Mythic Judaism

24 Pages·2011·12.11 MB·English

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Chapter Six
Mythic Judaism
Thus says YHWH, the God of that does not have a small community. Supported by miraculous powers,
Israel, to all whom I have caused Such communities have a rich cultural Moses sought to convince Pharaoh to free
to be carried away captive from heritage that they treasure, with folklore the Hebrew slaves, but only after ten
Jerusalem to Babylon. Build you and stories, literature, poetry, and magic plagues culminating in the death of every
houses, and dwell in them; plant that have been passed through the gener- Egyptian firstborn were God’s people
gardens, and eat the fruit of ations. The Jewish people are a resolute released. They wandered for forty years in
them. Take wives for yourselves, people, and they find ways to live and the desert under Moses but then, at Sinai,
and father sons and daughters; thrive despite the adversity, comforted Moses received the Ten Commandments
and take wives for your sons, that they are God’s chosen. and the Torahdirectly from God. The wan-
and give your daughters to men, derings were at an end, and Canaan, now
that they may bear sons and conquered by Joshua, became Israel at last.
daughters; and multiply you
there, and do not be diminished. Story Hook:The craftsman Bezalel
History of
Seek the well-being of the city was responsible for the construc-
to which I have exiled you, and tion of the Ark in which the
pray to YHWH on its behalf; a People stone tablets bearing the Ten
for through its well-being will Commandments, Aaron’s rod,
you know peace. and divine manna were stored.
Bezalel was reputed to have such
Jeremiah 29:4-7 Abraham became the father of the a profound understanding of the
Jewish people when he entered into a forces of creation, as represented
The Jewish people are exiles from covenant with God that he and his by Hebrew letters, that he could
their ancestral lands, living side-by-side descendents would know no other God build any device that God com-
with gentiles and non-believers. While but him and in return would receive the manded. A magus discovers ref-
they may be the first “people of the book,” land of Canaan, which eventually became erences to the works of Bezalel
worshiping the same God as both the Israel. Abraham’s grandson Jacob had and realizes that they may pro-
Christians and the Muslims, their theolo- twelve sons, the eleventh being Joseph. vide insight into any number of
gy is treated with disdain, and their lives After falling foul of a plot by his jealous mysterious Arts, not least the use
are filled with restriction and persecution. brothers, Joseph was sold into slavery in of Hebrew characters to enhance
Often excluded from trade guilds, they Egypt. He used his Divine prophecies to enchanted devices, or even the
find their means of support limited, which gain favor with the Pharaoh, and in a turn ability to gain favor when work-
has given rise to a class of Jewish money- of fate achieved great wealth and status, ing upon such enchantments
lenders, a role within society that does lit- eventually forgiving his brothers and within the Dominion. But is the
tle to protect them from greedy nobles or bringing them to Egypt. magus alone in this knowledge?
clerics bearing grudges. But the descendants of Abraham did Or are other magi looking for
While it is true that many Jewish not fare well and soon found their grow- those same secrets?
communities face persecution every day, ing numbers looked upon with suspicion
including the requirement to wear marks by the Pharaoh. Moses was born against
or badges by which they may be identi- the backdrop of genocide, as the Pharaoh
fied, individuals may still rise within ordered all newborn Hebrew children be THEFIRSTTEMPLE
society. In more tolerant Muslim lands, killed. Moses’ mother hid him and the
Jews may be advisers, ambassadors, or child was found and raised by an Egyptian The kingdom of Israel was secure first
even physicians and surgeons to the princess. He fled his life of plenty when under Saul, then David, and then finally
wealthy and powerful. And regardless of he killed an Egyptian guard in defending a Solomon, a king of great wisdom and
their location, their scholars and poets Hebrew slave and spent forty years in the magical power, who built the Temple in
have a reach far beyond the confines of desert living as a shepherd. It was then Jerusalem. But Israel was split into two,
Jewish society. that God appeared to Moses, speaking to Israel to the north and Judah to the south,
It is a society that has spread across him through a bush burning with Divine under the rule of Solomon’s son
the known world. While Jews may not be fire. God commanded Moses to return to Rehoboam. By 587 BC, both Israel and
numerous, there is hardly a city or town Egypt and to free his people. Judah, with its capital in Jerusalem, had
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Realms of Power
fallen. It was Nebuchadnezzer who took ological analysis. Over the years of sepa- the Torah, which prohibits metaphorical
Jerusalem in 587 BC and it was he who ration from the Jews of the East, the interpretations, and relies upon the sim-
destroyed the Temple and forced the Jews Ashkenazim have developed their own plest and most direct interpretation of any
into exile in Babylon. Talmudic interpretations, building their law or ruling. This means that their inter-
own legal precedents without recourse to pretation of the Torahdiffers, from impos-
the formerly-important scholars of the ing different dietary laws to the refusal of
THESECONDTEMPLE East. Ashkenazi theology is typified by all medical treatment. Despite this, the
strengthening the position of women, a Karaites do have their own literary and
In 539 BC, in what is termed “The growing folklore based on the Divine, and interpretive tradition and their scholars
Restoration”, the Jews were returned to a tendency towards asceticism. are prolific writers. Nevertheless, the
Israel by Cyrus the Great of Persia after The void left by the absence of acad- weight given to these works does not
his conquest of Babylon. In this period the emic pursuit has resulted in the develop- approach that given to the Talmud in
Temple was rebuilt, ushering in the age of ment of a distinctly Jewish mysticism in Rabbinite communities.
the Second Temple,but the Jews were not the form of the Kabbalah. Built on divine Many Rabbinite scholars have devot-
sovereign in their own land and lived principles and a search for the underlying ed many books to disparaging the Karaite
under foreign rulers, including the mechanisms that govern the universe, the tradition. Maimonides concluded that
Romans. It was a rebellion against the Kabbalah finds its strongest adherents in Karaitism is a heretical practice, while the
Romans that eventually saw the end of the Provence, but the texts are spreading fast Karaites view Rabbinite Judaism the same
Temple. In 66 AD the Jews rose up throughout Jewish society, especially into way. Relations are often antagonistic and
against the occupying legions. Their suc- northern Iberia. in Constantinople the Jewish and Karaite
cess was short-lived and four years later, quarters are separated by a gateless wall.
after a protracted siege, Jerusalem fell. The Karaite community is larger in
The age of the Second Temple ended SEPHARDIM Muslim lands, including a particularly
with its destruction. This act began the large presence in Jerusalem, where they
exile of the Jews and the Temple has While the Ashkenazim remain large- are free to practice their religion without
never been rebuilt. ly closed to Christian culture, the Rabbinite interference. It is less common
Sephardim embrace the more tolerant to find Karaites in Christian lands as they
Muslim society in which they live. Their inevitably fall foul of the rulings of their
The Thirteenth Century poetry and academic writing tends to more numerous Rabbinite neighbors.
