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Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary

In this lecture, we will review scripture and interpretation, explore the theology and symbolic vocabulary of Judaism, and examine how conceptions of God, Torah, Israel, and the Messiah have evolved over time in dialogue with surrounding cultures. We will also discuss challenges to traditional interpretations and the lack of consensus in defining these core beliefs and symbols.

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Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary

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  1. Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary RELIG 210: Introduction to Judaism Lecture 7

  2. Today’s Class • Review/Finish Scripture and Interpretation • Overview of Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary • Examine conceptions of God, Torah, Israel and Messiah in various sources

  3. Admin • Next Class: Readings available on-line • Mid-Term Exam-Questions On-Line • Kugel Lecture (2/6 at 7pm)

  4. Modern Challenges to Scripture and Tradition • Biblical and Historical Criticism • Loss of Interpretive Community • “I” as authority • Secular Knowledge as authority • Stagnation of Oral Law among traditional communities • Literal reading vs. fluid interpretation

  5. Goals for Lecture • Gain an understanding of the core concepts of Jewish Symbolic Vocabulary (God, Torah, Israel and Messiah) • Identify key similarities and differences in these concepts in Biblical, Rabbinic, Jewish Philosophical, and Mystical Sources • Note Conflicting Views and lack of consensus

  6. What are the core beliefs/symbols that orient the Jewish tradition? God Torah Israel Messiah/Redemption How have these concepts changed over time in dialogue with surrounding cultures? Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary

  7. God • Diverse Conceptions • Theology distilled from cultural tradition of neighbors • Personal, Anthropomorphic to Transcendent • Three Central Preoccupations • God as Unique Creator (monotheism) • God as Revealer of Torah • God as Redeemer of Israel

  8. Challenges for Theology • Philosophical • Linguistic • Historical • Scientific

  9. Torah • Revealed to Moses at Mt. Sinai • In what form? • What content? • Divine Word • Means of Communication

  10. Israel • Chosen People • Covenantal Promise • Unique relationship • Mission to Humanity

  11. Messiah • “One who is anointed with oil” • High Priest • King David • Symbolic of autonomy • Concept evolves in Second Temple Period

  12. Messianic Vision • Cosmic Culmination of Creation • Resurrection of dead • End of history • Israel returns to the Land • Messianic Prerequisites • Davidic Ancestry • Initiate Kingdom of God • Conflicting Visions of Redemption • Relationship between Redemption and Suffering

  13. The Structure of Judaism’s Basic Symbolic Vocabulary GOD TORAH ISRAEL MITZVOT MESSIAH Time/History

  14. Symbolic Vocabulary and Surrounding Cultures Canaanite Pantheon Greco-Roman View of the Cosmos Christian and Islamic Mysticism Modern Philosophy and Ethics

  15. Many Names of God • Biblical • Y-H-V-H - Proper Name • Adonai (Lord) Substitute for Y-H-V-H • Elohim (God) • Rabbinic • Hakadosh Barukh Hu (Blessed Holy One) • HaMakom (The Place) • Harakhman (The Merciful) • Goel Yisrael (Redeemer of Israel)

  16. More Names… • En Sof (The Infinite) • HaShem (The Name) • What is the significance of multiple names for God?

  17. God and the Bible • Personal God involved in drama • Accessible through prophets • Initiates Covenant • Multiple Personalities • Merciful, gracious and vengeful warrior • Speaks yet not visible • Intimately involved and far in the distance

  18. The Bible and Monotheism • “Hear O Israel, the Lord is your God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4) • Only One or Unique? • “Who is like unto thee among the Gods?” (Exodus 15:11) • Early traces of Henotheism

  19. Rabbinic Theology • Particular God of Jewish People • God more removed from history and law • The Rabbinic Parable: “Let me tell you a story…”

  20. To What is God Similar? • Images of King, Emperor or Parent • God=Emperor • Israel=Subjects • Language of Roman Empire • Why a Theology of Parables? • Ekhah Rabbah 4:11 (p. 90)

  21. Hekhalot Literature and the Hellenistic Cosmos God of Israel or Cosmic Mind? Chambers or Planets?

  22. Kabbalah • Rabbinic movement (12th Cent onward) • Hidden tradition of scriptural interpretation

  23. Kabbalah and Symbolic Vocabulary • God- Transcendent and Immanent • En Sof, “The Infinite” • Only know aspects of divine being (Sefirot) • Sefirot as DNA of natural and supernatural reality • Sefirot in Chaos-Need Restoration • Read Zohar, Akharei Mot (p. 98)

  24. Kabbalah and Scripture • Scripture is like a Walnut • Literal Content is Outer Shell • Secret truth hidden within • Goal: Go through layers of meaning to find kernal • Example: Divine Emanations • Dangerous Work (Four who enter Garden)

  25. Kabbalah and Interpretation • Written and Oral Torah and later readers part of on-going process of revelation • Diminishes Authority of Written Torah • Why Madonna/Esther has it wrong! • Confined by Jewish law, but still dangerous!

  26. Torah and Israel From the Rabbis Perspective… • Avodah Zarah 2A-2B (91) • How did Israel get the Torah? • Voluntary or Coercion • Spouse or Parent? • What is the relationship between Israel and other Nations?

  27. Hellenistic Philosophy and Revelation • From Particular Story to Universal Truth • Personal God with Natural Laws • Moses as Ideal Lawgiver (p.88) • What Limitation does Philo’s Theology have?

  28. Messiah in Rabbinic Thought • Always Coming, Never Here • “If you are about to plant a sapling and you hear the Messiah has come, plant the sapling and then go to greet him.” (Avot d’ Rabbi Natan) • Davidic Lineage or Humble Leper? • Birth Pangs and Redemption • Why are the Rabbis hesitant about Messiah? • Sanhedrin (96B-98A) (P.96)

  29. Early Modern Messianic Movements • Medieval Messianism (p. 97) • Messianic Movements Sparked • Response to Persecution and Destruction • Kaballah and Cosmic Redemption • Shabbatai Zvi (1666) • Dealing with his conversion • The power of transgression (p. 99)

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