The non-biblical notion of holiness The concept of “holiness,” meaning that something or someone is sacred does not exist in the Bible. The biblical Hebrew word kedushah, which is usually translated today as “holiness” means “separate.” When the Bible asserts that God is holy it signifies that God is totally separate [...]
What does Maimonides teach? The great philosopher Maimonides is misunderstood by many people, most of whom need to see him saying what he never said. Maimonides’ God Maimonides’ God is transcendental, meaning God is not involved in the daily activities of the world. God either created the world out of [...]
Maimonides, Abarbanel, and Cognitive Dissonance Isaac Abarbanel, a highly intelligent fifteenth and sixteenth century Bible Commentator, used his introduction to the biblical book Amos to express his difference with Maimonides on the issue of prophecy. Abarbanel insisted that the view about prophecy held by most people, that prophecy is miraculous, is correct, [...]
Another unusual notion of Yehudah Halevi Schocken Books, which published Yehudah Halevi’s The Kuzari in a paperback volume, wrote: “The Kuzari is one of the basic books of Jewish literature, a required text in the library of every educated Jew – and every educated Christian who would understand the religion of Israel.” [...]
The mistaken theology of Yehudah Halevi Yehudah Halevi (1071-1141) was the foremost exponent of the notion that Jews are the chosen people, which he explained in an extremely problematical manner. He was a Spanish Jewish poet who composed a book on Jewish theology that captured the attention of many Jews. The book [...]
