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Judaism

Medieval Judaism
(7th -18th cent.)

Period of the great Rabbis and development of Talmud is ended but study of both Torah and Talmud continue. Rabbis continue to serve as guides for applying the law in various situations.

Medieval Spain: 11th - 15th cent. - site of both great Medieval Jewish philosophy and mysticism:

• Maimonides (12th cent): outlined 13 basic tenants of Judaism:

1. God is creator

2. God is one (monotheism)

3. God is spiritual (non-physical)

4. God is eternal

5. Pray only to the one God (monolatry)

6. belief in revelation/prophecy

7. Moses as the most important prophet

8. the Torah is as it was given to Moses

9. importance of God’s commandments (Law) as found in Torah - a Law that is for all time

10. God is omniscient (all knowing) of the hearts and minds of all people

11. God rewards those who follow God's Law and punishes those who transgress the Law

12. The will come a Messiah

13. There will be a resurrection of the dead 

This is not dogma, and these tenants did not originate with Maimonides - he simply summed up what Judaism stood for.

• Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism):

• Mystical text is Zohar appeared 13th cent Spain (supposedly an ancient, till then hidden, teaching dating back to early Rabinnic times), offers a mystical and symbolic interpretation of Torah

• Kabbalistic practice stresses inner contemplation in a mystical search for perfect union with God

• Kabbalistic metaphysics: The Sefirot (essay):

• ten aspects of the divine emanate from the most "hidden of hidden" (the Godhead Ein Sof)

• Lowest emanation, Shekhinah, represents God’s immanent presence amongst the "Community of Israel"

• There is a mystical/symbolic macrocosmic-microcosmic parallel between Israel’s relationship with God and the relationships between the aspects of God within the Sefirot

Visit Judaism 101 to find out more about Jewish mysticism

European Ghettos and Shtetls:

• Jews faced increasing persecution and were finally expelled from Spain in 1492, took refuge in Eastern European countries.

• Under Christian dominated European culture Jews were segregated into Jewish quarters in cities (Ghettos) or all Jewish villages in the countryside (Shtetls)

• In Eastern Europe a new movement began: Hasidism (piety)

• Founded in 18th cent. by Israel Baal Shem Tov ("Master of the Good Name")

• Emphasis was on purity and devotion to Torah but with joyousness and close ties to mystical teachings or Kabbalah

• A Tzaddik, as a "Righteous man" for Hasidism, is one who achieves union with the divine and can thus guide others toward such union in their own lives. They are seen almost as living saints. In Hasidism, they are called "Rebbe" and serve both as Rabbi as well as spiritual leader of the community, guiding their followers in all life decisions. (for a look into the life of Hasidic Judaism, check out some of Chiam Potak's novels e.g., The Chosen [also available as a movie which you should be able to rent at most video outlets])

• Hasidism continues to this day, especially in Brooklyn, NY where they function in modern society but maintain an old world style of dress, social attitudes and ultra orthodox religiosity, yet with a deep sense of spirituality often lacking in more mainstream Judaism.