adopt Arabic style with works often
transliterated, using Arabic characters in
With the fall of the Second Temple, place of Hebrew. They have also adopted THEBYZANTINEEMPIREANDTHEEAST
the Jews are exiled from their homeland, the secular learning so prevalent across
dispersed across Mythic Europe and the Muslim lands, becoming notable philoso- Though tolerated, Jews in the
East in what is termed the diaspora. This dis- phers, mathematicians, and doctors. Their Byzantine Empire suffer a number of
persal has given rise to two broad Jewish willingness to embrace study in the ver- restrictions. They may not build new syn-
cultures: the Ashkenazim found within nacular languages has opened the doors to agogues, nor may they read the scriptures
Christian lands, predominantly France and academic professions closed to the in Hebrew. They are also prohibited from
Germany, and the Sephardim of Muslim Ashkenazim, and many Sephardim serving in any position of government.
and Mediterranean lands. While these philosophers enjoy fame and influence But beyond these restrictions, the author-
communities are united in a common faith, beyond Sephardic and even Muslim com- ity of their courts is respected, such syna-
many cultural differences have arisen. munities. Islamic tolerance also allows gogues as exist enjoy legal protection,
Sephardim to take positions in public life, and they are free to follow any craft,
becoming notable tutors, physicians, trade, or profession.
ASHKENAZIM translators, and even ambassadors. The large Jewish community of
However, the Sephardim are experi- Constantinople suffered greatly after the
Ashkenazim is the sweeping term for encing another diaspora of their own as city’s fall in 1204. Many were either killed
that minority of Jews living across the the Almohad push into Andalusia contin- or driven from the city, their properties
majority of Mythic Europe. They are typ- ues to displace Jewish communities, send- burned or stolen. The population is much
ified by a reluctance to adopt the trap- ing them north to Christian Iberia and smaller in 1220 and, given the restrictions
pings of the Christian culture they live Provence, and south to North Africa, on rebuilding their synagogues, most
within, and Jew and Christian view each Egypt, and Sicily. must worship within their homes.
other with mutual suspicion and con- The city of Baghdad is home to the
tempt. This engenders a degree of social Exilarch, the notional head of all diaspora
isolation, with the Ashkenazim looking THEKARAITES Jews. While the position continues to
inward and developing their own culture hold spiritual authority over Jewish com-
rather than adopting that of their neigh- Separate from both the Sephardim munities across Europe and the East, its
bors. This separation contributes to the and Ashkenazim, the Karaites, meaning actual political influence is limited. In
ongoing persecution of the Ashkenazim, “followers of scripture,” are a small sect addition, this region is the home of Jewish
where restrictions on property and profes- who observe a form of Jewish theology legal study. While rabbis now only rarely
sion accompany condemnation by bish- predicated on the Tanakh alone. Founded submit cases to the great Eastern schools
ops and exploitation by the nobility. in Persia in the late eighth century, and scholars for consideration, students
While Jews elsewhere integrate with Karaites reject the Rabbinical Talmud and from a world away view studying here as
their neighbors and pursue secular acade- oral additions to Jewish law. This rejec- having great prestige.
mic learning, the Ashkenazim turn to the- tion comes from a strict interpretation of
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PERSECUTION long sewn onto the outer garments unknown. In 1096, the Bishop of Speyer
(although this changes in around 1270 to a brought a number of Jews into his castle to
As a social minority, Jews often face badge in the shape of two yellow tablets). shelter them from a rabble, even punishing
misunderstanding and persecution by But, while successive Popes may have held some of the offenders by having their right
their neighbors, but the extent of this per- openly anti-Jewish sentiments, they also hands cut off. But the Jews in neighboring
secution varies by both region and the recognize their responsibilities as spiritual Worms found no such protector as
political landscape. Muslim lands, includ- leaders to protect the Jews from harm. For Christian did not want to raise hand
ing Iberia and the East, impose stringent instance, Innocent III wrote to all the bish- against Christian to protect a Jew. 1190
taxes on outsiders, including Jews, and ops of France clarifying the Lateran legisla- saw a spate of attacks and massacres across
Jews in both Muslim and Christian lands tion and stating that Jews must not be England. All but a lucky few of the Jews of
are subject to sumptuary laws restricting forced to wear anything that might endan- Norwich were killed in their homes, while
what can and cannot be worn. ger them. The same council issued laws the Jews of York fled to the apparent safe-
Legislation established by the Fourth that forbid Jews from leaving their homes ty of a local castle. The castle was besieged
Lateran Council of 1215 requires all Jews during Holy Week, but these are not by a mob demanding that they convert
to wear a distinguishing mark of their faith. intended to oppress Jews, but rather to and be baptized, and the surrounded Jews
This is often a badge in the form of a wheel accept that some tensions exist between decided instead to take their own lives.
of either red or yellow depending on the Christians and Jews and to limit the oppor- Those who could not bring themselves to
country. In England this takes the form of tunity for either side to cause trouble. suicide left the next morning and were
a white band two fingers wide and four Physical attacks are far from murdered by the baying crowd.
Glossary of Hebrew Terminology
aggadot (n.pl.; aggadah, sing.) Jewish mystical beliefs and practices with the bled into a structure of ten known as the
folk knowledge (stories, myths, leg- goal of manifesting Divine principles Tree of Life that is central to kabbalistic
ends, folk medicine, etc.) that have no on Earth. beliefs and practices.
specific religious value; despite this, Karaite (n.sing.) A small Jewish sect that seggulot(n.pl.; seggulah, sing.) Amulets,
many aggadot are found in the text of bases its theology on the Tanakhalone, fusing folk knowledge and Divine
the Talmud. rejecting the Rabbinical Talmudand oral magic, tht are worn for physical
Ashkenazim(n.pl.; Ashkenazi, adj.) Jews interpretations of the Law. and/or spiritual benefits.
who settled in Christian lands, mostly kashrut (n.pl.; kosher, adj.) The dietary Sephardim(n.pl.; Sephardic, adj.) Jews who
France and Germany, following the requirements codified in the Torah; settled in Muslim and Mediterranean
diaspora. only food prepared in accordance with lands following the diaspora.
