BASIC INTRODUCTION FOR YEAR 10 'WORLD VIEWS' STUDIES

Dear Jonathan Keren-Black

I am currently studying world views in year 10. I chose Judaism as my religion of choice to learn and develop my knowledge on.  I understand that these questions are difficult and really require detailed explanations, but I know your time is precious, and only need fairly brief responses. I would very much appreciate your help on this matter. 

Thank you very much,

S G

Thanks SG

I’m glad you are studying Judaism as it is an ancient and fascinating, continuously developing and still relevant and valuable spiritual framework for life.  I'm happy to try to help - and I am also putting this on my blog, as I am sure there are others who would also find it useful.

Where did the Jewish religion begin?  Traditionally, we say 4000 years ago (2000 BCE which stands for Before the Common Era.  This is the same timing as BC, but we don’t recognize Jesus as ‘Christ’ and therefore don’t say ‘Before Christ’.  Similarly we say CE instead of AD |(though the years are the same) as Jesus is not our Lord, so we don’t like to say Anno Domini (Year of our Lord).

More historically, the Israelite tradition probably emerged some hundreds of years later, about 3500 years ago (1500 BCE)

Who started the religion or is there an important person within the religion? 

Our tradition and story is that Abram, with his wife Sarai, began to recognize God’s voice when God told him to leave his family, in Haran, and go to the land that God would show them (which turned out to be Canaan, modern day Israel).    Once Abram and Sarai had developed a relationship with God, they were both renamed (both had a ‘H’ added which symbolizes God in their lives).  Abram becomes AbraHam, and Sarai becomes SaraH

Why is this person important?  Note that the tradition has been very male-dominated in telling our story, and says that Abraham recognized and introduced to the world the truth that there is ONE GOD of the whole world, of all people and all animals and all the universe – but that, as I said above, Sarah evidently also had a relationship with the one God.

What countries mainly follow the religion?

The Israelite religion (which eventually became known as Judaism) developed in Canaan and also in Babylon.  Canaan was later known as Judah and then Judea, and was renamed by the Romans as Philistia which eventually became ‘Palestine’.  When granted independence by the United Nations in 1947, and formally established in May 1948 (66 years ago), it was renamed Israel.  Babylon is today’s Iraq.  The Jewish community spread across the entire Roman empire, and Arab countries (Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Yemen) and all these countries had very significant and influential Jewish communities for hundreds or thousands of years.   But from the destruction of Judea, Jerusalem (the capital) and the Temple which was Judaism’s holiest place, in the year 70 CE, until 1948, there was no ‘Jewish country’ at all.   Since it was re-established in 1948, Israel is the only Jewish country in the world.

By the way, you may be surprised to know that Israel is a tiny country – you can fit more than three Israels into Tasmania!  My daughter finished school last year and is spending a gap year in Jerusalem and exploring Israel at the moment, and we visited her a few weeks ago. 

What beliefs, values and practices does the religion follow?

We believe in the One God, invisible, far beyond our limited human understanding.  God is both transcendent Creator (unlimited, Eternal, immensely powerful Creator of the universe), yet also immanent (we can feel God in our hearts and minds, almost ‘speak to God’)

God is all-knowing, caring, compassionate, forgiving, just, loving, helping, supportive, always there – and in our lives and behaviour, we try to act ‘as God does’ or ‘as God would’.

God cares for all people – poor, homeless, sick, lonely, needy, all colours, all ages – (and I believe, all sexual orientations, though traditional Judaism finds this more difficult).  Therefore we must care for all as well. 

God acts in the world through human beings – we are God’s tools, God’s hands.  Our task is Tikkun Olam – to repair, heal or perfect the world.

‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself’ (that’s ours, though we’re pleased that Christians borrow it!)

God cares for animals – therefore we care for them, feeding them before ourselves, milking them even on the day of rest (Sabbath or Shabbat in Hebrew)

God rested on the seventh day of creation (we don’t have to take this literally as we know that creation took billions of years) – but if God needs (or chooses) rest, how much more do we mere humans.

