4: Text excerpt from Saadia Gaon’s "The Book of Beliefs & Opinions," 933 C.E.

4: Text excerpt from Saadia Gaon’s "The Book of Beliefs & Opinions," 933 C.E.

Englander portrays the concept of gilgul as a New Age, fringe notion via the character of Zalman. And for good reason. Indeed, the concept of gilgul has never been a mainstream idea in Rabbinic Judaism since its inception. This can be seen clearly in Saadia Gaon’s philosophical treatise defending Rabbinic Judaism, The Book of Beliefs and Opinions—written in Judeo-Arabic—which is perhaps the first systematic attempt in Jewish history to define Jewish beliefs using philosophical principles.

Suggested Activity: Before exploring Saadia Gaon’s excerpt, ask students if there are any beliefs which would exclude a person from the larger Jewish community. (Possibilities for discussion could include a belief in Christ or anti-Zionist beliefs.) Then, read the excerpt and ask students how they feel about Saadia Gaon’s opinion. Should religious or political ideas ever make someone non-Jewish in the eyes of others?

Source: Saadia Gaon, The Book of Beliefs & Opinions, Yale Judaica Series, Volume I, Chapter VIII, pg. 259 (1989).