Ba’al Ov Necromantic practitioners of these laws is considered kosher. Shabbat The day of rest, in observance
summoning magic, a practice strictly Merkavah A school of Jewish mysticism of the sixth day of creation, lasting
outlawed by the Halakha. dedicated to the study of and commu- from sundown Friday to sundown
Ba’al Shem Itinerant practitioners of nion with angels, as represented by Saturday. No work may be performed,
Divine magic, specializing in folk the knowledge of their True Names. according to the Halakha.
healing and creation of seggulot. miqveh A Communal bathhouse, access Shema A concise statement of Jewish
Beth Din The Rabbinic court, comprised of to which allows practicing Jews to belief found in Deuteronomy 6:4. It is
educated men in the community who maintain halakhic standards of purity. used talismanically in the wearing of
hear cases of violation of halakhic law, Mitzvot (n.pl.; mitzvah, sing.) Acts in tefillin and the posting in a mezuzah at
and pass down judgments based on accordance with the Halakha, “lawful the entrance of a home or building.
precedents outlined in the scriptures; led deeds;” the Torahdictates 613 Mitzvot shofar A musical instrument made from the
by the Rosh Beth Din. for practicing Jews. horn of a kosher animal, usually a ram.
beit ha-midrash A school, usually rabbi lit., “teacher.” The religious leader synagogue A gathering place for
attached to a synagogue, the primary of a Rabbinical Jewish community, or Rabbinical Jews to hear public read-
focus of which is Hebrew literacy. of a synagogue’s congregation if in a ings of the Torah.
Gematria A school of Jewish mysticism community large enough to require Talmud Book of interpretations of the
characterized by the divination of more than one; capitalized when used Halakha as delivered in the Torah; also
insights and messages from the Torah as a title (e.g., Rabbi Josef). includes Jewish cultural wisdom.
through a numerology based on a Rabbinical Judaism(Rabbinite, adj.) The Tanakh The Hebrew Bible, comprised of
numerical value for each letter of the majority Jewish sect, developed after the Torah, the Nevi’im (Prophets), and
Hebrew alphabet. the destruction of the Temple in the Ketuvi(Writings).
golem A being of unliving clay, brought to Jerusalem and the Jewish diaspora. Its Torah The first five books of the Tanakh,
life through direction of Divine forces theology is grounded in the practice of believed to be God’s word as tran-
by a kabbalist. They can be formed into interpretation and debate surrounding scribed by Moses atop Mount Sinai:
the shape of any living creature, and the Tanakhand the Talmud. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
will take that living form when filled Sefer lit., “book.” Most frequently used Deuteronomy.
with the Breath of Life. for the Sefer Torah, or the ceremonial yeshivah (n.sing.; yeshivot, pl.) More-
Halakha(n.pl.; Halakh, sing.; halakhic, adj.) scrolls of the Torah venerated by a advanced schools for promising stu-
The Laws, as laid down in the Torah. Jewish community or synagogue. dents, where highly learned rabbis
Kabbalah (n.sing.; kabbalist, per.n.sing.; Sefirot (n.pl.; Sefirah, sing.) lit., “emana- offer instruction in language, philoso-
kabbalistic, adj.) A variety of Jewish tions.” Aspects of Divine power, assem- phy, law, and science.
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While disagreements over theology The philosopher Maimonides codified 13 when he is called to synagogue to per-
offend churchmen, and debts hang about the Jewish faith’s tenents into 13 articles: form a public reading from the Torah or
the nobility, the low peoples of Mythic interpretation on a passage from the Talmud
Europe fear the unknown. The blood libel • God exists and that he by himself is the in a ceremony known as the bar mitzvah.
is the unfounded accusation that the Jewish creator of all things. Any man over the age of 13 may lead
people practice human sacrifice, drinking • God is unique and that he alone is our the community in prayer, perform read-
the blood of their victims in unholy cere- God. ings from the Torah, and even conduct
monies. The first known accusation was in • God is incorporeal and has no physical marriage ceremonies. So while a rabbi has
England in 1144 and involved a young form. no obligation to undertake these duties,
boy, William of Norwich. In that case the • God is eternal and is the first and the last. unlike Christian priests, the semikhahcere-
Norwich Jews were saved by the king’s • God is the only one to whom it is prop- mony is a form of ordination that gives
sheriff as they were under his protection. er to pray. the rabbi spiritual authority over his com-
But the accusations persist and are easily • All the words of the prophets are true. munity. The prospective rabbi is assessed
raised and exploited. • The prophecy of Moses was true and by three peers at the conclusion of which
There is occasional pressure put upon he was the father of the prophets. he is invested with authority to pro-
Jews to convert, but they often find support • The whole of the Torah was given by nounce upon halakhic law. From that
from unlikely sources. Jews continue to be God to Moses. moment the rabbi is able to exert person-
useful to the wealthy as sources of income • The Torah will not be exchanged, nor al and ceremonial influence and temper
and credit, and if a Jew were to convert will another Torahbe given by God. Dominion auras as described in Chapter
then he would gain legal protection against • God knows all the deeds of man and all Three. There is little hierarchy within the
those who might seize his property and their thoughts. rabbis, although each city or town has a
annul debts owed to him. This treatment of • God requites those who keep his com- chief rabbi with authority over the others.
Jews as financial resources is a prevalent mandments but punishes those who do Public prayers and services are expect-
theme in England and France. Philip II of not. ed to be observed by a minyan, or quorum.
France started his reign by raiding all the • There will come a messiah. This is typically 10 men of the community.
synagogues in his demesne and holding • There will be a resurrection of the dead These quorate groups gather in a syna-
Jews to ransom until they collectively paid whenever it pleases God. gogue, yeshivah, or private home at least
15,000 marks. Unsatisfied, he expelled three times each day to conduct prayers
them from his kingdom in 1182 and seized While there is no concept of eternal and blessings, particularly the shema
their property, only to recall them in 1198, damnation within Jewish theology, prayer taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-9.
keen to take advantage of further financial Gehenna is the Jewish understanding of Starting at sundown on Friday and
opportunities. In England, the Jews were Hell. Wicked or sinful souls dwell in continuing through to sunset on Saturday,
taxed hard to secure the ransom to free Gehenna for a period but once cleansed of Shabbat, or the sabbath, is a holy day of
king Richard, but by 1210 they found sins they await the resurrection on the rest commemorating the six days of cre-
themselves subject to arrest so that an Day of Judgment. On this day all souls ation. During this time Jews must refrain
account could be made of all monies will be awakened by a blast on the shofar from any work within the public domain.
loaned by them. These draconian measures and will live forever in contentment in the An eruv is a boundary of wire or rope that
are set to continue with regions petitioning world to come. confines an area. Anything on the inside
the king to remove his Jews from their of the boundary is considered “private,”
lands, a measure that ultimately culminates which allows for essential work during
with an edict of expulsion in 1290 remov- Observances Shabbat. The Shabbat is reputed to be
ing all Jews from England. one of the six primordial things that pre-
dated creation.
