Response 1 Momina Nafees
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Concordia University *
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JUDAISM220
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Religion
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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Uploaded by ConstableSnowCoyote23
Momina Nafees
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Friday, September 8, 2023
Response 1
For this critical reflection, I have read the first five chapters of "
The Book of Jewish
Belief
” written by Louis Jacobs. In this extensive text, the author lays the foundation of Judaism
to help readers understand its main concepts and pillars of faith. Jacobs highlights three central
entities that encompass Judaism: “The Unique and All-Powerful God”, the sacred book of the
Jews, the Torah, and the Israelites (Jacobs, 1984, p.1).
It is crucial to distinguish Judaism as a monotheistic religion, as it worships a single God
rather than multiple deities. Jacobs describes God as the "Supreme Being, the Creator of all
things," deserving of worship (Jacobs, 1984, p.1). The Jewish faith embodies ethical
monotheism, where belief in One All-Knowing God and the practice of righteous acts are
essential to lead a Jewish lifestyle.
While this approach may seem idealistic, the coexistence of good and evil, often leads
people, religious or not, to question the presence of God. This existence of pain and suffering
alongside happiness explains the concept of free will inherent in all humans. The battle against
evil is inherent to developing “character” (Jacobs, 1984, p.11).
The second foundation of Judaism is the Torah, a sacred scripture. It was revealed to
Moses on Mount Sinai by God. The Torah, also referred to as the Pentateuch, comprises
numerous teachings for moral guidance and is considered the Written word of God, while the
Talmud constitutes the Oral Torah (Jacobs, 1984, p.19).
The Talmud, a book that has developed over time, serves to address new and complex
situations within the Jewish community, resulting in the creation of new laws that supplement the
Oral Torah. It is considered a great honor to study and rewrite the Torah as it requires meticulous
penmanship in Hebrew and Aramaic. Within the Jewish tradition, the study of the Torah is
regarded as even more important than prayer itself (Jacobs, 1984, p.24).
Another essential aspect of the Torah is the mitzvot, or the commandments. Jewish people
view religion as something spontaneous, and the “do's and don'ts” outlined in the Mitzvot are
seen more as suggestions for the right direction rather than strict commands.
Positive commandments, known as
Mitzvot Aseh,
encompass acts such as giving to
charity, observing festivals, promptly paying workers, loving one's neighbors, and affixing a
mezuzah to the doorposts of houses. Negative commandments, or
Mitzvot
lo ta’aseh
, include
refraining from actions like stealing, bearing false witness, consuming pork, or speaking ill of
others (Jacobs, 1984, p.29-30).
I hold a particular fascination for the Laws of Maimonides. According to Jacobs, these
Principles of Faith
were established in the twelfth century and consist of thirteen clear statements
that encapsulate the entirety of the Torah.
For this reflection, we will focus on the ninth Principle of Faith which asserts that the
"Torah is eternal," and God will never "change the Torah," placing it above any other book
(Jacobs, 1984, p.5).
Maimonides argues that since both Islam and Christianity believe in the Divine origin of the
Torah, these religions cannot supersede Judaism since the Torah was revealed before the Bible or
the Qur’an. To suggest otherwise, he argues, would imply a form of divine indecision, which is
inherently a human trait, not a divine one.
This claim is intriguing since one can consider whether these influential and inspiring
monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—might share a common source.
An example of the many parallels between the three faiths, is the story of Abraham and
his son Isaac. In
Bereshit
(Genesis), 22:7-13, Abraham received a Divine command to offer his
son Isaac as a sacrifice. Abraham did as he was instructed and due to his unwavering faith, God
replaced Abraham’s son with a ram.
This story bears striking similarities with that of the
Quran
, Chapter 37: 58-66, and
The
Epistles of James
2:21. This suggests that these three religions may have originally preached the
same message, but over time and due to the challenges of preserving their Holy Scriptures, the
message may have become distorted or disappeared altogether.
Another fascinating aspect of "
The Book of Jewish Belief"
is the emphasis on Torah study.
The study of the Torah is an obligation for all Jews, regardless of age, reflecting the belief that
"more important than the practice of Torah is the study of Torah” (Jacobs, 1984, p.24).
This commitment to learning has even influenced secular education systems. As a child
growing up in Canada, I encountered moments where, despite not being Jewish, I became
familiar with many Jewish symbols and the meaning of certain Jewish holidays and traditions. In
primary school, Hanukkah was as prominent as Christmas, and before winter break, we sang not
only Christmas carols but also Jewish songs like "
Hanukkah Fun
".
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Bibliography
Christianity.com. (2022, October 21). Who Were Abraham's Sons: Ishmael and Isaac.
Retrieved from
https://www.christianity.com/wiki/people/who-were-abrahams-son-ishmael-and-
isaac.html#google_vignette
Jacobs, Louis. 1984. The Book of Jewish Belief. Springfield. N.J.: Berman House.
The Complete Jewish Bible. Genesis 22;7-13. Retrieved from
https://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8217
The Quran. Surah Al-Saffat, Verses 99-113. (Islamic Foundation UK, Trans.). Retrieved
from
https://islamicstudies.info/towards.php?sura=37&verse=99-113