
• All nations of the earth would be blessed through Abraham and his descendants.

Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael

• Sarah was Abraham's wife.
• Hagar was Sarah's Egyptian maidservant.
• Sarah gave Hagar to Abraham to bear a child, as she was unable to conceive.
• Hagar gave birth to Ishmael, Abraham’s first son.
• God’s covenant was later fulfilled through Isaac, the son of Sarah.
• Ishmael is considered the ancestor of the Arab people.

The Sacrifice of Isaac

• God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of faith.
• Abraham obeyed without hesitation.
• An angel of God intervened and stopped Abraham, providing a ram to be sacrificed instead.
• This event, the Binding of Isaac (Akedah), showed Abraham's willingness to obey God at any cost.

Moses and the Exodus

• God sent Moses to rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
• Moses was chosen by God, despite fleeing Egypt after killing an Egyptian guard.

Key Events in Moses’ Life

• Moses was born a Hebrew slave, adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, and raised in the Egyptian palace.
• Moses fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian guard.
• God spoke to Moses from a burning bush, commanding him to lead the Hebrews out of Egypt.
• Moses brought about ten plagues to convince Pharaoh to let the Israelites go.
• Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, parting the Red Sea to escape Pharaoh's army.
• Moses received the Ten Commandments and the Torah on Mount Sinai.
• This renewed the Abrahamic Covenant with the Hebrew people.
• Moses led the Israelites through the desert for 40 years before entering the Promised Land.

The Ten Plagues

• God sent the ten plagues to Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go.

The Tenth Plague and Passover

• The tenth plague convinced the Pharaoh of Egypt to let the Hebrews go.
• God instructed the Israelites to smear lamb's blood on their doorposts.
• This would signal the angel of death to "pass over" Hebrew homes.
• Jews remember this event during the celebration of Passover.

Passover

• Jews celebrate Passover (Pesach) to commemorate their liberation from slavery in Egypt.
• The Passover Seder is the most important part of the celebration, recalling the Exodus story.

King David

• King David was a popular and successful king of the Hebrews.
• He was known for his victory over Goliath.
• David made Jerusalem the capital city.
• His reign established a united kingdom for the Jewish people.

The First Temple

• King Solomon, the son of King David, built the First Temple in Jerusalem.

Division of Israel

• After King Solomon's death, the united kingdom of Israel split into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.

Fate of the Kingdoms

• The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BCE.
• Its ten tribes were dispersed, becoming known as the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel.
• The Southern Kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Babylonians in 586 BCE.
• This led to the destruction of the First Temple.

The Maccabean Revolt

• The Maccabean Revolt was a Jewish rebellion against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE.
• It was triggered by the persecution of Jews and the desecration of the Second Temple.
• The Maccabees reclaimed Jerusalem and rededicated the temple.
• This event is commemorated during Hanukkah.

The Great Diaspora

• The Great Diaspora refers to the scattering of the Jewish people after the Roman Empire destroyed the Second Temple and Jerusalem in 70 CE.
• Jewish leaders and elites were exiled and dispersed across various regions.

Branches of Judaism

• The three main branches of Judaism are Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.
• Each branch has different levels of observance of Jewish law.
• Orthodox Jews have the strictest observance.
• Conservative Jews take a moderate approach.
• Reform Jews are the most liberal.

Key Characteristics of Each Branch of Judaism

• Orthodox Jews: Strict observance of Jewish law.
• Conservative Jews: Looser interpretation of Jewish laws.
• Reform Jews: May not feel bound to observe Jewish laws.

Religious Texts

• Tanakh: The Hebrew Bible, consisting of the Torah, the Prophets (Nevi'im), and the Writings (Ketuvim).
• Torah: The first five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
• Talmud: The Oral Torah, containing interpretations and discussions of the written Torah.

The Shema

• The Shema is a central Jewish prayer declaring the oneness of God.
• It is recited daily.

Jewish Objects and Symbols

• Yad: A pointer used while reading the Torah.
• Kippah: A skullcap worn by Jewish men, typically during prayers.
• Tallit: A prayer shawl worn by Jewish men during morning services.
• Tefillin: Leather boxes containing Torah scrolls, worn during weekday morning prayers.
• Mezuzah: A small case on the doorposts of Jewish homes, containing a scroll with a passage from the Torah.

Jewish Celebrations and Rituals

• Shabbat (Sabbath): A day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
• Passover (Pesach): A festival to remember the Exodus from Egypt, celebrated with a Seder meal.
• Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year.
• Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement, a day of fasting and repentance.
• Sukkot: A festival recalling the wandering in the desert, celebrated by living in temporary shelters (sukkahs).
• Simchat Torah: A celebration of finishing the annual Torah reading cycle.
• Purim: A celebration of the salvation of the Jews in Persia.
• Chanukkah: The Festival of Lights, celebrating the miracle of oil in the Temple after the Maccabean Revolt.
• Shavuot: The Festival of Weeks, celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

Synagogue Features

• The synagogue includes the ark (where Torah scrolls are kept).
• There is a bimah (platform for reading the Torah).
• The ner tamid (eternal light) symbolizes the perpetual presence of God.

Jewish Dietary Laws (Kosher)

• Pork is forbidden.
• Shellfish is forbidden.
• Fish without scales or fins are not kosher.
• Non-kosher animals lack cloven hooves and do not chew cud (e.g., camels, hares).
• Meat and milk cannot be cooked or eaten together.
• Blood must be drained from meat.
• Parve foods are neutral and contain neither dairy nor meat (e.g., eggs, fish, vegetables, grains, fruits).
• Food that is not kosher is called treif.

Anti-Semitism

• Anti-Semitism is the hatred of Jews and extends back to ancient times.
• Throughout history, Jews have faced exile, imprisonment, and violent persecution.
• Anti-Semitism has roots in the belief that the Jews killed Christ.