REL 2029 Chapter : Rel 2029 MODERN JUD
Rel 2029: Modern History of Judaism
Anti-Semitism: Theological: the Jews are bad people because they did not accept Christ and killed
Christ; blood libels: The Jews killed this Christian person for their blood for their Passover;
economic: runs on idea that Jews only want money, that they’ll do anything for money,
and Jews have the Christians’ money unjustly, so we should take it back from them;
racial: Jews are a race, and that race is bad, a poison to society, should not intermarry
with Jews;
political: conspiracy theories- if you try to prove it or disprove it, you are choosing a
side. Jews say they are not trying to rule the world, but they are just trying to cover up
by saying they are not;
philosophical- intangible?
Israel- reasons for immigration to Palestine:
1. Hibat Zion: ideological movement, secular Jews go to Palestine to live in their
homeland; agricultural movement saves them because a wealthy Jew buys land for them so they
can farm… or something like that.
2. Political Zionism: Jews need to find a homeland because Anti-Semitism will stop once
they have their own country. Herzl, first Zionist congress 1897
3. Religious Zionism: God gave them the land of Caanan, want to return to it. Minority
bc most believe the messiah will take them back. Rabbi Kook
4. Socialist Zionism-
5. Liberal assimilationist due to anti-semitism
Balfour declaration- the document that said that GB was willing to give the Jews the land of Palestine
Aliyah- Hebrew term that refers to immigration, actually means “to go up” because Zion is higher
elevation; 5 aliyot: from 1881 to 1945
Moshav: ; Kibbutz:
Hebrew as the official language, not Yiddish.
Yishuv-
Right of return- all Jews have the right to return to Zion; who is Jewish? Anyone who was defined as a
Jew by the Nazi regime was invited, Muslims began leaving Palestine out of fear of cleansing of islam
from a Jewish nation.
Expulsion of Jews from muslim countries, and they are all being kicked out.
Problems: 1. Secular- division of church and state?
2. Conversion and family law; family law is birth, marriage, and death. Rabbinic Judaism
tells you that you may not be Jewish by their standards, who you can marry, where you are buried,
Marriage in Judaism is basically a business contract; there is no sacrament in it.
unless both parties fulfill their contractual obligations, then the agreement is off.
Document Summary
Anti-semitism: theological: the jews are bad people because they did not accept christ and killed. Herzl, first zionist congress 1897: religious zionism: god gave them the land of caanan, want to return to it. Minority bc most believe the messiah will take them back. Rabbi kook: socialist zionism, liberal assimilationist due to anti-semitism. Balfour declaration- the document that said that gb was willing to give the jews the land of palestine. Aliyah- hebrew term that refers to immigration, actually means to go up because zion is higher elevation; 5 aliyot: from 1881 to 1945. Jew by the nazi regime was invited, muslims began leaving palestine out of fear of cleansing of islam from a jewish nation. Expulsion of jews from muslim countries, and they are all being kicked out. Problems: secular- division of church and state, conversion and family law; family law is birth, marriage, and death.
