Abraham, Moses, Naomi, Ruth, David, and Yohanan ben Zaccai of the Jewish

religion by J. Chao for Mr. Haskvitz

AbrahamAbraham Abraham was a respected Abraham was a respected

Patriarch. He was known as Patriarch. He was known as “Our Father Abraham” and “Our Father Abraham” and made promises from God. made promises from God. One promise was that he One promise was that he would have unlimited would have unlimited offspring and discover the offspring and discover the land of Canaan. It was also land of Canaan. It was also remembered as the remembered as the “Promised Land”. “Promised Land”. According to the Jews, the According to the Jews, the first person who refused to first person who refused to worship idols was worship idols was Abraham. This shows that Abraham. This shows that he symbolizes the he symbolizes the monotheistic religion.monotheistic religion.

Moses Moses had gotten the Torah for Israel. The Torah is

not precisely a law, but a leadership, manual, or assistance. There are exactly 613 commandments that explain every part of life. For example, laws, relations, personal hygiene and a person’s eating habits. The Ten Commandments were given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai about the Mosaic law

Naomi Naomi was the wife of

Elimelech and was a mother of Mahlon and Chilion. She was also a mother-in-law of Ruth. When Naomi and her husband left their home, the district of Bethlehem-Judah, they found one in the uplands of Moab. As they settled in Moab, Naomi’s two children married to non-Jew women and soon Elimelech died. Soon both her sons perished and she mourns for her return to Bethlehem-Judah. Ruth, another daughter-in-law insisted that she goes with Naomi.

RuthRuth

• She became the great grandmother of David. She was generous and true. She married Naomi’s son who was an Israelite. Her husband’s family had to move to Ruth’s country to live in. After her husband died, she wanted to accompany Naomi as she set out her journey back to the country of Israelites. Her saying was “Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge.” When Ruth arrived at the country of Israelites, Boaz became Ruth’s husband because he admired her kindness. Her life was written in the Book of Ruth which was told in the Old Testament.

DavidDavid When David became powerful When David became powerful

after overpowering Jerusalem, after overpowering Jerusalem, Israel surrendered. During his Israel surrendered. During his reign, he was the first reign, he was the first monarch to unite Israel. David monarch to unite Israel. David had introduced the Ark of the had introduced the Ark of the Covenant with religion and Covenant with religion and principles to the Jews.principles to the Jews.

He created a nation for the He created a nation for the Jews by using Moses’ work, Jews by using Moses’ work, Torah so Judaism would last Torah so Judaism would last for thousands of years. Many for thousands of years. Many other nations did not favor the other nations did not favor the idea so they plot on idea so they plot on destroying it, however, David destroying it, however, David became very successful.became very successful.

Yohanan ben Zaccai Yohanan ben Zaccai During the Great Jewish Revolt, Jerusalem During the Great Jewish Revolt, Jerusalem

was being conquered. While the siege was being conquered. While the siege began, Yohanan ben Zaccai escaped out began, Yohanan ben Zaccai escaped out of the country to speak with Vespasian of the country to speak with Vespasian who would possibly be the next emperor. who would possibly be the next emperor. After negotiating with him, three wishes After negotiating with him, three wishes were given to him. One of them was to were given to him. One of them was to recreate the Sanhedrin. After the recreate the Sanhedrin. After the destruction of Jersusalem, the center of destruction of Jersusalem, the center of Jewish law in Jamnia was founded by Jewish law in Jamnia was founded by Yohanan. Yohanan.

JudaismJudaism Judaism is a Judaism is a

Jewish religion. It Jewish religion. It is a belief in one is a belief in one god. The god. The principles and principles and foundations foundations were based on were based on the Old the Old Testament Testament

HanukkahHanukkah Hanukkah was also Hanukkah was also

known as the Feast known as the Feast of Dedication. It of Dedication. It was an eight day was an eight day holiday celebrating holiday celebrating the Maccabees’ the Maccabees’ victory over the victory over the Syrians and the Syrians and the miracle that oil was miracle that oil was burnt for eight days burnt for eight days in the holy temple.in the holy temple.

Menorah and Dreidl • The menorah is a candelabrum. It

has nine branches and is used on the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah.

• The dreidl is a spinning top with four sides. It is used in games by children and adults during the celebration, Hanukkah.