Significant People and Schools of Thought (HSC SSCE Studies of Religion): Revision Notes

Significant People and Schools of Thought

Introduction

When studying Judaism's depth study, you need to understand how significant individuals and movements have shaped the religion. This topic requires you to explain how these people or schools of thought contributed to Judaism's growth and assess their lasting impact. You should be prepared to discuss both their contributions and any controversies surrounding them.

The syllabus allows flexibility to study various significant figures or movements, but you must analyse their contribution to and impact on Judaism, not just describe their lives or ideas.

Moses Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon) or Rambam

Moses Maimonides (1135-1204 CE) stands as one of Judaism's most influential thinkers. His nickname 'Rambam' comes from his Hebrew name, and he is often called 'the second Moses' because his influence on Jewish life rivals that of the biblical Moses himself.

Early life and education

Born in Cordoba, Spain in 1135 CE, Moses received his education from his father Maimon, a respected scholar who ensured his son learned from various Arabic masters. Moses became a well-rounded scholar, studying astronomy, law, religion and philosophy.

When Moses turned 13, his family faced persecution from the Muslim Almohades who had invaded from Africa and were promoting strict Islamic practices in Spain. This forced the family into a nomadic existence across Spain. In 1160, they moved to Fez in northern Africa, initially attempting to pass as Muslims to avoid persecution.

Career in Egypt

In Fez, Moses quickly gained recognition as a notable scholar, having already begun his commentary on the Mishnah. However, after being identified as Jewish and facing potential execution, Maimonides moved his family to Egypt in 1165.

In Egypt, Moses initially helped his brother trade gems for income. After his brother's untimely death, Maimonides studied medicine and rose to become private physician to Grand Vizier Al Qadi al Fadil and later to Saladin, the famous warrior against European crusaders. His medical expertise earned him recognition throughout the Jewish community, and he became the nagid (leader) of Egyptian Jews, a position his family held for four generations. In this role, he served as spokesman for the Jewish community with Muslim authorities.

Intellectual influences and philosophy

Maimonides became acknowledged as a great intellectual, producing works ranging from medical texts on personal hygiene and proper eating habits to major theological works. He drew influences from Christian, Greek and Muslim philosophers alongside his Jewish background.

He supported Aristotle's view that whilst there are limitations to knowing God's attributes directly, God's people have a duty to comprehend the divine mind through reason. Maimonides argued that God is rational and therefore can be understood rationally. This philosophical position challenged the view that faith and philosophy are in conflict.

Major works and their significance

Between 1158 and 1190, Moses Maimonides wrote numerous influential works that would reshape Jewish thought and practice for centuries to come.

Book of Commandments (1190s)

Maimonides compiled a systematic version of the 613 commandments (mitzvot) of Judaism, making these requirements more accessible to the Jewish community.

Commentary on the Mishnah (1180)

This work provided detailed analysis and codification of the Oral Law, helping Jewish people better understand their legal traditions.

The Thirteen Precepts

One of Maimonides' most important contributions was formulating the Thirteen Precepts, which function like a creed for Orthodox Jewish belief.

Death and legacy

Maimonides died in 1204 and was buried at Tiberias in Israel, where his grave still receives many visitors today. His influence on Judaism remains immeasurable.

Impact on Judaism

Moses Maimonides' Jewish writings remain available and influential today. His Mishneh Torah provided the basis for all subsequent codes of Jewish law. His philosophical works have been published in many languages, and his medical texts on topics like poisons, haemorrhoids, asthma and temperaments are still studied.

Maimonides' writing was so influential that for centuries after his death, Jewish scholarship divided into supporters and opponents of his ideas. Many largely accepted his concepts but remained cautious where they seemed to contradict religious tradition.

Christian scholars also utilised his work. Thomas Aquinas frequently referred to 'Rabbi Moses' in his writings. Maimonides uniquely bridged the ideas of the Graeco-Roman world, the Muslim and Arab world, and the Jewish and Western world.

Hassidism

Hassidism (also spelled Chassidism) represents a major movement that transformed Judaism in the eighteenth century and continues to influence it today. The name comes from the Hebrew word for 'pious ones', referring to the movement's followers, the Hassidim.

Historical context and origins

In eighteenth-century Judaism, scholarship was greatly valued, but Judaism had become, according to some critics, overly bound by law, tradition and intellectual debates. In Eastern Europe, poverty, long working hours and isolation meant ordinary Jewish people had little opportunity to study the Torah. Scholarship had become elitist, and Jewish people in these areas felt alienated from their own religion. This created fertile ground for a movement emphasising personal piety over scholarship.

The Ba'al Shem Tov and early development

Hassidism began with Israel Ben Eliezar (born around 1700 CE in Okup, Ukraine), usually called the Ba'al Shem Tov (Master of the Good Name). He was a prominent teacher and healer who taught and practised around 1730-60 CE. Greatly influenced by Kabbalah (the Jewish mystical tradition), he developed his own approach to Judaism that was more experiential and less intellectual.

The Ba'al Shem Tov was a charismatic storyteller and healer, though it is difficult to distinguish reality from legend in accounts of his life. Some sources suggest he could predict the future. He emphasised several revolutionary ideas:

• All Jewish people are equal before God
• Study of the Torah is less important than purity of heart
• Prayer and obedience to the commandments matter more than religious study
• Living a full life, including drinking, singing and dancing, brings people closer to God

These teachings empowered the poor and illiterate to discover a form of Judaism relevant to their lives. His sayings were initially spread orally and later written down.