I do not do mundane things like shopping or getting petrol on Shabbat.  Some Jews have much stricter rules that they decide to follow – not turning on lights or anything electric, not driving or travelling, not even tearing toilet paper (for them, it has to be pre-cut before the Sabbath).

There are a variety of different sorts of Jews.  Some are ultra-orthodox (the men wear black hats and coats, and let their hair grow in long side curls), the women and girls do not show arms or legs.  They dress like 18^th century Polish nobles – because this is when and where their movement developed!  Not surprisingly they are the Jews who are easiest to spot.  Then there are orthodox (the men cover their heads with a little ‘kippah’ cap) – and then there are Progressive – that is what my congregation is.  We have a more modern approach to combining our tradition with the modern world and modern understandings – that is why we treat men and women equally, recognize homosexuality, work hard in interfaith understanding and looking after the environment etc.  Most of us do not cover our heads except in formal prayer services.   All of these so far consider themselves to be ‘religious’ - And then there are many who think of themselves as ‘secular’, not very religious at all.  And many of those who live in Israel fir into this category – they think living in a Jewish country is enough – they don’t have to pray as well!  These are like most Australian Christians!

To help us remember  to ‘act as God does’, we have many commandments (the Ten Commandments are the tip of the iceberg!).  Tradition says there are 613, 365 do nots, and 248 dos!  Actually no-one can do all of these – some are for men, some for women, some for kings, some for priests in the Temple that no longer exists, some for those who live in Israel, others for those who don’t.  Still, there are lots left.  For example, we don’t eat blood (as it is taken to be the life force of the animal), so some people make sure their meat is killed in a particular, quick and painless way (shechitah), and salted to remove all the blood.  We light Shabbat Candles on Friday night (the Jewish day starts at nightfall and finishes at the next nightfall  (as Christianity used to do – hence Christmas Eve services).  We give charity.

What is your belief on these following questions:

Who/what is God?  Don’t know! Very hard to grasp. God is NOT a ‘superhuman father figure’. God is a presence (one of the words for God is Shekhina, dwelling presence). God always was, is and always will (Eternal). See above

What is God's relationship with humans?  See above.  God hears and listens, gives support and love, is with us at all times, and when we die (as all things do except God), we poetically say we ‘return to the shadow of God’s wings’ (God doesn’t have wings, or any other body parts as Gods is invisible and intangible and way above human.  There are however many descriptions in the bible that are in 'human terms', eg God's back, God's outsretched arm, God's nostrils!).

What is the purpose and value of life?  Every life is of great potential and infinite value.  Our task is to achieve our potential.  The purpose is to work with God to do our part to perfect the world.

What is the state of the world like?  Very bad.  The rabbis commented on the story of Noah and the flood (where it tells us that God destroyed the world because of human wickedness) ‘It would have been better if God had never made humanity.  However, now that we are here, we’d better make the most of it!’

How will the world become a better place?  When humans act together in love for each other and creation.  They need to recognize that no-one has the whole truth, that we can all learn from and help each other, that there are many paths to God and to what different religions call different things, Nirvana, Salvation, Perfection, Messiah, Messianic Times, End of Days.

Can you convert to Judaism?

Yes, some people are surprised to learn that Judaism has always had converts.  Judaism is not a race - for example, there were many who escaped from Egypt with the Israelites who eventually became part of the people, and later Ruth the Moabitess joined the Jewish people and has a whole biblical book (Ruth) about her story - it even concludes by pointing out that King David was descended from her!

It is not easy to join the Jewish people however.  A person needs to study through at least a year to understand and experience all the festivals, and needs to be able to read Hebrew to join in with the prayers etc.  But sincere converts to Judaism are very welcome, and once converted, they should be treated exactly like any other Jew.

What are basic Jewish rituals?

