Covenant in Judaism and Identity

Covenant in Judaism

• Covenant is a sacred promise or contract, like marriage.
• Judaism is a covenant-based religion with numerous covenants between God and humanity in the Old Testament.
• God's loyalty to the covenant is prioritized over human loyalty.
• Monotheism is fundamental to Jewish faith, with the Jews being the first to establish the concept of one God.
• Judaism is unique in its emphasis on geographical location (Israel/Canaan).
• Judaism holds a relatively vague perspective on the afterlife compared to other religions.
• God works through ordinary individuals.

Names and Identity

• Hebrew names often include "el" at the beginning or end in honor of God (e.g., Michael, Elizabeth).
• Jewish identity can be religious or cultural.
• Individuals can participate in Jewish traditions without being culturally Jewish.
• Terms like Israelite, Hebrew, and Jew are related and essentially synonymous.

Patriarchal Stories (Abraham and Family)

• Abraham and Sarah were polytheistic nomads who were not poor.
• Abraham was a prominent figure in his trade.
• God commanded Abraham to relocate; Abraham, after initial uncertainty, obeyed, trusting God's promise of descendants and land.
• This relocation to Canaan (Israel) resulted in name changes (Abram/Sarah to Abraham/Sarah) to signify their covenant membership.
• God is present in each living being. Hebrew word for breath includes the letter "h" and this is a symbol of Gods presence.
• Abraham had a child (Ishmael) with a servant. Sarah reacted negatively, leading to Ishmael's expulsion.
• God protected Ishmael and his mother.
• Isaac is considered the legitimate heir of the covenant
• Ishmael is the patriarch of the Arabs and Muslims.

Isaac and Jacob

• Isaac had a wife named Rebecca and he inherited God's covenant.
• Jacob and Esau were twin brothers who were often at odds with each other.
• Esau came first and Jacob was resentful, splitting the family.
• Isaac favored Esau while Rebecca favored Jacob.
• Jacob's struggles with faith included having a dream wrestling with God.
• To marry Rachel, Jacob worked for her father for 14 years.
• Jacob had 12 sons through multiple wives (Leah and Rachel).
• Joseph, one of Jacob's sons, was his favorite.
• Joseph's dreams and subsequent enslavement.
• Jacob's family was reunited as a result of the brothers' anxieties about their brother Benjamin.

Moses

• Moses' life was not tied to pharaoh's succession.
• Moses, after killing a guard protecting a slave, fled Egypt.
• Moses initially doubted God but later accepted the mission of liberating the Israelites from slavery.
• Moses convinced Pharaoh to release the Israelites through plagues, culminating in Passover.
• God then provided Moses with laws, including the Ten Commandments.
• Moses was displeased with the Golden Calf incident.

Kings and the Temple

• Saul, an early king, was prone to depression and paranoia, killing people.
• David played music to calm Saul.
• David killed Goliath, resulting in conflict with Saul.
• David's reign is closely associated with his monarchy.
• David was artistic, a musician, and cultivated culturally.
• David's controversial actions, like killing a friend for his wife.
• David's recognition of his mistake and repentance.
• Solomon, known for wisdom, built the temple.
• Solomon's later unpopularity and affairs.

Exile and Return

• The Assyrians (722 BCE) and Babylonians (586 BCE) invaded Israel.
• Synagogues and rabbis emerged to uphold Jewish culture during the exile.
• Cyrus the Great permitted the Jews' return to Israel.
• The temple and rabbi forms of worship established.

Greek and Roman Periods

• Greek and Jewish cultures clashed due to differing religious approaches including polytheism.
• Philosophy emerged during this period in response to various religious perspectives.
• Judaism separation from Christianity occurred during Roman rule.

Jewish Persecution

• Jews faced persecution in Rome, lasting until 1945.
• Some Christians were anti-Semitic to gain favour with Roman authorities.

Jewish Holidays

• Passover: Commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, celebrated with a seder.
• Hanukkah: Marks the rededication of the Temple.
• Yom Kippur: Day of atonement, emphasizing fasting and repentance.
• Rosh Hashanah: Celebrates the creation of the world, reflecting on the past year.
• Purim: Commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to exterminate them.