Core beliefs and emphases

The Ba'al Shem Tov and Hassidic tradition emphasised key principles that challenged traditional Judaism's scholarly focus:

• Hassidism represents ancient ideas given new life, not a completely new movement
• Being truly good matters more than scholarship
• Joyfulness should be found in everyday life
• An individual's personal relationship with God is more important than strict observance of law
• Prayer holds greater importance than Torah study
• Natural giftedness matters more than acquired scholarship

At times, Hassidism emphasised ecstasy in worship as a reaction against the formalism of traditional Judaism. Hassidic worship was (and can still be) very loud and emotional, contrasting sharply with more reserved traditional services.

Leadership and growth

After the Ba'al Shem Tov died around 1760, leadership dispersed among many zaddikim (also spelled tzaddikim or tsaddikim), meaning 'righteous men'. These were charismatic leaders rather than scholarly ones, believed to have achieved mystical union with God. Followers saw them as mediators between God and the community, expecting them to use their power for communal good. They became the focus of intense devotion.

Hassidism grew until several million followers existed in Eastern Europe by the 1930s, becoming the majority among Eastern European Jews. The leaders of various Hassidic groups are called rebbe, from the Yiddish word for 'master' or 'teacher'.

Impact of the Holocaust and modern revival

During the Holocaust (Shoah), millions of Hassidim were killed. However, surviving members moved to countries like Israel, the USA and Australia, where they rebuilt their communities. Today they form a distinct and recognisable element of the Jewish community.

The Hassidim are very family-oriented, making them one of the fastest-growing sectors of the Jewish world.

Major Hassidic movements today

Multiple sects of Hassidism exist, each with its own line of rebbes and distinctive clothing. One of the most prominent is the Lubavitch or Chabad movement, centred in Brooklyn, USA. This movement conducts extensive outreach using sophisticated technology, including websites and phone apps for prayer times and scripture downloads. The Chabad movement seeks to return non-practising Jewish people to Judaism's obligations through dedicated outreach programmes.

A recent rebbe, Menachem M. Schneerson, helped the movement grow significantly through his organisational zeal. His philosophy placed new emphasis on Messianism - the expectation of a divinely anointed leader. Some followers considered him the Messiah and await his return from death following his 1994 passing.

Contribution to Judaism's development

Initially, traditional Judaism reacted negatively to Hassidism. However, Judaism eventually recognised that Hassidism brought renewed emphasis to important expressions of faith:

• Respect for the simple Jewish person
• Spirituality beyond legalism
• Ethics and compassion for others
• The belief that true religion equals joy

Hassidism spread to Western Europe and then to the USA in the 1880s. Many Hassidic scholars stayed in Russia after the 1917 Soviet revolution, intending to preserve Judaism under communist rule.

The Hassidic movement has been very influential in modern Judaism. It can be described as 'mysticism for the masses' and is the most 'missionary-minded' movement in Judaism, actively reaching out to other Jewish people.

Key practices and distinctive features

Hassidic Judaism emphasises several aspects of Jewish teaching that distinguish it from other forms of Judaism:

• Physical and spiritual revival, helping Jewish people rediscover their faith
• Personal piety beyond the letter of the law
• Character refinement, developing maturity, good habits and manners
• Experiential and practical Judaism, making both legalism and mysticism understandable

Hassidic Judaism also emphasises particular rituals, customs and practices:

Impact on modern Judaism

Many aspects of Hassidism are now prevalent in Orthodox Judaism today. Hassidism is one of the fastest-growing groups in Judaism, and its distinctive dress and practices have had significant impact on modern Judaism.

Hassidism brought new life to Jewish religious tradition during the past 200 years. Its emphasis on personal piety was initially a radical influence but has now, in many ways, become a conserving force in modern Judaism rather than the revolutionary movement it was at its beginning.

Other significant people and schools of thought

The syllabus allows study of various other significant figures and movements in Judaism. These include:

Historical figures

Deborah (circa eleventh century BCE) - A judge and prophetess of Israel who assumed leadership when Barak refused to fight the Philistines. She provides a legendary model for female leadership in Judaism.

Isaiah (eighth century BCE) - An influential prophet during the last days of the Kingdom of Judah who warned of Assyrian destruction and called people back to the Covenant.

Hillel and Shamai (110 BCE-10 CE) - Hillel was an important and moderate Jewish scholar who helped develop the Mishnah and Talmud. Modern Rabbinic Judaism has been influenced by his teachings. Shamai was his contemporary who interpreted the law more rigorously.

Beruriah (second century CE) - A respected female scholar who emphasised the importance of context in interpreting texts. She is the only female legal authority mentioned in the Talmud.

Medieval and early modern figures

Rabbi Solomon Isaac (Rashi) (1040-1105 CE) - A French scholar who wrote the most authoritative and widely used commentaries on the Talmud, Torah and Tanakh. He is associated with the 'Rashi Script', a style of written Hebrew.

Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786 CE) - A German Jewish philosopher who influenced the Jewish Enlightenment. Often called 'the third Moses'.

Modern figures

Abraham Geiger (1810-1874 CE) - A German Jewish scholar and rabbi who developed the ideas that became Reform (Progressive) Judaism.

Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hacohen Kook (Rav Kook) (1865-1935 CE) - A Jewish thinker and statesman associated with the British Mandate for Palestine. He was a Talmud scholar, sociologist and avid Zionist who sought reconciliation between religious and secular Jewish people.

Schools of thought

Kabbalah - A mystical form of Judaism with esoteric beliefs and practices. It has experienced a popular revival in recent years, attracting interest from pop culture figures.

Zionism - The national liberation movement of the Jewish people, based on yearning to return to the biblical homeland. Nineteenth-century Zionism, associated with Theodor Herzl, resulted in re-establishing a Jewish state in Israel in 1948.

Jewish feminism - Emphasises women's rights in Judaism and challenges patriarchal attitudes. It highlights the feminine aspects of God and the role of women in the Tanakh.