Saturday 3 October 2015

Karaites/ Rabbis - Friends or Foes?



Many of the polemics appearing on this blog have been strongly critical of certain Rabbinic concepts and practices, namely the oral law.   Also, historically, Rabbanites were highly critical of the Karaite movement, and brought in measures to ban or convert them.

However, it is worthwhile asking if they can actually be friends or is adversity an unavoidable part of their relationship?

Perhaps the problem lies in the battles fought over the Temple in the time of the last serving Priests, the Sadducees. Here, there was true enmity between the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Later, the Karaite movement faced problems with the Rabbanites, and this resulted in polemics, but also on occasion, some violence.

Today, the Jewish world, as far as the religious practicing sectors, is dominated by the Rabbanites, who may also be Reform or Conservative. The Karaites are more of an endangered species, and do not pose a threat to anyone. There are thousands of yeshivot,  but very few places of Karaite study. Also, the Rabbanites of today consider the Karaites to be religiously practicing but mistaken on one fundamental issue.  The 2 groups are the only 2 Jewish denominations who accept the Divine status of the Torah.  Reform, and Conservative, which are the largest in the USA, have simply  discarded this belief.

SO to address the problem – ideologically, the Karaites are opponents to the unique concept of the oral law of the rabbanites. This, is for the Orthodox, a heretical view, and one that is scary, since it means loss of one’s investment in Olam Haba. So there is fear an enmity between the 2.

On the other hand, there is a potential for some kind of friendship.  In times of adversity, Jews should try to unite. There is much that the Rabbinic world can offer to Karaite oriented Jews, be it community, organisational, educational etc.  And one can get tired of fighting. The Karaites can contribute to Torah scholarship.  Many Rabbinical commentaries are in fact “Karaite” ie they focus on the meaning of the Torah verses.  Of course, many others bring in Talmudic and midrashic interpretations, and these are not always congruent with the Karaite view.

A great Rabbi and his wife, Eitam and Naama Henkin have been murdered by our enemies.  Rabbi Henkin was a great Torah scholar, and lover of Eretz Yisrael.  As Karaites, we mourn the righteous and innocent Jews who are murdered by terrorists, and our sympathy goes out to their families.