JCI Midterm Review

Halaka (definition)

It means “The path”

“The Path”

Represents the collective body of jewish religious laws derived from the written and oral Torah.

What is the scope/function of the Halaka?

It is more concerned with the legal rulings, commandments and the practical application of life.

What is the Islamic equivalent of Halaka

Shari’a Law

What is the = of Halaka for christians

Canon Law — the approach to ecclesiastical rule

Haggada (Meaning)

Telling or recitation

Haggada function and scope

To inspire, provide emotional depth, and offer moral lessons. It explains why we do it

Haggada content

Stories, parables, sermons, and historical accounts

Midrash (meaning)

hebrew- to seek

Midrash (defintion)

It is a method of rabbinic biblical interpretation that goes beyond the literal surface of the text to find deeper meanings, fill in “gaps in stories, or derive new laws

Two main types of Midrash

Halaka and haggada

Midrash Halaka

Legal Interpretation. It exames biblical verses to derive specific laws or clarify how a commandment should be performed

Midrash haggaga

Narrative interpretation. It focuses on the stories of the bible — explaining a character’s motivations, filling in missing dialouge, or providing moral lessons

How does Midrash correlate to Halaka and Haggada

Midrash is the method used to produce Halaka and Haggada

Mosaic Distinction shift

The distinction between true and false in religion

Before Mosaic Distinction

Ancient religions were generally polytheistic. They didnt ecessarily think other gods were "fake"; they just worshipped their own. You could translate one god to another (e.g., the Greek Zeus is the Roman Jupiter).

After Mosaic Distinction

With the arrival of Mosaic monotheism (associated with Moses), a new line was drawn. It wasn't just "our god vs. your god," but "Truth vs. Error."

Idolatry (Meaning)

the worship of a physical image, a celestial body, or multiple gods instead of the one true God.

How is idolatry used for a tool for identity

By strictly forbidding idolatry, the community (Judaism, and later Christianity and Islam) creates a clear "Us vs. Them" boundary. To be part of the covenant, one must explicitly reject the "idols" of the surrounding culture.

Moses Maimonides

“The rationalist”

Moses Maimonides Approach

He believed that the Torah and human reason could not contradict each other. If they seemed to, it meant we were interpreting the text too literally.

Maimonides view on God

He argued for "negative theology"—we can only say what God is not, because God is so far beyond human language.

Maimonides idolatry

worst form of Idolatry was "wrong thinking" or assigning physical traits to God.

Judah Ha-Levi

The Traditionalist

Judah Ha-Levi Approach

skeptical of philosophy. He believed that religious truth comes from revelation and history, not human logic.

Jewish spark

Judah ha-levi argued that the Jewish people have a unique, biological/spiritual faculty for prophecy that other nations do not have.

Ha-Levi view on God

He believed in the God of Abraham (the God who acts in history), not the "God of the philosophers"

Muhammad

The Prophet

Muhammad role

The final messenger in a long line of prophets (including Abraham and Moses).

Muhammad (The revelation)

He is the recipient of the Qur’an, which Muslims believe was revealed to him by God through the angel Gabriel

Muhammad (sunnah)

His life, actions, and sayings (recorded in the Hadith) provide the model for how a Muslim should live, forming the basis for Islamic law (Shari’a).

Shi’ism

Shi’ism is the second-largest branch of Islam.

Shi’ism (split)

After Muhammad died, a dispute arose over who should lead the community (Ummah).

Shi’ism Core Belief

believe that leadership should have remained within the Prophet's family, specifically starting with his cousin and son-in-law, 'Ali.

The Imam (Shi’ism)

divinely inspired leaders who possess special spiritual knowledge (ilm) to interpret the Qur’an.

Shi’sm (Authority)

centralized in the person of the Imam, rather than the consensus of scholars.

Covenant (Jewish context — sinai covenant)

In Judaism, the covenant is not just a promise; it is a treaty with mutual obligations.

Covenant (Jewish terms)

God provides protection and the Land of Israel; the people provide obedience to the Halaka.

Covenant ( Christian context)

reinterprets the concept through what is often called Supersessionism

Covenant (Christian shift)

• Paul argues that the "Old Covenant" (based on the Law) has been superseded by a "New Covenant" based on faith in Jesus.

• Inward vs. Outward: The boundary moves from physical markers (like Circumcision) to internal faith.

Covenant (Islamic context)

the covenant is viewed as a primordial "contract" between God and all of humanity.

• The Primordial Covenant: Before creation, all human souls acknowledged God as their Lord.

The role of Prophets (Islamic)

Muhammad and other Messengers of God are sent to remind humanity of this original covenant which they have forgotten.

Hebrew Bible acronym

Tanakh

Three part of the Tanakh

T- Torah (Instruction/law)

N - Nevi’im (Prophets)

K - Ketuvim (Writings)

Septuagint

This is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible.

Septuagint crucial for?

Diaspora Jews who spoke Greek and later became the primary version of the Bible used by early Christians.

Hebrew Bible authority

In Rabbinic Judaism, the "Written Torah" (the Bible) is paired with the "Oral Torah" (Mishna and Talmud), which provides the interpretation.

Oral Torah

Mishna and Talmud

Gospel(s) —Literal Meaning

Greek — good news

Gospels relation to hebrew bible

The Gospels frequently quote the Hebrew Bible to argue that Jesus is the fulfillment of Jewish prophecy and the Covenant.

Synoptic vs. John

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are called "Synoptic" because they share a similar structure and stories, while John is more philosophical and focuses on the "Logos" (Word).

