Judaism Throughout the Ages

    As the spiritual center of the Jewish People, clearly Jerusalem has a lot to offer any Jew.  Beginning with the timeless Bible, there are the Dead Sea scrolls which are the oldest written record we have of the texts that constitute the basis for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  From around the year 0 C.E., the documents are largely intact versions (often multiple copies) of books from the Bible as well as separate documents that documented the life and rituals of the owners.  Judaism it seems was not always monolithic.  At the time of the Sadducees and Pharisees, there were Separatists who held an ascetic view of Judaism that is quite foreign to today´s Jewish audience.  They were mostly a celibate bunch (also not a modern Jewish ideal) who sequestered themselves in the desert where the scrolls remained untouched for 2000 years and lived as a true commune sharing all food, responsibilities, and property.  What the Dead Sea Scrolls give us is not only a perspective of some Jews from 2000 years ago, they validate the authenticity of the texts that we use today in that they show how little our Bible has changed from generation to generation owing to the diligent and respected calligraphy that scribes learn from a young age even today.  

   As I mentioned before, there are the archeological finds that give us an idea of life in King David´s time complete with the base of his head quarters and an ancient toilet (seriously, there is an ancient toilet...life was quite advanced for Jews 3000 years ago).  The peaceful oasis, Ein Gedi, in the middle of the desert is not only amazing for its waterfalls and plant life with miles of sands surrounding it but because of its historical significance; this is where David hid when Saul was bent on his destruction.

   Continuing in time, we find in the many archeological finds of the Israeli Museum signet rings with the names of figures from after King David´s time.  While little remains of the Temple that King Solomon built, the Second Temple has retaining walls remaining as well as many ritual baths and artifacts that bring into vivid color the life of the Second Temple period.  A partial reconstruction on the original foundation of the Masada complex in the middle of the desert, an ancient fortress built by King Herod around year 0 C.E., is an amazing architectural triumph that is better known for housing the oldest synagogue in the world.  The synagogue did not belong to the complex built by Herod, in fact it was built only when Jews sought refuge in the complex from the Romans against whom the Jews had rebelled.  The structure bears witness to the last stand of the Jews before Jews were scattered around the globe as they were expelled by the Romans and began a new phase of Judaism focused on the synagogue and not the then destroyed temple.

   Two thousand years later, Jews again live in peace in their capital and Jerusalem exhibits the Jewish spirit still.  When Shabbat (a time proscribed for no work) arrives on Friday afternoon, the buzz around Jerusalem subsides as people finish their Shabbat shopping and light candles.  A serene calm descends and dressed in their best clothes, nearly everyone walks and crosses paths (no matter how observant of Jewish rituals you are...black hat or not) to their synagogues sharing greetings.  Later, meals are brought to neighbors' houses for dinner demonstrating the strong sense of community permeating the city.  Judaism throughout the ages is experienced in Jerusalem.