Judaism- An Introduction, page 36
The third tendency sometimes follows on from this. It is to regard Judaism in a negative light, as being not just centred on the Law but oppressively legalistic. The cause of this is often that Christians derive their picture of Pharisaic Judaism not from rabbinic literature but from the New Testament. One would hardly expect to obtain an accurate picture of Christianity from someone who was deliberately wanting to convert you from it, nor would Salman Rushdie be the obvious choice for someone wanting a sympathetic treatment of Islam.
What Christians call the Old Testament constitutes the source of two further difficulties. First, in an effort to stress the newness and superiority of Christian teaching, what are perceived as good and positive qualities, such as love and forgiveness, are assumed to be absent from the Jewish scriptures. Hearing a Church reading about some bloody battle or unexplained law only serves to reinforce this impression.
Second, the very ‘oldness’ of it may give credence to the conviction that this religion has been superseded. (The fact that the religion of the New Testament is almost as old is often overlooked.) It is only recently that some important Church statements have withdrawn the claim of supersessionism. Until then, many Christians spoke of what Jews used to do rather than what they still do. Not only was there a new covenant for those who chose to enter it, but the old covenant had somehow died out. Alternatively, it should have done and these benighted Jews should be enlightened.
Some Christians see it as a necessary corollary of their faith that they should witness to others. Many of them see Jews as the obvious target since, they assume, there is a common starting point, and there is good New Testament precedent for such activity. This is a logical position; indeed for many (though not for Jews) the only possible belief is that there cannot be a plurality of ways to God. This outright missionary endeavour is, I feel, less worrying than the variant on it, that is, the apparent quest for understanding of the Jewish faith, while, at some level, retaining a lingering feeling of antipathy towards it. This is not, of course, to say that no judgement should ever be passed on a belief or practice. Jews pass judgement on aspects of Christianity and of other religions. It is, rather, that assumptions are made that Judaism is the Old Testament religion with no developments since then. On the contrary, the roots of faith as found in the Hebrew Bible have been growing until now, as all the previous chapters of this volume have tried to indicate, particularly in the interpretative and evolutionary task of the rabbinic writings which are what a Jew, or at least his or her teacher, turns to for guidance about Jewish thought and practice. The Torah is not just the ‘Old Testament’ and, even if it were, one could do a lot worse.
A related danger is that Christians learn about one sort of Judaism, be it Ultra-Orthodox or Liberal, and assume that any departure in Jewish practice from what they have learned indicates a less than honourable representative of this religion. It is strange that this assumption is sometimes made by those whose own religion admits to so many possibilities of both belief and practice without necessarily impugning someone’s sincerity.
Finally, a word about anti-Judaism, anti-Semitism, and anti-Zionism which obviously threaten understanding and harmonious relationships. The most recent of these, anti-Zionism is not generally found in Christian circles. (If anything, it may be argued, some Christian Zionism is in itself dangerous, since it tends to relate uncritically the State of Israel’s land claims to the theological promises of the Bible.) Considered criticism of a specific action of, say, an Israeli politician or soldier is not anti-Zionism. A regime which cannot brook such criticism is, indeed, one to be feared. Anti-Zionism as a denial of the right of Israel to exist at all is a position some people take, but assuming that it is in itself anti-Semitism is dangerous. Moreover, the term ‘anti-Semitism’ should be used, only with great care and accuracy, for the evil which it is and not just of anything that sounds vaguely critical of an individual Jew.
In Christian terms, it is anti-Judaism which is a very real possibility, if only because of its long and insidious presence in Christian liturgy, preaching, and legislation. The medieval blood libel, for instance, resurfaces – as evidenced by pamphlets in the 1990s, put out by groups claiming Christian affiliation. That the Lateran Councils provided Hitler with some of his legislation against Jews is well known, but it has taken parts of the Christian Church until very recently to formulate statements which eliminate the sort of anti-Judaism which can feed anti-Semitism.
