Holocaust Theology

The Holocaust led people to re-examine their belief.

Throughout history, the Jewish people have suffered.

Winston Churchill ‘The Final Solution is probably the greatest most horrible time ever committed in the whole history of the world.’

It was the only instance when an entire state tried to destroy an entire people. And the only instance in which the perpetrators conducted this genocide for no ostensible material, territorial or political gain.

The question of Holocaust theology is asking where was God

Mid 1960s, saw more theologians questioning the nature and purpose of the Holocaust.

Rabbi Yoelleilebaun said maybe the Holocaust was punishment for their attempt to create their own nation (zionist views)

Jewish Responses to the Shaoh

• God is dead. If there was a God, he would have prevented it. As he didn’t, he either 1) Did not exist 2) Changed in some way 3) has abandoned the. Some Jews turned to atheism.

• The Eclipse of God-God is there but inexplicably absent-MArtin Buber

• A Distant God-Re interpret their belief in god. He doesn’t directly interfere in human actions. He is too transcendent Arthur Cohen said due to this he could not be held responsible/

• A Limited God. God is not omnipotent and does not have the power to halt it. Harold Kushner made this view.

• Freewill and God: God gave freewill to humans and so respects their freedom.

• A Suffering God-Hans Jonas

• Jewish Survival-The Holocaust gave way to the rise of the nation of Israel. Emil Fackenheim says the Holocaust because the 614th commandment. They should remember the people who died. Those who survived shows that God did not abandon them.

• Richard Rubenstein ‘Death of God’-After Auschwitz.

If there was a God:

1. Would have prevented it. Since he didn’t, he must

• Not exist

• Have changed in some way

Auschwitz shattered the traditional concept of God. Especially with the covenant relationship between God and his people. Jews last hope is gone and there is no ultimate meaning of life.

‘As children of the Earth, we are undeceived concerning our destiny. We have lost all hope, consolation and illusion’

Rubenstein did believe that the covenant had died. He did not believe in a transcendent God, but God as the ground of being. Impossible to believe in a supernatural deity.

Jews living in the time of the death of God. Believe in neo-paganism.

This view has been rejected by Jews of all religious denominations, but his works were widely read in the Jewish community in the 1970s.