The nature of reality

Understanding of Reality in Judaism

Judaism asserts that there is one sole reality, the physical world, as created by God. Creation is seen as an act of divine will.
There exists a tangible and intangible reality in this world, with the tangible being what is experienced by the senses, and the intangible representing symbolic or sacred meanings.
Jewish teachings emphasise that the world is not God, but a result of God’s creative act. This reflects the concept of monotheism.

Divine Intervention in Reality

The Jewish faith believes in divine intervention shaping reality, considering miracles as examples of God’s omnipotence where He reshapes reality according to His will.
Prayer is often seen as a mechanism through which humans can seek divine intervention, aligning with the belief in an interactive relationship between God and humanity.

Human Interaction with Reality

Human beings, made in God’s image, also have a role in interacting with and shaping this reality, for example through the concept of Tikkun Olam, “repairing the world”.
The Torah and its commandments are seen as the divine guidance for humans to navigate and interact with reality in a virtuous manner.

Afterlife and Ultimate Reality

Views on afterlife in Judaism are varied and not definitive. Some Jews believe in an afterlife (Olam Ha-Ba or “The World to Come”), while others focus on human behaviour and morality in this world.
Some Jews believe in resurrection of the dead (tehiyat ha-metim), while others believe in a more spiritual continuation of the soul.
Topics such as eternal life, resurrection and reincarnation continue to be areas of theological debate within Judaism literature.

Kabbalistic Perspective on Reality

Kabbalah, the mystical tradition in Judaism, provides a complex map of reality including multiple spiritual realms and aspects to God, beyond the physical reality we experience.
The Kabbalistic concept of Sefirot are an exploration of the divine attributes by which God interacts with the world.
Despite these complex understandings, Kabbalists maintain the core Jewish belief in God as the ultimate reality and the source of all existence.