Question

Explain the significance of Palestine, the covenant, and monotheism to Judaism and the Hebrew people.

Answer 1

OK, let's look at them in order: Monotheism - this is the belief that there is only one G-d. Judaism was the first organised faith to be Monotheistic, and to insist that followers remain loyal to and worship only the one true G-d, and Explain the significance of Palestine the covenant and monotheism to Judaism and the Hebrew people?nothing and nobody else. This was in stark contrast to the many Pagan and Mystery religions around at the time, which featured multiple deities. 

Covenant: - Abraham, the 'founder' of Judaism, made an eternal covenant with God, on behalf of his descendants. The covenant, or contract, states that God will protect and watch over the Jews, if they remain loyal to him and only him. If they did that, G-d promised to bless them and to create from them 'great nations'. Palestine - this region was named JUDEA and it was the home of the Jews. Then the Romans conquered it and renamed it 'palestina' after the sea-faring Philistines, who had long since vanished. Although most of the Jews were then dispersed across the globe, some remained in the region and have lived there, continuously for the past 3000 years. The nation that we call Israel today is a tiny sliver of the region. Israel is the national, religious and spiritual home of the Jews. It is vital to Jewish people to have a safe Israel, because history has shown that whenever Jews are the minority in other countries, they have suffered terribly. So we must have one tiny corner of the globe where we determine our own security and fate.