|
Literacy
Commentary
History
Philosophy
Liturgy
KaraiteLibrary
Education
Anti-Missionary
Modern
Commentary
Torah
& Spirit
Family Life
Tahorah
and Tum’ah
Questions
KaraiteJudaica
Children
.
Home
|
|

|
KARAISM
FAQ |
Q: What is
Karaism?
A: See: What
is Karaism?
Q: Why do
the Karaites reject the Oral Torah?
A: 1. Nowhere
in the text of the Torah does it say that there is an additional "oral
law", quite to the contrary it states that YHWH instructed Moses to write
all that which He commanded.
2. In the text of the Torah it says (twice: Devarim [Deuteronomy] 4:2
and 13:1) that it is forbidden to add to or subtract from it.
3. In the Torah itself, it says: "Wayehi KeKhallot Mosheh LiKhtov Et-Divrei
HaTorah-HaZot `Al-Sefer `Ad Tummam" [And it came to pass , when Moses
had finished writing the words of this Law in a book, completely] (Devarim
[Deuteronomy] 31:24).
4. In Yehoshu'a` [Joshua] it states clearly: "WeAharei-Khen Qara' Et-Kol-Divrei
HaTorah HaBerakhah WeHaQelalah KeKhol-HaKatuv BeSefer HaTorah. Lo'-Hayah
Davar MiKol Asher-Siwwah Mosheh Asher Lo'-Qara' Yehoshu'a` Neghed Kol-Qehal
Yisra'el WeHaNashim WeHaTaf WeHaGer HaHolekh BeQirbam" [And after that
he read ALL the words of the Law, the blessing, and the Curse, according
to all that is WRITTEN in the book of the Law. There was not a word of
all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not READ before all of the congregation
of Israel, the women, the children, and the resident alien that walked
in their midst.] (Yehoshu'a` [Joshua] 8:34-35).
5. In all of the Mishnah, Gemara, etc. that comprise the Rabbanite "oral
law" not once does it say "and God commanded . . ." or "and God said .
. .", but, rather it always says "Rabbi so-and-so said . . ." or "others
said...".
Q: Are the
Karaites descendants of the Khazars?
A: Avraham
Firkovitch, a leader of the Karaite community of Eastern Europe, developed
a theory that the Karaites were not actually descendants of Jews, but
rather the descendants of a people known as the Khazars, who as a nation
converted to Judaism (purportedly). Firkovitch did this in an attempt
to alleviate the Karaite community from the taxation and conscription
laid upon the Rabbanite community in Tsarist Russia. Firkovitch's claims
were taken seriously by the Tsarist government, and - as a consequence
of his efforts, along with other prominent Karaite leaders - Karaites
were granted equal status with Moslems in Russia (which was a step up
from the status of Rabbanites). No one, however, in the academic community
today takes Firkovitch's claims seriously.
Q: Do Karaites
believe in Jesus or Mohammad?
A: Contrary
to many claims, Karaites emphatically do not believe in Jesus or
Mohammad.
|