
In Judaism, there are no saints in the Catholic sense of the word, which involves performing miracles. However, the Jewish faith does revere spiritual giants who have devoted their lives to God and His Torah. These individuals are not officially canonized but are recognised and respected by the people and through history. They are referred to as k'doshim, and their sacrifice for God and Judaism is acknowledged. While the term saint is not used, the Jewish concept of ḥasidut or saintliness is an important principle, representing a divine and lofty type of piety that transcends legal boundaries.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Definition | A person recognised as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God |
Jewish Definition | Saintliness ("ḥasidut") is distinguished from holiness ("ḳedushah"), which is part of the Mosaic law. Saintliness is a divine and lofty type of piety, and a higher morality, not bound by law. |
Jewish Saints | Adam, David, Job, Hillel the Elder, Samuel ha-Ḳaṭan, R. Simeon, Judah b. Baba, Judah ben Ilai, R. Huna, R. Ḥisda, Mar Zuṭra, R. Jose Ḳaṭanta, R. Judah ben Samuel he-Ḥasid of Regensburg |
Jewish Saintliness | Determination not to do an injury or cause damage to a fellow man, self-sacrifice, forgiveness, restraint, cheerfulness, readiness to greet everyone, good deeds, love for God, modesty, fear of God, fear of sin, inspiration, capacity to bring about resurrection, purity of heart, severity against slander |
What You'll Learn
Saints in the Jewish faith are called k'doshim
Saints in the Jewish faith are called kdoshim. While the term "saint" is commonly associated with Christianity, it can also be used in a broader sense to refer to individuals revered for their holiness across various religious traditions, including Judaism.
In Judaism, the concept of saintliness or "ḥasidut" is distinct from holiness or "kedushah," which is rooted in the Mosaic law. Saintliness represents a divine form of piety and morality that transcends legal boundaries. It embodies a profound devotion to God and the Torah, rather than mere obedience to the Law.
The Jewish saints, or kdoshim, are individuals whose lives exemplify exceptional spiritual dedication. They are revered for their unwavering commitment to living for God and their interpretation of the Torah. These individuals are not officially canonized but are recognized and honoured by the Jewish community as a whole and through history.
The Jewish saints include individuals such as Adam, David, and Job, who are described as "ḥasidim ha-rishonim" or "early saints." They are seen as embodying the highest levels of piety and virtue. The Talmud also mentions saints by name, including Hillel the Elder, Samuel ha-Ḳaṭan, and R. Simeon. These individuals are celebrated for their moral and spiritual contributions to Jewish tradition.
It is important to note that the Jewish concept of saints differs from the Catholic notion of saints, who are typically associated with performing miracles. In Judaism, only God is believed to perform miracles, and the term "saint" is not used in the same context as in Catholicism. Instead, the Jewish faith honours individuals who have devoted their lives to God and the Torah, demonstrating extraordinary spiritual virtues.
The kdoshim, or Jewish saints, play a significant role in Jewish tradition, serving as inspirational figures who embody the highest ideals of spiritual devotion, morality, and piety. Their lives and teachings continue to guide and shape Jewish spiritual practices and beliefs.
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Jews do not pray to saints
In Judaism, saints are referred to as ḥasīd or tzadik, and they are recognised as people who have devoted their lives to living for God and His Torah. However, Jews do not pray to saints.
In Jewish tradition, only God is prayed to, and it is forbidden to pray to anyone else. Saints in the Jewish faith are not considered to be intermediaries or miracle workers, as they are in some other religions. Instead, they are revered as "giants of the spirit" and their status is granted by the people and history, rather than through an official process of canonisation.
While there are individuals who are considered saints in the Jewish faith, the concept of sainthood is different from that in other religions, particularly Catholicism. In Catholicism, saints are officially recognised by the Church and are believed to have performed miracles. They are venerated and prayed to, and are seen as having a special relationship with God, able to intercede on behalf of those still on Earth. This is not the case in Judaism, where the term "saint" is used in a more general sense to refer to individuals of great holiness or piety.
In Judaism, the focus is on living a pious and virtuous life, rather than on performing miracles or attaining sainthood. The concept of saintliness, or "ḥasidut", is distinguished from holiness, or "ḳedushah", which is part of the Mosaic law. Saintliness is seen as a divine and lofty type of piety, not bound by law, and is considered to be a higher morality. It is something that anyone can aspire to, through study, energy, cleanliness, separateness, purity, modesty, fear of sin, inspiration, and capacity to bring about resurrection.
While Jews do not pray to saints, they do recognise and honour certain individuals who embody the qualities of saintliness. These individuals are not seen as intermediaries or objects of worship, but as examples of a life dedicated to God and His teachings.
