Our Long Journey with Mystery-Judaism -Part 3

        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 2^nd 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.