Judaism

•Hillel’s answer to the Gentile (transparency)–Leviticus. 19:18–Torah–All else is commentary–Go to study Torah (not synagogue for prayer; not temple for sacrifice; not

meditation)•Maimonides (Jewish philosopher 1135-1204) “definition” of “Judaism”

•The 3 pillars of Judaism–Yahweh–Covenant–Torah (law)

•The 3 pillars of the world (Torah, divine service, acts of charity)

• Abraham – took El Shadai as his deity• Moses – a henotheist at first; at Mt Sinai, a covenant was established between Yah

weh and Moses. Moses became a monotheist• Covenant: moral and ethical demands made upon the people (Micah 6:8)

– A new concept in the history of religion– A focus on the moral and ethical life (of a people)– Guidance and protection from God (Yahweh)

• Obey the covenant ----- peace and prosperity, etc.• Transgress the covenant ----- punishment (Hosea 14: 1-2a)

• Destruction of the temple (587-586 BC) and exile– Was a major event: God used the pagan nations to give chastisement

Background of the difficulty for Jesus:Follow God’s Word: life, blessing, gloryReject God’s Word: death, curse, punishment

Gen 1:28Gen 9:1-3

Human responsibility - Jewish people --- Adam ------- Noah -----

Gen 3:23, 24 Gen 9:20-27

Gen 12:1-3 Canaan (Ex 3:8) Deut 30:16

Abraham ------------ Moses ----------- Joshua ---------------

Gen 15: 9-13 Die in Wilderness Deut 30:17, 18Num 14: 32-34

Mal 4:5, 6; Isaiah 9:6 (Kingdom)

----- Jesus

Isaiah 53:6-9; Malachi 4:6 (Cross)

Jewish History

• After Return from Exile:– 1) Persian Period (539-333 BC)

• Ezra: “people of the Book”• Torah becomes central to life and faith• Schism (Jew-Samaritan)

– 2) Greek Period (333-63 BC)• 175 BC Antiochus “Epiphanes” (“God manifest”)• Program of Hellenization (=persecution of the Jewish religion)• “abomination of desolation” (Daniel, Mark 14)• An altar to the Greek god Zeus was placed in the Jewish Temple• 167 BC Maccabean revolt• 164 BC Re-dedication of the Temple• 143 BC Qumran community (a longing for a Messiah)

– 3) Roman Period (63 BC – 135 AD)• Fall of Jerusalem (135 AD)• Destruction of the Temple (70 AD)• Formation of Rabbinic Judaism• Rabbi: “teacher”; one learned in the Torah; replaces priest and prophet

– 4) Diaspora (beyond the borders of Palestine)– 5) State of Israel established (1948)

Scripture

• Sources for Rabbinic Judaism– 1) Hebrew Bible (90 AD Council of Jamnia) – Ta Na Kh

• Torah (Law: “first 5 books” plus)• Nebiim (Prophets)• Ketubim (Writings: Wisdom literature)• Judaism’s source of sacred history• Study of its words is to sacred reality as scientific analysis is to literal reality

– 2) Apocrypha – Greek translation for those Jews living beyond Palestine– 3) Pseudepigrapha – a group of writings including the DSS (Dead Sea Scrolls)– 4) Mishna : re: the written Torah – each generation tries to make the Law relevant

for its time; • Consists of Halakah (directions for daily living: do’s and don’ts)

– 5) Talmud (comprehensive)

– oral Torah, written Torah + application

mishna (halakah) + Gemara (commentary)

Talmud

View of God in Rabbinic Judaism

• Strict Monotheism– God is One– Schema (Deut 6:4-9)– God is personal, just, righteous, holy

Jewish View of the Cosmos• The world has been created by Yahweh, and is completely dependent upon

Him• Psalms 8:3; 19:1

• Genesis – creation– Faith is projected back into pre-history

Jewish View of the Human Being

• Created in God’s image – Imago Dei– Special dignity

• Freedom of will – we are responsible for our actions

• A unitary being– No mind-body division as in Greek philosophy– A psycho-physical being (from dust), rooted in nature

• We have 2 tendencies:– Yetzer hara – evil inclination– Yetzer tov – good inclination

The Human Problem as seen in Judaism

• “Sin” is a rebellion against God• There is no absolute evil• Evil is corrective or reformative in nature• Proverbs 3:11-12• Suffering is often a punishment for sin (Isaiah 3:10)

• God has some purpose behind allowing evil to exist, but that is hidden from us• Job 42- following

• Yetzer hara

Salvation in Judaism

• Strict obedience to the Torah• Study of the Torah is important• Centrality of study is distinctive among world religions• Study of the Torah is the means par excellence towards

knowledge of God, and His ways• “Build a fence around the Torah”

• Because of free will there is a possibility of sin, but forgiveness is always possible where there is sincere repentance Ezekiel 18:30-32

Conduct

• Conduct as seen in Judaism– Imitatio Dei (Leviticus 19:2. 18)– Observe the moral law (Torah)

– Torah is the blueprint for conduct both 1) ethical and 2) religious– Religiously-prescribed behavior is important

– “The Law of the Heart”– Obedience to the Torah must be total, inner and outer (inner person and outer per

son)– 10 commandments

• 6-10 very similar to moral precepts in Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.

The Mishkan and Its Correspondences

• See article and transparency

Religious Festivals in Judaism

• Exodus (freedom)– Pesach (passover) with seder meal– Shavuot (commemorative of revelation of the Torah)– Sukkot (recalls the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness)

• Re-dedication of the Temple (164 BC)– Hanukkah

• New Year and anniversary of creation of Adam and Eve– Rosh Hashanah

• Day of Atonement– Yom Kippur

• The ritual life of Judaism is focused in the home• Family unit is central to much of the religious activity• Festivals are celebrated around the meal table

• Home is central to:– Dietary laws– Laws of family purity– Education (especially of children)

• Judaism in America (3 main groups):– Orthodox Jews

• Follow Talmudic teaching• Avoid mixing with the “world”

– Reform Judaism• Seek to adapt to the society• Lay aside most Talmudic practices• Hold services on Sunday in “church,” etc.

– Conservative Judaism• Seek to retain essential Judaism, while avoiding the tendency to

assimilation of Rabbinic Judaism• Rigorous intellectual leadership

Mystical Judaism – the Kabbalah

• Kabbalah (“receiving”): Jewish mysticism

• Embraces an entire way of life• Oral Torah: taught only to select people• The Hebrew Bible is an “owner’s manual” to the universe• With the proper knowledge, one can manipulate the universe• Like dynamite, it is dangerous, and requires the proper training and attitude

• The Bible is of divine origin (every word/letter is significant) (transparency)• There can be no real contradictions or mistakes (though there may seem to be)• The Bible has eternal value (there are no contextualizations)• 1) plain, 2) symbolic, 3) allegorical, & 4) esoteric meanings – to every verse• The information conveyed by the Bible contains all potential knowledge in the universe (li

ke on a chromosome) [even email, if you know how to interpret]• Science and religion are both from God and ultimately complementary

• Ain Sof (the undifferentiated)• First chapter of Genesis• First chapter of Ezekiel

– Instructions to achieve prophetic/mystical consciousness

• Step-down system– 10 spheres of energy – sefiroth (the ways the infinite assumes finite existence)– Emanate from the Ain Sof down to our realm– Only 7 spheres are accessible to humans– The Tree of Life (see transparency)– The scope of the Torah and its study (transparency)