Judaism

1. 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)

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

3. Background of the difficulty for Jesus: Follow God’s Word: life, blessing, glory Reject God’s Word: death, curse, punishment Gen 1:28 Gen 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, 18 Num 14: 32-34

4. Mal 4:5, 6; Isaiah 9:6 (Kingdom) ----- Jesus Isaiah 53:6-9; Malachi 4:6 (Cross)

5. 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

6. 4) Diaspora (beyond the borders of Palestine) • 5) State of Israel established (1948)

7. 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)

8. 5) Talmud (comprehensive) • oral Torah, written Torah + application mishna (halakah) + Gemara (commentary) Talmud

9. View of God in Rabbinic Judaism • Strict Monotheism • God is One • Schema (Deut 6:4-9) • God is personal, just, righteous, holy

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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 person) • 10 commandments • 6-10 very similar to moral precepts in Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.

15. The Mishkan and Its Correspondences • See article and transparency

16. 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)

17. 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

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

19. 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)