What does it mean to be the Chosen People?

Transcription

1 What does it mean to be the Chosen People? Assessment and Qualifications Alliance GCSE question, 2012 Explain, briefly, why some people are prejudiced against Jews. We would expect [students to refer] to the Holocaust to illustrate prejudice based on irrational fear, ignorance and scapegoating. 1

2 Abram/Abraham Genesis 11 vv God s promises Genesis 12 vv 1-3 "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Land promised to him A great nation Blessed and cursed by others Blessings for all the earth 2

3 Promises to his descendants Psalm 105 vv 3-11 Deuteronomy 7 vv 6-8 Consequences vv 9-11 Requirements Deuteronomy 28 vv 1-2 Penalties Deuteronomy 28 vv 15, 37 God is praised for choosing Abraham Not because they were special They have a contract with benefits and penalties Promises in practice Ezekiel 20 v 5 & 6 How God dealt with rebellion vv Isaiah 43 Amos 3 vv 1-2 Choosing is about what God does with the people They are his witnesses Amos is quoted by Jewish commentators Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities." 3

4 People who have considered themselves chosen Judaism Christianity Seventh-day Adventism Rev 12 v 17 Mormonism Jews as original Chosen People will accept Mormonism Rastafari Ethiopian monarch descended from Solomon Unification Church Moonies, 20 th Century Mordecai Kaplan ( ) 4

5 Judaism as a Civilization Kaplan saw Judaism not as a religion characterized partly by beliefs and practices, language, culture, literature, ethics, art, history, social organization, symbols, and customs. promoted the notion of a synagogue-centre religious prayer services. study programmes, drama, dance, song, sports and exercise. 5

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7 Holocaust Memorial, Berlin (2005) Denkmal für die ermordeten Juden Europas Sir Hans Krebs 7

8 Sir Hans Krebs Born at Hildesheim, Germany, August 1900 His father believed that the only hope for Jews in Germany was to abandon their faith and become totally German. Hans was never instructed in the Jewish teachings. religious instruction (mainstream Christianity) was compulsory Not being Jewish by religion did not help Krebs Hitler came to power in 1933 All Jews in Germany who held government positions were fired that year including Hans Krebs He fled to Cambridge being famous in his field helped Moved to Sheffield in 1935, Professor 1945 Published Krebs cycle in

9 Jack Aizenberg I didn t want to be one of the Chosen People I m proud to be a Jew Jews in Yorkshire 9

10 In the New Testament Romans 1 v 16 Romans 2 vv 5 10 I Peter 2 vv 9 10 Gospel of salvation by faith to the Jew first Same contracts apply to Jews and others Christians are also the chosen people 10

11 Seed of Abraham Galatians 3 v16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.. vv For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise Seed of Abraham Galatians 3 v16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.. vv For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise 11

12 Assessment and Qualifications Alliance GCSE question, 2012 Explain, briefly, why some people are prejudiced against Jews. Deuteronomy 28 v 37 And you shall become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword among all nations where the LORD will drive you. Genesis 12 v 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 12