Jewish Studies Notes T4 PDF

Jewish Studies notes T4 - The region of Palestine was owned by the Ottoman Empire from around the year 1500 - In World War 1 the Ottomans -- who had allied themselves to Germany -- lost the war - As a result of losing World War 1 the victors of the war mainly Britain and France...

Jewish Studies notes T4 - The region of Palestine was owned by the Ottoman Empire from around the year 1500 - In World War 1 the Ottomans -- who had allied themselves to Germany -- lost the war - As a result of losing World War 1 the victors of the war mainly Britain and France broke up the ottoman empire. Some of the land taken away from the ottomans was Palestine. - In 1917 Britain made a famous promise to the Jews that they would help to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This promise was called the Balfour Declaration. - This was made because it was believed to be the RIGHT and JUST thing to help the Jews create a homeland so they wouldn't be a 'disrespected' 'rootless' and 'homeless' people any longer. - The best place to re-establish a Jewish homeland was in the ancestral homeland of the Jews -- Israel. - Competing Promise: - During WW1 the British approached the Arabs to ask them to join in the fight against the Ottoman Turks. - The British went to the most prominent Arab family which was the Hashemite family of Mecca. The Hashemite family pledged to help the British in return for a large Arab country. The British agreed. - This agreement was known as the Hashemite McMahon correspondence (1915/1916) - After WW1 the British kept their promise to the Hashemite family: The British created the countries of Iraq and Jordan and placed sons of the Hashemite family there as kings. - Dispute: Some Arabs claimed that the region of Palestine was also promised to them in the Hussein McMahon correspondence. However, Britain said that Palestine was never part of the deal. **BOOK 1** 1. In Tanach, who is the Land of Israel promised to? p10, p18 and p29 \- The land of Israel was promised to Avraham and Sarah and the rest of the Jewish people. 2\. Explain the concept of the Covenant / Brit. p10, p18, p29, p50 - The covenant was promised to Avraham (a contract) - The covenant is when Hashem promised the land of Israel to Avraham and his descendants. Hashem kept reminding - The covenant is not unconditional as Hashem promises the land and protection only if the people 'keep the covenant' meaning -- for Avraham it was the recognition of one Creator G-d and agreeing to obey the commands of this G-d, to lead a moral life (ethical, monotheism.) For Jews across the world now keeping the covenant means obeying the written Torah, all the 613 mitzvot containing the core ethical beliefs and practices as well as adhering to the Oral Tradition are essential for all Jews. - This was not the Covenant for Avraham and the other forefathers as they hadn't yet received the Torah 3\. For what purpose were the Children of Israel taken out of Egypt? p14 and p16 - To bring them to the land of Israel - To give them the Torah 4\. What does the phrase כהנים ממלכת\] Mamlechet Kohanim\] mean? Why are the Israelites described in this manner? p16, 17 - A nation of priests -- the role of a Cohen is to serve in the temple -- to teach Judaism to the whole nation. Hashem by calling all Jews Cohanim expresses that all Jews have the responsibility and role to be holy and teach monotheism to the whole world. 5\. What does the phrase קדוש גוי\] Goy Kadosh\] mean? What are the Jewish people 'chosen for'? p19 -- 27 - Means: A holy people - The Jewish people are chosen to have the responsibility of spreading ethical monotheism (God wants us to do right -- not only the belief in God but to establish ethical societies) 6\. Summarise the history of Jewish sovereignty over and conquest of the Land of Israel from the time of Joshua and the 12 Tribes until the Two Kingdoms of Israel and Judea (pp. 37- 48). 1. Moshe dies after leading the Jews out of Egypt.  2. Joshua leads the Jews into the land of Israel (then known as Canaan) and allocates land to the 12 tribes of Israel 3. Joshua dies 4. After Joshua's death the Jews are led by Judges  5. After the period of Judges come the period of Kings 6. The first 3 Kings of Israel in order are Shaul, David, Shlomo 7. Shlomo builds the first temple 8. Under Shlomos son the kingdom of Israel divides into 2, the Northern Kingdom Of Israel and Southern Kingdom Of Judah 9. The Babylonians destroyed the first temple in 586 BCE and exiled most of the Jews to Babylon (Iraq) 10. King Cyrus allows the Jews back to Israel.