Judaism (09/10)

Rabbinic Judaism

The form of Judaism that became dominant by the medieval period, centered on law (Halacha), and based on the Hebrew Bible as interpreted by the rabbis.

Halacha

Jewish law; the focus of life for Jews in the medieval period as a way of obeying God's will

Jewish Philosophy

A school of thought that arose in the medieval period to systematically determine what Jews should believe using reason and rational argumentation, drawing inspiration from Ancient Greek philosophy.

Reason and Revelation

The main philosophical problem grappled with by medieval Jewish philosophers: the relationship between truth discovered through human reason and truth found in the revealed texts (like the Bible).

Kabbalah

A school of thought in medieval Judaism focused on beliefs that means "tradition." It claims to be a secret wisdom handed down to Moses on Mount Sinai and passed on in esoteric circles

10 Sefirot

The 10 attributes of God around which all of Kabbalah is centered. They tell us everything we know about God and, since the universe is a reflection of God, everything about the universe

Tikkun

A Hebrew word meaning "repair." The Kabbalistic belief that if Jews observe the commandments properly, they can repair God's broken being (who was "broken" due to the sin of the Garden of Eden), bringing God back into harmony with Himself.

Ethical Monotheism

The key phrase for Reform Judaism; the belief that the essence of Judaism in the modern period should focus on ethical commandments and being a good person (justice, compassion, love of others), while rituals are nice but not as important.

Orthodox

A word that literally means "proper belief." Orthodox Judaism views the Torah as the literal word of God and rabbinic Judaism as the authentic understanding of the Oral Torah. It believes Jews should live according to Halacha as practiced for hundreds of years.

Haredi

Another term for Ultra-Orthodox Jews. It comes from the Hebrew word meaning "to tremble," as these Jews see themselves as trembling before God.

Hasidism

A movement that began in Eastern Europe in the late 1700s, based on Kabbalah. Its core belief is that the best way to worship God is through happiness and joy, as God's presence is everywhere, and Judaism should be a joyful, highly spiritual way of life

Rebbe

The title for a special rabbi who leads a Hasidic community. The Rebbe is considered unusually close to God and acts as an intermediary between the community and God. Leadership is often passed down from father to son (a dynasty).

Payot

The long side curls grown by Hasidic men, a custom that comes out of an old Kabbalistic tradition.

Anti-Semitism

A new term (coined in the modern period) for the hatred of Jews. Unlike previous hatred based on religion, modern anti-Semitism was based on secular ideas (Jews as subversive/vermin), was a political issue (anti-Semitic political parties), and was supported by a new (false) "science of race"

Pogrom

A Russian word used to name the anti-Jewish riots and mass violence that broke out in Russia and Eastern Europe, beginning in 1881.

Zionism

A movement with the goal of establishing an independent Jewish state or homeland in the location of ancient Israel (Palestine), largely arising as a reaction to anti-Semitism in the modern period.

Nones

A growing trend in America; people who have no religion (N-O-N-E-S). This can include people who are religious in a private way but reject institutional religion, or people who are atheists/have no religion at all.

Maimonides (1100s)

The greatest medieval Jewish philosopher and author of the most important work of Jewish philosophy in the medieval period, The Guide of the Perplexed.

Israel Ben Eliezer (The Baal Shem Tov)

The founder of Hasidism in the late 1700s. His nickname literally means "The Master of the Good Name" (God's name). He was a Kabbalist and a reputed miracle worker.

Theodore Herzl (1860-1904)

A secular, Hungarian Jewish journalist and playwright who was instrumental in the success of the Zionist movement. He strongly believed in creating an actual Jewish state in Palestine and convened the First Zionist Congress in 1897.

Reform Judaism (Modern Jewish Denominations in the US)

• Evolution: Began as a reform of the synagogue service, then developed a new theology that deemed the old way of Halacha (Jewish law) as outdated.

• Core Belief: Emphasizes Ethical Monotheism; focusing on being a good person, justice, and compassion.

• View on Bible: Accepted Biblical scholarship that the Bible was not the literal word of God, but was a work that was inspired by God and written by people.

• Trends: Largest denomination in the US, but has experienced a lack of defined identity due to becoming very open and inclusive (e.g., accepting intermarriage).

