Questions & Answers
by Shawn Lichaa
We receive a lot of questions regarding Karaite Judaism, and Shawn Lichaa has agreed to answer one a week. He hopes that this answers will serve as a resource for people interested in Karaite Judaism, and he plans to publish the answers of these questions (and others) in a book.
Disclaimer: Shawn's answers are intended only as a guide and all readers are encouraged to search the Scripture well.
Copyright: Shawn has made these available here free of charge. You may reproduce these in part or in whole for any non-commercial uses, with proper attribution.
Questions and Comments: If you have a question you would like answered or have comments on an existing question or answer, please email Shawn directly ([email protected]). Persons providing comments and questions will have no copyright or other ownership interest in the resulting work.
Disclaimer: Shawn's answers are intended only as a guide and all readers are encouraged to search the Scripture well.
Copyright: Shawn has made these available here free of charge. You may reproduce these in part or in whole for any non-commercial uses, with proper attribution.
Questions and Comments: If you have a question you would like answered or have comments on an existing question or answer, please email Shawn directly ([email protected]). Persons providing comments and questions will have no copyright or other ownership interest in the resulting work.
1. How do we know how to properly slaughter an animal so that it is kosher for consumption, when the Torah does not describe slaughter in any detail?
It is true that the Torah does not describe what is necessary for Kosher slaughter, but every historical Jewish community (as far as I am aware) slaughtered animals by slitting the front of the neck. Is this simply coincidence, or is something more going on? Read more here.
It is true that the Torah does not describe what is necessary for Kosher slaughter, but every historical Jewish community (as far as I am aware) slaughtered animals by slitting the front of the neck. Is this simply coincidence, or is something more going on? Read more here.
2. How do we know that the month starts with the sighting of the new moon, when the Torah does not expressly command us how to set our months?
This is a question near and dear to the heart of every observant Karaite. Both Rabbanites and Karaites agree that this was the historical practice. And throughout history, it was the observant Karaites who maintained the ancient practice of sighting the new moon. In contrast, Rabbanite Jews have for centuries used a calendar that fixes the months by mathematical calculation. In many months, the Rabbinic calendar differs from the actual new moon – sometimes by up to three days. Read more here.
This is a question near and dear to the heart of every observant Karaite. Both Rabbanites and Karaites agree that this was the historical practice. And throughout history, it was the observant Karaites who maintained the ancient practice of sighting the new moon. In contrast, Rabbanite Jews have for centuries used a calendar that fixes the months by mathematical calculation. In many months, the Rabbinic calendar differs from the actual new moon – sometimes by up to three days. Read more here.
3. If one is traveling and needs to conduct an abbreviated prayer, what elements should the prayer include?
Historically, Karaite prayers contained seven key elements, and a prayer according to the Karaite custom should touch on each of these. Read more here.
Historically, Karaite prayers contained seven key elements, and a prayer according to the Karaite custom should touch on each of these. Read more here.
4. Why is it that in leap years Karaites celebrate Purim in Adar I, while Rabbanites celebrate Purim in Adar II?
As Karaites, we are used to having our holidays fall on different days from our Rabbinic brethren. Usually, our holidays only differ by a few days, due to the fact that the Karaite/Biblical Calendar sets its holidays based on the sighting of the new moon (whereas the Rabbinic Calendar is a “fixed” calendar that is intended to approximate the new moon sightings). Read more here.
As Karaites, we are used to having our holidays fall on different days from our Rabbinic brethren. Usually, our holidays only differ by a few days, due to the fact that the Karaite/Biblical Calendar sets its holidays based on the sighting of the new moon (whereas the Rabbinic Calendar is a “fixed” calendar that is intended to approximate the new moon sightings). Read more here.
5. Why don't Karaites wear tefillin?
Karaites seek the plain meaning of the text. Sometimes the plain meaning is literal and sometimes it is figurative. The traditional Karaite view is that the “tefillin” and “mezuzot” verses are figurative. There are four verses that the Rabbanites interpret as requiring tefillin: Exodus 13:9; Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8, and Deuteronomy 11:18. Let's take a look at those verses more closely. Read more here.
Karaites seek the plain meaning of the text. Sometimes the plain meaning is literal and sometimes it is figurative. The traditional Karaite view is that the “tefillin” and “mezuzot” verses are figurative. There are four verses that the Rabbanites interpret as requiring tefillin: Exodus 13:9; Exodus 13:16; Deuteronomy 6:8, and Deuteronomy 11:18. Let's take a look at those verses more closely. Read more here.