The visit to Israel by Pope John Paul II in 2000 was of considerable significance in this regard. It did something to improve perceptions of Christianity in the country. The reluctance of the Vatican to recognize the State of Israel until 1993, combined with the Church’s record on relations with Jews, will not easily be forgotten. Nonetheless, Israelis responded to the Pope’s gestures of personal commitment on this visit and to his expressions of solidarity with Jewish suffering. He had a very delicate line to tread, since he was also visiting Palestinians and recognizing their suffering. That the Israeli press generally reported favourably on the Pope may indicate that Jews and Christians, in and on Israel at least, can sometimes listen to each other and modify their views.
Glossary
Adar A month in early spring.
Adar sheni The extra month in a Jewish leap year.
Adonai Lord.
aggadah Narrative portions of Talmud and Midrash.
agunah Woman unable to remarry according to Jewish law because her husband has disappeared.
akedah Story of the binding (sacrifice) of Isaac.
alenu Concluding prayer of synagogue service.
aliyah Being called to read the Torah; immigration to Israel.
am People.
Amidah Important prayer (also known as Shemoneh esreh and Tefillah).
amoraim Rabbinic interpreters of the third and fourth centuries.
arba kanfot Small prayer shawl (also known as tallit katan or tzitzit).
arba minim Four species used at Festival of Tabernacles.
aron kodesh Part of synagogue containing Torah scrolls.
Ashkenazim Jews of eastern and western Europe.
Av A summer month of Jewish calendar.
avodah Temple service.
bar mitzvah Boy who has reached religious adulthood.
bat hayil Ceremony for girl of 12 years.
bat mitzvah Girl who has reached religious adulthood.
ben Son.
berakhah (plural berakhot) Blessing.
bet din (plural batei din) Rabbinical court.
bet ha-knesset Synagogue.
bet ha-tefillah Synagogue.
bet midrash Study hall.
bimah Platform from where Torah read.
brit milah Covenant of circumcision.
capel Yiddish word for skull-cap (also known as yarmulkah).
cohen Descendant of priestly family.
dayan (plural dayanim) Member of rabbinic court.
devekut Devotion.
Ellul Month in early autumn.
emunah Faith.
Eretz Yisrael Land of Israel.
eruv Boundary.
etrog Citron.
galut Exile.
gaon (plural geonim) Head of Babylonian academy.
gemara Rabbinic discussion of the Mishnah.
get (plural gittin) Divorce contract.
haftarah Synagogue reading from the Prophets.
Haggadah (plural Haggadot) Book read during the Passover meal.
Hag Ha-Matzot Festival of unleavened bread.
halakhah (plural halakhot) Jewish Law.
hallah (plural hallot) Special loaf used on Sabbaths and festivals.
Hallel Psalms 113–118.
hamesh megillot Five scrolls.
hametz Anything leavened, especially bread.
Hanukah Eight day festival.
hanukiah Hanukah menorah, nine-branched candlestick.
haroset Mixture of apples, wine, cinnamon, nuts eaten during the Passover meal.
hasid (plural hasidim) Member of a spiritual revival originating in the eighteenth century.
Haskalah Jewish Enlightenment movement.
Havdalah Ceremony at end of Sabbath and other festivals.
hazan (plural hazanim) Cantor.
heder (plural hadarim) Religion school.
heikhal Sefardi name for where the Torah scrolls are kept in the synagogue.
hekhser Kosher label.
hevra kaddishah Burial society.
hoshanah rabbah Prayer for salvation on the seventh day of festival of Tabernacles.
hukim Laws for which no reason is given.
humash First five books of the Bible in printed form.
hupah Wedding canopy.
kabbalah Jewish mystical tradition.
Kaddish Prayer said by mourner.
karmelit Neutral area, neither private nor completely public.
kasher (often kosher) Permitted food.
kashrut Food laws.
kavanah Intention in prayer.
kedoshim Martyrs.
kehillah Congregation, community.
ketubah (plural ketubot) Marriage contract.
ketuvim Writings, third section of Hebrew Bible.
kiddush Blessing recited over wine.
kiddush ha-shem Jewish martyrdom.
kiddushin Marriage.
kippah Skull cap in modern Israeli usage.