** Ezra and Nehemiah **rebuild Jerusalem, and the second temple is built 11. In the **year 70 CE, **Rome **destroys the second temple and exiles the Jews thus creating the Diaspora** 7\. Explain Rabbi Sacks' view of the purpose of the Jewish people establishing a homeland in Israel. (p55, 56) - Rabbi Sacks believed the creation of Israel was not just for political reasons, but to fulfill the Jewish people\'s spiritual and ethical destiny. - He saw Israel as a place where Jews could live freely, follow Jewish values, and provide moral leadership to the world. 8\. Describe at least two times in Jewish history where the land of Israel provided a refuge to Jews fleeing anti-Semitism. (p58 -- 60) - In the First Century CE, after the destruction of the Second Temple, Israel remained a refuge for Jews despite Roman oppression. - In the modern era, especially during the rise of European anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, Jews migrated to Palestine for safety, with Israel offering a place of refuge. 9\. Explain the differing views of Rambam and Ramban on making Aliyah (p65) - **Rambam**: He believed it was a mitzvah to live in Israel but not an obligation unless necessary for spiritual or religious reasons. - **Ramban**: He saw Aliyah as an important mitzvah and believed Jews should return to Israel whenever possible as part of their spiritual redemption. **BOOK 2** 10\. Explain the concept of Aliyah. p6, 7 - Aliyah: refers to the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel. It is considered a religious and national duty to return to the homeland, symbolizing both spiritual and physical return to the Jewish people\'s roots. 11\. What does the term גליות קבוץ\] Kibbutz Galuyot\] mean. p9, 10 -- - in gathering of the exiles (bring Jews back to Israel) - The religious meaning -- when Moshiach comes all the Jews will be in gathered into Israel - Secular Zionist view -- not to do with Moshiach just Zionism bringing the Jews back to Israel. 12\. Understand the Four types of Zionism: - - Religious Zionism, and the contributions of the Vilna Gaon p16 - Religious Zionism combines Judaism and nationalism, advocating for the establishment of a Jewish state as part of the religious redemption process. The Vilna Gaon, an influential Jewish scholar, supported the idea of Jews returning to Israel, seeing it as part of divine will. - Political Zionism, and the contributions of Theodor Herzl p21 -- 26 - Political Zionism, founded by Theodor Herzl, aimed to establish a Jewish state through political means. Herzl's efforts were sparked by the Dreyfus Affair, where he witnessed anti-Semitism firsthand. He founded the World Zionist Organization in 1897 to promote the establishment of Israel as a political entity. - Cultural Zionism, and the contributions of Eliezer ben Yehuda p36 - Eliezer ben Yehuda 1858 -- 1922: - He believed that the future of the Jews required both their own land and their own language, and that Hebrew was the way to unite the Jews across the globe. - Eliezer\'s obsession with Hebrew started as a child in Europe when his yeshiva teacher secretly introduced him to secular Hebrew literature. - This strengthened his resolve, and in 1881 he packed his bags and made the trek to Palestine. - He and his wife established the world\'s first strictly speaking Hebrew household - Eliezer and soon produced the world's first native Hebrew speaker in almost 2,000 years, their son, Ben-Zion. - Many people criticised how Ben Yehuda raised Ben-Zion, in a home that spoke a language no one else was using. - The experiment got off to a rough start. By the age of four, Ben Zion still wasn\'t talking, and Ben-Yehuda was so obsessed with proving that Hebrew could exist as a modern daily language, he prevented Ben-Zion from playing with other kids to avoid any corruption of his Hebrew. - Ben-Zion later wrote that his father wouldn\'t let him listen to the chirping of birds or the neighing of horses - Ben Yehuda later founded the first only speaking Hebrew school in 1899 - He also created the language council in 1890 which crated Hebrew word that did not exist yet e.g. coin ice cream or bicycle that were nowhere in the torah. - At the time of the first Aliyah it was during the period of Enlightenment -- people were also becoming more nationalistic. - Labour Zionism, and the Kibbutz movement p38 -- 42 - Labour Zionism focused on building a Jewish homeland through socialist ideals, with an emphasis on communal living and agriculture. The Kibbutz movement was a key aspect of this, creating cooperative communities that were integral to the establishment of Israel. 13\. Understand the following aspects of Herzl's life p21 -- 26: - - The Dreyfus Affair - In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish officer in the French army, was falsely accused of treason. This event highlighted widespread anti-Semitism and led Herzl to advocate for the establishment of a Jewish state as a solution to Jewish persecution. - His establishment of the World Zionist Organisation in 1897 - Herzl founded the World Zionist Organization to unite Jewish people and lobby for the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine, marking a significant step in the political Zionist movement. - The Uganda Affair - In 1903, Herzl proposed a temporary Jewish settlement in Uganda as a refuge for persecuted Jews. The proposal was controversial and was ultimately rejected by the Zionist Congress, as the focus remained on Palestine. 