Rosh ha-Shanahis the Jewish new year
Two angels, one good and one evil, and occurs on the first day of Tishrei, the
accompany a person home each Friday date when creation began, and is accom-
Beliefs and
night from the synagogue. When they panied by the sounding of the shofar, or
arrive home, if they find a candle lit, the ceremonial horn. On this day, everyone
Practices table covered, and beds arranged, the living is judged. It is said that those who
good angel says, ‘May the next merit another year of life have their names
Shabbat be the same,’ and the evil angel recorded in the Sefer ha-Chayyim, or Book of
must respond, ‘Amen!’ Otherwise, if all Names. Those who go unrecorded are des-
Jews believe in the one true God and is not in honor of the Shabbat, the evil tined to die during the year. Rosh ha-
accept no other. God is the source of all angel says, ‘May the next Shabbat be Shanah is the first of the Yamim Noraim,
things and he created the world, the heav- the same,’ and it is the good angel who or days of awe.
ens, and all the creatures that dwell with- must respond, ‘Amen!’ Ten days after Rosh ha-Shanah, at the
in them. They believe that God has end of the Yamim Noraim, the Day of
entered in a sacred covenant with the The Talmud Atonement, Yom Kippur,is celebrated. It is
Jewish people, which elevates them above the most holy day in the Jewish calendar
the gentiles and other non-believers. On the eighth day after birth, follow- and sees the closing of the Sefer ha-Chayyim
They view the loss of Israel and their sub- ing a naming ceremony, male children and the day on which fates are sealed. The
sequent exile as a punishment for sins undergo the brit milah, or circumcision, day before Yom Kippur, some conduct the
committed centuries ago, and that with where the foreskin of the penis is removed ritual of kapparah in which a chicken is
observance and repentance they will one in a ritual conducted by the mohal. A waved around the head three times, during
day return to the land of Israel. Jewish boy becomes a man from the age of which the person’s sins are transferred to
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The Divine
tions is the public reading of the Book of doing, how to make amends, and
Holy Influence
Esther, which recounts the rescue of the where to find the angel so that
Jewish people from a murderous plot. As her name may be recorded.
Those with spiritual authority over such, it is a celebration of cultural and his-
a people or area may exert Holy torical importance rather than religious.
Influence, which includes the tempering The readings are noisy and boisterous
of an aura. Rabbis have spiritual author- affairs, with a lot of shouting, stamping, Holy Places
ity over the auras centered upon and the and even the banging of stones together,
community served by their synagogue designed to erase the name of Israel’s ene-
or yeshivah, while Chief Rabbis may mies written upon them. While the Jewish people today are
extend their influence across their city. Pesach, or passover, lasts for seven spread across Europe and the East, their
The English court recognizes the posi- days beginning with the 15th day of Nisan homeland is Israel, and it is considered a
tion of Presbyter Judaeorum, a chief and commemorates the escape of the holy and sacred place. Philosophers such
rabbi with authority over all the Jews of Jewish people from Egypt. During this as Judah Halevi considered the land of
England, a role held in 1220 by Josce of week no leavened bread is eaten, which Israel to be the only place where true
London. The Exilarch, in Baghdad, may recalls the haste with the Jews fled Egypt Divine prophecy can be heard. These
extend his influence to any community upon their release from slavery. The main philosophers understand the world as
or city that he visits, or to which he celebratory meal, the seder, is accompanied consisting of concentric areas of Divinity
sends an authorized deputy. by a reading of Exodus telling the story of
Moses, the ten plagues of Egypt, and the
The Hebrew Calendar
flight of the Jews.
the bird. The bird is then slaughtered and Shavu’ot falls seven weeks from the
given to the poor. The kapparah is not start of Pesach and celebrates the revela- The Hebrew calendar is based
greeted with Rabbinical support and is tion on Mount Sinai. This holiday is upon the cycles of the moon, with
seen by many as a pagan ritual. Despite characterized by homes and synagogues numerous corrections to accommodate
this it is still popular in some communities, being decorated with plants and garlands the solar year, operating within a 19-
especially with kabbalists. of greenery. year cycle. The first month is Nisan,
The harvest festival of Sukkot is cele- Tisha B’Av commemorates the but the year is increased during Tishri
brated five days after Yom Kippur. Once destruction of both the First and Second at the festival of Rosh ha-Shanah, the
the harvests have been gathered, prayers Temple, both events having occurred on Jewish new year. The year is judged
are said for the continued fertility of the the ninth day of the month of Av. It is a from the calculated moment of cre-
earth and to bring rain. This festival rep- time of fasting, and the Book of ation, arrived at by adding the ages of
resents the forty years that the people of Lamentations is read in the synagogue key figures in the bible. The Julian 1st
Israel spent in the wilderness. To com- during evening services. Kinnot, or dirges of April in 1220 equates to the 26th of
memorate this, families build a sukkah, a in memory of the loss of the Temple, are Nisan in the Jewish year 4980. The
temporary shelter much like a tent, in read or chanted through the day. The Jewish week starts on Sunday and runs
which the family eats or sleeps for the observance is marked by considerable aus- through to Saturday.
seven days of this holiday. terity. In addition to strict fasting, no
Coming at the end of Sukkot, Shemini leather shoes are to be worn, and washing MONTH LENGTH JULIANEQUIV.
