Ancient Israel and the Rise of Monotheism
Who were the ancient Israelites and how did they come to embrace monotheism as a religious philosophy? In this class we will examine the origin theories surrounding the Israelites and trace the evolution of the monotheistic idea in Israelite religion. We will offer possible answers to the following questions: Where did the Israelites come from? What does history and archeology tell us about Israelite origins? Did the earliest Israelites believe in many gods? How did the Israelites develop an idea of one God when they were influenced and surrounded by polytheistic cultures? Join us for 8 weeks of lively discussions as we examine evidence from history, archeology, and our tradition.
The class in on the following Tuesdays from 12-1:30pm PT/ 3-4:30pm ET:
- October 29
- November 5
- November 12
- November 19
- November 26
- December 3
- December 10
- December 17
Rabbi Mark Goodman is the rabbi and cantor of Valley Beth Israel, where he has served since 2000. He teaches adult education at the Whizin Center for Continuing Education at AJU. He is currently working on his Doctorate in Jewish Studies.
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