Male babies are circumcised (the foreskin of their penis is surgically removed).  This is supposed to be a sign of the covenant between Jews and God.

The ‘Sh’ma’ is a declaration made twice a day, when we lie down and when we rise up – Listen up, you Jews – The Eternal One is our God, the Eternal God is One.

Traditionally Jews should pray three times every day.  Main services are on Shabbat – Friday night, Saturday morning.  We welcome Shabbat in the home at Friday sunset by lighting two or more candles, saying a blessing over wine or grape juice, and over the challah, a braided sweet loaf of bread.  We then have a lovely family meal with a white tablecloth, and songs may be sung.  At the end of Shabbat on Saturday evening, there is a similar short ceremony over wine, candle and spices to say goodbye to Shabbat and mark the transition back to the working week.  This is called Havdalah.

Jewish men wear a prayer shawl (Tallit) with fringes (another reminder of the commandments) and cover their heads, during formal prayers.  In Progressive Judaism, where we recognize the equality of women, women and girls can do the same.  On Sabbath services, we read from the Torah, the handwritten parchment scroll containing the so called ‘Five Books of Moses’.  The Torah, and many of the prayers, are read in Hebrew (Hebrew is read right to left).  Hebrew is not too difficult to learn.  The Torah is translated, and the prayers may be read in English, or the translation is always in the prayer book.

At 13, boys celebrate Bar Mitzvah, leaving childhood, by reading or singing from the Torah, and telling the congregation something they have learnt about it.  In our Progressive congregations, girsl do the same.

We have various festivals in the year.  The New Year and Day of Atonement (with eight days of penitence between them) – when we seek forgiveness for things we have done wrong, and try to examine our past year and commit to being better in the new year just started.  The three pilgrimage festivals (when, in the time of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jews would travel there three times in the year with their offerings) – these are Sukkot (Tabernacles), Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Pentecost).  Each of them has a historical meaning from the Torah as well as marking a harvest in Israel.

There are also Festivals marking later events in Jewish history such as Purim (a story about an attempt to destroy the Jews in Persia), Chanukah (the Jewish Maccabees succeed in recapturing and rededicating the Temple from the Seleucid Greek army), Yom HaShoah (in which we mourn for the more than six million Jews of Europe killed in the Nazi Holocaust) and Yom YaÁtzmaut (in which we celebrate the re-establishment of the Jewish State in 1948).

Not exactly a ritual, but Jews are obligated to give of their time and or money as Tzedakah (righteous acts, usually translated as ‘charity’ but not optional).

Hope that us useful.

Rabbi Jonathan

Tough Questions - How can you pick and choose from God's words?

Dear Rabbi,

I am still trying to clarify in my own mind why, when the Talmud homiletically interprets the more mystical texts, you seem to reject them?  I notice that the Zohar (mystical text) seem to get used on occasion in the UPJ Parshat Hashavua (Commentary on the weekly Torah portion). You quite clearly do not reject the Talmud as I have heard it quoted too many times but I am yet to fully understand how and why certain sections are accepted and rejected? How can you pick and choose?

Also, do you believe the Aleph-Beis is divinely ordained? Is seeing it as divinely ordained orientating it to the concept of Moses receiving the Torah word for word at Mt Sinai?

Thanks

Simon

Dear Simon,

To try to respond about the Bible, Talmud, Zohar and other texts - of course they all, often, have useful things to say to us, or seem to have to the writers who use them (exegesis) - and sometimes we can use them to make a point that we want to by reading into them things that they don't really seem to say (isogesis - less often acknowledged of course!).  In fact, I think that often the teachers quoted in the Mishna and Talmud use them in this latter way - knowingly.  They find a 'hook' to hang a decision on.  It is almost like saying ' this is the way it is because this is obviously the right thing, the logical understanding, the ' natural justice'.  But if you really want a 'biblical proof', we'll find you one!

