About Karaite Judaism

Posted by Sigal Mendelson on June 30, 2009 under Israel history, Traditions | 3 Comments to Read

“It is the personal responsibility of every individual to study the Hebrew Scripture and ultimately decide for themselves the correct meaning.” This unique group within Judaism practices Judaism as close as possible to the original scripts.

Karaism is Judaism according to the Hebrew Bible. The word Karaite (Hebrew: Bnei Mikra) means “Followers of the Bible” (“Mikra” is the Hebrew word for Bible). Karaites believe only in the authority of the Hebrew Bible and reject all later innovations such as the Rabbinic “Oral Law”.

Karaism does not reject Biblical interpretation but rather holds every interpretation up to the same objective scrutiny regardless of its source.

Karaite Jews belief states that we don’t have the authority to alter anything in the scripts and Tora. They do not take it literally since every written work requires interpretation. Instead, Karaism requires that Biblical interpretation strive for the plain meaning of the text, as it would have been understood by the ancient Israelites when it was first given.

Karaism has been around since the Torah was given on Mt Sinai. It was only in late Second Temple times that other sects appeared and challenged the authority of the Hebrew Bible.


Synagogue, Ramla	Synagogue, Ramla	Synagogue, Bat Yam

Out of approximately 30,000 Karaim worldwide, 25,000 live today in Israel, having immigrated from Arab countries such as Egypt and Iraq and the rest scattered in France, Unites States, Turkey and Russia. There are about 11 Karaite centers in Israel spread across Israel in Jerusalem, Ashdod, Bat Yam, Beer Sheva, Aard, Ofakim, Beit Ezra Moshav Matzliach, Moshav Ranan and Kiryat Gat.


Synagogue, Rana	Synagogue, Ashdod	Synagogue, Jerusalem

Each Karaite spiritual center typically combines a synagogue (Prayers include morning and evening, Shabbat Rosh Khodesh and holidays), Beit Midrash and a community center serving for gatherings and occasions such as Bar-Mitzva, weddings etc.

Pictures courtesy of Israel Karaim Portal.

More information at karaite-korner.org.

E-H Dictionary

English	How pronounced	Hebrew
Tradition	Masoret	מסורת
Customs (traditions)	Minhagim	מינהגים
Belief (also Faith)	Emuna	אמונה
Interpretation	Peirush	פירוש
Prayer	T’fila	תפילה
Month	Khodesh	חודש
Fist of the )Hebrew) month	Rosh Khodesh	ראש חודש

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Dowidh said,

Qaraite Judaism is the true observance according to the peshat meanings commanded at Sinai. Unfortunately, the rabbis have created another religion then the one given to us over 3500 years ago. We follow the Torah according to the plain meaning of the text, striving to put ourselves in the shoes of the ancient Israelite shepherd or farmers, interpreting each verse as the ancients did when hearing the Torah read aloud to them every seven years. The Torah does not need an Oral Torah
to define things which were part of every day life in ancient Israel.
This can sometimes be confusing to us thousands of years later but
when the Torah was given it was easily understood by simple Israelite
shepherds and farmers. When the Torah used words like “right” and
“left” every ancient Israelite understood what these words meant
because they were native speakers of Biblical Hebrew. In the same way
they knew what a Sukkah was (remember, they had dwelt in them before
the commandment), what a foreskin was, and what it meant to slaughter
an animal. It is amazing that anyone could accept the rabbinical claim that an
Oral Torah was revealed to Moses during his 40 days and 40 nights on
Mount Sinai. You would think that if YHWH revealed an Oral Torah to
Moses, which is supposedly indispensable to understanding the written
Torah, this fact would be mentioned somewhere in the Tanakh, at least
once. Yet in over 1000 pages of prophetic writings there is not a
single reference to the Oral Torah.
Sithuraj Ponraj said,

Shalom from Singapore! We are a group of people studying Hebrew and the Hebrew scriptures from the perspective of the language and culture of Israel. Your website is very interesting. Would love to have articles from you in our new blog http://www.hebrew-ways.blogspot.com. Please feel free to send some, maybe with a picture.

Sithu
Hebrew Student said,

Thanks for this extremely interesting post. The Karaite Jews are small in number, but they have been highly instrumental in preserving the text of the Hebrew Bible, and their dedication to the Tanakh. There is evidence that the Massoretes were Karaite Jews, making sure that the Hebrew Tanakh was preserved carefulyl down through the centuries. They are an amazing group.