Atzeret celebrates both the beginning and is forbidden, as is the application of oils to IN1220
the end of the annual cycle of public Torah the body, and even marital relations. Nisan 30 days March–April
readings. With the main celebrations tak- Shabbat, holy days, and fast days all Iyyar 29 days April–May
ing place in the synagogue, the Torah begin with morning prayers and readings Sivan 30 days May–June
scrolls are removed from the ark and car- from the Torah, led by any adult male of Tamuz 29 days June–July
ried around the synagogue seven times the community. In theory this means any Av 30 days July–Aug
accompanied by singing and dancing. male age 13 or over, though many rabbis Elul 29 days Aug–Sept
This happens twice, once in the evening consider it disrespectful to allow someone Tishri 30 days Sept–Oct
and once again the following morning. so young to lead the congregation. Cheshvan 29/30 days Oct–Nov
Once the Torah scrolls have completed Kislev 29/30 days Nov–Dec
their circuits, the last section of Story Hook: As night falls to her- Tevet 29 days Dec–Jan
Deuteronomy and the first section of ald the first day of Tishri, all fire Sh’vat 30 days Jan–Feb
Genesis are read aloud, completing and within the covenant is extin- Adar 29/30 days Feb–March
restarting the readings. guished, and every animal falls Adar II 29 days March–April
The festival of Hanukkahis celebrated silent. A Divine scribe, powerful,
towards the end of the month of Kislev massive, and brooding, stalks the The month of Adar II is added
and lasts for eight days. It commemorates halls, writing the names of those during the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th,
the miracle of a day’s supply of oil that present in his great book. But 17th, and 19th years within the 19-
burned in the eternal flame for the eight when he reaches one particular year cycle. Adar II will next occur in
days it took to rededicate the Temple, maga, the angel stops and puts 1221, 1224, 1226, then in 1229, 1232,
which had been defiled by the Syrians. up his quill without recording 1235, and 1237. Those months of vari-
Falling on the 14th day of Adar, Purim her name. And then the angel able length are changed year to year
is a time of great public celebration where leaves. And the fires resume and both to ensure that Nisan starts at a
gifts are exchanged, charity is given to the animals take up their calls once consistent time and that Holy days are
poor, and a special meal is prepared and more. The maga has ten days to correctly placed.
eaten. The centerpiece of these celebra- discover what the angel was
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increasing towards the center, which Muslim countries and in parts of Christian Holy Books
means that Jerusalem is yet more Divine Spain the ark is less important and the
and Artifacts
that Israel, and the site of the Temple yet Sefer Torahis kept in a smaller case.
more Divine still. As discussed in The scrolls themselves are wound
Chapter Five, the Western Wall is all around two richly decorated wooden
that remains of the Temple, and has a rollers, with wealthy communities con- Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the
Divine aura of 10. tributing gold and silver for this purpose. Lord is one. You shall love the Lord
The synagogue is where the commu- Some have small bells that hang from your God with all your heart and with
nity gathers to meet and offer prayer, but them, while others are capped by a all your soul. These words that I com-
a dedicated building is rare in smaller crown. A hanging lamp is kept perpetual- mand you today shall be on your
communities, and in these cases a private ly burning in front of the ark in reference heart. You shall teach them diligently
residence is used instead. By convention it to the Eternal Flame that once burned in to your children, and shall talk of them
is more important for the community to the Temple. when you sit in your house, and when
build a miqveh, or ritual bathhouse, and a The bimah, a large reading desk from you walk by the way, and when you
beit ha-midrash, or house of study, but which the scrolls are read on Shabbat and lie down, and when you rise. You shall
where a synagogue is built, it is often the other holy days, is another essential part bind them as a sign on your arm, and
tallest building within the community. of the synagogue. This is often separate they shall be as frontlets between your
On the synagogue wall that faces from the lectern where prayers are led. eyes. You shall write them on the door
Jerusalem is an ark. Usually a niche built Seating can be anything from individual posts of your house and on your gates.
within the wall and covered with elabo- chairs, to rows of quickly erected bench-
rate wooden doors, it is used to house the es, to elaborate pews. In Ashkenazi syna- Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Sefer Torah and other biblical books and gogues women sit in their own gallery
scrolls. The ark is often draped with rich- separate from the men, a practice not The Torah is the collected first five
ly decorate embroidered curtains. In observed in Sephardic communities. books of Hebrew scripture, containing
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and
Deuteronomy, and forms part of the
Tanakh, along with Prophets and
Writings. Given to Moses at Sinai, the
Torah is the transcribed spoken word of
God and the 613 Mitzvot that guide
Jewish life are derived from it alone. The
Sefer Torah, a specially prepared Torah in
scroll form, is a venerated object housed
within each synagogue. And while the
text of the earthly Torah was given to
Moses, the True Torahis one of the six pri-
mordial things that predate creation itself
and resides in heaven as a thing of black
fire written upon white fire.
The Talmud interprets the laws pro-
vided by the Torah, providing guidance on
how each law should be applied and
appropriate punishment for transgres-
sions. It also contains cultural content,
folklore, poetry, medical remedies etc.
vital to defining and maintaining the
Jewish identity.
Tefillin, also known as phylacteries,
are two small leather boxes containing the
transcribed Shema prayer (Deuteronomy
6:4) and the biblical verses Deuteronomy
11:13-21, and Exodus 13:1-10 and 11-16.
They are worn strapped to the brow and
the left arm during morning prayer as a
sign of God’s enduring covenant with
Israel. They are also associated with pro-
tective amulets and it is common for folk
remedies to take the form of phylacteries.
Ordinarily, tefillin have no innate power,
but those once owned by one of the
Tzadikim Nistarim(see later) act as a relic
with one Faith Point.
Mezuzot are like phylacteries that are
bound to door posts, including those of the
synagogue. There is a little more freedom in
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The Divine
the form that mezuzot take, from small sim- sounded both at the new year, Rosh ha- branched menorah, or chanukkiyah, is used
ple boxes, to ornate scroll cases. But the Shanah, and at the conclusion of Yom during Hanukkah and references the eight
contents are the same as the tefillin and they Kippur. When it is sounded on a holy days during which the oil miraculously
act as a reminder to all who enter the house day or as part of a Jewish exorcism rite, fueled the eternal flame. The menorah is
that they are entering a sacred place, in the shofar is treated as a relic with one said to resemble the burning bush from
memory of the Temple. Jews of the Karaite Faith Point. While silent, or sounded on which Moses gained audience with God,
tradition use neither tefillin nor mezuzot. days other than holy days, the shofar has the seven lamps representing the seven
The shofar is a musical instrument no power. days of creation, the arrangement of the
formed from the horn of any kosher ani- The menorah is a candelabrum with lamps mirroring the six fiery wings of the
mal, usually a ram. It gains its signifi- either six or eight branches that originate serafim, and as a stylized tree, bearing the
cance from having been sounded at the from a central stem. The six-branched lower seven Sefirot.
moment when God gave the Torah to menorah references the golden lamp as The Star of David is a six-pointed
the people at Mount Sinai. It is now present in the Second Temple. The eight- star formed by the intersection of two
A Jewish Library
Jewish culture prizes education and teachings to everyday life. The Ketuvimis the final section of the
many members of the community are The Talmud also contains folklore collected Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible.
able to read and write Hebrew. The fol- and culturally important material: stories,
lowing texts are a mixture of religious, medicinal remedies, myths, and legends.
philosophical, and mystical works. Collectively, these non-religious tracts THEMISHNEHTORAH
are termed aggadah.
