Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. What is Judaism? Who first conquered Judah? What is Monotheism? What is the Talmud?

Teaching Suggestion: The protagonist, Daniel, is a Galilean Jew in the historical setting of Roman-occupied Israel during Jesus’ ministry. Depending on your particular class’s familiarity with this setting, with Judaism, and with these general knowledge questions, you may want to continue with additional questions such as these for review, discussion, or investigation based on the resources linked below.

• Which Roman ruler captured Jerusalem in 63 BCE?
• Who was the client king of Judah in 40 BCE?
• What did Herod do to the Jewish temple?
• Who permitted the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem?
• Who put Jesus to death?

The video on Judaism might help to increase your understanding of Jewish customs, beliefs, and ties to the land of Israel. If sharing with students, it might be beneficial to discuss these ideas and the Roman capture of Jerusalem before the birth of Jesus.

• This 17-minute video (consider watching to 13 minutes) describes the history of Judaism.