Torah (written)

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Dueteronomy

Torah (written) — Origin

Traditionally believed to have been revealed by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Torah (written) — Content

it contains the narrative of creation, the history of the patriarchs, the Exodus from Egypt, and the establishment of the Covenant. Most importantly, it contains the 613 Mitzvot (commandments).

The oral Torah (concept)

the "Written Torah" was given alongside an "Oral Torah"—the explanations and details necessary to carry out the laws.

Oral torah development

This oral tradition was eventually written down to form the Mishna and later the Talmud.

Mitzvot — meaning

Commandments

Mitzvot function

They are the practical building blocks of Halaka. Performing a mitzvah is seen as an act of obedience to the Covenant.

Sinai (significance)

The mountain where the Covenant was established between God and the Israelites.

What happend at Sinai

Moses received both the Written Torah and the Oral Torah (Mishna/Talmud) at this site.

Constantine 1

He was the Roman Emperor who fundamentally changed the trajectory of Christianity in the 4th century

The edict of Milan

Constantine ended the legal persecution of Christians, allowing the religion to flourish openly

Constantine 1 (patronage)

He provided the church with wealth, land, and political influence.

Ceasaropapism

a political system where the head of state (the Caesar) also acts as the supreme head of the church (the Pope).

Constantine and Caesaropapism

set this precedent by involving himself in church doctrine to ensure imperial unity.

Councils (Christianity)

When disagreements arose about the nature of Jesus or the Trinity, Constantine and later emperors called "Councils"—large meetings of Bishops to decide on official "Orthodox" belief.

Councils defining the canon

were instrumental in deciding which books made it into the official Bible and which were rejected as "heresy."

Mishna def.

The first written collection of the Jewish Oral Law.

Mishna editor

Redacted by Judah Ha-Nasi (Judah the Prince) around 200 CE.

Talmud def.

A massive record of rabbinic discussions that "expands" on the Mishna.

Talmud content

It contains both Halaka (legal rulings) and Haggada (stories, folklore, and ethics).

Authority/ chain of tradition (jewish texts)

1. Torah: The "Written" core.

2. Mishna: The first "Oral" layer (200 CE).

3. Talmud: The massive commentary that defines Jewish life for the next 1,500 years

Rabbinic (Judaism)

The form of Judaism that developed after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE

Rabbinic shift

the focus of the religion from priests and sacrifices to rabbis and the study of Torah.

Rabbinic Jew authority

shifted to the Rabbi (tecaher), a scholar recognized for their knowledge of the Torah and oral law

Rabbinic legacy

This movement produced the Mishna and Talmud, defining the Halaka that governs Jewish life to this day.

Diaspora Jews

Jewish communities living outside the Land of Israel (Judah/Judaea).

Diaspora Jews — Historical Context

While there were diaspora communities in Babylon and Egypt earlier, the destruction of the Temple by Rome led to a massive dispersion across the Mediterranean and beyond.

Diaspora Jews identity in Exile

• The Synagogue: Replacing the Temple as a place of prayer and study.

• Strict Adherence to Law: Using Halaka (dietary laws, Sabbath) to stay distinct from the surrounding Hellenistic or Roman cultures.

Paul

Apostle to the Gentiles

Paul’s shift from Law to faith

Paul argued that following Halaka (jewish law) was no longer necessary for salvation. Instead salvation comes through faith in Jesus

Supersessionism

Paul’s work of the idea that the “New Covenant” in Jesus replaced of fulfilled the “Old Covenant” given at Sinai

Jurisprudence (Fiqh)

The human understanding and interpretation of divine law (SHARI’A)

Fiqh vs Shari’a

Shari’a is considered the perfect, immutable will of God, Fiqh is the actual legal methodology used by scholars to figure out what God wants in specific situations.

Hadith

A “report” or “tradition” that records the sayings,actions, or silent approvals of the prophet Muhammad

Hadith (Function)

Qur’an = “the written torah” ; ____ = “Oral Torah”

Qur’an

The holy book of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the direct, literal word of God (Allah) as revealed to Muhammad.

Surahs

Structure of the Qur’an. Divided into 114 chapters or surahs. Generally organized by length (longest to shortest) rather than chronologically.

Qur’an in Arabic

the text was revealed in arabic and translations are considered interpretations not the truw qur’an

Caliph

is the “sucessor” to muhammad as the political and military leader of the Muslim Community (Ummah)

The Caliphate

Th eoffice of government ruled by a caliph

Sunni view on Caliph

Recognize the historical Caliphs (starting Abu Bakr) as legitimate political protecters of the faith.

Shi’ite view on caliph

generally reject the early caliphs, believing leadership should have gone to the imam (‘ali and his descendants)

Caliph role

Unlike a prophet, a caliph does not recieve new revelation. Their Job is to enforce Shari’a and protect the borders of the Islamic State.

Caesaropapism function

It represents the total collapse of the boundary between “church” and “state”. The emperor had the power to appoint Bishops and call councils to settle theological disputes.

Constatine 1 impact

Under his rule, christianity shifted from a persecuted minority sect to a state-supported religion, fundamentaly changing its relationship with worldy power.

Ta’wil

A from of islamic scriptural interpretation that looks for the allegorical or esoteric (hidden) meanings of the Qur’an

Ta’wil contrast with…

the Tafsir

Who uses the Ta’wil

Particularly important in Shi’ism and Sufism. Shi’ites beleive that only Imam possesses the divine knowledge required to perform true Ta’wil

Roman Imperial Cult

The practice in ancient Rome of offering divine honors to the emperor and some members of his family.