Understanding BC/AD vs BCE/CE

BC/AD vs BCE/CE

• BC stands for "Before Christ," while AD means "Anno Domini" (in the year of our Lord).
• BCE refers to "Before Common Era," and CE means "Common Era."
• Jews prefer BCE/CE as they do not recognize Jesus as divine.

Important Biblical Terms

• Tanach: The Hebrew Bible divided into three main sections.
• Torah: First five books of the Tanach, including Bereshit (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bamidbar (Numbers), and Devarim (Deuteronomy).
• Neviim: The section of the Tanach comprising the writings of the prophets.
• Chetuvim: The third section of the Tanach, consisting of various Jewish writings, including Psalms (Tehillim) attributed to King David.
• Bnei Yisrael: Means "Children of Israel," where "Bnei" translates to "children" from "ben" meaning "son."
• Am Israel: Refers to the "Nation of Israel."
• Eretz Yisrael: Translates to "Land of Israel."
• Medinat Yisrael: Means "State of Israel," a term used post-1948.

Historical Names for Israel

• Zion: Another name for Israel.
• Eretz Canaan: Historical name for the Land of Israel.

The Abrahamic Covenant

• G-d promised Abraham a great nation, blessings, and Eretz Yisrael for his descendants.
• Abraham’s commitments include following G-d, moving to Eretz Canaan, and undergoing brit milah (circumcision).

Patriarchs and Matriarchs

• Patriarchs: Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov.
• Matriarchs: Sarah, Rivkah, Leah, and Rachel.
• Avraham and Sarah had Isaac; Isaac and Rivkah had Esav and Yaakov.
• Yaakov had four wives: Leah, Bilhah, Rachel, and Zilpa, resulting in 13 children, including Dina.

The Tribes of Israel

• Notable tribes include Reuven, Shimon, Yehudah, Issachar, and Binyamin, among others.

Burial Places

• Most patriarchs and matriarchs are buried in Maarat Hamachpela, located in Chevron, while Rachel’s tomb is in Chever Rachel.

Joseph's Story

• Joseph, favored by his father Jacob, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.
• He interprets Pharaoh's dreams predicting seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine.
• His brothers come to Egypt for food, not recognizing him; Joseph tests them by demanding Benjamin's return.
• The Jews spent about 400 years in Egypt, with the first 200 years as a prosperous community followed by 116 years of slavery.

National Revelation and Torah

• Matan Torah: Refers to the giving and receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, differentiating Judaism by its national revelation.
• Passover commemorates the Exodus; Shavuot occurs seven weeks later in honor of receiving the Torah.
• Jews are tasked with following 613 mitzvot and passing traditions to the next generation.

40 Years in the Desert

• The Jews wandered for 40 years due to ten sins committed, preventing them from entering Eretz Yisrael.
• Moses struck a rock instead of speaking to it as instructed and was punished by being denied entry to the land.
• During the desert journey, the Jews were protected by clouds and provided with mana as sustenance.

Key Takeaways

• Familiarize with the Matriarchs and Patriarchs, their roles, and burial places.
• Understand Joseph's story and its significance in Jewish history.
• Acknowledge the implications of the covenant made between G-d and Abraham.