Social and Historical Developments - Shaping Jewish Identity Flashcards
What are the three types of Jews?
- Sephardic
- Ashkenazi
- Mizrachim
What are Sephardic Jews?
- Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal) and Northern Africa
- typically under Islamic rule
- there was less segregation and oppression
- influenced by Arabic and greek philosophy and science
What are Ashkenazi Jews?
- Northern Europe (France Germany) and Eastern Europe
- emigrated in the mid 1800s
- language is Yiddish
- in Christian lands, tended to be isolated
- most African Jews are Ashkenazi
What was the life like pre-Diaspora?
- covenants (Mosaic, Abrahamic)
- promised land is in both covenants
- revealed Torah
What are some key events leading to the Diaspora?
- Herod help build the Jerusalem Temple
- Titus invaded Jerusalem
- destruction of 2ND Temple
Who was Johanan ben Zakkai?
Faked his own death avoid persecution, founded an academy and an all authoritative body
Had a vision Vespasian would be Emperor
He had decisive influence over the continuation and development of Judaism’s traditions
When was the destruction of the temple?
70 CE
What changes were made after the destruction of the temple?
- Seder at Passover moved to the synagogue
- Rabbinic Ordination – use of Mishnah
- stopped sacrifices
- Rosh Hashana - Solar was now to be sounded
What is Jewish Secularism?
The separation of religious authority from the private lives of members of the Jewish community
What is Secular Jewishness?
Having the essence of what it means to be Jewish without God as a part of the explanation
What did Mordecai Kaplan say?
Most Jews do not identify their Jewishness with any positive religious convictions
Introduced ‘Bat Mitzvah’ om 1922
What did Sherwin Wine say?
“If I were CEO and ran a company like God runs the universe I’d be fired”
What was Sherwin WIne’s view on Jewish Identity?
Worked to develop Secular Humanistic Judaism
Emphasise celebrating Jewish History, culture and ethics
‘Ignostic’ - it’s not possible to prove or disprove God, so it is meaningless
What is the analogy of the family?
You’re adopted into. family and everyone believes in a different philosophy, but it is still family
What is notion of ‘The Jewish Underground’?
- challenges Jewish belief
- roots, consist of millions of Jews who expressed a rebellion but were silenced and unpublished
- there has always been people who were secular
What does Sivan Mass say?
Most Israelites live a secular life, do not depend on a higher power to make decisions
Who is Sivan Mass?
Chair of ‘Secular Judaism’
First Israeli to be ordained as a secular humanist Rabbi in 2003
Views the role of a rabbi is to teach and educated Jewish culture
What is the UK law concerning Judaism?
It offers aid to Jews who wish to adhere to their beliefs without suffering discrimination
What is an employer’s guide to Judaism?
Practicing Jews work in all areas of jobs, they are able to operate in a work environment whilst observing Judaism fully
How many Jewish people are there in the UK?
2021 census - 270,000
What is the significance of ‘Tikkun Olam’?
Meaning to repair and improve the world, it is the collective mission of the Jewish people
Who is Richard G. Hirsch?
- beliefs that Jewish history has a beginning and an end
- God left the world perfect
- we need to repair Jewish people first, then the world
What is Judaism in the 21st Century?
Enemies no longer demand distinction, friends no longer demand assimilation
What does Simon R. Hirsch believe?
- defended Orthodox Judiais following the development of reform
- secular Judaism in abandoning Jewish duty
- the purpose of life is not personal happiness, but to strive to serve God through Mitzvots
- Jews were exiled, must fulfil their mission by remaining loyal to God
What does Rabbi Jonathan Sacks believe?
- advocated for Tikkun Olam - a part of the Jewish mission
- The concept of suffering allows Jews a unique understanding of the world
- understanding the problems in the world leads to helping the world
What did Charles Darwin propose?
‘On the origin of species’ 1959 - the mechanism for evolution being natural selection
How does evolution challenge intelligent design?
If species evolved unaided, then the idea of a designer is not needed
What was Maimonides view on science?
He never doubted the creation of the universe - dependent on God and he suggested three ways how (1) (2) (3)
What is (1)?
Moses - God created the world from ex-nihilo in a free, spontaneous act
What is (2)?
Plato - the world was created from pre existing matter
What is (3)?
Aristotle - existence is emanation, it has always existed and always will
Who was Raphael Meldola?
He developed research in mimicry in butterflies, which presented evidence of natural selection
What is Rashi’s stance on science?
Viewed the world as ‘de-novo’ which is a creation from pre-existing matter
It is an unformed void waiting for God to breath life into it
