The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his075/judaism.lzh/JUDAISM.TXT

Text File | 1991-07-07 | 13KB | 231 lines

CUL:Judiasm

   The origin and development of Judaism is traced in the Old
Testament. Moses was not the founder of Judaism since YAHWEH (normal
rendition of the unpronounceable name for God) was worshipped by the
Hebrew nation long before Moses was born. God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob are references for God's reverence before Moses. The INFINITE and
PERSONAL God of the Old Testament revealed Himself to man from the very
beginnings of Genesis and progressively revealed more as time and
dispensations (periods of time where God acts toward mankind in
specific patterns) occurred.

   One of the central figures around which Judaism is built is the
covenant relationship established with Abraham (est 2085 B.C.) The Lord
singled out this man and covenanted that his descendants would be a
holy nation, set apart from the rest of the world to God.

   The chosen line ran from Abraham through Isaac to Jacob. Then it
continued through Jacob's 12 sons and their descendants, the 12 tribes
of Israel. During the time of bondage in Egypt, the people of Israel
grew from a small band to a full nation. At the end of this time YAHWEH
revealed Himself to Israel in action through the EXODUS and in words
(COMMANDMENTS given to Moses at Mt. Sinai)

   The PENTATUCH (or TORAH as Judaism refers to it), which was written
by Moses, remains THE primary document of Judaism.

   The Old Testament outlines the early history of Israel in detail; so
we need not repeat it. The synopsis is thus. The conquest of Canaan
under Joshua, the period of the Judges, the united monarchy under Saul,
David and Solomon, and the divided kingdoms of Israel (The Northern
Kingdom of 10 tribes) and Judah (the Southern Kingdom of 2 tribes). The
Northern Kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians in 722 B.C.; the
Southern Kingdom was destroyed by Babylon in 586 B.C. The Babylonian
captivity (exile) lasted 70 years in accordance with God's Sabbath for
the Land, and many Jews returned to Palistine afterwards. YAHWEH
revealed much to the Israelites before, during and after the exile
through the prophets (the 39 Books of the Old Testament are generally
accepted by Judaism as Scripture.)

   Many modern writers have speculated that early Jewish religion was
polytheistic, idolatrous and primitive; However, there is no evidence
that can support these theories. These theories are built on
anti-supernatural evolutionary presuppositions rather than solid
factual data. Actually, the earliest books of the Old Testament reveal
an advanced ethical monotheism without parallel in ancient literature.
From the very beginning the God of the Old Testament is seen as a God
of unlimited power, love, goodness, and justice. He is the infinite and
personal Creator of all creation.

   In God's covenant relationship with Israel, He made high moral
demands, saying that blessing was dependent on social and moral
justice. YAHWEH constantly used the prophets to bring reform in the
political and personal lives of His people.

   The sacrificial system was given to show that sin REQUIRED
atonement. Israel had to be a REDEEMED people in order to enjoy
fellowship with the HOLY God. In contrast, the gods of the other
nations were immoral and indifferent. The Old Testament teaching is
that ultimately God will bless all the Nations of the earth through
Israel. A MESSIAH, who is a descendant of King David, will come to
REDEEM mankind and to reign as King over all the nations of the earth.

   However; the Judaism of today is very different from Old Testament
Judaism. In the centuries following the Babylonian exile, a number of
important changes began to appear. Meeting places known as Synagogues
were instituted during the exile. Even when the Temple was rebuilt in
Ezra's time, the synagogues continued to be the worship centers for
most of the Jews. When the Temple was destroyed by the Roman army in 70
A.D., the synagogues became the official rallying points for Judaism.

   With the end of the temple came the end of the sacrificial system.
The synagogues substituted ritual, prayer, and the study of the Law for
the sacrifices. The Levitical priesthood was replaced by teachers of
the Law, many of whom were Pharisees who had developed an elaborate
oral tradition based on the Mosaic Law. The Law was applied in a
complex way to every detail of life. External things like Sabbath
observance, food preparation, dietary rules and holy days were
stressed. These Pharisaic teachers came to be known as rabbis
(teachers).

   About 200 A.D., the oral rabbinic traditions were finally written
down. The result is known as the MISHNAH (repetition). The Mishnah is
placed ALMOST on par with the Mosaic Law. It is so important that
lengthy commentaries on the Mishnah, known as the Gemaras, were also
written. The Babylonian Gemara (A.D. 500) is longer and more popular
than the Palestinian Gemara (A.D. 200). The combination of the Mishna
and the Babylonian Gemara is known as the Palestinian Talmud. The
Talmud fills many volumes and contains Jewish folklore, traditions and
scholarly teachings.

   The Romans drove the Jews out of Palestine in A.D. 135. Judaism was
able to survive this dispersion only because JEWISH communities had
already been established in many countries. Each such community had at
least one synagogue, and each synagogue was directed by a rabbi. Any
Jew could become a rabbi if he acquired a good knowledge of the Law and
was accepted as such by the congregation. The rabbis applied the Law
and the talmudic teachings to the changing conditions of daily life.

   With the temple, the priesthood, and the sacrificial system gone,
synagogue teachers stressed the idea that every Jew had an immediate
access to God. As a Jew he needed no conversion or redemption. Instead,
a Jew could reach salvation by obedience to the Torah (The Law AND the
rabbinic interpretations of the Law). The rabbis broke the Law down
into 613 precepts - 365 negative precepts and 248 positive precepts.
each of these precepts has been elaborated in rabbinic teachings down
to the FINEST details. The result is that Jewish life can become a
carefully controlled ritual from the cradle to the grave.

   In the 12th century, a Jewish philosopher named Maimonides produced
a creed which is generally regarded as the basis of Orthodoxy. This
creed emphasized the omnipotence, omniscience, eternality, and oneness
of God. God is an invisible spirit Being. As the only Creator and
Source of Life, He alone should be worshipped.

