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36 - Man, sin, and redemption in Rabbinic Judaism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2008

By
Steven Katz
Edited by
Steven T. Katz
Steven Katz
Affiliation:
Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies and Department of Religion, Boston University
Steven T. Katz
Affiliation:
Boston University
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Summary

INTRODUCTION

The religious anthropology of the Sages of the rabbinic era, that is, their conception(s) of man, sin, and redemption, is one of the absolute foundations of Judaism both as a theological Weltanschauung and as a lived religious practice. In the present chapter an attempt will be made to offer a reasonable summary and exploration of these views.

THE CONCEPT OF MAN

human beings as servants

The Rabbis began their reflections on the human condition with what they took to be the primal fact of human existence: human beings, like all else in the universe, were created by God and therefore are subordinate to Him. Thus, in explaining the reason for the Psalms selected to be read on specific days, Rabbi Akiva tells us:

On the first day they sang Psalm 24.1, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,” because He had created and assigned it and was the Ruler in His Universe; on the second day they sang Psalm 48. 2, “Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised,” because He had then divided His works and was King over them; on the sixth day they sang Psalm 93.1, “The Lord reigneth; He is clothed in majesty,” because He had then finished His works and became King over them.

(BT Rosh H. 31a)

Keywords

redemptionRabbinic JudaismGodhuman actionsin
Type
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The Cambridge History of Judaism , pp. 925 - 945
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2006

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