Jewish Beliefs

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Introduction

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Orthopraxy, not orthodoxy

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Distrust of ìtheologyî

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Jewish thought not systematic/ontological, but functional/wholistic

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Development of Jewish thought ñ Early Period

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Israelite religion ‘ Judaisms (Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Karaites)

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Encounter with Hellenism ‘ Platonic thought/Philo

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Destruction of Temple and Loss of Land ñ Pharisees ‘ Rabbis

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The formative doctrine of the Dual Torah (see Pirkei Avot 1.1)

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Mishnah

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+ Gemara

= Talmud

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(+ Midrashim Codes Responsa)

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<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>The Jerusalem (or Palestinian) Talmud was formulated, compiled and edited in the academies in the land of Israel from 200 CE to 400 CE. The Jerusalem Talmud is shorter and must less organized. It is important for historical study of Israel during this time period, but has not achieved much authority in Jewish law.

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In the Talmud there are two kinds of material: Halakhah and Aggadah:

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<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Halakhah is ìlaw,î it comes from the root meeting ëto goí the way in which the Jew should walk in life. It refers to the legal traditions of Judaism. Halakah tells us how to obey God. The Mishnah is a repository of halakah rather than a ëcode of lawí because it includes a diversity of opinions on many subjects, all with equal presentation.

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<![if !supportLists]>· <![endif]>Aggadah, on the other hand, covers all the nonlegal material such as history, morals, the ìnarrative.î It comes from the root ëto tellí and refers to the folklore of the Jewish people. Aggadah helps us to know God, but it is only the opinion of the writer, not law. [Note that theology would be considered aggadah, and not halakhah. Systematic Theology does not hold as much importance for the Jews as it does for Christians.]

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Response to Christianity and Islam ‘ Polemics and Apologetics (Saíadia Gaon)

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Development of Jewish thought ñ Middle Period

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Influence of Aristotelian thought ‘ Medieval Jewish Philosophy (Maimonides)

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Moses Maimonides (RaMBaM): (1135-1204) Jewish philosopher, Talmudist, and physician. Born in Spain, Maimonides became court physician to Saladin, the Arab leader, in Cairo. There he wrote his commentary on the Mishnah, as well as his own compilation of the Jewish Halakhah known as the Mishneh Torah. His most controversial work was the ìGuide to the Perplexedî, a philosophical treatise in which he attempted to reconcile the Torah and Jewish tradition with Aristotelian philosophy. He is famous for his Thirteen Articles of the Jewish Faith, which contains the belief in unity of God (Maimonides, not the Scriptures, laid the foundation for the Jewish conception of the unity of God which is so absolute that he left no room for the plurality taught by the Bible and Christianity), in the coming of the Messiah, and in the resurrection of the dead.

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Influence of mysticism(Kabalah) ‘ Ultra-orthodoxy (Hasidism)

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Development of Jewish thought ñ Modern Period

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Influence of modernity ‘ Varieties of Judaisms

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Influence of Zionism

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Plus Post-Zionism, Postmodern Jewish Philosophy, Messianic Judaism

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Core Beliefs

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Credal Statement - The Shema (Deut. 6:4)

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Shema Yisroel Adonai Eloheynu Adonia Echad

≥dj;a y:yì ∆Wnyhel¯aë y:yì ∆laer:c]yI [m'v]

Baruch Shem kívod Malchuto Leíolam vaíed

≥d[w: µl;wO[l] wOtWkl]m' dwObK] µve ÀWrB;

Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Blessed be His name, whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.

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The Ten Commandments

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Thirteen Article of Faith ñ Maimonides

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Core Categories

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God. Torah, Israel

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Sabbath, Kashrut

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Messiah, Land

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Shema Yisroel Adonai Eloheynu Adonia Echad	≥dj;a y:yì ∆Wnyhel¯aë y:yì ∆laer:c]yI [m'v]
Baruch Shem kívod Malchuto Leíolam vaíed	≥d[w: µl;wO[l] wOtWkl]m' dwObK] µve ÀWrB;