Judaism

1. Judaism • RELS 110: World Religions

2. Possible exam questions • List as many of Moses Maimonides’ 13 principles as you can remember, and explain them in a sentence or two each.

3. Divine Name • Originally, the Israelites’ name for God was “Yahweh”, written as the consonants YHWH • Jews stopped pronouncing the name of God • They would substitute another word, either • The Name (“HaShem”) • LORD (all in capital letters to indicate it stands for the divine name, not the usual word for “lord”).

4. Monotheism in Judaism • The religion that first developed the concept of monotheism • belief in and worship of a single God. • monotheism developed gradually • Abraham and other early Jewish figures accepted the prevailing belief that there were many gods. • What made the Jews unique: they chose to recognize and worship only one god who traveled with them wherever they went.

5. Representations of God in Judaism • the god of the Jews is an invisible god. • In the Bible God declared himself to be beyond depiction or imagination. • unusual among the cultures in which Judaism first arose. • Judaism still ptohibits making images of God.

6. The Chosen People • Jews claimed a special relationship to their God • He had chosen them to be his people. • This relationship is referred to as a covenant: • God made promises to the Hebrew people • they in turn promised fidelity to him alone. • this developed into the conviction that this god was in fact the only God, of the universe and of all peoples. • Judaism eventually committed itself to a strict monotheism. • How to combine chosenness with one God for everyone? • God had chosen the Jews for a special mission in the world. • Jews feel responsible to a higher standard than other peoples since they were appointed by God to be “a light to the world.”

7. An Ethnic Religion • Judaism has functioned both as an ethnic group and a religion • Many people today consider themselves Jews solely because of their familial relations and not because of any religious beliefs or practices they follow. • The rest of the world, in its turn, has tended to regard Jews the same way. • Compare Hinduism, Shinto, Daoism. • More so in Judaism because it has been a minority religion

8. The Sacred in History • Other religions had myths and legends, stories of creation and the interaction of important ancestors with the gods. • Judaism made these interactions a continuing saga of God’s relationship to his chosen people. • History doesn’t move in cycles; it is linear, • it had a beginning • It will some day have an end.

9. Orthopraxis • concern for the people’s ongoing relationship to God. • Not so much what individuals believed about God, • But how the community related to God. • most important facet of Judaism became not orthodoxy, or correct belief, but orthopraxis, or correct practice.

10. Jewish Theology • Being a good Jew is mostly about following Jewish law, not about believing anything in particular about God. • theology (literally, the study of God) is not as important as in Christianity. • Still, Jews have at times articulated Jewish beliefs about God. • One of the most famous of these articulations is the “Thirteen Principles of Faith” authored by Moses Maimonides, a rabbi who lived in the twelfth century CE in Spain.

11. Thirteen Principles of Faith • God is Creator and Guide. • God is One in a unique Way. • God does not have a physical form. • God is eternal. • God and God alone is to be worshiped. • God is all-knowing. • God gives rewards and punishments. • God has revealed his will through the prophets. • Moses is the greatest of the prophets. • The Torah was revealed to Moses. • The Torah is eternal and unchanging. • The Messiah will come. • The dead will be resurrected. (Moses Maimonides, 13th C.)

12. Summary: Basic Principles of Judaism • Judaism is best known as the first monotheistic religion. • Jews developed the doctrine of monotheism gradually over their early history. • Judaism is both an ethnic group and a religion, and the two identities are brought together in the belief that Jews are “the chosen people.” • God is believed to be actively involved in historical events in Judaism, sometimes in a way that permanently changes the relationship between God and God’s people. • Judaism is a religion of orthopraxis, valuing ritual and the keeping of God’s laws over holding particular beliefs about God.

13. Quiz fun

14. Possible Exam Question • What, according to Proverbs, are the differences between the “wise” and the “foolish” in terms of their (a) thinking, (b) behaviour, and (c) fortunes?

15. Proverbs • Introduces us to the Material, convictions, worldview shared by Jews, Christians, Muslims alike. • Proverbs 12:15: “Fools think their own way is right; the wise listen to advice” • Same kind of thing we would say today. Sounds the same; meaning a bit different. • Divides people into two categories: Fool or wise. • An Observation – this is not a command. • Proverbs 12:16: “Fools show their anger at once; but the prudent ignore an insult.” • Two groups of people: (1) principled; (2) immediate moment. • Proverbs 12:19: Truthful lips endure forever; but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. • 12:21: No harm comes to the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble. • 12:22: Lying lips are an abomination; faithful are his delight.

16. Proverbs’ View of Reality • Concerns are universal, not nation-specific. • Israel is not mentioned at all. • Concerns are with this life, not the afterlife. • With the way of wisdom-created world. • Stresses importance of human choice • Like Islam: SayyedHossein Nasr: Everything in the Universe is Muslim except for Man. • Wise=righteous will prosper; foolish=wicked do not. • God’s wisdom is reflected in the moral order, as in the physical order • “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” • Wisdom begins by taking God into account.

