jps@stcvax.UUCP (Jeff Snover) (11/29/84)
Recently I have heard some things about "Elohim" and I would like
to find out some more. Supposedly it was Elohim that created man.
- Who or what is Elohim?
- What is the difference between "Elohim" and "GOD"?
- Elohim is suppose to be a 7 aspect(?) man/woman entity.
What does this mean?
- There is suppose to be a relation between Elohim and the
kabalistic tree of life. What is this relation?
- Do people pray/worship/praise Elohim specifically?
Why? How is these different from those to GOD?
- Are there any good books that I can read to find some
detailed information about Elohim?
--
Jeffrey P. Snover - STC StorageTek (Disk Division)
uucp: { hao, ihnp4, decvax}!stcvax!jps
{ allegra, amd70, ucbvax }!nbires!stcvax!jps
USnail: Storage Technology Corp - MD 3T / Louisville, CO / 80028
DDD: (303) 673-6750schechte@csd2.UUCP (12/02/84)
Elokim (as we call it so not to mention G-d's name) is one of G-d's
many names. It is supposed to refer to his legal and judicial entity. This
is called in hebrew Midas Hadin. When G-d punishes man for his wrong doings
he is said to be judging us.Some of your descriptions of Elokim are evidence
that you were misinformed.
Asher Schechterbds@homxa.UUCP (B.STERMAN) (12/03/84)
>Recently I have heard some things about "Elohim" and I would like >to find out some more. Supposedly it was Elohim that created man. > > - Who or what is Elohim? > > - What is the difference between "Elohim" and "GOD"? > > - Elohim is suppose to be a 7 aspect(?) man/woman entity. > What does this mean? > > - There is suppose to be a relation between Elohim and the > kabalistic tree of life. What is this relation? > > - Do people pray/worship/praise Elohim specifically? > Why? How is these different from those to GOD? > > - Are there any good books that I can read to find some > detailed information about Elohim? >-- >Jeffrey P. Snover - STC StorageTek (Disk Division) >uucp: { hao, ihnp4, decvax}!stcvax!jps > { allegra, amd70, ucbvax }!nbires!stcvax!jps >USnail: Storage Technology Corp - MD 3T / Louisville, CO / 80028 >DDD: (303) 673-6750 The word `Elohim' comes from the root word `el' which means strength. The phrase `el yadi' found in the bible meaning the might of my hand is an example. In jewish theology the one God has many manifestations. Let me reiterate, there is never any doubt that this is one God, He is seen or experienced differently by different people in different situations. Elohim is the name of God that cannotes `the sum total of all the powers'. God as the cause of all nature. (Quite similar in fact to Spinoza's natura naturata). This name of God is used when it is the appropriate way of understanding His actions. Thus, for example, Elohim is generally used in the creation story, which is of universal interest. When God deals with non-Jews in the bible it is used, as opposed to the name Adonay, which cannotes the personal relationship between Jews and God (in biblical theology). It is also used when God is acting in a way inconsistent with that personal relationship and when His power is seen - namely when He is punishing the Jewish people. Hence kabbalistically the name Elohim is synonymous with God's `middat ha'din', His attribute of justice. Again, Elohim is certainly not a different god or godhead. Some scholars claim that the fact that the word elohim is in the plural form shows that it is a sort of pantheon. This is incredulous since the bible will say, for example, `vayivra Elohim', and Elohim created, where the verb created is in the singular. Rather the definition is, as I have stated, the sum of the powers. For more on the biblical choice of the names of God to suit the context, see the extremely important essays on the documentary hypothesis by Umberto Cassuto. Also I would suggest your reading Yehezkel Kaufmann's `The Religion of Israel', which deals with both the particular problems of the biblical sources as well as the general background of ancient Jewish monotheism within the genre of the ancient world's mythologies. Please feel free to continue this discussion personally. Baruch Sterman !ihnp4!homxa!bds (201)949-3821
mis@spuxll.UUCP (Meyer Steinberg) (12/03/84)
Because we had the problem in the past with people missionizing on the net, I hope your question is sincere. Judiasm believes in One G-d. He is called in the Bible by different names. These names represent different Attributes of G-d. For example there is: (These are all one word with no dash, this is just a way of not writing the Name in vain.) Elo - him -> I think the Talmud says this is the Attribute of mercy. Jeh - ovah -> Which should not be said. (It is one of the holiest names, "Thou shall not use my Name in vain", [Exodus 20:7].). This name represents G-d's Omnipresents. Ado - noy -> Master of universe. Ay - l -> Omnipotent Sha - di -> I'm not sure but I remember the Talmud tell its Attribute. G - d -> Its not Hebrew, I don't know its origin. There are others these are the basic. "If I am wrong don't flame, teach me instead". Meyer Steinberg
teitz@aecom.UUCP (12/03/84)
> Recently I have heard some things about "Elohim" and I would like > to find out some more. Supposedly it was Elohim that created man. > > - Who or what is Elohim? > > - What is the difference between "Elohim" and "GOD"? > > - Elohim is suppose to be a 7 aspect(?) man/woman entity. > What does this mean? > > - There is suppose to be a relation between Elohim and the > kabalistic tree of life. What is this relation? > > - Do people pray/worship/praise Elohim specifically? > Why? How is these different from those to GOD? > > - Are there any good books that I can read to find some > detailed information about Elohim? > -- > Jeffrey P. Snover - STC StorageTek (Disk Division) > uucp: { hao, ihnp4, decvax}!stcvax!jps > { allegra, amd70, ucbvax }!nbires!stcvax!jps > USnail: Storage Technology Corp - MD 3T / Louisville, CO / 80028 > DDD: (303) 673-6750 This is not a problem that can be addressed on short notice and I just read your article, so this will be just a start. G-D is called by many names in the Torah, some of them Elo-him, Ado-noi, Yeho-va, E-l (the list goes on ). All the names refer to one G-D, in our belief of monotheism. The different names represent different attributes of G-D. One refers to mercy, another to sternness, another to jealousy. Again I stress that they all refer to one being. I don't know of any books offhand but the classical commentaries on the Torah do a decent job. You might try Nachmanidies on the Torah. There is an english version put out by Soncino Press ( I think ). Eliyahu Teitz.