The Genesis of Karaitism and Jewish Scripturalism

Subject Areas : Judaism

Mitra Rezaee Gazerkhani ¹ , tahereh hajebrahimi ²

1 - Department of Religions and Mysticism, Faculty of Humanities, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 - Associate Professor, Department of Religions and Misyticism, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Sciences of Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch of Tehran

Received: 2019-02-27 Accepted : 2023-05-27 Published : 2023-02-20

Keywords: Keyword: "written Torah ", Scripturalism", "Karaite", "Anan ben David",

Abstract :

The article introduces the Karaite sect in Judaism, which emerged in response to the growth and final compilation of the oral tradition (Talmud) in the 8th century CE. The Karaites, under the leadership of Anan ibn David, believe only in the authority of the Bible and do not consider tradition or the oral Torah as valid sources. They adopted a literalist method for understanding the Bible and were more strict in religious practices compared to other Jewish sects. However, the Karaites' emphasis on individual freedom to interpret the Bible in the light of their own understanding led to a lack of cohesion and unity among them, resulting in various and sometimes conflicting thoughts within the sect. The article aims to examine the genesis of Karaitism and Jewish scripturalism, which played a significant role in the history of Judaism.

References:

- ابان، ابا، قوم من، تاریخ بنی اسرائیل، نعمت الله شکیب، تهران، چاپخانه بانک ملی ایران، 1352.

- اپستاین، ایزیدور، یهودیت، بررسی تاریخی، ترجمه بهزاد سالکی، نشرموسسه پژوهشی حکمت و فلسفه ایران، سال، 1385.

- رحمتی، محمد کاظم، «قرائیم و کلام اسلامی»، تاریخ و تمدن اسلامی، سال هشتم، شماره شانزدهم، پاییز و زمستان، 1391.

- شهرستانی، محمدبن عبدالکریم، الملل والنحل، دارالکتب العلمیه بیروت، البطعه الثانی،1413.

- قرقسانی، یعقوب بن افرایم، الانوار و المراقب، بی جا، بی نا. 1939-1943.

- کتاب مقدس، ترجمه قدیم، انتشارات ایلام، چاپ سوم، بی جا، 2002.

- گندمی نصرآبادی، رضا. «جستاری در کلام قرائیمی» نشریه معرفت کلامی، سال سوم، شماره اول، بهار و تابستان 1391.

- Astren, Fred, Karaite Judaism and Historical Understanding, Columbia,South Carolina, 2004.

- Gil, Moshe, “The Origins of the Karaites”, Karaite Judaism, A Guide to its History and Literary Sources, Polliack, Meira, Brill, Leiden, Boston,ed., 2003.

- Graetz, Heinrich, History of The Jews, Philadelphia, The Jewish Publication Society of America, 1974, vol.3.

- Harris Rule, William,History of the karaite jwis, London,1870.

- Heller Joseph Elijah, Nemoy Leon ,“Karaite Doctrine”, Encyclopedia Judaica, Second Edition, Michael Berenbaum (ed.), Macmillan Reference, U S A., Jerusalem, Keter Publishing House, Thomson Gale, 2007, vol. 11

- Lasker, Citonne, Ben-Shammai, Haggai,“Karaite”, Encyclopaedia Judaica, Second Edition, Michael Berenbaum (ed.), Macmillan Reference, U S A., Jerusalem, Keter Publishing House, Thomson Gale, 2007, vol. 11.

- Lasker, Daniel “Islamic Influences on Karaite Origins”, in Studies in Islamic Origins and Judaic Traditions, vol. 2, W, M Brinner and S, D Ricks, (ed.) Atlanta, GA., Scholars Press, 1989.

- Nemoy, Leon , Frank, Daniel, ”Karaite” Encyclopadia of Religion, Second Edition, Editor in Chief, Lindsay Jones, Thomson, Gale, Macmillan Reference, U, S, A., 2005, vol. 8.

- Nemoy, Leon, “Anan ben David”, Encyclopedia of Religion, Eliade, Mircea, (ed.), Macmillan Publishing, Company, New York, London, 1987, vol.1.

- Nemoy, Leon,’’Karaite”,Encyclopedia of Religion, Eliade, Mircea, (ed.), Macmillan Publishing, Company, New York, London, 1987, vol.8.

- Nemoy, Leon,”Anan Ben David”, Encyclopaedia Judaica, Second Edition, Michael Berenbaum (ed.), Macmillan Reference, U S A., Jerusalem, Keter Publishing House, Thomson Gale, 2007, vol. 2.

- Polliack, Meira, “Rethinking Karaism, Between Judaism and Islam”, Tel-Aviv University, Israel, 2006.

- Sherbok, Dan Cohn, Judaism, History, Belief and Practice , Routledge Taylor & Francis, 2005.

- Sirat, Colette, A History of Jewish philosophy in the Middle Ages, Cambridge University Press, 1985.

- Wald, Stephen G.,‘’Talmud“ Encyclopedia Judaica, Second Edition, Michael Berenbaum (ed.), Macmillan Reference, U S A., Jerusalem, Keter Publishing House, Thomson Gale, 2007, vol.19.