Judaism in Brief: Pillars, Covenant, Jewish history and Scripture

 

The 3 pillars of Judaism: Yahweh, Covenant, Torah (law)

The 3 pillars of the world: Torah, divine service, acts of charity

Moses, who is considered Judaism's greatest prophet, was a henotheist at first. But at Mt Sinai, a covenant was established between Yahweh and Moses, and Moses became a monotheist.

Abraham is hailed as the first Hebrew and the father of the Jewish people. Abraham took El Shadai (one of the Judaic names of God, conventionally translated as God Almighty) as his deity. As a reward for his act of faith in one God, he was promised that Isaac, his second son, would inherit the Land of Israel (then called Canaan)

Covenant

The foundation of the Torah is the belief that God chose the Children of Israel, in His wisdom and for His purposes, and made His covenant with them. This covenant requires the Children of Israel not to practice idolatry and to live their lives according to the commandments.[Lev 26] This covenant is essentially one-sided, since its terms are dictated by God, though performance is left to the free will of society (collective of God's people) and each person within it.

In the Mosaic Covenant, beginning in Exodus 19-24, God promises:

-          To make the children of Israel His special possession among all people if they obey God and keep his covenant [Exo 19:5]    

-          To make the children of Israel a kingdom of priests and a holy nation[Exo 19:6]  

-          To give the children of Israel the Sabbath as the permanent sign of this covenant [31:12-17]

The significance of Covenant:

(1)   A new concept in the history of religion

(2)   A focus on the moral and ethical life (of a people)

(3)   Guidance and protection from God (Yahweh)

Obey the covenant -> peace and prosperity, etc.  

Transgress the covenant -> death, curse, punishment  (Hosea 14: 1-2a)

Jewish History

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

4) Diaspora (beyond the borders of Palestine)

5) State of Israel established (1948)

Scripture

Torah

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 : 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)

5) Talmud (comprehensive)