Chapter 3: The Ancient Israelites

Diaspora (dy•AS•pruh). Diaspora is a Greek
word that means “scattered.”
Many Jews of the Diaspora learned the
Greek language and Greek ways but
remained loyal to Judaism. A group of them
copied the Hebrew Bible into Greek. This
Greek version helped people who were not
Jews to read and understand the Hebrew
Bible. As a result, Jewish ideas spread
throughout the Mediterranean world.
Who Were the Maccabees? In 168 B.C. a
Greek ruler named Antiochus (an • TY • uh
kuhs) controlled Judah. He decided to make
the Jews of Judah worship Greek gods and
goddesses. A priest named Judas Maccabeus
Name
Passover
Rosh
Hoshana
96
Yom Kippur
Hanukkah
CORBIS
Time
of Year
April
September
or October
September
or October
Length
8 days
(7 in
Israel)
2 days
Major Jewish Holidays
25 hours
(JOO • duhs MAK • uh • BEE • uhs) and his followers
rebelled. They fled to the hills and
formed an army known as the Maccabees.
After many battles, the Maccabees drove
the Greeks out of Judah. They destroyed
all traces of Greek gods and goddesses in
their temple and made it a temple for worshiping
the God of Israel. Each year Jews
recall the cleansing of the temple when they
celebrate Hanukkah (HAH•nuh• kuh).
Priests from Judas Maccabeus’s family
became the new rulers of Judah. Under
their leadership, Judah took over land that
had been part of the kingdom of Israel.
Analyze How did Alexander
the Great affect the Israelites?
Reason for
the Holiday
to celebrate God’s passing
over of the Jews during
the final plague in
Egypt that enabled the
Jews to return to the
Promised Land
to celebrate the Jewish
New Year
to make amends for
sins of the past year
December 8 days to celebrate the Maccabees’
victory, and reclaiming of
the temple in Jerusalem
Menorah
Customs
limited work; some fasts;
sell certain foods that
cannot be eaten or
owned during the holiday;
perform rituals
plan changes for the new
year; no work; synagogue
services; a shofar (horn) is
blown in synagogues
no work; synagogue services;
pray; fast; apologize for
wrongs during the past year
light candles each night;
eat fried foods; play a game
called dreidel; give gifts