Orthodox Judaism (Modern Jewish Denominations in the US)

• Core Belief: The Torah is the literal word of God, and Jews must live strictly according to Halacha.

• Sub-Divisions: Divided into Ultra-Orthodox and Modern Orthodox.

• Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi): Believe Jews should be involved with the non-Jewish world as little as possible.

• Modern Orthodox: Embrace the non-Jewish world and its culture (e.g., secular education, common professions) as long as they live according to Jewish law. They dress like everyone else (men may wear a kippah).

• Trends: Constitute about 10-12% of the US population, but are growing very rapidly due to high commitment, marrying other Jews, and large families.

Conservative Judaism (Modern Jewish Denominations in the US)

• Evolution: Began as a reform of the synagogue service, then developed a new theology that deemed the old way of Halacha (Jewish law) as outdated.

• Core Belief: Emphasizes Ethical Monotheism; focusing on being a good person, justice, and compassion.

• View on Bible: Accepted Biblical scholarship that the Bible was not the literal word of God, but was a work that was inspired by God and written by people.

• Trends: Largest denomination in the US, but has experienced a lack of defined identity due to becoming very open and inclusive (e.g., accepting intermarriage).

Unaffiliated Jews (Modern Jewish Denominations in the US)

• Core Belief: The Torah is the literal word of God, and Jews must live strictly according to Halacha.

• Sub-Divisions: Divided into Ultra-Orthodox and Modern Orthodox.

• Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi): Believe Jews should be involved with the non-Jewish world as little as possible.

• Modern Orthodox: Embrace the non-Jewish world and its culture (e.g., secular education, common professions) as long as they live according to Jewish law. They dress like everyone else (men may wear a kippah).

• Trends: Constitute about 10-12% of the US population, but are growing very rapidly due to high commitment, marrying other Jews, and large families.

Conservative Judaism

• Goal: To provide a middle ground or compromise between Orthodox and Reform Judaism, for those who found Reform too extreme but didn't want to live Halacha in all its details.

• Trends: Found its greatest success in the US (was the biggest denomination in the 1950s), but its numbers have declined dramatically due to becoming very inclusive, which may have diluted its defined identity.

Unaffiliated Jews:

• Identity: Jews who do not belong to any denomination.

• Views: Some are religious but reject institutional religion (similar to "Nones"); others are not religious at all, viewing Judaism as a culture or ethnic identity (pride in history, moral values, food, camaraderie).

• Trends: This category is growing rapidly, along with Orthodox Judaism, representing the "extreme ends" of the Jewish community.

Balfour Declaration (1917)

A major event where Britain declared its favor for the idea of a Jewish homeland in Palestine, provided the rights of non-Jewish communities were respected.

Creation of Israel

After World War I, Palestine fell under British rule. The Holocaust (6 million Jews killed) increased Jewish immigration to Palestine, worsening Arab-Jewish tensions. The British handed the problem to the UN, which in 1947 recommended and accepted a plan to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. The State of Israel was officially created in May 1948.

1967 Six Day War

Israel fought and won against surrounding Arab countries, capturing a vast amount of territory, including Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Sinai.

Zionist Narrative

Views the creation of Israel as an incredible triumph after 2,000 years of suffering, re-establishing the Jewish state in its ancient homeland. Violence is attributed to the Arabs who have never accepted the historic right of Jews to live there.

Palestinian Narrative

Views the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 (the "Nakba," or catastrophe) as a total injustice engineered by Western countries. Asserts that Jews had no right to the land, whose rightful owners were the Palestinian Arabs already living there. Interprets Israeli wars as a pretext to expel Palestinians.

Secular Zionism

The majority of Zionists; they believed the creation of Israel would define Jews primarily as a nation rather than by religion, and that religion would no longer be core to Jewish identity

Religious Zionism

A small minority of Orthodox Jews who believed Zionism and Judaism were compatible, with some even viewing it as the beginning of the Messianic redemption unfolding gradually through normal events. They saw the 1967 War as a sign from God that the captured land (like the West Bank) must remain with Israel as part of the Messianic kingdom, leading to the establishment of Jewish settlements

Ultra-Orthodox & Israel

Most Ultra-Orthodox Jews are not Zionists; they believe Jews should return to their homeland only when the Messiah arrives. However, they are influential because they were given jurisdiction over sensitive issues like marriage, divorce, child custody, and determining who is technically Jewish.