Kislev Third month of Jewish calendar.
kittel Plain white garment worn by men on Day of Atonement.
kol nidrei Prayer on eve of Day of Atonement.
lag b’omer Thirty-third day of Counting the Omer (between Passover and Weeks).
lulav Palm branch.
maariv Evening service.
mahzor Festival prayer book.
magen david Six-pointed star.
mamzer Child of an illegitimate relationship.
mappah Comments on the Shulhan Arukh code.
Mashiah Messiah.
masorah Tradition.
masorti Traditional Jewish movement which accepts the findings of modern biblical scholarship.
matzah (plural matzot) Unleavened bread.
mazel tov Congratulations.
Megillah Scroll, biblical book of Esther.
mekhilta Rabbinic commentary on the book of Exodus.
melakhah Work forbidden on the Sabbath.
menorah Seven-branched candlestick or nine-branched version used at Hanukah.
mezuzah Parchment scroll fixed to doorpost.
midrash (plural midrashim) Rabbinic interpretation of Scripture.
midrash rabbah Midrash on books of the Pentateuch.
mikveh (plural mikvaot) Immersion pool.
minhag Custom.
minhah Afternoon service.
minyan Number required for saying certain prayers.
mishkan Sanctuary, Tabernacle.
Mishnah The Oral Law.
Mishneh Torah Law Code of Maimonides.
mishpatim Laws for which reason is clear.
mitnagdim Opponents of Hasidic movement.
mitzvah (plural mitzvot) Obligation, commandment.
mohel One who performs circumcision.
musaf The additional service.
musar Nineteenth-century ethical movement.
neilah Concluding service on Day of Atonement.
ner tamid Light kept burning in synagogue.
neviim Prophetic books of Hebrew Bible.
niddah Woman who is menstruating.
Nisan First month of Jewish calendar.
olam ha-ba The afterlife.
oleh (plural olim) Immigrant.
omer Measurement of barley.
oneg shabbat Sabbath joy.
parashah (plural parashiyot) Weekly portion of Torah.
parev (or parve) Food neither milk nor meat.
Pesah Passover.
Pidyon Ha-Ben Ceremony for first born son.
piyyut (plural piyyutim) Liturgical poem.
Purim Festival of Esther.
Rabbi (Hasidic Rebbe) Spiritual leader of Jewish community.
rimmonim Silver ornaments on Torah scroll.
Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year.
rosh hodesh New Moon.
sandek Person holding the baby at circumcision.
seder Passover meal.
Sefardim Jews of Spanish origin.
Sefer Torah Torah scroll.
selihot Prayers for forgiveness.
Shabbat Sabbath.
shabbat shalom A Sabbath greeting.
shaharit Morning service.
shalom Hello; goodbye; peace.
shamash Candle for lighting Hanukah lights.
Shavuot Festival of Weeks or Pentecost.
sheheheyanu Celebratory blessing said on many happy occasions.
shehitah Jewish method of slaughtering animals.
sheloshim 30-day period after funeral.
Shema Jewish prayer declaring oneness of God.
shemini atzeret Concluding festival of Tabernacles.
Shevat A winter month of Jewish calendar.
shiur Religion class.
shiva Seven-day period after funeral.
shoah Holocaust.
shofar Ram’s horn.
shohet Ritual slaughterer of animals.
shul Yiddish word for synagogue.
Shulhan Arukh Law Code by Joseph Caro.
siddur Prayer book.
sidra (plural sidrot) Torah portion read in synagogue.
Simhat Torah Rejoicing of the Law.
smikhah Rabbinic ordination.
sofer Scribe.
sukkah Hut, tabernacle.
sukkot Festival of Tabernacles.
tallit Prayer shawl.
tallit katan (or tzitzit) Small tallit.
Talmud Mishnah and Gemara combined.
