Religious Background Flashcards
What was the religious life of the Jews governed by?
A huge number of rules and regulations that guided everyday conduct
The Law of Moses had been what?
Expanded and there were precise rules for every occasion
What did the rules become?
Very complex, strict and overbearing
What did it seem?
That the spirit of Gods law had become lost in a mass of regulations
The annual festivals were?
Very important in Jewish life
Greatest day of the year was what?
Day of Atonement
- high priest would enter the innermost shrine of the temple to atone for his own sins and the sins of the people
What other great festivals were there?
Passover and Unleavened Bread - celebrate the escape from slavery in Egypt
What was the great weekly festival?
The Sabbath
- day when no work was done and when the people went to the synagogue to worship God
- following the commandment to ‘remember the sabbath day by keeping it holy’
Only how could take part in active part of synagogue worship?
Men
- women and children confined to gallery
What strict pattern did the service follow?
The creed
Prayers
Reading from the law and the prophets and a sermon
Synagogues also acted as what?
A school and was the centre of village life
The temple in Jerusalem was divided into what?
What was it for?
Several courtyards by a series of walls
non-Jews confined to outer courtyard, the Court of Gentiles
Center of building was called Holy Place
inside this building covered by curtains was the holy of Holies, the most sacred spot in Judaism, the dwelling place of God
what did many ordinary Jews believe about the temple?
That is was poorly run and greatly resented the fact that they had to pay a temple tax for the upkeep of the temple, which with it’s own temple guards seemed more like a fortress than a place of worship