So for example they soon realised that, in a rabbinical discussion, they would not all agree (nothing changes!).  How could they make a decision amongst equals - or against the leading authority?  By majority vote.  But where was their authority for doing this? Exodus 23:2 warns 'You are not to follow the majority in doing wrong'.  The Rabbis had no compunction in taking off the first and last words, being left with the 'Torah injunction': Follow the majority!  Which is really not what it said in its plain meaning.

All writers and commentators pick and choose.  But, from our clear position that the texts may be 'inspired' by God (whatever that means), or come from a human position of trying to understand what God wants of us, we can logically, honestly and comfortably reject or deny some texts, or some of the things they are claiming or saying.  

So we do not reject any complete texts (though the Zohar is dated to 13th century Spain rather than the claim it makes of itself to be from 2nd century Palestine, 1100 years earlier!).  Rather, we review the internal and external evidence, sense, context and consonance with Jewish teaching before using a quoted part of a text.

Critics say we are picking and choosing for convenience.  We say this is the process that has always been used.  We are just more frank about it.  Others say 'either it is all true, or none of it is'.  We don't agree.  You could say exactly the same about science.  Just because a long-held hypothesis is disproved or overturned (eg the earth is flat), we don't reject all of science.  That would look pretty stupid!

Does this mean none of it is from God?  We believe there is eternal truth in our texts - such as that there is one unique power of the universe, that we should not murder, that we must provide justice, love the stranger... lessons that have stood the test of time.  Equally though, there are concepts of their time and 'need', such as to destroy the Canaanites, or to stone the rebellious child to death.  Since over and over again, Torah emphasises that God is the God of all Creation - and that God is 'just, loving, caring, forgiving', then these instructions cannot be from God!

Isn't Progressive Judaism just an easy option?  Judaism Lite?  On the contrary, it takes study, consideration, dedication, discussion to start to decide for yourself what rules have the ring of eternal truth.  Until you are equipped and confident, ask guidance from someone who you respect, whose world view you share, and has done some of this work.  Well that really is an easy option!  No, it isn't.  But anyway, where does it say Judaism must be difficult?

---

I am not sure what you mean about 'Alef-Beis'  (this is ashkenazi hebrew which suggests it comes from a different direction to start with - we'd call it the alef-bet) being divinely inspired - but I'd say it is every bit as divinely inspired as the Greek, Roman or any other alphabet - and no more.  In fact I was looking at the development of Hebrew and sister scripts at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem just two weeks ago.  The original 'hebrew' was proto-Canaanitic - that gave way to an early Hebrew script - and early Aramaic.  At some point the Hebrews jettisoned the early Hebrew and switched to the Aramaic, from which the very similar current Hebrew scripts were developed.

Edmond Fleg wrote a powerful poem which includes 'I am a Jew because the faith of Israel demands no abdication of my mind'. You'll find it quoted in our prayer book (page 41).  To me it is absurd to deny the evidence of philologists and archaeologists and hundreds of scholars and experts about the development of hebrew (and other languages) and simply contend, as an 'act of faith', that the writing (or, similarly, the language) we today use for prayer is 'divinely given'.

Finally, you are of course, always, welcome to come to services at Leo Baeck if you are in Melbourne, or at one of our other synagogues across the region, on your own or with interested friends etc.  Please introduce yourself to the person on duty, and ask if there might be someone who can help you with pages and a bit of guidance if possible (if you'd like).  We'd be delighted to try to assist.  And do bear in mind that you don't need a Rabbi to lead a service, and that they may be lead by lay people, but of course there are still services.  You should however be aware that sadly we do need to be careful about security, so it is a good idea to call the office in the week before the service and get details, and it is a good idea to have your passport or other proof of identity with you to avoid problems in getting admitted.  Preferred dress is fairly smart and tidy.  Women do not need hats, but men are expected to cover their heads (and women are invited to) and kippot (head coverings) will be available to borrow.

Hope it is all beginning to get a bit clearer!

L'shalom

Rabbi Jonathan