Satan
Judaism does not view “Satan”
with the same connotation as other religions.
Satan in Judaism is not
a physical being ruling the underworld, rather, in the Torah,
the word Satan indicates “accuser,” “hinderer”
or “tempter.” Satan is therefore more an illusory obstacle in one’s way -
such as temptation and evil doings - keeping one from completing the
responsibilities of tikkun
olam (fixing the world). Satan is the evil inclination to veer
off the path of righteousness and faithfulness in God.
Throughout the Torah, Satan challenges God to test
the true loyalty of his followers, including Adam and Eve, as well as Abraham.
However, Satan remains inferior to God and is incapable of taking action
on mortals without God’s permission. In the Talmud and Midrash,
Satan appears as the force in the world, responsible for all sins. Some Midrashim claim that the sounding of the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah is utilized
to keep Satan away as Jews begin to atone for their sins. Even the morning
after Yom Kippur, many Jews
attend services to guarantee Satan does not make one last effort to
instigate Jews to commit sins.
Sources: Eisenberg, Ronald L. The
JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. PA: Jewish Publication Society,
2004; Wigoder, Geoffrey , Ed. The
New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia. NY: Facts on File, 1992; Kolatch,
Alfred J. The
Jewish Book of Why/The Second Jewish Book of Why. NY: Jonathan
David Publishers, 1989. |