I think there had to be a core Jewish people: The ones who wrote the Torah and other Jewish writings and the ones who obeyed them. Why does the professor not think this is true? Judaism did not spring up in the heads of a lot of people at one time. There was a source. I agree many cultures could have made up the early Jews, but then how did the hereditary laws on who is a Jew come about?
The Torah is at least a partial history book. Other ancient cultures' records confirm the wars the Torah says the Jews fought. The Torah tells how King Cyrus rescued the Jews from the Babylonians, and the Cyrus Cylinder confirms that Cyrus allowed the people he conquered to retain their land, religious views and cultures--he wanted their taxes. To me the Torah account of Cyrus freeing the Jews to return to Jerusalem rings true. There are many Middle Eastern beliefs the Jews incorporated into the Torah. Recently a British researcher translating Babylonian cuneiforms found the name of a Babylonian who was at the scene of the 586 CE destruction of Jerusalem, and the Torah mentions the same name.
Torah descriptions have enabled archaeologists to discover ancient towns mentioned and other sites of Jewish significance. Recently artifacts were found confirming the existence of King David. And perhaps only one tribe was involved in the Exodus from Egypt, the tribe (Levi?) of Joseph who became an Egyptian authority. A grave marker has been found in Egypt of an Egyptian complaining about the " pre-Israelites" taking his gold and herds when they left.
Researchers have found through DNA that Jewish priests, an hereditary position, does indeed descend from one source (Aaron?).
Is it on the record that the Emperor Hadrian banned the Jews from Jerusalem in 135 CE? Although there is no quote recorded that he told the Jews to get the hell out of there doesn't mean it wasn't said. He also changed the name of Judah/Israel to Palestine to sever Jewish identity with the land.
I'm far from an expert but I think the professor's interpretation goes too far.
Kathleen Wagar Mpls
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kwagar
Oct 22, 2009
9:46 a.m.
I think there had to be a core Jewish people: The ones who wrote the Torah and other Jewish writings and the ones who obeyed them. Why does the professor not think this is true? Judaism did not spring up in the heads of a lot of people at one time. There was a source. I agree many cultures could have made up the early Jews, but then how did the hereditary laws on who is a Jew come about?
The Torah is at least a partial history book. Other ancient cultures' records confirm the wars the Torah says the Jews fought. The Torah tells how King Cyrus rescued the Jews from the Babylonians, and the Cyrus Cylinder confirms that Cyrus allowed the people he conquered to retain their land, religious views and cultures--he wanted their taxes. To me the Torah account of Cyrus freeing the Jews to return to Jerusalem rings true. There are many Middle Eastern beliefs the Jews incorporated into the Torah. Recently a British researcher translating Babylonian cuneiforms found the name of a Babylonian who was at the scene of the 586 CE destruction of Jerusalem, and the Torah mentions the same name.
Torah descriptions have enabled archaeologists to discover ancient towns mentioned and other sites of Jewish significance. Recently artifacts were found confirming the existence of King David. And perhaps only one tribe was involved in the Exodus from Egypt, the tribe (Levi?) of Joseph who became an Egyptian authority. A grave marker has been found in Egypt of an Egyptian complaining about the " pre-Israelites" taking his gold and herds when they left.
Researchers have found through DNA that Jewish priests, an hereditary position, does indeed descend from one source (Aaron?).
Is it on the record that the Emperor Hadrian banned the Jews from Jerusalem in 135 CE? Although there is no quote recorded that he told the Jews to get the hell out of there doesn't mean it wasn't said. He also changed the name of Judah/Israel to Palestine to sever Jewish identity with the land.
I'm far from an expert but I think the professor's interpretation goes too far.
Kathleen Wagar
Mpls