Encyclopedia - Azriel Jewish Mystic: Encyclopedia - Azriel Jewish Mystic
Azriel was one of the most important Jewish mystics in the Spanish town of Gerona (north of Barcelona) during the thirteenth century when...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahir: Encyclopedia - Bahir
The Bahir (Hebrew for "Illumination") is a pseudepigraphic mystical work attributed to Nehunya ben ha-Kanah, a first century rabbinic sag...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahir: Encyclopedia Ii - Bahir - Title
Nahmanides, in his commentary on the Torah, (Genesis 1) is one of the first to quote the work under the title Midrash R. Nehunya ben ha-K...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yemenite Jews: Encyclopedia Ii - Yemenite Jews - Writings
The oldest Yemenite manuscripts are those of the Hebrew Bible, which the Yemenite Jews call "Taj" ("crown"). They date from the ninth cen...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yemenite Jews: Encyclopedia Ii - Yemenite Jews - Writings
The oldest Yemenite manuscripts are those of the Hebrew Bible, which the Yemenite Jews call "Taj" ("crown"). They date from the ninth cen...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia - Kabbalah
Kabbalah (Hebrew קַבָּלָה "reception", Standard Hebrew Qabbala, Tiberian Hebrew Qabbālāh; also written variously as Cabala, Cab...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia - Talmud
The Talmud (תלמוד) is a record of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, Jewish ethics, customs, legends and stories, which Jewish trad...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Siddur: Encyclopedia - Siddur
The siddur (plural siddurim) is the prayerbook used by Jews the world over, containing a set order of daily prayers. A separate article, ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia - Zionism
Zionism is a political movement and an ideology that supports a Jewish homeland in the Land of Israel, where the Jewish nation originated...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 1263: Encyclopedia - 1263
For broader historical context, see 1260s and 13th century. 1263 - Events. 1263 - War and politics. October - King Alexander III of S...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Principles Of Faith: Encyclopedia - Jewish Principles Of Faith
There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that one is expected to uphold in order to be said to be in consonance with the Je...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Islam And Judaism: Encyclopedia - Islam And Judaism
The historical interaction of Islam and Judaism began in the 7th century with the spread of Islam in the Arabian peninsula. Because both ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Eschatology: Encyclopedia - Jewish Eschatology
Jewish eschatology is concerned with Mashiach (the Jewish Messiah) the continuation of the Davidic line, and Olam Haba (Hebrew for "the w...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 613 Mitzvot: Encyclopedia - 613 Mitzvot
613 mitzvot (or 613 Commandments. Hebrew: תרי"ג מצוות transliterated as Taryag mitzvot; TaRYaG is the acronym for the numeric va...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rabbinic Literature: Encyclopedia - Rabbinic Literature
Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaism's rabbinic writing/s throughout history. However, the...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia - Reincarnation
Reincarnation, as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that one's 'Spirit' ('Soul' depending on interpretation), 'Higher or Tr...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahya Ben Asher: Encyclopedia - Bahya Ben Asher
Bahya ben Asher or Bahya ben Asher ben Halawa also known as the Rabbeinu Behaye, born about the middle of the thirteenth century at Sarag...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yosef Karo: Encyclopedia - Yosef Karo
Rabbi Yosef (Joseph) Ben Ephraim Karo is one of the most important leaders in the history of halakha (Jewish law). He was born in Spain o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zeved Habat: Encyclopedia - Zeved Habat
Zeved habat (Sephardic) or Simchat bat (Ashkenazi) are terms for the ritual for naming infant Jewish girls. These rituals are parallel to...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Judaism And Evolution: Encyclopedia Ii - Judaism And Evolution - Jewish Views In Reaction To Darwin
With the advent of Charles Darwin's evolutionary theory, the Jewish community found itself engaged in a discussion of Jewish principles o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Responsa: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Responsa - Rishonim
With the decline of the gaonate in the first half of the eleventh century, the Jews of various countries lost the central spiritual autho...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 1263: Encyclopedia Ii - 1263 - Events
1263 - War and politics. October - King Alexander III of Scotland defeats the Viking armada of King Haakon IV of Norway in the Battle ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 613 Mitzvot: Encyclopedia Ii - 613 Mitzvot - Other Views
The Talmudic source is not without dissent. Apart from Rabbi Simlai, to whom the number 613 is attributed, other classical sages who hold...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Views Of Astrology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Views Of Astrology - Views In The Modern Era
Strictures against astrology appear in the official Torah commentary of Conservative Judaism and on the official website of Reform Judais...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Principles Of Faith: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Principles Of Faith - Jewish Principles Of Faith
Jewish principles of faith - Monotheism. Judaism is based on a strict unitarian monotheism, the belief in one God. The prayer par excel...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Niddah: Encyclopedia Ii - Niddah - In Practice
Niddah - Calculation of the niddah period. The first five days begin when a woman first sees her monthly vaginal blood flow. She counts...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yosef Karo: Encyclopedia Ii - Yosef Karo - Biography
