Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary RELIG 210: Introduction to Judaism Lecture 7.
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Transcript of Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary RELIG 210: Introduction to Judaism Lecture 7.
![Page 1: Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary RELIG 210: Introduction to Judaism Lecture 7.](https://reader030.fdocuments.in/reader030/viewer/2022032604/56649e595503460f94b53314/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Theology and Symbolic Vocabulary
RELIG 210: Introduction to Judaism
Lecture 7
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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
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Admin
• Next Class: Readings available on-line
• Mid-Term Exam-Questions On-Line
• Kugel Lecture (2/6 at 7pm)
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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
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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
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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?
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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
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Challenges for Theology
• Philosophical
• Linguistic
• Historical
• Scientific
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Torah
• Revealed to Moses at Mt. Sinai– In what form?– What content?
• Divine Word
• Means of Communication
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Israel
• Chosen People– Covenantal Promise– Unique relationship
• Mission to Humanity
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Messiah
• “One who is anointed with oil”– High Priest– King David
• Symbolic of autonomy
• Concept evolves in Second Temple Period
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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
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GOD
TORAH
ISRAEL MITZVOT MESSIAH
Time/History
The Structure of Judaism’s Basic
Symbolic Vocabulary
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Symbolic Vocabulary and Surrounding Cultures
Christian and Islamic Mysticism
Greco-Roman View of the Cosmos
Modern Philosophy and Ethics
Canaanite Pantheon
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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)
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More Names…
• En Sof (The Infinite)
• HaShem (The Name)
• What is the significance of multiple names for God?
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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
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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
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Rabbinic Theology
• Particular God of Jewish People
• God more removed from history and law
• The Rabbinic Parable: “Let me tell you a story…”
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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)
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Hekhalot Literature and the Hellenistic Cosmos
Chambers or Planets?
God of Israel or Cosmic Mind?
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Kabbalah
• Rabbinic movement (12th Cent onward)
• Hidden tradition of scriptural interpretation
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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)
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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)
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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!
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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?
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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?
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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)
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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)
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