Our Long
Journey with Mystery
Part 3:- Judaism –
One God,the Law, Prophets & Wisdom
‘Then you will begin to seek Yahweh
your God, and if you pursue Him with your heart and soul, you will eventually
find Him’.Dt4 :29
This series
turns its attention to Judaism, the first of 3 Faith Traditions rooted in the Middle East. Judaism, Christianity and Islam
are all monotheistic religions that have their roots in a long line of
Patriarchs beginning with Abraham. They are often referred to as people of the Book. But perhaps
more correctly they are people with a Book. Judaism is the oldest
of the 3 religions, founded around 3500 years ago. Its story, scriptures and
beliefs are foundational for Christianity and have relevance for Islam.
Like all
other Faith Traditions, Judaism has a complex set of beliefs, traditions, rules
and regulations. These, as in other religions, have led to ‘divisions’ or ‘branches’.
However, there are two great truths or that underpin this great Religion and
these are ‘Love of God' and 'Love of self and others’. Their
story is one of a people who gradually grew in understanding of their God and
realised that God is essentially loving, forgiving, and compassionate to all
and enthusiastically on the side of the poor and oppressed. In this very short
reflection, I intend to focus on the Jewish Bible (Tanakh) as this is the story
of their growth in a covenant relationship with, and understanding of,
God.
Judaism is
arguably one of the most misunderstood, oppressed and persecuted Faith
Traditions and particularly over the past 2 millennia. Much of this oppression
has been caused by ignorance and prejudice, particularly from Christians, who
falsely ‘blamed the Jews’ for the death of Jesus the Christ, who paradoxically was a Jew. Jews believe that
they are a ‘chosen people’ who have a covenant relationship with God. This is
firmly rooted in their scriptures, when God tells them ‘I shall maintain my covenant
between myself and you, and your descendants after you …. I shall be your God
and the God of your descendants‘- Genesis 17.7.
The Hebrew 'Bible' (Tanakh) The Tanakh charts the story
of an oppressed and lowly people as they journey from slavery to liberation.
This is both an inner and outer journey. It has three main parts which represent
3 stages in the growth of the Jews and their covenant relationship. It is
important to realise that although the Christian Old Testament is basically the
Jewish Bible, its interpretation and reading are different for a Jew. Basically
it is ‘their’ story.
The first
stage of the Tanakh is the Torah (Teaching and Law) ' I am who I am ' (Exodus
3:5), which contains the 5 books of Moses the Prophet. This focuses on the
everlasting Covenant between God and His people, the story of their Exodus and
liberation and the laws to be observed. It charts the beginnings of an ego -centric, immature and simple faith and of the people's
need for a set of laws and regulations to provide firm boundaries.
The second stage
is the Nev’im (The Prophets) ' The Lord hears the cry of the poor’ (Psalm
34). The Prophets emerge to challenge the establishment, i.e. the Kings
and Priests, as they 'drift' away from God. It emphasises God’s preference for
the poor, the widows and orphans and stresses the need to remain focused on the
prime message of the Covenant and God’s concern for the oppressed, the outsider
and the outcast. This is a necessary 2nd and transforming developmental
stage both for individuals and all societies. Otherwise our ego-centric desire for power and control can
so easily create both an unjust society
and a God in ones own image! The Prophets always challenge this tendency
towards self-indulgence and self- idolatry.
The third
stage is outlined in the Ketuvim (Wisdom Writings) ' Lay aside immaturity, and
live, and walk in the way of insight” (Proverbs 9:6) .This comprises
some of the Psalms and the Books of Wisdom. These focus on the non-duality of
God. By non-duality I mean God is not Either: Or, God is
Mystery and is Both: And. Wisdom literature goes beyond the
immaturity of a rigorous attention to the Law and a literal interpretation of
scripture. It also transcends the patriarchal system with its ego drive for
power and control and its tendency to subjugate women and reserve power and
position for men. Incidentally, ‘Wisdom’ is often referred to as being
feminine.
Today, the UK has the world’s 5th largest Jewish
Community. It has been in Britain since Roman times. Because the
Church felt that lending money was un-Christian, the role was handed over to Jews.
The result was a form of hypocritical prejudice against Jews. Since then there have been many persecutions
of Jews. Judaism is not merely a Faith but is both a way of life and a communal
Faith Tradition. The major ‘split’ in Judaism, like in some other faiths, is the
Scriptures. Orthodox Jews hold that the Hebrew Scriptures are ‘sacrosanct’ and 'unalterable',
whereas other forms of Judaism believe in the Rabbinical Tradition which allows
for both a written and oral tradition.
I end with
a story about Rabbi Hillel, probably the most famous and revered Rabbi of all.
It demonstrates the inherent wisdom of Judaism and the Jewish practice of '
Midrash’ that involves staying with the questions until life itself
reveals the answers. The story goes like
this ……
A certain non-Jewish "know-all"
came to the home of Hillel to scoff at the Torah. He said, "Teach me the Torah while I am
standing on one foot." Hillel responded. "No problem! The main idea
of the Torah is 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Everything else is
commentary. Now, if you're really interested, go and study the
commentary." So impressed with
Hillel's response, according to Jewish Tradition, was the visitor, that he took
Hillel up on his instructions, began to study the Torah seriously, and became a
Jew.
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