If his birthplace was Spain, his family probably left for Portugal after the Spanish expulsion in 1492. After the expulsion of the Jews f...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahir: Encyclopedia Ii - Bahir - Authorship
Kabbalists acribed authorship of the Bahir to R. Nehunya, a rabbi of the Mishnaic era, who lived around 100 CE. Medieval Kabbalists write...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahya Ben Asher: Encyclopedia Ii - Bahya Ben Asher - Other Works
His next most famous work was his Kad ha-Kemah ("Receptacle of the Flour") (Constantinople, 1515.) It consists of sixty chapters, alphabe...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Islam And Judaism: Encyclopedia Ii - Islam And Judaism - Interplay Between Jewish And Islamic Thought
There was a great deal of intellectual cultural diffusion between Muslim and Jewish rationalist philosophers of the medieval era. See als...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Reincarnation In Various Religions Traditions And Philosophies
Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions. In India this doctrine was thoroughly established from ancient times. While metempsy...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Rabbis: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Rabbis - Rabbis: Later Middle Ages
List of rabbis - Rabbis: 18th Century. Haim Isaac Carigal, rabbi in Newport, Rhode Island in 1773 who became great influence on Revere...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia Ii - Talmud - External Attacks On The Talmud
The history of the Talmud reflects in part the history of Judaism persisting in a world of hostility and persecution. Almost at the very ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zeved Habat: Encyclopedia Ii - Zeved Habat - History Of Baby Naming For Girls
Rabbi David Golinkin writes that "Amazingly enough, there is no explicit source in the Mishnah or both Talmuds which teaches us when boys...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Origin Of Jewish Mysticism
According to adherents of Kabbalah, the origin of Kabbalah begins with the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible). When read by a Kabbalist, the Torah...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Eschatology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Eschatology - The Afterlife And Olam Haba The World To Come
Although Judaism concentrates on the importance of the Earthly world, all of classical Judaism posits an afterlife. Jewish tradition affi...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yeshu: Encyclopedia Ii - Yeshu - Primary References To Yeshu
In 1554 the Vatican issued a papal bull censoring the Talmud and other Jewish texts, resulting in the removal of references to Yeshu. The...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Siddur: Encyclopedia Ii - Siddur - Popular Siddurim
Below are listed many popular siddurim used by religious Jews. Siddur - Ashkenazi Orthodox. Siddur Ha-Shalem (a.k.a. the Birnbaum Sidd...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rabbinic Literature: Encyclopedia Ii - Rabbinic Literature - Later Works By Historical Period
Rabbinic literature - Works of the Geonim. The Geonim are the rabbis of Sura and Pumbeditha, in Babylon (650 - 1250) : She'iltoth...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Establishment Of The Zionist Movement
Land of Israel Districts · Cities · Transportation Dead Sea · Red Sea · Sea of Galilee Mediterranean · Negev · Judea · Samaria Jer...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Reincarnation In Various Religions, Traditions And Philosophies
Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions. In India this doctrine was thoroughly established from ancient times. While metempsy...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Common Variations In The Belief
In recalling past lives, there are a number of variations that need to be examined, which are important to its adherants. In the Urantia ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Views Of Astrology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Views Of Astrology - Moshe Chaim Luzzatto
In Derekh Hashem Section II, chapter 7, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto discusses the influence of stars on humanity and events on earth. Ther...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yeshu: Encyclopedia Ii - Yeshu - Interpretations Of The Name
There is some debate over the meaning of "Yeshu." It has been used as an acronym for the Hebrew expression yemach shemo vezichro, meaning...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Views Of Astrology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Views Of Astrology - In The Medieval Era
Many rabbis in the Geonic era (after the close of the Talmud, early medieval period) discussed the varying Talmudic and midrashic views o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Yeshu: Encyclopedia Ii - Yeshu - Ben-pandera And Ben-stada
Yeshu - ben-Pandera. In the Tosefta reference to Yeshu, the title ben-Pandera (son of Pandera) is added after the name. The surname Pan...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research
The most detailed collections of personal reports in favor of reincarnation have been published by Dr. Ian Stevenson in works such as Rei...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Views Of Astrology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Views Of Astrology - Rabbinic Rejection Of Astrology
In early classical rabbinic works written in the land of Israel (Jerusalem Talmud and Palestinian midrash compilations) astrologers are k...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Views Of Astrology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Views Of Astrology - Rabbinic Acceptance Of Astrology
However, other statements in the Talmud and in the midrash literature show that many Jews had some level of admiration for astrology. Som...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zeved Habat: Encyclopedia Ii - Zeved Habat - Recent Innovations