14\. Definition of Zionism p27 - Zionism is the movement for the establishment of a Jewish state in the Land of Israel, based on the belief that Jews have a right to self-determination and a homeland in their ancestral land. 15\. Describe the significance of the Law of Return for modern Diaspora Jewry. p53-54 - The Law of Return (1950) grants every Jew the right to immigrate to Israel and gain citizenship. It is significant because it provides a safe haven for Jews worldwide and affirms Israel as the national home for Jews. 16\. What are some of the pushes and pull factors that contribute to modern aliyah? p53-59 - **Push Factors**: Anti-Semitism, economic hardship, and political instability in the Diaspora push Jews to seek a better life in Israel. - **Pull Factors**: The opportunity for a better life, the promise of safety, and the pull of Jewish identity and heritage in the Jewish state encourage Jews to make Aliyah. **BOOK 3** 17\. Outline the circumstances that led to the British Mandate over Palestine, including British support for Arab nationalism, the Jewish Legion and the Faisal-Weizmann agreement. p3-7 - During World War I, Britain sought to gain support from both Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. - **British Support for Arab Nationalism**: Britain promised to support Arab independence through the **Hussein-McMahon Correspondence** (1915-1916), encouraging the Arabs to rebel against the Ottoman Empire. - **The Jewish Legion**: As part of the war effort, Britain formed the Jewish Legion in 1917, comprising Jewish volunteers from Britain and Palestine, to fight against the Ottomans and support the British military campaign. - **Faisal-Weizmann Agreement (1919)**: This agreement between Arab leader Faisal and Jewish leader Chaim Weizmann recognized Jewish national aspirations in Palestine, with the promise of cooperation between Arabs and Jews for mutual benefit in the region. - Following the war, the **League of Nations** granted Britain the **Mandate for Palestine** in 1920, establishing British control over the area, with the responsibility of facilitating the establishment of a Jewish national home as per the Balfour Declaration. 18\. Who was Chaim Weizmann, and what was his role in the early Zionist movement? P7-10 - Chaim Weizmann used his scientific connections and lobbying skills to gain British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. His role in securing the Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a result of his efforts to align Zionism with British interests during WW1. 19\. What was the Balfour Declaration? p8-10 - The Balfour Declaration was important to Zionists because it was the first official recognition that Jews had the right to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine giving hope to the cause. 20\. Recount the events that led to the Balfour Declaration p. 8-9 - **Zionist Lobbying**: The Zionist movement, led by figures like Chaim Weizmann, lobbied the British government for support of the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. - **World War I Context**: During World War I, Britain sought to gain support from Jewish communities, especially in Russia and the United States, for the war effort. British officials believed that backing the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine could secure Jewish support. - **The Balfour Declaration (1917)**: The British Foreign Secretary, Arthur Balfour, issued the Balfour Declaration, promising British support for the establishment of a \"national home for the Jewish people\" in Palestine. This declaration was partly a strategic move to win Jewish support and also tied to British imperial interests in the Middle East. 21\. What was the Irgun and what was its ideology? p10 The Irgun was a Jewish paramilitary group active from 1931 to 1948 during the British Mandate in Palestine Its leaders were Ze\'ev Jabotinsky, and Menachem Begin The Irgun bombed the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, killing 91 people. They saw it as a way to pressure the British to leave Palestine and fulfill their promises to the Jewish people. 