Origins and Development of Judaism - Essay Example

Judaism Even though all and sundry seem to know about the religion of Judaism since ages, the origins of this religion can be traced back to the stories of the Old Testament, or as we know of it as the ‘Tanakh’. Albeit the number of stories in this regard cannot be validated in actuality by some pre-specified and outlined historical means but when we notice on a careful examination of the Tanakh, the same shows that Abraham who was the first patriarch in the religion and followed by the Jews, spent his life between 1700 and 1900 BC. It was later due to famine in Canaan that these men moved along with their families to Goshen, which was located within Egypt. It was around four centuries back when the Israelites had become the slaves of the pharaohs that they started building quite a number of huge structures and monuments which are still standing to this day. Quoting the example of the book on Exodus, we find out that the new leader of the Jews, Moses led the people out of repression within Egypt. However the real execution instance came when within the Jewish tradition, God spoke to the Moses as well as presented him with the Ten Commandments that were imprinted on the stones. Again after a period of four hundred years, the Jews started making their way towards Canaan and during this while they drove out the already settled immigrants within the area and then further on dedicated that very city as the capital, which now is known worldwide as Jerusalem. Within Jerusalem, the first temple was built. After some time had passed away, one starts finding out certain things related with the religion that are pre-dominantly present in other religions too. It has also been pointed out that through all the trials and tribulations that Judaism has suffered through, that there have been common themes that have established the same as being consistently placed there. The religion of Judaism has deeply inherited roots and its ancient linkages suggest that the religion ought to have quite a few variations especially when most of its history has usually been crafted out in the wake of the political and theological Middle East. [Rosenberg, 2005] In this discussion, many facets of Judaism will be examined, primarily in the three temporal subdivisions labeled the Tribal/Pre-Monarchy Period, the Divided Monarchy and the Hasmonean/Maccabean and the Roman Era. In the middle of all these three time periods where the religion at times has been quite split, they give the impression as being the real representative for the basic presence of it in the first place. As a case in point for the commonality among the periods of Judaism, we should see that the area of focus here is the place associated with the religion, which quite frankly is Jerusalem itself. This topic will be covered in detail first, and then the multiple Judaism arguments will be presented. In this way, it is possible to keep a common focus in mind when reading about all the other situations in which the religion has found itself. No other religion has ever been so attached to its birthplace as Judaism and thus it gives all the more reason to find out what actually is the linkage and the source of bonding between the two and how their solitary roles affect the other party. Conceivably the reason for the same might be due to the fact that Jews were in exile and were forbidden to visit this place for most of their historical times. One should fathom that not only is Jerusalem home to Judaism but forms the source of worship for Muslims and Christians as well. Thus it would not be wrong here to state that the city is quite a busy place for the religious followers of the three beliefs. Adding further to the discussion, we find out that indeed the city of Jerusalem is where the place of worship of the Jews once used to be. It was in the year 586 BC when the temple was destroyed, no Jew would have refused Jerusalem as being the world center of the religion of Judaism. It was from that moment onwards that the Jewish people started to have their own journey and migrated around the world but made it a point to remember the very fact that it was Jerusalem where it all began. Thus this provides enough evidence for the rationale that it surely is a sacred place and for a number of centuries now, has done its bit at facilitating what Judaism means to a lot of its followers around the world. [Strassfeld, 2004] Similarly, Jewish mysticism has three separate forms that are related with its history. They are the ecstatic, the contemplative and last but not the least, the esoteric. There is a lot of mixture in values amongst the three of these. Similar other nations and people in the area feel that they should be in control of the renowned city, and the Jews deny fervently any attempt to wrestle it from their occupation. It is true that there is no temple in Jerusalem in the current times, nor are all the Jews in the world rushing to get back there. But it is apparent that the city represents more to the religion of Judaism than a mere place to live and work. The city of Jerusalem is a spiritual epicenter, and throughout Judaism’s long and varied history, this single fact has never changed. Tribal/Pre-Monarchy Judaism’s has its deep roots lying far back in the starting of the history. The religion did not spring into existence exactly as it is known now-a-days; comparatively it was all the more pushed as well as trotted by a number of different environmental concerns for their nature related