Judaism at the Time of Jesus, and Today

• Judaism = religion of the Jewish people• The Jews homeland is “Israel”

• Add the following labels to your map1. Jesus was born here2. Jesus grows up here3. Jesus turns water into wine here (1st miracle)4. Headquarters of Jesus’ ministry5. Many fishermen-disciples come from here6. Jesus was crucified, buried, resurrected here**How far would Jesus have been used to walking, to get from one

place to another?- from Nazareth to Capernaum, the main city for work- from Nazareth to Jerusalem, to attend Jewish religious festivals?

What do immigrants bring to the UK?

• that benefits the UK• that changes UK way of life ?

Greeks & Romans in Israel, A.D.0To explain how the Greeks and Romans

changed Jewish culture

To explain the importance of these

influences

Romans and Greeks in Israel

At the time of Jesus, Israel was ruled by the Romans. It was also been heavily influenced by Greek culture, which had spread over the whole area, even before the Romans.

Watch the video. What did the Romans bring to Jewish life that was of benefit?

*Why might Jews have resented Roman influence despite all the benefits?

1. Write down 5 things from the video that the Romans did for the Jews.

2. Choose 2 and explain why they would have made a big difference to the average Jewish person.

**What could be difficult to accept about Roman rule?

Law & order

Now look at the pictures to see what Greek culture brought to Israel, even before the Romans.

1. How is it different from what the Romans brought?

2. Which changes made the most difference to traditional Jewish life - Greek or Roman influences? Why?

Medicine PhilosophyTheatreAstronomyGeometryAthletics

Who was the biggest threat to the Jewish way of life? Greeks or Romans? Why?

I’m a thinker, a philosopher,

an athlete I’m an

engineer, a military

man, a ruler

I’m the Chosen

people, we follow

God’s law, given to Moses

What was Greek, what was Roman influence?

Jesus was born into a Graeco-Roman world...

What does this mean?

King Herod

Even worse, the important people in Jewish society were really only puppets of the Romans, and had no real power. The High Priest who made all the final decisions about the Temple, was appointed by the Romans. King Herod, who was meant to be the King of the Jews, was also appointed by the Romans, and followed their orders.

King Herod got permission from the Romans to rebuild the Temple in its original splendour. He thought this would make him popular with the Jews, and make him famous. He did not rebuilt it because he cared about God - he only cared about his own fame and power. His workmen began in 20 BC but did not finish until 80 years later in AD 64 – so it was in the process of being built in Jesus’ lifetime.