An Overview of Jewish History

1. Why is the destruction of the Second Temple of Jerusalem a pivotal point in studying Jewish history?
2. What are the two periods that subdivide the time before the destruction of the Second Temple?
3. What are the two periods that subdivide the time after the destruction of the Second Temple?

The Hebrew Bible

1. Name the three sections of the Hebrew Bible and briefly describe the content of each.
2. What is the scholarly view regarding the exactness of the historical record depicted in the Hebrew Bible?

Biblical History
In the Beginning: Stories of Origins

1. Describe the key points made in the story of origin.
2. Describe the highlights of the second origin account.
3. Who were Adam and Eve's children and what is notable about them?
4. Briefly retell the story of the Great Flood.
5. What was the purpose of the tower of Babel and what does the story explain?
6. What evidence in the scriptural text indicates the first eleven chapters of Genesis serve a non-historical, symbolic purpose?

The World of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs

1. Describe the call of Abraham and the promise made to him.
2. Briefly retell the story of Abraham and Isaac and give a possible meaning.
3. Define a theophany and give an example.
4. Describe the life of Joseph.

Moses and the Law

1. Why was the baby Moses cast adrift in a basket?
2. What is the case for the earliest Hebrews being polytheistic in outlook?
3. Describe the views of God in the two traditions in the Torah.
4. How did the Passover festival get its name?
5. Describe the events surrounding Moses' encounter with God at Mount Sinai.
6. What is the meaning of a covenant?
7. What is the nature of the rules given after the Ten Commandments?
8. Describe the general content of the Books of Numbers and Deuteronomy.
9. Briefly state the first four of the Ten Commandments.
10. Briefly state the rest of the Ten Commandments.

Egyptian Religion

1. Name two commandments from the Hebrew Bible that indicate rejection of Egyptian religious ideas.
2. Explain the connection between mummification and Egyptian myths.
3. Describe the ancient Egyptian view of the afterlife.
4. What are some possible Egyptian influences that appear in the Hebrew Bible?

The Judges and Kings

1. Describe the role of a judge after the time of Moses.
2. For what is King David noted?
3. Describe the accomplishments of King Solomon.
4. What caused the division into two kingdoms after Solomon's death?
5. How did one typically become a prophet?
6. How did prophets usually explain political losses suffered by the Hebrews?
7. List the empires that conquered the northern and southern kingdoms and give the dates.

Exile and Captivity
What significant changes occurred with the exile in Babylonia?

Return to Jerusalem and the Second Temple

1. Under what circumstances were the Jews allowed to return to their homeland?
2. What important accomplishments occurred in the period of the Second Temple?

Cultural Conflict during the Second-Temple Era
The Seleucid Period

1. Describe the political realities Israel faced in the Seleucid Period.
2. What were some of the cultural achievements and attractions of Hellenism?

Responses to Outside Influences

1. Who were the Sadducees and what were their views?
2. Describe Pharisee concerns.
3. What was the Zealot view?
4. Describe the practices and views of the Essenes.
5. What has been the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls thus far?

The Development of Rabbinical Judaism
Describe the two major effects of the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple.

The Canon of Scripture and the Talmud

1. How does tradition describe the events that established the Hebrew Scriptures?
2. What are some of the interpretive works that came after the formation of the canon?

Islam and Medieval Judaism
Why did Islam treat Jews with tolerance in the medieval period?

The Kabbalah

1. Describe some of the methods for interpreting scripture in Jewish mysticism.
2. What are some of the mystical speculations found in Kabbalah?

Christianity and Medieval Judaism

1. Why did Christians persecute Jews?
2. Describe the restrictions imposed on Jews by Christians in medieval Europe.

Questioning and Reform

1. What were some of the developments in the Renaissance that affected both Christianity and Judaism?
2. Explain the emphasis of Hasidism.
3. What did those Jews who stressed modernization advocate?

Judaism and the Modern World
What were some of the major persecution-driven migrations of Jews before World War II?

Hitler and the Holocaust

1. Describe Hitler's beliefs concerning racial classes and conspiracy theories.
2. Review the scope of the Holocaust.

Creation of the State of Israel
What factors contributed to the creation of the state of Israel?

Jewish Belief

1. Though there is no official Jewish creed, what are the central beliefs formulated by the medieval scholar Maimonides?
2. What does it mean for human beings to be created in God's image?
3. How have Jews understood their special role among human beings?

Religious Practice

1. What is the goal of all laws by which Jews live?
2. Explain some of the unique practices of Jewish meditation.

The Jewish Sabbath
Describe the purpose of the Sabbath and some of its observances.

Holy Days

1. What are the High Holy Days and how are they kept?
2. Describe the celebration of Hanukkah and its origins.
3. Explain some of the features of the Seder meal observed during Passover.

Jewish Dietary Practices
What are the dietary practices and restrictions of traditional Judaism?

Other Religious Practices

1. Describe the ritual of daily prayer as practiced by traditionalist males.
2. What are the Jewish attitudes and practices surrounding sexuality?

Culturally Based Divisions

1. Who are the Sephardic Jews?
2. Who are the Ashkenazic Jews?
3. What are some of the other smaller Jewish cultures?

Observance-Based Divisions

1. What are some of the defining characteristics of Orthodox Judaism?
2. How is Conservative Judaism characterized?
3. What are the features of Reform Judaism?
4. Describe Reconstructionist Judaism.

The Contributions of Judaism

1. Describe some of the values embraced by Jewish culture.
2. List briefly some Jewish contributions to the fields of philosophy, literature, psychology, and music.
3. What has been the Jewish contribution to the film industry?

Jewish Identity and the Future of Judaism
Explain the difficulty in defining Jewish identity.