Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Journal of Interreligious Studies on the Quran and the Bible

Analyzing and Criticizing the Position of Minhāj in Jewish Jurisprudence and Its Impact on the Development and Refinement of the Religious Teachings of the Bible

Document Type : Original Article

Author
Assistant Professor, Department of Religions, Imam Khomeini Educational and Research Institute, Qom, Iran.
Abstract
Next to Islam, Jewish jurisprudence is the most extensive jurisprudence among all divine laws. "The Bible" is the most important written source and "Minhāj" is considered one of the most useful non-written sources in Jewish law. The important question of the upcoming article is that according to the special nature of Minhāj and the experiences gained from human life in different times and places, ‘Can the current realm of the authority of Minhāj in Judaism be reconciled with the realities in societies and the defined position of the Bible among the sources of Jewish law and the principle of Torah rule?’ The present study aims to identify the roots of some problems and behavioral chaos attributed to religion and to provide the necessary suggestion for method reform. The following article investigates the nature of Jewish jurisprudence and religious sources in Judaism with a descriptive-analytical method, and after studying and analyzing the position of the Bible and Minhāj and its various dimensions, it comes to the conclusion that considering the basic position of the holy book and the Torah in Judaism as the main sources of Sharia and the source of revelation, as well as the disturbing results of accepting the independent source of Minhāj throughout history, must be seriously reflected in the current territory of Minhāj.
Keywords

  1. Bible. (1991), New York: IVY Books.
  2. Alidoost, A. (1980 AD/1401 AH). Sources of jurisprudence. Qom: Al-Mustafa International Translation and Publishing Center.
  3. Al-Kanani, T. (2014 AD/1393 SH). Jaigahe ʻUrf Dar Estenbat. Second edition. Qom: Al-Mustafa International Translation and Publishing Center.
  4. Azarhian, H. (n.d.). Shar’yiate dine Yahood. N.p.: N.n.
  5. Bedzow; J. Broyde, M. (2020). The Role of Custom in the Jurisprudence of the Mishna Berura, in: Minhājim: Custom and Practice in Jewish Life. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter.
  6. Bedzow, I. (2012). Minhāj Israel Torah He (The Custom of Israel is Torah): The Role of Custom in the Formation of Orthodoxy, in: Leo Baeck Institute Yearbook. New York: New York Medical College.
  7. Bloch, M. (1891). Sha’arei, Teshuvot Maharam. Berlin: Ben R. Barukh.
  8. Greenstone, J. (n.d.). Custom (Hebrew, "Minhāj"). www.jewishencyclopedia.com.
  9. Grosman, S. (5783). Minhājim: A Brief History and Overview, in: Hakhmei Lev: The Torah Journal. Toronto: Beth Avraham Yoseph. Vol. 3, Tishrei.
  10. Hinnells, J. (2006 AD/1385 SH). Handbook of Living Religions, translated by Abdur Rahim Tashit. Qom: Publishing Center of Islamic Propaganda Office of Qom Seminary.
  11. Jacobs, J; Hirsch, E. (1906). "Proselyte." Jewish Encyclopedia. V.10. New York & London: Funk & Wagnalls cpmpany.
  12. Kanarfogel, E. (2019). "Compromise and Inclusivity in Establishing Minhāj and Halakha: Contextualizing the Approach of R. Meir of Rothenburg." Minhājim. Berlin: De Gruyter.
  13. Katouzian, N. (2004 AD/1383 SH). Introduction to the Science of Law and Study in Iran's Legal System. Tehran: Sahami Publishing Corporation.
  14. Cohn, A.  (1971 AD/1350 SH). Everyman's Talmud (Ganjineei Az Talmud). (Gorgani, A; Sadripour, A. Trans). Tehran: Yehuda Hai.
  15. Levy, H. (1978 AD/1357 SH). Moses Commandments and Laws. Tehran: N.n.
  16. Meyer, M. A. (2020). "The Changing Role of Religious Custom in Reform Judaism." Minhājim: Custom and Practice in Jewish Life. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter.
  17. Muskin, E. (2018). Sefer Minhājim; Young Israel of Century City. Los Angeles, California: N.n.
  18. Talmud. (www.sefaria.org).
  19. The Principles of Jewish Law, single volume English edition.
  20. Tosafot. (www.sefaria.org).
  21. Turner, J. (1996). The Dictionary of Art. New York: Grove's Dictionaries.
  22. Soferim. (www.sefaria.org).
  23. Soleimani, H. (2005 AD/1384 SH). Criminal Justice in Judaism (in Persian). Qom: Religions and Religions Studies and Research Center.
  24. Steinsaltz, A. (2014 AD/1393 SH). The Essential Talmud. (Talebi Darabi, B. Trans). Third edition. Qom: University of Religions and Denominations.
  25. www.jewishencyclopedia.com.
  26. www.yoatzot.org.