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Saints in Judaism are not the same as saints in Christianity
In Catholicism, a saint is a special sign of God's activity, and saints are believed to be able to intercede for salvation and help mankind either through direct communion with God or by personal intervention. Saints are recognised either by official ecclesiastical declaration or by popular acclamation. Formal canonisation is a lengthy process, often taking many years or even centuries. There are four major steps to becoming a saint in the Catholic Church. The first stage is an investigation of the candidate's life by an expert. After this, the official report on the candidate is submitted to the bishop of the pertinent diocese and more study is undertaken. The information is then sent to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints of the Holy See for evaluation at the universal level of the church. If the application is approved, the candidate may be granted the title of 'Venerable' (stage 2).
In Judaism, the concept of saintliness is explored in rabbinic thought, with the term 'Tzadik' ('righteous') and its associated meanings developing from its Talmudic contrast with 'Hasid' ('pious'). In Ḥasidic Judaism, the institution of the Tzadik assumed central importance, combining former elite mysticism with a social movement for the first time. While Jews do not have saints in the same way that Catholics do, they do revere "giants of the spirit whose lives have been devoted to living for God and His Torah". These individuals are granted their status by the people as a whole and by history, rather than through an official process of canonisation.
In Jewish tradition, saints are not considered to be intermediaries between God and humans, nor do they perform miracles. This is a key difference between saints in Judaism and saints in Christianity. In Catholicism, saints are believed to be able to intercede on behalf of humans, and they are often invoked as protectors against specific illnesses or disasters. In Judaism, only God is believed to perform miracles, and it is forbidden to pray to anyone other than God. While there is a custom in Morocco to visit the graves and tombs of tzadiqim (righteous individuals) for hillula and prayers, this is not considered to be praying to the saint, nor is it seen as treating them as an intermediary.
Saints in Judaism are not made or created, but recognised
In Judaism, the concept of sainthood differs from that of Catholicism, where saints are recognised as having performed miracles and are venerated accordingly. In Jewish tradition, saints are not "made or created", but rather, individuals who have led pious and virtuous lives devoted to God and His Torah are recognised as saints.
While there is no formal canonisation process in Judaism, certain individuals throughout history have been revered as saints by the Jewish people. These individuals, known as "k'doshim", are distinguished by their exceptional degree of holiness and closeness to God, often sacrificing their lives for their faith.
The Talmud, for example, recognises "early saints" or "ḥasidim ha-rishonim", who were considered a few elect individuals in each generation. These saints, such as Hillel the Elder and Samuel ha-Ḳaṭan, were praised for their extreme piety, morality, and devotion to prayer.
Another important figure in Jewish sainthood is R. Judah ben Samuel he-Ḥasid of Regensburg, whose ethical code, "Sefer Ḥasidim", serves as a guide for those aspiring to saintliness. He emphasised the importance of forgiveness, restraint from evil, cheerfulness, and greeting everyone, even non-Jews, with kindness.
In summary, while Judaism does not have an official process for declaring saints, it recognises individuals who have exemplified exceptional piety and devotion to God. These saints, or "k'doshim", are revered for their virtuous lives and sacrifices, but they are not venerated or prayed to in the same way as Catholic saints.
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Saints in Judaism are not necessarily moral models
The Talmud recognises the "early saints" ("ḥasidim ha-rishonim") as a few elect ones, perhaps one or two in a generation. This class became extinct in the tannaitic period with the death of R. Jose, a disciple of R. Johanan b. Zakkai.
The qualifications of a saint are not limited to moral behaviour. A saint must also be a man of wide learning. An "'am ha-areẓ" cannot be a saint. The "ḥasid shoṭeh" (foolish saint) is classed with the scheming villain and the celibate woman; all of them are destructive elements of the world.
The successive stages by which one reaches saintliness, according to R. Phinehas ben Jair, are: study of the Law, energy, cleanliness, separateness (individuality), purity, modesty, fear of sin, inspiration, and capacity to bring about resurrection.
In the Eastern Orthodox Church, a similar idea is expressed: sainthood does not necessarily reflect a moral model, but communion with God. There are countless examples of people who lived in great sin and became saints by humility and repentance, such as Mary of Egypt, Moses the Ethiopian, and Dysmas, the repentant thief who was crucified.
In Judaism, saints are not seen as intermediaries or miracle workers. It is forbidden to pray to anyone other than God, and only God performs miracles.
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Frequently asked questions
While the Jewish faith does not have saints in the same way as the Catholic Church, it does revere "giants of the spirit whose lives have been devoted to living for God and His Torah". These individuals are granted their status by the people and history, rather than through official ecclesiastical recognition. They are known as "k'doshim" and their acts of sacrifice are referred to as "Kiddush HaShem".
In the Catholic Church, saints are individuals who have been formally recognised by the Church as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. They are typically declared saints through a process of canonisation. Jewish "k'doshim", on the other hand, are not granted an official status by a central authority, but are revered by the Jewish people for their spiritual devotion and acts of sacrifice.
Yes, one example is Rabbi Judah ben Samuel he-Ḥasid of Regensburg, a saint of the Middle Ages. His ethical code, "Sefer Ḥasidim", outlines methods and regulations for leading a saintly life. Other examples include Hillel the Elder, Samuel ha-Ḳaṭan, and R. Simeon.