The Talmudis originally an Aramaic Summa Rabbinic Law (Level 4,
THETORAH work but is most commonly translated Quality 9)
into Hebrew. Author: Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon
Summa Theology: Judaism (Level 6, (Maimonides)
Quality 8), Summa Judaic Lore (Level 4, Availability: This work is spreading
Quality 8), Summa Rabbinic Law (Level THENEVI’IM to synagogues and yeshivot across
4, Quality 8) Mythic Europe, originating in Iberia.
Author: Dictated by God to Moses Tractatus Theology: Judaism Description: This is the foremost
on Mount Sinai. (Quality 8), Tractatus Dream authority on Rabbinic Law, providing the
Availability: Any synagogue or Interpretation (Quality 8) most complete interpretation on the laws
yeshivah. Author: Compiled from various by which the Jewish people should gov-
Description: The Torah is the first sources from the 6th through 2nd cen- ern all aspects of life. These laws are
section of the collected Tanakh, or Hebrew turies BC. divided into the mishpatim, or judg-
Bible. It contains Genesis, the account of Availability: Any synagogue or ments, and the huqqim, or statutes,
creation; Exodus, the escape of the Jewish yeshivah. which includes instructions and provi-
people; and Leviticus, Numbers, and Description: The Nevi’im,or Prophets, sions for ritual purity.
Deuteronomy, which tell more of the Jews is divided into two sections covering the
in the wilderness, and of the law. early prophets and the later prophets.
Special Rule: The Sefer Torah is the The first section describes the history of GUIDETOTHEPERPLEXED
complete work in its original scroll form. the Jewish people from the time of
The sefer, created according to ritual and Joshua to the Babylonian Exile. The sec- Summa Philosophiae (Level 4,
custom, is treated as a relic with one ond section is devoted to prophecies, Quality 9), Summa Theology: Judaism
Faith Point. some of which may have come to pass (Level 6, Quality 9)
and others that might yet. Author: Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon
The Nevi’im is the second section of (Maimonides)
THETALMUD the collected Tanakh, or Hebrew Bible. Availability: The private libraries of
many Rabbis and philosophers, particu-
Summa Judaic Lore (Level 6, larly around the Mediterranean.
Quality 8), Summa Theology: Judaism THEKETUVIM Description: This complex work
(Level 6, Quality 8), Summa Rabbinic presents a philosophical view of the
Law (Level 6, Quality 8), Tractatus Tractatus Dream Interpretation Jewish faith, examining the mundane
Canaan Lore (Quality 5) (Quality 8), Tractatus Judaic Lore world through the tenets of faith.
Author: Compiled from various (Quality 8), Tractatus Rabbinic Law Maimonides purposefully obscured the
sources from the 2nd through 6th cen- (Quality 8) text, inserting ambiguities and contradic-
turies, but originating with the oral Author: Compiled from various tions that distract the uneducated stu-
Mishnahgiven to Moses on Mount Sinai. sources by the 2nd century AD. dent. But these ambiguities find use when
Availability: Any synagogue or Availability: Any synagogue or applied to the study of Gematria, and
yeshivah. yeshivah. many truths are revealed to those who
Description: This work consists of Description: The Ketuvim, or Writings, seek them.
63 “tractates” containing 613 Mitzvot is a disparate work of wisdom, poetry, Special Rule: Students with scores of
and is the codification of Rabbinic Law, prophecies, and history and as such is 3 or more in Gematria may study this book
applying the Biblical commandments and treated as a collection of tractatus. as a Tractatus of Quality 8 on Gematria.
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Realms of Power
equilateral triangles. Like the menorah, six days of creation followed by the day Culture
it has its origins in ancient Jewish lore of rest. The star also represents the
and has additional kabbalistic resonance. seven facets of space identified in the The observances and trappings of
It is said to resemble the shield that Sefer Yetzirah:up, down, east, west, north, faith are important from the moment one
David took into battle, and as such is a and south, and finally the center. The wakes to the moment one sleeps. This
direct symbol for God. Furthermore, the star is most commonly used within kab- faith is a part of the Jewish heritage, bind-
six points and the center equate to the balistic circles. ing together a people divided by vast dis-
A Jewish Library (cont’d)
SEFERYETZIRAH angel Raziel. ences to the practice of Craft Amulets,
Availability: The private libraries of but it does not provide enough insight to
Summa Kabbalah (Level 4, Quality 6) those who practice Merkavah. work from. This suggests that the current
Author: The Biblical Abraham Description: This Book of Amulets work is incomplete.
Availability: The private libraries of concerns angels, angelic powers, and the
those who practice Kabbalah. astral forces that they control. But there
Description: This Book of Creationis a is also a list of incantations and enchant- THEHECHALOTTEXTS
key text for those studying Kabbalah and ments of value to those who craft amulets
is the principle text of the Ma’asei-Bereshit and charms. The book exhorts the reader Tractatus Merkavah or Summoning
school of philosophy, which seeks knowl- to perform all acts of magic in a state of (Quality 8)
edge of the foundations of all creation. It the utmost ritual purity, and describes Author: Various mystics from the
is the source for the ten Sefirot and the 22 the correct preparation and treatment of age of the First Temple onwards.
pathways that connect them, and it shows ritual implements, such as knives, lamps, Availability: Translations of these
how the world is created from the 22 incense, etc, and this provides insight works can be found in mystical libraries
characters of the Hebrew alphabet. It also into the Ceremony Ability. across Europe and the East.
draws parallels between the Sefirot and Complete copies of this book are Description: The Hechalot Texts are a
the human form, representing it as a rarely found, sections having been collection of scrolls and books that togeth-
divine microcosm, which in turn reveals copied and obtained separately. The sec- er detail the art of Ma’aseh Merkavah, the
the mystery of the golem. tions on Ceremony and Dominion Lore ancient mystical tradition from which both
There have been innumerable com- are often found translated from the orig- Merkavah and the Goetic art of
mentaries written on the Sefer Yetzirah, inal Hebrew. Summoning derive. There is no definitive
mostly in Hebrew but increasingly in Special Rule: Hermetic magi who list of works that make up the HechalotTexts
Arabic as the practice of Kabbalah grows read this book for its knowledge on Craft and more may yet be discovered in forgot-
in Muslim-ruled Iberia. Amulets gain access to the shape and ten and abandoned libraries across Mythic
Special Rule: Only once a kabbalist material bonuses normally open to prac- Europe and the East.
has studied the Sefer Yetzirahcan he under- titioners of this Jewish mystical practice Special Rule: Studying the Hechalot
take to create a golem. (see later). Studying from an incomplete Texts is a dangerous pursuit. Due to the
volume imposes a penalty of –1 to the frequent allusions and references to
reader’s Study Total. demons and demonic powers, any who
SEFERHA-BAHIR study the Hechalot Texts alone gain a
“Curious about the Infernal” Personality
Tractatus Kabbalah (Quality 8), SEFERRAZIEL trait at +1.