17. Choice (in Proverbs’ worldview) • Not: a fork in the road, and no one to tell us one is right and one is wrong. • Rather: a beautiful intricate rug & a child with muddy boots. • It is appropriate to take the boots off. • We didn’t make the world; it was made a certain way we didn’t determine. • Will we respect the way the world is made? • Will we be insensitive, stupid, mean?

18. 1. What is the significance of Canaan and where is it today? 2. What is monotheism? How does it define Judaism? Judaism video 00-06

19. Cultural Context of Judaism • For roughly the last two thousand years, Judaism has existed as a minority religion which has been key in the formation of Jewish identity. • Jews have faced anti-Semitism in many different lands. • Historically, the most vicious anti-Semitism was that of Christians who blamed Jews for the death of Jesus. • Especially in Europe, Jews were prevented from owning land or working in many different professions, and were kept in segregated Jewish neighborhoods called ghettoes. • The worst and most recent persecution of Jews was the Holocaust, in which the government of Nazi Germany attempted to eradicate the European Jewish population under the pretext that they were racially inferior to other Europeans.

20. Game time!

21. Summary of Genesis 1-11 • Creation: good, way good. • Paradise: everything ideal. • Flood (Noah) • Gen 8:21: I’m not going to curse them. Why? Not because they’re good, but because evil is their nature. • Believe in these stories: literally or not? • Some do, some don’t. Even early interpreters were divided. • These stories tell us important things about the human condition. • Important convictions are told by the way of story. • Easy to sum up the basic principles/convictions: • The Vision of Reality in Genesis 1-11 …

22. 1. The universe is created by God and good. • Huston Smith on “the little word ‘very’ gives a lilt to the entire religion. The Jews refused to abandon the physical aspects of existence as illusory, defective, or unimportant. Fresh as the morning of creation, they were to be relished with zest. • In Jewish faith, there is a strict division of creation and creator. • Don’t worship nature (Mother Earth). She is sister earth, a creature, as we are.

23. 2. Humans are created in the image of God • (Genesis 1:27) What does the “image” imply? • God rules all, so people are given rule over the rest of God’s earthly creation (Dominion, in 1:28). • Not exploit/devastate • Rule is always given to be exercised for the good of those ruled • OR: People are made with a capacity to enjoy God in ways other creatures cannot. • The ideal is someone who “walks with God” – has communion with God • OR: people can serve God in ways other creatures cannot. • Instinctive action vs. moral action: we can do what is right as a moral choice. • OR: People can reflect God’s character in ways that other creatures cannot.

24. 3. Humans are created male and female • For companionship (2:18) • Propagation (1:28) • Marriage and family are divine institutions, part of the ‘order’ of creation.

25. 4. Humans remain creatures • Humans remain dependent on God. • They need to recognize their limits. • One command, to remind of limitations • Tower of Babel

26. 5. Human existence is spoiled • Human existence, and all creation, is spoiled by human pretensions of autonomy. • When they think they can make their own rules … • when they try to do what they themselves want, independently from God … • When humans choose their own interests, not those of creation … • Jews think people have an evil inclination and a good inclination, with a constant struggle. • People can overcome the evil inclination. • That’s why the solution is guidance regarding what to do. It is not beyond you. • Christians say humans cannot help but sin. • It is such a part of human nature. • A more pessimistic problem; a more radical solution. • Islam: forgetfulness is the problem; in principle we can do it, when reminded. • Adam repented and became a prophet.

27. 5. Human existence is spoiled (continued) • Chaim Pearl: • “Our stories imply that man has a tendency to sin. But that is very different from the concept that he has the destiny to sin.”

28. 6. God’s commitment to the goodness of creation • God’s commitment to the goodness of creation is expressed both in divine judgement and in redemption. • He won’t allow it to be spoiled by humans. • God is merciful, compassionate, patient.

29. The Jewish Scriptures • The Hebrew Bible is composed of many of the same books as the Christian Old Testament. • The Hebrew Bible consists of three major sections, the most important of which is the Torah, or first five books of the Bible.

30. The Jewish Scriptures • Torah or Pentateuch: Books of Moses • Nevi’im “prophets” • Ketuvim “writings”

31. The Jewish Scriptures • The Hebrew Bible was written between approximately 900 and 200 BCE. • The Talmud, which is an interpretation of the Torah, is regarded as authoritative by the Jewish religion. • The Talmud, sometimes called the “oral Torah,” brings the Torah into conversation with continuing events in the life of the Jewish people via the practice of midrash, or “reading scripture forward” to find its significance for present times.