Talmud Torah Study of Torah.
tammuz A summer month.
tanna (plural tannaim) Rabbinic interpreter of first/second century CE.
targum Aramaic translation of the Bible.
tashlikh Prayer said at New Year.
tefillah Prayer.
tefillin Leather boxes and straps worn by Jewish men at morning prayer.
Tenakh Hebrew Bible.
teshuvah Repentance.
Tevet A winter month of Jewish calendar.
tevilah Ritual immersion.
Tishah B’Av Ninth of Av.
Tishrei An autumn month of Jewish calendar (often counted as first month, but sometimes as seventh).
Torah First section of Hebrew Bible, Pentateuch; Jewish Law.
tosafot Mediaeval commentaries on Talmud.
tosefta Collection of rabbinic teachings from mishnaic times.
trefah Forbidden food.
Tu B’Shevat Fifteenth Shevat, New Year for trees.
tzitzit Tassels at each corner of tallit.
yad Pointer for Torah scroll.
yahrzeit Anniversary of a death.
yamim noraim Days of Awe.
yarmulkah Skull cap.
Yehudi Jew.
yeshivah (plural yeshivot) Religious study centre.
Taking it further
Further reading
Cohn-Sherbok, D. (ed.) Holocaust Theology: A Reader (University of Exeter Press, 2002)
An extensive survey of responses designed to stimulate discussion and debate.
Jacobs, L. The Jewish Religion: A Companion (Oxford University Press, 1995)
A very clear and concise introduction.
Gilbert, M. The Routledge Atlas of Jewish History, 7th edition (Routledge, 2006).
A vivid picture of over 4,000 years of history in 140 maps.
Glinert, L. The Joys of Hebrew (Oxford University Press, 1994)
A lively dictionary of Hebrew words, with varied extracts illustrating how they are used. Also includes helpful pronunciation guidance.
Goldberg, D.J. and Rayner, J.D. The Jewish People: their History and their Religion (Penguin, 1995)
A succinct survey of Jewish history and literature and a thematic analysis of teachings and practices.
Leaman, O. Jewish Thought: An Introduction (Routledge, 2006)
A fresh approach to the Jewish faith, its philosophies and world views.
Mendes-Flohr, P. and Reinharz, J. (eds.) The Jew in the Modern World: A Documentary History (Oxford University Press, 1995)
An outstanding anthology of primary sources in English, covering religious and cultural developments.
Neuberger, J. On Being Jewish (Mandarin, 1996)
A personal exploration of Jewish life and attitudes.
Neusner J. Judaism in Modern Times: an Introduction and a Reader (Blackwell, 1995)
A well-referenced presentation of concepts and expressions in modern Judaism.
Sacks, J. The Dignity of Difference (Continuum, 2002)
Clear and readable arguments, from an Orthodox Jewish perspective, on the potential role of religion today.
Sacks, J. To Heal a Fractured World (Random House, 2007)
Accessible interpretations of Jewish sources and other philosophers and ethicists.
Smith, C.D. Palestine and the Arab–Israeli Conflict, 6th revised edition (Palgrave Macmillan, 2007)
A balanced examination, employing both Israeli and Arab sources.
Trepp, L. Judaism: Development and Life, 4th edition (Wadsworth, 2000)
A wide-ranging consideration of Jewish belief and practice in its historical setting.
Websites
For further study or reference:
www.myjewishlearning.com
www.jewishencyclopedia.com
For Holocaust:
www.yadvashem.org
For British Jews:
www.jpr.org.uk
www.thejc.com
www.totallyjewish.com
For Anglo-Jewish organizations and places of interest:
www.bevismarks.org.uk
www.ljs.org
www.boardofdeputies.org.uk
www.jewishmuseum.org.uk
www.manchesterjewishmuseum.com
www.ljcc.com
www.reformjudaism.org.uk
www.ccj.org.uk
www.limmud.org
For Christian–Jewish and interfaith relations:
www.jcrelations.net
www.bc.edu/cjlearning
www.childrenofabraham.org
www.elijah.org.il
For religious art:
www.jewishmuseum.net