Tractatus Ceremony (Quality 5)
Author: Despite its antiquated style, Summa Gematria (Level 4, Quality
this is the work of Provencal kabbalists 8), Summa Merkavah (Level 4, Quality SWORDOFMOSES
practicing post-600. 8), Summa Intervention (Level 4, Quality
Availability: The private libraries of 8), Summa Transcendence (Level 4, Summa Infernal Lore (Level 5,
those who practice Kabbalah. Quality 8) Quality 8)
Description: This Book of Illumination Author: Revealed in its original form Author: Anonymous Jewish magicians.
expands upon the Sefer Yetzirah, taking the to Adam by the angel Raziel. Availability: The private libraries of
abstract kabbalistic principles and codi- Availability: The private libraries of Ba’al Shem, Kabbalists, and the Ba’al Ov.
fying them into practical knowledge. It is those who practice Gematria and Description: A book of theurgistic
essentially the first true kabbalistic work Merkavah. magic that purports to list the names of
outside the Sefer Yetzirah. Description: This potent book of angels, demons, and other spirits. This is an
sorcery is principally concerned with unusual work in that it eschews the expect-
astral forces, originating from the zodiac ed ritual purity for witchcraft-like practices.
SEFERHA-RAZIM and the enumerated names of God. The Special Rule: Studying the Sword of
Sefer Razielin its current form is actually a Moses for a season can be treated as a
Tractatus Craft Amulets (Quality 8), collection of the tractates revealed to source of insight for researching and
Tractatus Merkavah (Quality 8), Adam by the angel Raziel and has been integrating the extinct magical form of
Tractatus Ceremony (Quality 5), compiled in Provencal over the last two Canaanite Necromancy (Ancient Magic,
Tractatus Dominion Lore (Quality 12) hundred years. Those reading this work page 30).
Author: Revealed to Noah by the may notice that there are abundant refer-
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The Divine
tances through a shared identity. But on a There are a number of communal
Sefer ha-Masa’ot
more local level, the sense of community buildings, chief of which is the miqveh,
keeps the Jewish people strong, some- or ritual bath-house, used for regular and
times against great adversity. ceremonial ablutions, including the Summa Mediterranean Lore
In most Muslim cities Jews live side- cleaning of glass and metal utensils. (Level 4, Quality 8)
by-side with their Muslim neighbors and Larger communities have a dedicated Benjamin of Tudela wrote the Sefer
are free to live and worship as they wish. synagogue building, and some even main- ha-Masa’ot(The Book of Travels) to chron-
Where Jewish communities live in a sepa- tain communal libraries. Hospitality is a icle his journeys from Navarre to
rate quarter, it is most often through a prized virtue, and inns and hospices wel- Jerusalem. Anyone studying this book
desire to be surrounded by their own cul- come travelers, usually charging accord- may gain the specialty “Jewish commu-
ture rather than through enforced segre- ing to the wealth of the traveler. Indeed, nities” in this Area Lore, which helps to
gation, and such quarters never have a it is one of the duties of the shamash to locate Jewish communities across the
physical boundary. These same freedoms find travelers and ensure that they have Mediterranean and the Levant.
extend to the kingdom of Sicily, which suitable food and lodging, either with an Written in Hebrew, copies can be
has always been a place where multiple inn or otherwise with local families. found in larger Jewish communities.
cultures are accepted. Hospitals for the care of the sick are also
Unlike the Mediterranean, Jews liv- not unknown, especially in the southern
ing in the Christian lands of central and lands where the influence of Islamic med- within classes of around ten students in
northern Europe are often subject to the icine is strongest. the beit ha-midrash, a school that forms part
fickle wishes of kings and landowners. Entertainment can always be found in of the synagogue. They are taught for six
They are less likely to integrate with their the Jewish quarter; music is treasured and long days each week, with even parts of
Christian neighbors, and while outright dances are frequently held. Games of skill the Sabbath given over to examination of
hostility is unusual, they suffer a greater and chance are also common, with little the week’s learning. Lessons are chanted
degree of distrust and suspicion than their stigma attached to moderate gambling. by the tutor and repeated by the class, the
southern counterparts. melody aiding memorization. By the age
Communities in Muslim lands tend of 13, study moves on from the Torah to
to be larger than those elsewhere. EDUCATIONANDTHEYESHIVAH encompass the Talmud, with students
Benjamin of Tudela, a noted traveler who often learning Aramaic, the language of
lived in the 12th century, undertook a From education springs the under- the Talmud, at the same time.
journey from the Kingdom of Navarre to standing of both heritage and law, and for The privileged few are sent to study
Jerusalem. He planned his route such this reason there is an expectation that the Talmud further at one of the yeshivot,
that he could visit the towns and cities of every male child will be taught to read or schools, under learned Rabbis.
Lombardy, the Papal States, and the Hebrew, and will study the Torah. Formal Typically, only the larger cities have their
Kingdom of Sicily, where he recorded education starts young and takes place own yeshivah, which means that students
the size of the Jewish communities that
he found. The cities of Genoa and Pisa
Noted Philosophers
had communities no larger than a few
families, while the cities of Rome, Capua,
and Naples had Jewish populations Isaac Ben Solomon Israeli (850 - logical and philosophical ideas of his
smaller than five hundred individuals. 932) was a Tunisian physician in the contemporaries. Judah Halevi’s final
Further south, he found fifteen hundred employ of al-Mahdi, the founder of the journey was in fulfillment of the com-
Jews living in the city of Palermo. He Fatimid dynasty. Influenced by the mandment to live in the Holy Land. He
contrasts Palermo with the cities of works of Plato, Isaac was a monist, reached the outskirts of Jerusalem in
Provence, which more closely resembled believing that all of creation was simply 1140, but was murdered, trampled to
Genoa and Pisa in having very small emanations from a single unknowable death, before setting foot in the city.