In recent years many Ashkenazi Jews have developed a ceremony for girls which is now known as the Simchat Bat (Celebration for the daught...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zeved Habat: Encyclopedia Ii - Zeved Habat - Sephardic Ceremony: Zeved Habat
The Zeved habat ceremony is usually celebrated within the first month of the girl's birth and may be celebrated privately in the synagogu...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Rabbis: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Rabbis - Orthodox Rabbis
List of rabbis - Orthodox rabbis: 19th Century. Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin, (Netziv ; Ha'emek Davar) 19th century head of Volozhin...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Theories Put Forward To Explain The Phenomenon
Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation. A belief in reincarnation does not discount the existence of heaven, hell, or a final judgme...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Rabbis: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Rabbis - Conservative Rabbis
List of rabbis - Conservative rabbis: 19th Century. Zecharias Frankel, 19th century critical historian, founder of the Positive histor...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Views Of Astrology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Views Of Astrology - In The Bible
Astrology is not specifically mentioned in the Torah, the five books of Moses. There are two commandments which have been used by some au...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Rabbis: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Rabbis - Reconstructionist Rabbis
List of rabbis - Reconstructionist rabbis: 20th Century. Mordecai Kaplan, 20th century founder of the Reconstructionist movement in Am...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Islam And Judaism: Encyclopedia Ii - Islam And Judaism - Historical
Jews have often lived in predominantly Islamic nations. Since many national borders have changed over the fourteen centuries of Islamic h...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Overview
Belief in reincarnation is an ancient phenomenon; in various guises humans have believed in a future life since the Ancient Egyptians, pe...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Reincarnation: Encyclopedia Ii - Reincarnation - Objections To Reincarnation
Objections to metempsychosis include: that personal identity depends on memory, and we do not remember our previous incarnations. An answ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - List Of Rabbis: Encyclopedia Ii - List Of Rabbis - Reform Rabbis
List of rabbis - Reform rabbis: 19th Century. Samuel Adler, 19th century German-American rabbi of Temple Emanu-El Emil Hirsch, 19th ce...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Niddah: Encyclopedia Ii - Niddah - Basic Principles
Niddah - Biblical sources. The Torah teaches: "Do not draw close to a woman when she is a niddah; (sexual intercourse) relations are fo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Kabbalah In Non-jewish Society
Kabbalah eventually gained an audience outside of the Jewish community. Nominal-Christian versions of Kabbalah began to develop; by the e...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Debate About Kabbalah In Judaism
Although it was criticized by a small number of rabbis, Kabbalah has nevertheless been a fundamental part of most Jewish theology for man...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Criticisms
Kabbalah - Dualism. One of the most serious and sustained criticisms of Kabbalah is that it may lead away from monotheism, and instead ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rabbinic Literature: Encyclopedia Ii - Rabbinic Literature - Later Works By Category
Rabbinic literature - Jewish law. Halakha is the Jewish way of life. Notable works in this category include: The major codes of Jewish...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Rabbinic Literature: Encyclopedia Ii - Rabbinic Literature - Meforshim
Meforshim is a Hebrew word meaning "(classical rabbinical) commentators" (or roughly meaning "exegetes"), and is used as a substitute for...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia Ii - Talmud - Attitude To The Talmud Within Judaism
The Talmud and its study spread from Babylon to Egypt, northern Africa, Italy, Spain, France, and Germany, regions destined to become abo...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia Ii - Talmud - Structure And Function
Traditional Judaism has always held that the books of the Tanakh were transmitted in parallel with a living, oral tradition. Thus, the To...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Siddur: Encyclopedia Ii - Siddur - History Of The Siddur
The earliest parts of Jewish prayer are the "Shema Yisrael" (Hear O Israel) (Deuteronomy 6:4 et seq) and the set of 19 blessings called t...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Gnosticism And Kabbalah
Gnostic literature testifies to the antiquity of the Kabbalah. Gnosticism - systems of secret spiritual knowledge, or some sources say - ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Textual Antiquity Of Esoteric Mysticism
Early forms of esoteric mysticism existed over 2,000 years ago. Ben Sira warns against it, saying: "You shall have no business with secre...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Mystic Doctrines In Talmudic Times
In Talmudic times the terms Ma'aseh Bereshit ("Works of Creation") and Ma'aseh Merkabah ("Works of the Divine Throne/Chariot") clearly in...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Jewish Eschatology: Encyclopedia Ii - Jewish Eschatology - Mashiach/messiah
The Hebrew word Mashiach (or Moshiach) means anointed one, and refers to a mortal human being. Within Judaism, the Mashiach is a human be...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Islam And Judaism: Encyclopedia Ii - Islam And Judaism - Early Relationship
Muhammad, the final prophet of Islam (considered founder by non-Muslims) preached that the pagan Arabs should abandon polytheism, and acc...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - The Failure Of Sabbatian Mysticism