22\. Analyse the process of the Mandatory Cycle and how it relates to the modern Israeli-Arab conflict. p. 11-16, p18) Background - Britain took control over Palestine after WW1 - Britain was given the 'Mandate' over Palestine - A Mandate is a temporary 'ownership' of land in which the ruling force (Britain in this case) are given the responsibility to govern a newly conquered land and ultimately leave the land in the hands of the people of the land under responsible government. - Simply: The British had conquered the land after WW1 but couldn't just leave it there so the plan was to govern the land for a bit and try and let the Jews and Arabs work things out but that didn't work - Britain was granted the Mandate for Palestine from 1923 until May 15 1948 where Britain left the land because it became too difficult for them to control. They left the land in the hands of the UN. Why had the land become unmanageable for the British - We view this problem in the framework of the Mandatory cycle - Stage 1: Aliyah - The first stage of the cycle during the British mandate in Palestine was characterised by successive waves of Aliyah - These waves of immigration brought Jewish settlers to the Jewish homeland to escape antisemitism and build the vision of Jewish national homeland. - **First and second Aliyot (Pre-Mandate):** The first was in 1880 mainly from Russia - These earlier waves laid the groundwork with initial settlements and agricultural communities setting a precedent for future waves. - **Third to fourth Aliyot (During the Mandate):** These were waves marked by significant growth in population, economic development, and the building of infrastructure. - Stage 2: Arab Riots - Arab communities grew increasingly resistant to the influx of Jewish immigrants, perceiving it as a threat to their land and political power. - This resistance manifested in protests, strikes, and violent attacks on Jews. E.g. The Hebron Massacre of 1929, Arab Revolt of 1936 - Stage 3: Commission of Inquiry - In order to understand why the Arabs were rioting, the British made an official investigation into the causes of the riots. - These official investigations were known as Commissions of Inquiry. - These investigations often covered areas such as: - The impact of Jewish immigration and land purchases - Arab grievances to British policies - A significant Commission was the Peel Commission of 1936/37 which was the first time it was recommended that Palestine be portioned (divided) into a Jewish State and Arab State. - Stage 4 (Also Q23): White paper - The official government recommendation for what to do to solve the problems was published in an official government document called a White Paper. These recommendations would then become law. - The most significant White Paper was the 1939 MacDonald White Paper - Jews were very upset with the 1939 White Paper because it mad ethe following laws: - For the next five years (1939-1945), a maximum of 75,000 Jews would be allowed into Palestine. Only 15,000 per year would be admitted. - Jewish land purchases were severely restricted - After 1945 there would be no independent Jewish state. - Jews were very angry with this White Paper because: - Jews were facing brutal treatment at the hands of the Nazis exactly during this time period. This time period of restricted Jewish immigration aligned exactly with the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust - Many Jewish lies could have been saved had they been able to go to Israel. Instead, they were murdered in the death camps - It was viewed as a breaking of the Balfour Declaration that promised Jews a homeland. 23\. What was the 1939 Macdonald White Paper, and its impact? p17 24\. Recount key facts about the Chevron massacre of 1929. p21-22 This was part of the mandatory cycle - The **Chevron Massacre** occurred on August 24, 1929, when Arab rioters attacked the Jewish community in Chevron (Hebron), killing 67 Jews and injuring many more. - The violence was sparked by growing tensions between Arabs and Jews over land, economic competition, and religious sites in Palestine. False rumors about Jews threatening Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem intensified the unrest. - The massacre resulted in the destruction of Jewish homes and businesses, and it led to the displacement of many Jews from Hebron. - The British authorities were criticized for their inadequate response to the violence, and the massacre marked a significant turning point in Jewish-Arab relations in Palestine, leading to further instability in the region. Page 6 -- Q7: The Jewish Legion were the Jewish volunteers in WW1, who formed a Jewish unit in the British army. Q8 Arab Nationalism is the belief that Arabs should have their own country. Originally, this was called Pan-Arabism & they wanted one very large Arab country extending from Yemen to Demascus. Q9: Early Zionists were happy to negotiate a peaceful pathway forward with the Arabs. Unfortunately much Arab leadership became very extreme from the time of Haj Amin al Hussieni who reacted violently to any type of agreement with the Jews. Page 8 Q1: Chaim Weizmann used his scientific connections and lobbying skills