HOLY LAND BOOK - Draft

The Classic versus The Modern Judaism
Jewish Learning
The theological-legal structure of classical Judaism shows that the Old Testament easily reveals historical views that could be interpreted wrong,
as of Judaism being a monotheistic religion with unmistakable traces of polytheism. However, before considering this to be an oxymoron, we
need to consider the fact that many misconceptions came from “the Judeo-Christian tradition” (the non-Hebrew), where like in almost all the
foreign-language religions, have been interpreted in different ways.
The most popular delusions and interpretations mentions are that in most books of the Old Testament there is an existence of “other gods”. This
having been said, it is true that “other gods” have been acknowledged, but Yahweh (Jehovah), being the most powerful of all the gods forbids his
people to worship them. Some Jews believe that these writings have been mentioned on purpose, to point out the fact that no” other gods” exist
before Yahweh and that the meaning of “other gods” could also be interpreted as “other religions”. Some other Jews believe that the existence
of the “other gods” is to accentuate the importance of those characters in their Old Testaments, like the first god, also called “Father” and the first
goddess also called “Mother”. In Christian religions, these characters are called Adam and Eve. In some of the later prophets in the Bible, the
existence of all gods other than Yahweh is denied; therefore everything became quite clear that Judaism is far from pure monotheism, even for
the non- Hebrew believers. The doctrines dominant in present-day Orthodox Judaism, which is a direct continuation of the classical Judaism has
a strong influence of the cabbala. Cabbala is a mystical tradition based on the interpretations of the Old Testament. According to Cabbala, the
universe is ruled by several deities, of many characteristics and originated from a First Cause.
From the First Cause, we see a male god called “Wisdom” or “Father” and a female goddess called “Knowledge” or Mother”. The “Wisdom” god
and the “Knowledge” goddess gave birth to “Son” (also called “Small Face” or “The Holy Blessed One”) and Daughter (also called “Lady”), to
“Queen” and many others. Satan has an important personage in the Hebrew Old Testament, because he managed to break the union of the first
two sons and also came very closely to the divine Daughter. The Satan not only ruined the divine union, but he also destruction of the Temples,
the exile of the Jews from the Holy Land and the “whoring after strange gods”. The knowledge and comprehending of the Old Testament is
important for the Classic Jews for many reasons. The Classic Judaism is the foundation of the Modern Judaism (that got developed in the 12th
and 13th centuries) and it plays an important contemporary political role in the system of beliefs on many religious politicians. It contains many
traditions, festivities, prayers and religious acts that (as they believe) could help to bring back the perfect divine unity (in the form of sexual union
between the male and female deities) and to deceive various angels (that are independent minor deities) or to trick Satan. Classic Judaism also
celebrates each stage of life: the circumcision of male infants on their eight day; the 13th year coming of age (in Reform Judaism females hold
a similar celebration, the “Bar Mitzvah”); both the proposal and act of marriage, and then finally the death. Important annual festivals are: Rosh
Hashanah (New Year), Hanukkah, and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
Many points of view have been revealed regarding the cabbalistic system and its importance. Even though the Classic Judaism and its present
political involvement in the Zionist practice have contradicting theories, one should never ignore the past and its influences, because only by
knowing it can one rise above its sightless power.
Israel Shahak notes that:” whatever can be said about this cabbalistic system, it cannot be regarded as monotheistic, unless one is also prepared
to regard Hinduism, the late Graeco-Roman religion, or even the religion of ancient Egypt, as “monotheistic.”
The Torah
The Torah scrolls, which are read out during services
of the synagogue, are held within the ark. The prayer
leader stands upon a raised platform and begins
recitations of consecutive sections of the Torah.
During the main religious services on the Sabbath
and holidays, chapters from the books of the prophets
are also read. Local liturgical customs, prayers,
and hymns continue to play an important role in the
synagogues. Traditional Judaism insists upon women
being seated in a separate gallery.
Synagogues always face eastward. The ark, which
encases the Torah, is on the eastern wall.
The Rabbi
The rabbi was primarily a scholar of the Torah who
was revered by virtue of his charisma and
competence. The authority granted to rabbis by the
Learning and Teaching
Jewish community was restricted to questions pertaining
to the interpretation and application of the
The foundation of the Jewish
faith is the Torah. Within
Torah to everyday life, but held no religious functions.
From the High Middle Ages, rabbis acted in the
these scriptures are the Ten
Commandments, expanded
by the rabbinical tradition
service of the Jewish community and were expected of scriptural interpretation.
They are the sources of the
to deal completely with all questions regarding
Halakha – the Jewish code of
religious laws. By the modern ages they received a
religious law.
position of increasing importance as the religious
and moral authority representative of the Jewish
community, especially when faced with non-Jewish
authorities. In modern Judaism, duties of the rabbi
came to include pastoral duties such as leading worship
services. Since the 19th century, the majority of
traditional Talmudic schools have become academic Synagogues symbolize the
rabbinical seminaries. As a result of the progressive preservation of the collective
Jewish way of life and often
Jewish reform movement going on since the 20th
house social, cultural, and
century, even women have been ordained as rabbis.
administrative facilities.
The Holy Land - The Essential Guide to Living in Israel 125