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?– God– Torah– Israel– Messiah/Redemption

• How have these concepts changed over time in dialogue with surrounding cultures?

God

• Diverse Conceptions– Theology distilled from cultural tradition of

neighbors– Personal, Anthropomorphic to Transcendent

• Three Central Preoccupations1. God as Unique Creator (monotheism)

2. God as Revealer of Torah

3. God as Redeemer of Israel

Challenges for Theology

• 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

TORAH

ISRAEL MITZVOT MESSIAH

Time/History

The Structure of Judaism’s Basic

Symbolic Vocabulary

Symbolic Vocabulary and Surrounding Cultures

Christian and Islamic Mysticism

Greco-Roman View of the Cosmos

Modern Philosophy and Ethics

Canaanite Pantheon

Many Names of God

• Biblical– Y-H-V-H - Proper Name– Adonai (Lord) Substitute for Y-H-V-H– Elohim (God)

• Rabbinic– 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

Chambers or Planets?

God of Israel or Cosmic Mind?

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 on-going 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

• 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)