Basic philosophical ideas associated with the Sabbath

The basic ideas of Judaism are present throughout the year during important Jewish holidays. However, some of these festive motives repeat much more often - even every seven days on the Sabbath holiday. Shabbat integrates a theological, historical and educational dimension. Shabbat is also a fundamental expression of the philosophical principles of Jewish culture, which became the basis for European civilization. The celebration of this holiday is a reminder of the history of salvation, of covenant and commitment, but also of the joy that comes from God as a chosen one. The most important motives that appear in the celebration of the Sabbath and to which we pay attention are: creation (Rash Hashana), deliverance (Passau), covenants with God (Shavuot), upbringing and education of people who live near their God (Sukot) with an emphasis on social justice, peace and life.

Faith in ressurrection of the dead and creatio ex nihilo in 2 Macc 7

The narrative of the martyrdom of a mother and seven brothers has had an enormous impact on the history of both Church and Synagogue. The cult of the Maccabean martyrs began to develop very early, so that in the fourth century at the latest, they were celebrated among the Christians. The story about them is to be found in the seventh chapter of the Second Book of Maccabees. Its canonical status has become the subject of debate in the last few centuries, both among the Orthodox and other Christians. The Synagogue rejected this book in its entirety, although it contains the oldest recorded testimony about the celebration of Hanukkah, one of the most important Jewish holidays today. However, the story of the mother and brothers remained preserved in Talmud in a certain form. Apart from the story of martyrdom, the seventh chapter hides one of the oldest, and certainly one of the most vivid descriptions of the early faith in the resurrection from the dead. In addition, the seventh chapter reveals the oldest explicitly expressed faith in God, who is the absolute Creator and who creates the world out of nothing. This idea will later become one of the central motives of Christian and Jewish cosmology.

The Jewish Year

This chapter reflects on the Jewish year. It begins by discussing the importance of proper sabbath observance for Jewish women. Sabbath contains within itself the great blessing that gives one spiritual and physical energies for the rest of the week. The chapter then considers the preparations for the Day of Judgement. It also looks at significant Jewish holidays, including the festival of Hanukah; Shabat Shekalim; the sabbath of Zakhor, which always falls on the last sabbath before Purim; Passover, which is the festival of freedom; and Shabat Nahamu, the sabbath of consolation. In addition, the chapter highlights two women who were especially noteworthy for having rescued the Jewish people: Judith and Esther. Judith, the great heroine of Hanukah, beheaded the terrible antisemite Holofernes with her sword, and Esther saved her people from the Jew-hater Haman.

Setting the Stage

chapter 2 lays out the Antiochene setting prior to Julian’s arrival there in the late summer of 362. The chapter explores the cosmopolitan nature of Antioch and the embeddedness of Jews within the city and its territory, as well as their interactions with local Christians and Hellenes. Many Christians kept Jewish laws and worshipped in Jewish synagogues. There is also evidence that some Antiochene Hellenes celebrated Jewish holidays with Jews and Christians. Some may have considered the Jewish god to be the highest god. Julian’s arguments about Jews draw on their influential place in Antioch and are designed to interact with Jewish sites in its landscape and to alter how Christians and Hellenes understand these sites and Jewish practices.