32. Possible Test Questions • What is meant by “Torah”? • What role does “Torah” play in Judaism?

33. Torah • Means “guidance, instruction, law” • Used for: • All revelation (all God says to humans) • The Pentateuch (Genesis, Exod., Leviticus, Numbers, Deut.) • Sum of all the commandments God is believed to have given Moses on Mt. Sinai. Includes: • “written Torah” in Exodus, Leviticus, some in Numbers and Deuteronomy • Supplemented by “Oral Torah” • Torah is to be the law for a whole community. A community cannon have various implementations. Not every detail is given (what is work?). Adapt Torah to new situations. • Includes Halachah and Haggadah.

34. Oral Torah • Halakhah • Tells people what they should do. • Spells out precise terms of Israel’s obligations under the covenant. • Haggadah • Narratives, illustrating and encouraging proper behaviour. • Collections of “Oral Torah” include: • Mishnah • Talmud(s) – Babylonian and Palestinian • Midrashim – commentaries on biblical books, containing both halakhah and haggadah.

35. Mishnah • A collections of laws – hard reading – concise, formulaic. • Majoring in minors: E.g., Don’t do any work: What constitutes “work”? The main classes of work are … separating two threads. • This is how we serve God – by submitting every detail to Him. • Most famous section: Avot (or Aboth, or Pirke Avot) • Near the beginning of Avot: On three things the world stands: On Torah, Worship (Service) and Loving Deeds • It is our part to be faithful, even if we don’t understand. • The fear of God comes before wisdom.

36. Quiz Game • Hebrew Scriptures

37. Possible Test Question • Discuss briefly the Jewish Scriptures (Old Testament) as a drama of the relationship of God with humanity.

38. 1. Patriarchal Period • Abraham & Sarah • Isaac & Rebekah • Jacob & Rachel&Leah • 12 sons of Jacob (including Levi, Judah, Joseph) = the 12 tribes of Israel

39. 2. Egypt & the Exodus • Moses & Aaron • (typical protest against his call, but even more than usual) • Pharaoh doesn’t know God • Plagues

40. 3. Wilderness & Mt. Sinai • Moses & Aaron • Laws • Instructions for tabernacle carried out: sanctuary • How unbelieving Israel was – God kept coming through • Jews see this as their past, but also their present. • E.g., Abraham gets promises of people & land, but does not possess people or land. • Or: story of wilderness: don’t be like that generation in the wilderness because of their unbelief. • Warning of prosperity and danger of pride. Depend on God. Don’t adopt religions of other nations.

41. 4. Conquest & Settlement • Joshua & Judges (Also Deborah, Gideon, Samson, Samuel) • People who deliver them when they cry out from oppression. • A repeated cycle. • Finally they demand a king.

42. 5. United Monarchy • Kings: Saul, David, Solomon • Saul disobeys God. • The lineage is taken from him. • God makes a commitment to David (2 Samuel 7): • Your sons will be on the throne forever • Solomon builds the temple in Jerusalem. • Has women trouble; foreign gods.

43. 6. Divided Monarchy • Northern Kingdom (Israel) • Capital came to be in Samaria • Various dynasties • Southern Kingdom (Judah) • David captured Jerusalem • Davidic dynasty: 400 years. • Assyrians captured Samaria in 722 BCE.

44. 7. Judah Alone • Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians in 587 or 586 BCE. • After a series of prophets had warned them to reform their ways.

45. 8. Babylonian Exile • Nebuchadnezzar (-538) captured Jerusalem and destroyed the Temple.

46. 9. Postexilic Period • Persian king Cyrus conquered the Babylonians • Cyrus allowed Jews to return to their home land. • Ezra (scribe), Nehemiah (rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls) • 515 BCE- Second Temple period begins

47. Quiz Game • Ancient History of Judaism

48. Possible Test Question • Summarize the message of the following prophets to their contemporaries and the themes in their prophecies that are important in Judaism: • Amos • Isaiah.

49. Prophecy • Prophets are intermediary figures, conveying to ordinary people messages from deity / spiritual world / supernatural world that aren’t accessible to ordinary people. • Prophecy is a form of intuitive mediation (rather than inductive mediation, which is recognizing what is there, e.g., divination). • Prophetic activity follows a divine commission (e.g., Amos, Jonah). • Prophecy is more than foretelling the future – this is an element, but not the core. • Social justice – another important characteristic, but it’s note what makes them prophets. • At Sinai, people say to Moses, “We can’t bear to hear the Lord directly; you go and tell us what he said.” • Early examples of prophets in Israel: • Moses (prototype) • Samuel (also a judge) • Nathan (a court prophet; 2 Samuel 11-12): doesn’t rubber-stamp what the king wants. Tells a story of a rich man. To pronounce upon rights & wrongs of establishment. • Elijah – Ahab & Naboth (1 Kings 21)

50. David & Nathan • But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord, 12 1 and the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him, and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds; 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. He brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children; it used to eat of his meager fare, and drink from his cup, and lie in his bosom, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was loath to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfarer who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb, and prepared that for the guest who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man. He said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die; 6 he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” • 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! ” 2 Samuel 11:27-12:15.