Final answer:
At the time of Jesus, most Jewish people were expected to worship Yahweh, live by the laws of Moses, and maintain their distinct cultural practices. Different sects interpreted these obligations in varied ways, yet all shared a commitment to monotheism and communal religious traditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Judaism at the time of Jesus, most people were expected to worship only Yahweh, live moral lives according to his dictates, and follow the laws of Moses, which included the Ten Commandments and the 613 other laws and injunctions. There were different sects like the Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and Zealots, each with their own interpretations of these obligations. The Pharisees, for instance, believed in following all laws of Moses and expected the coming of a messiah.
Jews at the time were also expected to maintain distinct cultural practices such as a kosher diet, observing the Sabbath, and engaging in charitable acts. The emergence of the rabbinic tradition ensured the careful preservation and transmission of the Torah, which facilitated the continuation of Jewish identity even in the diaspora.
Socially, Jewish people found roles as craftspeople, traders, and merchants, and their religious practices adapted to urban life in cities like Jerusalem. Despite diverse practices and beliefs, Jewish communities remained united by their strict monotheism, their shared history, and their adherence to religious customs established since their return to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile.