Report On Jewish Sacred Texts

Report on Jewish sacred texts

Judaism is one of the oldest religions and has been considered as the first monotheistic religion. A survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2010 estimated that the number of Jews in the world was approximately 14 million, occupying only 0.2% of the world population. However, unlike the other monotheistic religions that contain a greater number of faithful in the world, it is important to study Judaism since it is the oldest Abhahamic religion and from which Christianity and Islam are historically derived.

The Jews maintain the belief in a single God called Yahweh who is omnipotent, creator and savior, which they received through a pact the promised land and the revelation of the divine laws. The most important sacred text for Jews is the Torah which is considered a collection of laws that basically contains the entire tradition of Israel. “Torá, then, has the character of instruction, teaching, opinion and law given by God and that the people must observe."Judaism argues that Torah is a reality rooted in its beliefs and customs since it is considered to be pre -existing, it was created before the world, it is a law of life, not to follow it is to choose death and it is also universal and eternal. Due to the destruction of the temple and exile, the Torah became the center of the faith.

The Tanaj is the set of twenty -four canonical books of Judaism and is divided into three: the Torah, the Nebiim and the ketubim or writings.

It is believed that Moses wrote the Torah in 1250 to.C, however, it should be taken into account that Moses is a character whose historicity is not demonstrated. The Torah or the pentateuch is composed of five books: Bereshit (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Vaikrá (Leviticus), Bamidvar (Numbers) and Devarim (Deuteronomy), which chronologically report the creation of the universe, the pathof the town of Israel and the death of Moses.

Genesis:

The word Genesis comes from the Greek and means birth or origin, so the first book of Torah bears this name, since it deals with the origins of the universe and man. Genesis’ book is divided into two parts;The first known as the "History of Origins" (Gen 1-11) and the second as the "History of the Patriarchs" (Gen 12-50). The first part recounts the origins of the world and humanity to Abraham, narrating the creation of all things, the fall of Adam and Eva in the Eden, the tragedy of Cain and Abel, the ark of Noah and the universal flood and the towerfrom Babel. The second tells us the origins of the people of Israel and the history of the great patriarchs who gave rise to the twelve Hebrew tribes;Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Among them we can see Yahweh’s call to Abraham, the first alliance and redemption and slavery of Israel in Egypt.

“As for me, here, my agreement is with you: you will be the father of many nations. And it will not be called your name Abram, but it will be your name Abraham, because I have put you for the father of many nations. And I will multiply you in a great way and you will do nations, and kings will come out of you. And I will establish my eternal agreement, to be your God and that of your offspring after you. And I will give you and your offspring after you the land of your pilgrimages, the entire land of Canaan in perpetual inheritance;And I will be the god of them. […] This will be my agreement, that you will keep after you: all men among you will be circumcised." 

In this passage you can see Abraham’s first alliance with God in which he promises the land of Canaan and tells him that as a sign of this agreement every male must be circumcised at eight days. The theme of circumcision is interesting and brings with it a series of questions, where did it come from? What does it mean? Why only men? Why is it done on the eighth day?

For the Jews this procedure bears the name of Brit Milá and is the only body sign of the Jewish faith. It is the symbol of the covenant made between Abraham and God in which it is stated that God believes the universe and that only he will continue to direct it. It seems that Jews believe that the purpose of this procedure is to eliminate something unwanted since man was created incomplete. Eliminating the foreskin seems to be a path to purification and holiness as well as a reminder to seek spiritually perfect.

There are different interpretations to the fact that Brit Milá must be carried out on the eighth day. Some believe that man represents imperfection for what has to be rectified on the eighth day outside the order of nature. Others believe that man was not created to follow the natural order such as animals and plants, but was created to perform actions addressed to God and fight anything that takes him to sin, which would be cut off in the foreskin inThe eighth day, to get out of natural order and eliminate the greatest natural impulse of man. And as for women, they are not part of this ritual since the daughters of Israel are considered as circumcised and their holy flesh, in addition to having an innate spiritual sensitivity and do not need a reminder of the Pact of God and themen.

Exodus:

The word exodus means exit or departure, so this second book tells us the release or exit of the people of Israel under the oppression of Egypt. The exodus can be divided as well as genesis into two large parts, the first being the appearance of Moses and the freedom of the people of Israel, and the second the Jehovah’s agreement with Israel on Mount Sinai.

Thus, the exodus with the death of José and the uprising of a new king of Egypt who oppresses and enslaves the people of Israel begins. Then he tells us the birth of Moses and details his upbringing and a bit of his history. Next, it tells us the numerous attempts to free the people of Israel and the curses that fell on the Egyptians until they reached the liberation, which led to the establishment of Easter. Then we can see the Pact of Jehovah with Israel on Mount Sinai and the establishment of the ten commandments.

“And Moses rose to God;And Jehovah called him from the mountain, saying: So you will tell Jacob’s house and you will announce to the children of Israel: you saw what I did to the Egyptians, and as I take you about those of Águilas and I have brought you to my. Now, if you hear my voice you keep my agreement, you will be my special treasure over all peoples, because mine is all the earth. And you will be a kingdom of priests and a holy people. These are the words you will tell the children of Israel." 

The Exodus became an indispensable part of Israel’s historical identity since, as a result of this, the ten commandments, the holidays and celebrations were established with the purpose that all generations revive the liberation of their people and renew the commitment they made withGod on Mount Sinai.

Levitical:

Leviticus derives from Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve children and from which his tribe became responsible for carrying all the rites, sacrifices and ceremonies, becoming the priestly tribe. Therefore, in this third book it has a more normative character in which priestly laws are described as well as ceremonial practices.

Like the other two previous books Leviticus can also be divided into two large parts. The first being "before the day of atonement" and the second "after the day of atonement". In the first part we observe the laws (the holocausts, the offerings, laws of sacrifices), the consecration (Aaron and children) and the purification (animals, leprosy). In the second part we find the practical beginnings (day of atonement and the sanctuary), the moral (immorality, laws of holiness and justice, immoral acts) holy character (holiness of priests) the events in holiness (parties, year of jubilee) andFinally obedience (disobedience and things consecrated to God).

Leviticus is considered as a manual for the worship of God in which a clear explanation of ceremonies, laws and rituals are provided to deepen the importance of sin, guilt and atonement. Thus emphasizing the idea of holiness that can only be achieved through the obedience of these rituals.

Numbers:

The title numbers refers to the number of generations that present, however its name in Hebrew Bamidvar "in the desert" is more related to the events of the text. Because it is a narrative story, it can be divided in different ways, either geographically: Mount Sinai, the desert and finally Moab, or by its most relevant events: the preparation of the first generation, the failure ofthe same and the preparation of the new generation.

The preparation of the first generation began with the acceptance of the commandments in Mount Sinai where as the people of God they were organized and sanctified. His failure arose on the road to the promised land since with the difficulties of the journey there were doubts of faith and acts of rebellion. Therefore, this first generation lost its right to the promised land and a new generation emerged to inherit it. With this new generation there is a reorganization of the people, the offerings are regulated and a division of the promised land is made.

Since numbers tells Israel’s history from Mount Sinai to its arrival on the outskirts of the promised land, through the narrative the issues of obedience and rebellion as well as repentance and blessings, so it can be considered, so it can be consideredWhat numbers is basically the preparation of the people chosen to enter the promised land. In this text you can clearly observe the wrath of God before his disobedient people, as well as previously it could be seen with the enemies of Egypt and Canaan.

Deuteronomy:

Deuteronomy is a word of Greek origin that means "second law", although it does not fully encompass the content of the book, it refers to the part of the laws, promises and demands of the people’s alliance with God. This is the first of the Deuteronomist books in which the complete story of the kings of Judah and Israel is shown to the exile of Babylon. It is believed that this book was introduced to the tetratuco to neutralize the Davidic message and highlight the importance of the prophets.

Since there was a new generation about to enter the promised land, the need to remind the people of the laws to live according to the promises made on Mount Sinai.

“Now, then, oh Israel, listen to the statutes and decrees that I teach you, to execute them and live, and enter to take possession of the earth that Jehovah, the God of your parents, gives you." 

The first three chapters narrate the town’s trip to Moab, chapter four exalts the importance of following the commandments and teaching them to future generations. The following chapters remind the people of the laws and consequences if they do not follow them and in the last chapters the death of Moses and the establishment of Joshua as his successor is reported. As can be seen clearly, the deuteronomy serves to remember the importance of the Word of God and as the obedient being before the law will bring blessings, as well as disobeying and falling into sin will bring consequences and curses.

Observations:

In the Pentateuch we are in front of an anthropomorphic God, a God who is jealous, violent, vindictive but merciful and loving. Regarding it, it seems that we are facing a too human God from which many contradictions can derive. If it is an omnipotent God, don’t you go against its omnipotence and omniscience to regret creating man?

It seems also that it is a God who has nothing of universal, a God who only cares about his chosen people and that also far from worrying about the people threatens him with terrible consequences if they would break that covenant. The fact that the promised land was already a land inhabited by peoples against which the people of Israel should fight, thus highlighting the obsessive nature of this God for its chosen people without taking into account the rest of humanity.

We are also in front of a religion of salvation in which the issues of fear, guilt and regret resort. The sense of guilt seems to be a dominant feature of Jewish religion. The guilt goes back to the first biblical sin of Adam and Eve and then takes strength through the civic and divine laws transmitted from generation to generation.

In the same way it is interesting to see the influences of polytheism through texts for example the use of the different names for God, Elohim and Yahweh. Elohim can be applied to God but in a more plural sense since his translation refers to the "powerful" or "gods" and is believed to be linked to old polytheistic beliefs. It is also interesting to think if the violent tone of the Pentateuch is due to the old polytheistic customs and influences that were lived in those societies.

Talmud:

Talmud is a work based on rabbinic discussions about laws, traditions and customs. There are two versions of Talmud, Babylon and Jerusalem or Palestine. Just as Torah, Talmud has its origin in oral traditions. While the Talmud questions, discusses and comments the Torah, this can never go against it. However, Talmud has become a kind of legal authority dealing with issues that have to do with rabbinic and Jewish law, ethics, philosophy and history. The Talmud is divided into two parts: the misná (coding of the Jewish oral law) and the guemara (comments of the misná).

Misná:

Misná is the first part of the Talmud and is composed of the oral, political and civil law of the Jews. His coding is attributed to Rabbi Yehudah has nasí towards the end of the second century. Misná is considered as the oral tradition of the Tanaim for which their writing is attributed to them. Misná is built in 6 orders or Sedarim: Zeraim or seeds (agricultural laws), Moaed or stations (Saturday and festivals), Nashim or women (family law, marriage and divorce), Neziqin or damages (civil and criminal law), Qodashim or sanctities (the laws of sacrifice and worship) and finally the tohorot or purifications (ritual purification).

From these sections, 63 treaties arise from which not everyone has a legal character (Halaká) for example the Avot Pirkei or "Parent Chapters" that is at the end of Neziqin.

Pirkei Avot constitutes a work with a fundamentally ethical purpose (Hagadá). This book contains only six chapters in which you can see a series of short phrases attributed to a series of rabbis. It is important to point out that originally the Prikei Avot only contained five chapters until it was considered necessary to add the sixth since a chapter was read every Saturday from the feast of Lambach and the Shavout party (among them there are six Saturdays).

Pirkei Avot begins with the transmission of the Torah on Mount Sinai “Moses received the Torah in the Sinai and transmitted it to Joshua, Joshua to the elderly, the elders to the prophets, the prophets transmitted it to the men of the great assembly.”In the second chapter you can see said of Rabbi and his son Gamaliel III as well as sayings by Yohanán Ben Zakay. Chapters three and four tell said without chronological order, while in chapter five these anonymous are sometimes attributed to Yehuda Ha Nasí. And finally, in chapter six that was added later, there is talk of praise to the Torah. Because there is a direct line from Moses on Mount Sinai to the rabbis, they identify themselves as the highest authority in matters related to Jewish law and tradition. It can be said that there are two main reasons for the creation of this work: the first is to demonstrate that the rabbis or the wise received the laws directly from God through the lineage without interruption and the second is to remember and keep in mind the teachings ofeach of these.

Observations:

It is interesting that Abot is the only book Hagadá de la Misá. Is this due to the fact that Haada usually is understood as a fabula or legend? If the misná is a compendium of books that deals with the laws and consists of the repetition of them, would not harm their veracity and value to implement a book that can be considered as a simple story?

If there was no single Judaism and there is talk of a plurality of Judaism, how did the Talmud, the misná and therefore the pirkei abot to be recognized and accepted by all? If it was Yehuda, who authorized the writing and it was his disciples who brought Judaism to Babylon in the third century why did the authority have to decide that it was written and that it was what should be taught?

It is speculated about the existence of the great assembly which is believed to be a group of Jews who decided to take control and leadership to avoid the decline of spirituality and keep the laws and traditions in force. With the emergence of rabbinic Judaism in the second century, the synagogue and the rabbi become the central approach providing great importance to the law and the interpretation and comments of the same. As talmudic literature arises and the rabbi is used for all issues of existence. But isn’t it dangerous to be subject to different rabbis with different interpretations? Wouldn’t it be better and would provide more sense of unity to have an assembly or a unique spiritual leader that clarifies and solves any problem or doubt? While Judaism argues that no one has the absolute truth and that it is about discussing and interpreting how it avoids falling into a moral relativism?

The Roll of the Qumran War:

It is said that it was a group of Bedouins between 1946 and 1947 who found the rolls inside some vessels in a caves in a place known as Qumran. It is believed that these caves were libraries that kept the books of the temple and the aristocracy. Approximately 900 manuscripts written in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek were found. Among the manuscripts are biblical texts, biblical comments, apocryphal texts, legal documents and others that are located in a historical framework belonging to the Esenia community.

The rule of war or also known as "The War of the Children of Light against the children of darkness" consists of a series of military systems and strategies. The first part tells us that the children of Luz are the tribes of Levi, Judah and Benjamin, who will launch an attack against the children of darkness that are the army of Belial, composed of Edom, Moab, Amon, Filstea, to theLike Asur’s Kittim troops.

This text has a normative character that seeks to regulate all aspects of battle. It tells us a war with seven phases among the children of the light and the children of darkness in which there will be a series of victories and defeats until in the seventh stage the great hand of God will submit to the children of darkness guaranteeing him the victoryto his chosen people. As the imperialist character, the Jewish domain over the rest of the peoples can be highlighted. In this text, the descriptions of military strategies and formations, the role of priests as leaders, the instructions of the trumpets and the banners, as well as the age and characteristics of the combatants are also very detail.

In the first part the time of the war (set by God) and the enemies, the kitm to fight to fight is established. In the next part there are the details and combat rules, for example, the description of the trumpets and as they should be used, the description of the flags of the banners and the description of the armament. It is believed that military formations in addition to being inspired by the description of the Bible also have influence of Hellenistic and Roman strategies. The division of men is also detailed by their ages, the factors that prevent them from going to war and the laws that must be followed to maintain purity in the camp as well as the maneuvers of the final battle. And finally it ends with a series of prayers and hymns that must be recited during the battle and after the victory.

There are several interpretations about this war, for some it is considered apocalyptic, for others it is more historical, as a war manual. However, others consider it as a ritual since war is contemplated as the war of the people of God, those chosen against their enemies becoming a celebration of the ultimate victory.

Observations and conclusion:

An interesting and at the same time confusing aspect of this text is its chronological order. Within the description of the battles it is quite clear that it is a series of linear order events, however, it is not clear how long these episodes last? 7 years old? Of 40?

Another aspect that attracts attention is that we apparently face a society that believes in predestination. If we take for granted that the war rule is a continuation of the community rule seems to be that this society lives around the idea of the end of the times for which they are preparing.

As Judaism was previously mentioned and the study of it is of the utmost importance since it can be considered as the root of monotheistic religions. Although their sacred texts and fundamental readings are not the simplest to read and understand if they provide us with the possibility of understanding the origin and social context in which this religion develops. Without reading these texts, it would be impossible.

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