to gain British support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. His role in securing the Balfour Declaration of 1917 was a result of his efforts to align Zionism with British interests during WW1. Q2: The Balfour Declaration was important to Zionists because it was the first official recognition that Jews had the right to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine giving hope to the cause. Page 10 Q1: Which two promises were made regarding Palestine by the British? The 2 promises were the Balfour Declaration in 1917, supported a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Secondly the McMahon-Hussein Correspondence in 1915-1916, promised Arab independence in Palestine. Q2: What was the Irgun? Who were its leaders? The Irgun was a Jewish paramilitary group active from 1931 to 1948 during the British Mandate in Palestine Its leaders were Ze\'ev Jabotinsky, and Menachem Begin Q3: How did the Irgun differ from the Haganah?\ The Irgun used more aggressive tactics, including bombings, while the Haganah focused on defence and cooperation with the British. Q4: What did the Irgun do in 1946? Why?\ The Irgun bombed the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, killing 91 people. They saw it as a way to pressure the British to leave Palestine and fulfill their promises to the Jewish people. Mandatory Cycle: Background - Britain took control over Palestine after WW1 - Britain was given the 'Mandate' over Palestine - A Mandate is a temporary 'ownership' of land in which the ruling force (Britain in this case) are given the responsibility to govern a newly conquered land and ultimately leave the land in the hands of the people of the land under responsible government. - Simply: The British had conquered the land after WW1 but couldn't just leave it there so the plan was to govern the land for a bit and try and let the Jews and Arabs work things out but that didn't work - Britain was granted the Mandate for Palestine from 1923 until May 15 1948 where Britain left the land because it became too difficult for them to control. They left the land in the hands of the UN. Why had the land become unmanageable for the British - We view this problem in the framework of the Mandatory cycle - Stage 1: Aliyah - The first stage of the cycle during the British mandate in Palestine was characterised by successive waves of Aliyah - These waves of immigration brought Jewish settlers to the Jewish homeland to escape antisemitism and build the vision of Jewish national homeland. - **First and second Aliyot (Pre-Mandate):** The first was in 1880 mainly from Russia - These earlier waves laid the groundwork with initial settlements and agricultural communities setting a precedent for future waves. - **Third to fourth Aliyot (During the Mandate):** These were waves marked by significant growth in population, economic development, and the building of infrastructure. - Stage 2: Arab Riots - Arab communities grew increasingly resistant to the influx of Jewish immigrants, perceiving it as a threat to their land and political power. - This resistance manifested in protests, strikes, and violent attacks on Jews. E.g. The Hebron Massacre of 1929, Arab Revolt of 1936 - Stage 3: Commission of Inquiry - In order to understand why the Arabs were rioting, the British made an official investigation into the causes of the riots. - These official investigations were known as Commissions of Inquiry. - These investigations often covered areas such as: - The impact of Jewish immigration and land purchases - Arab grievances to British policies - A significant Commission was the Peel Commission of 1936/37 which was the first time it was recommended that Palestine be portioned (divided) into a Jewish State and Arab State. - Stage 4: White paper - The official government recommendation for what to do to solve the problems was published in an official government document called a White Paper. These recommendations would then become law. - The most significant White Paper was the 1939 MacDonald White Paper - Jews were very upset with the 1939 White Paper because it mad ethe following laws: - For the next five years (1939-1945), a maximum of 75,000 Jews would be allowed into Palestine. Only 15,000 per year would be admitted. - Jewish land purchases were severely restricted - After 1945 there would be no independent Jewish state. - Jews were very angry with this White Paper because: - Jews were facing brutal treatment at the hands of the Nazis exactly during this time period. This time period of restricted Jewish immigration aligned exactly with the unimaginable horrors of the Holocaust - Many Jewish lies could have been saved had they been able to go to Israel. Instead, they were murdered in the death camps - It was viewed as a breaking of the Balfour Declaration that promised Jews a homeland. - Stage