The spiritual and mystical yearnings of many Jews remained frustrated after the death of Rabbi Isaac Luria and his disciples and colleagu...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Kabbalistic Understanding Of God
Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) teaches that God is neither matter nor spirit. Rather God is the creator of both, but is himself neither. But...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Practical Applications
The Midrash and Talmud are replete with the use of Divine names and incantations that are claimed to effect supernatural or metaphysical ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - Foretelling The Future
A small number of Kabbalists have attempted to foretell events by the Kabbalah. The term has come to be used to refer to secret science i...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Kabbalah: Encyclopedia Ii - Kabbalah - The Human Soul In Kabbalah
The Zohar posits that the human soul has three elements, the nefesh, ru'ach, and neshamah. The nefesh is found in all humans, and enters ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia Ii - Talmud - Historical Study
The Talmud contains little serious biographical studies of the people discussed therein, and the same tractate will conflate the points o...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia Ii - Talmud - Modern Day Talmud Scholars
Talmud scholars of the 20th century include: Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik Rabbi Elchonon Wasserman Rabbi Boruch Ber Lebowitz (the Bircas Shm...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahir: Encyclopedia Ii - Bahir - Editions And Commentaries
One of the most accurate manuscripts of the final form of Sefer Bahir was written in 1331 by Meir ben Solomon Abi-Sahula; his commentary ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Bahya Ben Asher: Encyclopedia Ii - Bahya Ben Asher - His Torah Commentary
Bahya's principal work was his commentary on the Torah (the five books of Moses), in the preparation of which he thoroughly investigated ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 613 Mitzvot: Encyclopedia Ii - 613 Mitzvot - Works Enumerating The Commandments
In practice there is no one definitive list that explicates the 613 laws. The differences come about because in some places the Torah lis...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Niddah: Encyclopedia Ii - Niddah - Reasons For Practice
Niddah - Need for Tahara - purity. A woman is a niddah until she undergoes taharah ("purification"). The taharah process involves a min...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Responsa: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Responsa - Talmudic Era
The responsa of the first five centuries are not contained in special works; they are scattered through the writings of both Talmuds (the...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Responsa: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Responsa - Twentieth Century
History of Responsa - Conservative and Masorti responsa. Main articles: Conservative responsa, and [[{{{2}}}]], and [[{{{3}}}]], and [...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Responsa: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Responsa - Acharonim
This section covers responsa written during fifteenth to the eighteenth century, and includes responsa of Italian, Turkish, German, and P...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - History Of Responsa: Encyclopedia Ii - History Of Responsa - Geonim
During the Geonic period (650-1250 CE), the Babylonian schools were the chief centers of Jewish learning; the Geonim, the heads of these ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - 613 Mitzvot: Encyclopedia Ii - 613 Mitzvot - Significance Of 613
The Talmud (tractate Makkoth 23b) calculates that the numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew word "Torah" is 611. The Torah states that...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Relevant Articles
Zionism - Types of Zionism. General Zionism Labour Zionism Religious Zionism Revisionist Zionism Christian Zionism Zionism - Zionist...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Jewish Reaction To Zionism
Support for the Zionist movement was not initially a mainstream position in the world Jewish community, and it was actively opposed by ma...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Zionist Initiatives
While Zionism is based heavily upon religious tradition linking the Jewish people to the Land of Israel, the modern movement was original...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Talmud: Encyclopedia Ii - Talmud - Translations
Talmud - Translations of Talmud Bavli. There are four contemporary translations of the Talmud into English: The Soncino Hebrew-English...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Zionism And The Arab Muslims
Much of Arab Muslim society rejects the notion that Jews, as a historically subjugated minority, could be integrated into Muslim society ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - The Struggle For Palestine
With the defeat and dismantlement of the Ottoman Empire in 1918, and the establishment of the British Mandate over Palestine by the Leagu...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Non-jewish Zionism
Many non-Jews support the State of Israel, and some of these may choose to define themselves as Zionists. Non-Jewish support for Zionism ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Anti-zionism And Post-zionism
More than 50 years after the founding of the State of Israel, and after more than 80 years of Arab-Jewish conflict over Israel, the West ...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Zionism: Encyclopedia Ii - Zionism - Zionism And Israel
In 1947 Britain announced its intention to withdraw from Palestine, and on 29 November the United Nations General Assembly voted to parti...   » Read the article

Encyclopedia - Judaism And Evolution: Encyclopedia Ii - Judaism And Evolution - Classical Rabbinic Teachings
It is likely that the majority of classical rabbis held that God created the world some 6,000 years ago, and created Adam and Eve from cl...   » Read the article