Jewish communities. truth. These beliefs contributed to his Born Moses ben Maimon, the
Most large cities across Mythic study of the fledgling Kabbalah, and he physician and philosopher Maimonides
Europe and the East have dedicated became an accomplished kabbalist. (1138 - 1204) is perhaps the most influ-
Jewish quarters. Where these quarters are Saadia Gaon (882 - 942) was born ential writer of his age. His Guide for the
walled, they are generally referred to as Saadia ben Joseph Al-Fayyumi in Perplexed, originally written in Arabic, is
“ghettos” after the first such community in Fayyum in Egypt and rose to become an essential work for those wanting to
Venice. Walled or otherwise, these Jewish Gaon of the Sura yeshivah. He was an learn of Jewish theology and philoso-
quarters are a microcosm of the wider outspoken opponent of the Karaite sect phy. His principle work for Jewish con-
city, providing everything needed to sup- and many of his works specialize in sumption is the Mishneh Torah, an unpar-
port the Jewish community. Butchers and pointing out its failings and shortcom- alleled authority on Jewish law and lore.
bakers prepare foods in accordance with ings. He also undertook rational analysis Samuel ben Judah ibn Tibbon
dietary laws, with bakers operating com- of Islamic theology, and these works are (1150 - 1230) is known more for his
munity ovens that whole neighborhoods still in circulation. translations of others’ works, particularly
use. Communal roasting houses, for the Judah Halevi (1075 - 1140) was a Maimonides, than for any original phi-
cooking of meat, are also not unknown. poet born in Toledo who spent much of losophy. But while he has written little
Traders and craftsmen operate shops, his life on the move, staying ahead of the himself, he has a profound understand-
which are frequented by customers from encroaching Christian reconquest of ing of philosophy, theology, and
outside the community as well as inside. Iberia. Educated in vernacular Arabic, he Kabbalah. He can be found, until his
Schools are maintained to educate chil- wrote extensive criticisms of the theo- death in 1230, in the city of Marseilles.
dren and adult alike.
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Realms of Power
from smaller towns and more remote vil- ing suitable spouses for their children and seven days following the burial, during
lages must leave home, and those who can helping to ensure the ketuvah is in order. which time the mourners remain at home,
not afford it, or those without a patron, Engagement is followed by a long refrain from work, and abstain from
come to the end of their education. The period, often a year, which concludes attending synagogue, saying prayers in
great yeshivot of Babylon are considered with betrothal and marriage. The groom the home instead. Other rules are also
the pinnacle of Jewish scholarship. The is responsible for providing a feast for the observed, such as not changing clothes,
leaders of these schools are afforded the community lasting at least three days, cutting one’s hair, and even sitting only
title of Geonim, and students from across though most communities contribute in on the floor rather than on chairs
Europe and the East travel to the cities of order to ease the burden. throughout the mourning period.
Nehardea, Pumbedita, and Sura. The Widows often retain rights to their
Karaite sect operates yeshivot in both husband’s property but this is not guaran-
Jerusalem and Damascus, though given the DEATH teed. Where succession is contested such
small size of this tradition, neither yeshiv- cases are decided upon by a rabbi and the
ah is particularly large or influential. May his great name be magni- widow is expected to produce a witness to
As well as the Torah and the Talmud, fied and sanctified in the world confirm the death of her husband.
students must also study the responsa, or that He has created according to
written judgments on given questions of His will. May he establish His Story Hook: A wealthy Jewish
law presented to learned Rabbis. Given kingdom during our lifetime and woman approaches the covenant
the number and size of books that must be during the lifetime of Israel. Let for help in confirming the death
studied, it is rare that any one student can us say, Amen. of her husband. He was a mer-
afford to own copies for himself and this chant who left for the Holy Land
gives rise to the memorization of entire May God’s great name be a year ago. She has since
volumes by students. Such books as are blessed forever and ever. May received word that his ship sank
available are often written in the vernacu- his holy name, blessed be he, be with the loss of all aboard. But
lar language, though using Hebrew char- blessed and praised, glorified without a witness to the death
acters. This is more common in Muslim and exalted, raised and lauded, she is unable to remarry. She
lands where many books are translated elevated and honored, adored believes that the magi can pro-
into Arabic for the consumption of those and acclaimed, above and vide witness to her husband’s
schooled only in the vernacular. This beyond all blessings and songs state, through the use of their
practice rarely happens in Christian lands, and praises which can be magic and the coercion of spirits.
where Latin is almost never used. uttered. Let us say, Amen. But when the magi cast their
Learning is given such importance in spells, they discover the man still
Jewish society that adults of all back- May there be peace and life for alive and an unwilling consort to
grounds strive to continue their educa- all of us and for all Israel. Let us an underwater faerie. Do they
tion. This usually takes the form of com- say, Amen. rescue the merchant or take the
munal study sessions held in the syna- woman’s money and stand wit-
gogue, where commentaries on the Let He who makes peace in the ness to his death anyway?
Talmud, or the Talmuditself, are explained. heavens, grant peace to all of us
Formal education is a predominantly and to all Israel. Let us say,
male pursuit, but there are no proscriptions Amen.
against the education of girls. In fact, so Halakha
many Jewish families make arrangements The Mourner’s Kaddish
for the education of their daughters that
there is little distinction. While it is less Respect for the dead is a paramount
common to see women undertake the rig- concern in Jewish culture. Upon death, The law of the kingdom is the law.
orous further education afforded by the the body of the deceased is washed and
yeshivah, they are often capable of reading prepared by the immediate family mem- The Talmud
and writing the vernacular tongue, either bers, with prayers spoken in the home of
for poetic or commercial pursuits. the deceased, and burial follows quickly. The Jewish people have been given a
The body is not left alone until burial. guide to good behavior through the 613
The funeral preparations are for the close Mitzvot, or commandments, gained
MARRIAGE family but the wider community has a through Rabbinic study of the Torah.
duty to attend the actual burial. Prayers These mitzvot provide guidance on moral
The Talmud speaks extensively about and orations during the burial are uncom- issues, such as not to kidnap and not to
marriage, which is seen as more of a secu- mon and the body is buried with its feet rob; cultural issues, such as marriage,
lar or civil act than a sacrament. The ketu- towards Jerusalem. learning, and what foods may be eaten;
vah, or marriage contract, specifies a There are a number of traditions that and religious matters, such as the mitzvah
mohar to be paid by the groom to the govern funeral rites. In some areas the scat- to know that there is a God.
bride’s parents, and a dowry to be brought tering of coins around the body in order to Daily life is governed not only by the
with the bride into the marriage. pay off evil spirits is common. In others, mitzvot but by the interpretations laid
Marriages are usually arranged the spirits are scared away by the sound of down in the Oral Torah, the Talmud, and
through a professional marriage arranger, breaking pots. And, by convention, chil- increasingly in the various attempts to
or shadchan, and the bride and groom are dren are forbidden from following the codify these interpretations in such works
often very young, barely more than chil- funeral procession or attending the funeral. as the Mishneh Torah and the Sefer ha-
dren. Families task the shadchan with find- A period of mourning is observed for Mitzvot. Collectively, this body of Jewish
130