JUDAISM Flashcards
SEXUAL ETHICS
ethics provides a foundation of guidelines for Jewish adherents, ensuring a safe and protected kehilla (community), brought closer to God. It is through these guidelines individuals are informed on contemporary issues.
sexual ethics - principal beliefs
contraception = belief in covenant
homosexuality = one god
extramarital sex = divinely inspired moral law
sources of ethical teachings
- torah (teachings), neviim (prophets), ketuviim (writings)
- talmud (oral torah); mishnah and gemara
- halakah (jewish law)
- response (source of law)
extramarital - divine inspired moral law
- “he who lives without a wife lives without joy or blessing” (yeh 63b)
- “become one flesh” (gen 2)
- “do not commit adultery” (ex 20)
Orthodox/progressive: must refrain from extramarital sex as it breaks the commandments and the truth of covenant - taking away kiddushin
- “no israelite shall be a kadesha”
contraception - covenant
- “be fruitful and increase in number” (gen 2)
- “made into a great nation” (gen 12)
- “wasting the seed”
orthodox totally condemn, seen as “wicked in the lord’s sight” unless for proper reasons such as for “moch is able to be used for a pregnant woman, child, nursing woman”
progressive; allow use of contraception
- “birth control is preferable to abortion” (rabbi berkowitz)
- “women are aware of the financial stresses a child places”
homosexuality - one god
- “a man shall be joined to his wife and they shall become one flesh” (gen 2)
- “you shall not lie with a man as you do a woman, it is an abomination” (lev 18)
orthodox: completely oppose as it doesn’t allow for the completion of the mitzvot of procreation, however does allow for some same sex rabbi
progressive: homosexual rabbi, same sex marriage
- “gays should be able to serve in any communal capacity” (rabbi hillel)
- Dayenu GLBT group in sydney provide counselling and support
marriage
The Marriage practice is significant in furthering the relationship with God through commandment to populate world. Two parts; kiddushin (sanctification) – legal relationship; “consecrated to me under Law of Moses” (Gen 12); and the Niissuin (elevation) – second part of marriage, to which kallah and chatan live together.
ketubah - covenant
contract containing the rights of women, divorce requirements i.e. husband provides food/clothes
“to marry by means of ketubah” (mitzvot)
covenant: chatan and kallah reflect the covenant between God and israel
orthodox: requires formal use of ketubah
progressive: can use marriage certificate
individual significance = structure, roles and responsibilities to husband and wife
community significance = fulfills mitzvot, expanding lineage; “great nation”
ring ceremony - divinely inspired moral law
Expression of monotheistic belief, groom presents bride with ring, as a symbol of “one flesh”,
- “you are consecrated to me with this ring, according to the Law of Moses and Israel”.
- “I am beloveds and my beloved is mine” (Ketuviim)
moral law: connected to the law of moses and the requirements of adherents
individual significance = holy symbol, strengthening personal relationship with God and his covenant “create a great nation”
sheva brachot - one god
seven blessings/prayers recited at initial ceremony, by a Rabbi over wine and for seven days after – concerning wine, God, the couple and the community;
- “may your journey together be blessed with generosity and forgiveness”.
one god; blessings for the creator and focus on strengthened relationship with god
individual significance = furthers journey modelled in God’s image
community significance = involves community in celebration, continues tradition with Sheva recited during Sheva Brakhot week (community hosted meal).
heschel significance
Abraham Joshua Heschel is an extremely significant individual within Judaism, providing adherents with direction within their lives and the importance of pursuing a life focused on repairing the world and align with ethical principals in Jewish law.
heschel background
Born in Warsaw, Poland, Heschel was heavily influenced by his familial connection to Hasidism (observance of strict Orthodox principles), attempting to synthesise his Hasidic values with his modern life in America, immersing him even further in the Jewish religion, aiding in his eventual immense impact on the religious tradition. This newfound binding allowed for the contribution to the religion as a whole through his theological and philosophical beliefs, social justice and interfaith relations; ultimately allowing for his continued impact on Judaism within modern society.
heschel - theological and philosophical beliefs
inspired many in a renewal of their personal experience of religion, constructing a modern philosophy of religion based on the ancient and medieval Jewish tradition. In this way, Heschel encouraged adherents through mystical statements and teachings
- “stand in radical amazement and become intoxicated by God”
contemporary society through his major work “man is not alone” (1951) - providing each person with views on how man can approach God and better understand the divine in each person
insight into the “yearning for spirituality” and presence of social justice/tikkun Olam to provide adherents with knowledge of the mitzvot “taking leap of faith into action”
heschel - social justice
inspiring a generation of Jews to partner with God in the work of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world), through actively pursuing social justice issues, especially within the United states
- “existentialist voice for social justice” (rabbi bronstein)
teachings of the prophets as a call to social justice, prompting his involvement in the civil rights movement, marching with Martin Luther King Jr for the rights of African American people in the 1965 Selma March, where he stated “I felt my legs were praying”.
entered anti-war movement, declaring the need to do it as a religious obligation and “supreme commandment”
need for change establishment of progressive Jewish group, ‘Bend the Arc: Jewish Action”, constantly citing Heschel’s commitment to social justice, seen through the creation of a petition against the changes to immigration policy made by Donald Trump in 2017.
heschel - interfaith relations
Stemming from his involvement in social justice and desire to repair the world, Heschel contributed to the expression of Judaism, with a focus on its ability to thrive in a post-holocaust world
Christian and Catholic religions needing to understand the Jewish identity through interfaith relations
- “opening up the windows and letting in the fresh air” to the cooperation of various traditions
encyclical Nostra aetate removal of anti-sematic words and accusations of blame of the death of Jesus 3 recommendations:
- “reject/condemn those who hold jews responsible for crucifixion of christ”
- “permanent preciousness of jews and judaism”
- church led programs against prejudice statements
Rabbi Skorka and Pope Francis, co-authoring a book titled ‘On heaven and Earth’ 2010, where Heschel was labelled a spiritual guide for the book;
- “in our live dialogue, one drew from the other…Francis undoubtedly drew scripture from Heschel”
