Transcript Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary

Theology and Symbolic
Vocabulary
RELIG 210: Introduction to
Judaism
Lecture 7
Today’s Class
• Review/Finish Scripture and
Interpretation
• Overview of Theology and Symbolic
Vocabulary
• Examine conceptions of God, Torah,
Israel and Messiah in various sources
Admin
• Next Class: Readings available on-line
• Mid-Term Exam-Questions On-Line
• Kugel Lecture (2/6 at 7pm)
Modern Challenges to
Scripture and Tradition
• Biblical and Historical Criticism
• Loss of Interpretive Community
– “I” as authority
– Secular Knowledge as authority
• Stagnation of Oral Law among
traditional communities
– Literal reading vs. fluid interpretation
Goals for Lecture
• Gain an understanding of the core
concepts of Jewish Symbolic Vocabulary
(God, Torah, Israel and Messiah)
• Identify key similarities and differences in
these concepts in Biblical, Rabbinic,
Jewish Philosophical, and Mystical
Sources
• Note Conflicting Views and lack of
consensus
Theology and Symbolic
Vocabulary
• What are the core beliefs/symbols that orient
the Jewish tradition?
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God
Torah
Israel
Messiah/Redemption
• How have these concepts changed over time
in dialogue with surrounding cultures?
God
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Diverse Conceptions
– Theology distilled from cultural tradition of
neighbors
– Personal, Anthropomorphic to Transcendent
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Three Central Preoccupations
1. God as Unique Creator (monotheism)
2. God as Revealer of Torah
3. God as Redeemer of Israel
Challenges for Theology
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Philosophical
Linguistic
Historical
Scientific
Torah
• Revealed to Moses at Mt. Sinai
– In what form?
– What content?
• Divine Word
• Means of Communication
Israel
• Chosen People
– Covenantal Promise
– Unique relationship
• Mission to Humanity
Messiah
• “One who is anointed with oil”
– High Priest
– King David
• Symbolic of autonomy
• Concept evolves in Second Temple
Period
Messianic Vision
• Cosmic Culmination of Creation
– Resurrection of dead
– End of history
– Israel returns to the Land
• Messianic Prerequisites
– Davidic Ancestry
– Initiate Kingdom of God
• Conflicting Visions of Redemption
• Relationship between Redemption and
Suffering
GOD
The Structure of
Judaism’s Basic
Symbolic Vocabulary
TORAH
ISRAEL
MITZVOT
Time/History
MESSIAH
Symbolic Vocabulary and
Surrounding Cultures
Canaanite
Pantheon
Christian and
Islamic
Mysticism
Greco-Roman
View of the
Cosmos
Modern
Philosophy
and Ethics
Many Names of God
• Biblical
– Y-H-V-H - Proper Name
– Adonai (Lord) Substitute for Y-H-V-H
– Elohim (God)
• Rabbinic
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Hakadosh Barukh Hu (Blessed Holy One)
HaMakom (The Place)
Harakhman (The Merciful)
Goel Yisrael (Redeemer of Israel)
More Names…
• En Sof (The Infinite)
• HaShem (The Name)
• What is the significance of multiple
names for God?
God and the Bible
• Personal God involved in drama
– Accessible through prophets
– Initiates Covenant
• Multiple Personalities
– Merciful, gracious and vengeful warrior
– Speaks yet not visible
– Intimately involved and far in the distance
The Bible and Monotheism
• “Hear O Israel, the Lord is your God, the
Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
– Only One or Unique?
• “Who is like unto thee among the
Gods?” (Exodus 15:11)
– Early traces of Henotheism
Rabbinic Theology
• Particular God of Jewish People
• God more removed from history and law
• The Rabbinic Parable: “Let me tell you a
story…”
To What is God Similar?
• Images of King, Emperor or Parent
– God=Emperor
– Israel=Subjects
– Language of Roman Empire
• Why a Theology of Parables?
• Ekhah Rabbah 4:11 (p. 90)
Hekhalot Literature and the
Hellenistic Cosmos
God of Israel
or Cosmic
Mind?
Chambers or
Planets?
Kabbalah
• Rabbinic movement (12th Cent onward)
• Hidden tradition of scriptural
interpretation
Kabbalah and Symbolic
Vocabulary
• God- Transcendent and Immanent
– En Sof, “The Infinite”
– Only know aspects of divine being (Sefirot)
– Sefirot as DNA of natural and supernatural
reality
• Sefirot in Chaos-Need Restoration
• Read Zohar, Akharei Mot (p. 98)
Kabbalah and Scripture
• Scripture is like a Walnut
– Literal Content is Outer Shell
– Secret truth hidden within
• Goal: Go through layers of meaning to
find kernal
– Example: Divine Emanations
– Dangerous Work (Four who enter Garden)
Kabbalah and Interpretation
• Written and Oral Torah and later readers part of ongoing process of revelation
• Diminishes Authority of Written Torah
• Why Madonna/Esther has it wrong!
– Confined by Jewish law, but still dangerous!
Torah and Israel From the
Rabbis Perspective…
• Avodah Zarah 2A-2B (91)
• How did Israel get the Torah?
– Voluntary or Coercion
– Spouse or Parent?
• What is the relationship between Israel
and other Nations?
Hellenistic Philosophy and
Revelation
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From Particular Story to Universal Truth
Personal God with Natural Laws
Moses as Ideal Lawgiver (p.88)
What Limitation does Philo’s Theology
have?
Messiah in Rabbinic Thought
• Always Coming, Never Here
– “If you are about to plant a sapling and you hear the
Messiah has come, plant the sapling and then go to
greet him.” (Avot d’ Rabbi Natan)
• Davidic Lineage or Humble Leper?
• Birth Pangs and Redemption
• Why are the Rabbis hesitant about Messiah?
• Sanhedrin (96B-98A) (P.96)
Early Modern Messianic
Movements
• Medieval Messianism (p. 97)
• Messianic Movements Sparked
– Response to Persecution and Destruction
– Kaballah and Cosmic Redemption
• Shabbatai Zvi (1666)
– Dealing with his conversion
– The power of transgression (p. 99)