   Maimonides held Moses to be the greatest of the prophets and the Law
to be the highest revelation. He also taught rewards and punishments,
the coming of the Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead.

   Judaism rejects the doctrine of original sin, saying that sin is an
act, not a state. Thus, man has the ability to live according to the
Law. If he fails, he only needs to come to God in repentance. With this
view of sin, Judaism has eliminated the need for a Saviour. many Jews
do not anticipate the coming of a personal Messiah at all, but a
messianic age. Those Jews who do expect a Messiah usually think of Him
as a political and social deliverer, not a Saviour from sins.

   One of the most important facets of Judaism is the series of
festivals and holy days in every year. Rosh Hashanah is the new year
marked by 10 days of penitence and solemnity. The 10th day of penitence
is the Day of Atonement, when Jews acknowledge their sins and pray for
forgiveness. Also important are the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth or
Booths), Passover (Commemeration of the Exodus from Egypt), the Feast
of Weeks (Shabuoth or Pentecost), Hanukkah (Festival of Light), and
Purim. These special days commemerate the joys and sorrows of Jewish
history and serve as the main link to the past. They illustrate
Judaism's concept of history as the meaningful product of God's
activity.

   Today Judaism is divided into three main branches. ORTHODOX, REFORM
(not reformED) and CONSERVATIVE. Within ORHODOXY, there is also a
movement known as the Hasidic Movement. Orthodox Judaism has changed
little in the last 20 centuries. It follows the talmudic teachings and
precepts about Sabbath observance, kosher dietary rules and religious
isolation.

   One reason for the absence of change over the centuries is the
introspective tendency in Judaism. Atrocities and oppression have
dogged the Jews in many countries, and this has forced them to maintain
cultural and religious isolation.

   In the last century; However, Jewish people have shown increasing
desire to adapt themselves to modern society. This is especially true
in America, where they have been given more freedom and respect than in
most countries. This has led to the rise of REFORM Judaism, the
talmudic practices and precepts have been put aside. REFORM synagogues
are usually called temples, and the Sabbath observance in many cases
has been changed to Sunday. REFORM Judaism has rejected spiritual
doctrines such as the coming of the Messiah and the resurrection of the
body. All that remains is an ethical system based on a monotheistic
philosophy.

   The third branch of Judaism is CONSERVATIVE. This is an intermediate
position between the Orthodox and Reform extremes. CONSERVATIVE Judaism
retains the feasts and many of the Jewish traditions in an attempt to
hold to the essentials of Judaism. At the same time it cautiously
reinterprets the Law in order to make it relevant for modern thought
and culture. CONSERVATIVE Jews are very progressive and active in the
intellectual community.

   Judaism also has its mystical and esoteric school of thought known
as the CABALA (other spellings: CABBALA, CABBALAH or KABBALAH).
Practitioners of this PANTHEISTIC system seek a mystical experience of
oneness with the cosmic whole.

   Judaism, then, covers a wide range of beliefs and practices. there
is nothing one must believe in order to be a Jew. In fact, there is a
rapidly increasing secularization of Jews today. More and more of the
Jewish population is moving away from all forms of Jewish religious
practices. This has led to confusion in defining what makes a person
Jewish. The Biblical teaching is that the Jews are a race of people,
descendants of Abraham through Jacob.

   BIBLICAL EVALUATION

   Judaism essentially denies the sin NATURE and minimizes man's need
for redemption. Repentance (Turning BACK to God) is ALL that is needed
when one fails to live according to the Law.

   Most expressions of Judaism are built upon culture and traditions.
Practice is usually emphasized MORE THAN BELIEF. It is an ETHICAL
system and a WAY OF LIFE with a transcendent God in the background.

   The ONLY and KEY issue is THE PERSON and WORK of JESUS of NAZERETH,
who claimed to be the Messiah and whose life fulfilled many messianic
prophecies. Christians can use many Old Testament messianic texts to
support the New Testament claims about Jesus BEING THE CHRIST. The Old
Testament tells where the messiah would be born, when he would be cut
off, and how and WHY He would die. Concentrate on Isiah 53.

   Note that the first Christians were Jews. JESUS WAS A JEW. Most of
the New Testament was written by Jews. Christianity has erroneously
been pictured as a GENTILE religion. Jews often think that to be
"converted" to Christianity, they must give up their Jewishness and
become Gentiles. The New Testament; However, teaches that the great
divide is between non-Christian and Christian - not Jew and Gentile.
There are gentile Christians and there are Hebrew Christians. A Jew
does not have to abandon his or her heritage to become Christian.

   When we deal with Jews, FOCUS on the meaning of Jesus' sacrificial
death and the FACT of His RESURRECTION. The Old Testament makes it
clear that God has chosen blood to be the means for the forgiveness of
sins (Leviticus 16 and 17). Isaiah 53 tells us the Messiah HAD TO DIE
to provide ONCE-FOR-ALL blood sacrifice for sin.

   Rabbinic teaching has traditionally held that there must be two
messiahs: Messiah, the Son of Joseph (a suffering Saviour who would
die), and Messiah, the Son of David (A victorious King who would
establish the messianic kingdom on earth). The New Testament resolves
this Old Testament paradox by combining the two Messiahs into one
Person who comes two times.

   Christians acknowledge the FACT that Christ came once to be, as John
the Baptist stated, "the Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the
World." We also KNOW that the FACTS of the RESURRECTION stand on their
OWN HISTORIC MERIT regardless of anyone's belief in them. This being
true - Christians are to witness to all "living creatures" and this
certainly includes the Jewish People.

   Computers For Christ - San Jose