issues. Speaking in line with the topic at hand, one of the primary and quite rightly so main influences on the religion was the Canaanite nation. A variety of theories of late have existed as to the rationale and the exact place and time of the people that were later known as the Jews entered into this whole new civilization. These new followers of the religion had to face a lot of conspiracies hatched against them and more often than not they were left on the discretion of one prejudice or the other. [Kushner, 2005] Concerning the religion of Judaism we find out that the early Judaism used to worship a number of different gods, one of which was called Ba’al and this god was by and large perceived of as a ‘statue god’ which had some limits related with his power. The other main divinity was known as the YHWH (or Yahweh) and this god used to enjoy a lot of mysterious and deceptive form of standing and reputation. YHWH was taken as being quite spiritual and one that possessed a lot of dignity and respect, but great fear for him at the same time. Ba’al, on the other hand was not feared as his cycles, which were known as the seasons quite well known. The Judaism religion has some significant holidays. One such is on April 25 where the followers celebrate it as the Holocaust Remembrance Day. On 26 May, the anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem is remembered, known as the Yom Yerushalayim. [Fackenheim, 1973] On June 2nd and 3rd, Shavuot (the day Torah was given) is celebrated. This celebrates the monumental encounter that was between the God and the Israelites at Mount Sinai. This was an event that in essence changed the face of the mankind perpetually. Between October 7th and 15th, Sukkot is celebrated which is basically the festival of Booths. February 3rd marks the New Year for the Trees known as the Tu B’Shvat and lastly on March 4th and 5th comes the Purim, renowned especially for the Holiday of Joy. As the religion of Judaism exists in the US today, we can see a bit of modifications in the basic system in which it came into being, in the first place. The major historical division occurred in this sort of argument would continue and thus the Jewish people were left to practice their religion in whatever way they felt best. Multiple groups of people with varying faith in the many forms of Judaism as it existed toward the end of the Divided Monarchy. The time period related with Hasmonean/Maccabean and Roman Era in Jewish history is politically tumultuous, leading to high levels of splits and variations in the religion itself. One of the most disruptive types of all wars is a civil war. And this is exactly what occurs at the outset in the Jewish homeland of Jerusalem. The Jewish civil war was against the extreme Hellenizers, whereby people who tended toward utter reason in their beliefs and the moderate Hellenizers, people who can see things rationally, but believe there are more items to consider than this. The Jewish High Holy Days are observed during the 10 day period between the first day which is the Rosh Hashanah and the 10th day that is the Yom Kippur of Tishri, indeed the seventh month of the Jewish calendar. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the most significant of all Jewish Holidays and the only holidays that are entirely religious, as they are not related to any historical or natural event. Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishri. It is a time of family gatherings as well as special meals and sweet tasting foods. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement is the most somber day of the Jewish year and is observed on the tenth day of Tishri. It is a day of fasting, reflection and prayers. Yom Kippur is almost certainly the most significant holiday of the Jewish year. A number of Jews who do not observe any other Jewish tradition will refrain from work, will fast and attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur usually occurs on the 10th day of Tishri. The holiday is instituted at Leviticus 23:26 et seq. Yom Kippur in essence means the ‘Day of Atonement’. This day is celebrated to mark the affliction of the soul. The day is essentially the last appeal of the person who has committed to this faith and his or her last chance that he or she will ever demonstrate and make some sorts of changes in his or her life. Yom Kippur only atones for sins that are there between man and his God and does not involve for sins accounting on other people. To reconcile with other people, one needs to do this before Yom Kippur. The same is a complete Sabbath as no work is carried out on this day at all. This involves a 25 hour fast which begins before the sunset on the evening before Yom Kippur and ends after nightfall on the day that is the Yom Kippur itself. Hanukkah is the yearly Jewish festival that is celebrated through a span of consecutive eight days. It is usually celebrated on the 25th day in the Jewish month of Kislev, which more often than not falls in December. The day of Hanukkah honors the devotion of the Jewish faith towards God after years of being browbeaten by the king of Syria as well as the ruler of Palestine. Sources Rosenberg, Roy A The Concise Guide To Judaism, History, Practice And Faith 2005 Strassfeld, Michael Embracing Judaism as a Spiritual Practice 2004 Kushner, Harold To Life! A Celebration of Jewish Being and Thinking 2005 Fackenheim, Emil L Encounters between Judaism and Modern Philosophy: A Preface to Future Jewish Thought Basic Books 1973 Word Count: 1,901 Read More