Do NowToday’s Title: Ancient Hebrews Central Beliefs

• In 1789, the first U.S. Presidential election was held. If you were running for President, what issue(s) would you base your campaign on? • In other words, what are the main issues

you would tell all of the people voting for you? What do you care about most?

Do Now- On This Day in History• Title: Ancient Hebrews Biography and Review • December 6

On this day in 1884, in Washington, D.C., workers place a nine-inch aluminum pyramid atop a tower of white marble, completing the construction of an impressive monument to the city's namesake and the nation's first president, George Washington. Would you want a statue to be made after you? Why or why not? Explain using 5 sentences or more.

Today’s Agenda!!• Glossary Builder•Written tradition of Ancient Hebrews• Quick Foldable in notes• The laws and beliefs of Hebrews• Central Beliefs Activity• Exit Slip!!

Glossary Builder!!• Scriptures-sacred writings. (Sacred means holy and

blessed.)• Rabbi-a Hebrew teacher• Justice-fair treatment• Messiah-the promised and expected deliverer of the

Jewish people

• ***Review***• Prophet-a person chosen by God to bring truth to a ruler and the people

Religious Writings•Written tradition , scholarship, and learning

are very important in Judaism.• Hebrews have even been called, “People of

the Book.”• The Scriptures of the Jews are known as the

Hebrew Bible.

The Hebrew Bible• The Bible is more than stories about war, slavery, and

exile. For believers, it is the story of God’s will, as revealed through the prophets and carried out in human events. • This story unites Jews all over the world in common

belief.• Many of the events in the Bible are actually much

older than the text itself. The stories were passed down by word of mouth for centuries before they were actually written. • The books of the Hebrew Bible are divided into three

sections. Let’s take a closer look at them…

Hebrew Bible Foldable• In order to better understand how the Hebrew Bible is

sectioned, you are going to make a foldable in your notes. • On the next blank page of your note, you are going to fold it

HOT DOG style, and make TWO cuts in it…in order to make THREE flaps!!

• You are going to label the first flap, TORAH• The second flap is PROPHETS• The third flap is WRITINGS

Hebrew Bible Foldable

Under each flap, you will write some notes about each section of the Bible.

After you copy notes for all three sections, you will then draw a representation of that section to help you remember. You may use colored

pencils for this!!

First flap…TorahThe Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. They are also called the Law of Moses because they contain not only

the Ten Commandments, but also many rules that explain the Ten Commandments in more detail.

The Torah tells the history of the Hebrews’ covenants with God, up until the death of Moses. Once the Israelites accepted the Ten Commandments as a code of behavior, they formed one of their covenants with God.

Other teachings included in the Torah are the ethical standards of behavior, (or how people should behave).

Second Flap…Prophets• The Prophets is the second part of the Hebrew Bible. By tradition,

the prophet is a person chosen by God to bring truth to a ruler and the people.

• The prophets were preachers, poets, and reformers. • The prophets told people how they should relate to God, to other

people, to the land in which they lived, and even to themselves. • The early prophets of Judaism were important because they

encouraged the Hebrews to obey God’s laws.

Third Flap…Writings• The Writings is the last section of the Hebrew Bible.• It includes great Hebrew literature, such as the Psalms and

Proverbs. • The Book of Psalms is a collection of songs praising God.• Proverbs contains wise sayings. • Other Writings tell stories about heroes. • All of the books of the Hebrew Bible are also in the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.

RabbisMany centuries after the time of Moses, important Jewish teachers

recorded oral laws that they believed had come down from the teachings of Moses.

Other teachers, called rabbis, discussed how laws should be interpreted in certain situations. Eventually, the wrote down their discussions about the laws. These writings are collected in the Talmud, which is a text that Jewish

scholars still study and discuss. The Talmud has oral traditions and is the basic source of Jewish law.

Rabbis would often comment on the meaning of the Torah. They would write their comments down in a text called the Mishnah.

Rabbis were greatly respected by the Hebrews, which shows the Hebrew belief in the importance of study.

Judaism versus other religions

• The Jews’ idea of God was new in the ancient world. In other early religions, people worshiped many gods and thought that each god lived in a special place.• In polytheism, the gods were usually represented by

statues made of wood, stone, pottery, or brass. In contrast, the God of the Hebrews did not live in the stones, rocks, or sea. He did not take a human or animal form. He was invisible, yet He was everywhere.

One God• After the Exodus, Judaism became even more specific. • The prophets declared that there was only one true God. They

insisted that people honor God, behave in a moral way, and treat one another fairly. • The belief in fair treatment for all people comes from the values of

Judaism. • Some prophets predicted that the Israelites would be driven from

their land in Canaan if they did not follow God’s laws; however, they also said that they would return one day if they were once again obedient to God’s command. • Obedience to God was important!!

Ethical Behavior• Who can tell us what ethical behavior is??• Knowing the difference between right and wrong is an important

part of Judaism. • A large part of Judaism is the principles of behavior toward God,

one’s parents, and other people. • The prophets also emphasized moral actions and behavior in

society. Justice was a huge part of the religion. • Many of these ideas have influenced modern thinking about human

rights and the need to be concerned for the welfare of others.

Take a couple of minutes to talk to a partner about how you can improve YOUR ethical behavior?? How can you improve your behavior? How can you be concerned for others?

Hebrew Central Beliefs Activity!!

• You are going to be in groups of 4. Together you will read about the central beliefs and teachings of Judaism. • You will then explain in one complete

sentence each of the beliefs. • Then, you will draw an illustration to represent

each belief.

Exit Slip!!• Take out a half sheet of paper and a pencil!! • Number your paper #1-5.

#1• What teachings are contained in the writings of the

Torah? • A.) how to become a rabbi • B.) ethical standards of behavior • C.) respectful treatment of elders • D.) how to achieve the "Middle Way"

#2• The early prophets of Judaism were important

because they • A.) foretold the future of the Israelite people • B.) encouraged the Israelites to give up false gods • C.) warned the Israelites of impending disasters • D.) encouraged the Israelites to obey God's laws

#3• Which of the following shows the Hebrew belief in

the importance of study? • A.) the great number of Jewish universities • B.) the learning of the commentaries • C.) the revolt of the Maccabees • D.) the respect given to rabbis

#4

• The writings of early rabbis that commented on the meaning of the Torah were called the • A.) Ark of the Covenant • B.) Book of Laws • C.) Mishnah • D.) Talmud

#5

• The belief in fair treatment for all people comes from the values of • A.) Classicism • B.) Brahmanism • C.) Judaism • D.) Aryanism

Pass Back Papers

The Prince of Egypt