Introduction to Judaism

- With historical roots stretching back nearly 4,000 years, Judaism is a monotheistic
religion that affirms belief in one transcendent and immanent God who, as recounted in
the Pentateuch, created the world and entered into a covenantal relationship with the
Jewish people.
- after miraculously redeeming the children of Israel from bond- age in Egypt, God
revealed Himself to them at Mount Sinai and presented them with the Torah.
- Within traditional Judaism, the written biblical texts are supplemented by the Oral Law,
which elucidates and elaborates on the written text, explaining and inter- preting the laws
and narrative of the Bible.
- Over four-fifths of the nearly 15 million Jews worldwide live in the U.S. and Israel
(DellaPergola, 2020).
- Current esti- mates indicate that approximately 37% identify as Reform, 17% as
Conservative, 9% as Orthodox, 32% as non denominational, and 4% with smaller
denominations (Pew Research Center, 2021).
- Smaller Jewish communities are also found throughout the world, including in Canada,
the United Kingdom, Argentina, Russia, Germany, Australia, and Brazil (DellaPergola,
2020).

Judaism and Positive Psychology

- Jewish thought and tradition are similarly replete with perspectives on psychologi- cal
health and well-being.
- Jewish values, beliefs, and actions encourage a spiritually integrated, strength-based, and
PERMA (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment;
Seligman, 2011) model of well-being.

Happiness and Flourishing

- The positive psychology literature incorporates two types of happiness: hedonism,

which emphasizes pleasure and comfort, and eudaimonia, which focuses on
pursuing meaningful goals. While positive psychology initially leaned towards
hedonism, the PERMA model integrates eudaimonia by emphasizing meaning
and engagement. Four elements of Jewish conceptualization of happiness
contribute to this broader understanding: community, gratitude, resilience, and
spirituality. These elements enrich positive psychology's approach to happiness by
 emphasizing social connections, appreciation, overcoming adversity, and a deeper
sense of purpose.

1. Multiple Perspectives- The Jewish perspective on happiness is diverse, with

varying approaches and emphases. This diversity is reflected in the use of
multiple Hebrew words for happiness, such as ashrei, indicating that happiness is
multidimensional. Different paths to happiness are found in various Jewish texts,
including the Hebrew Bible, rabbinic works, and later philosophical writings.
Pelcovitz and Pelcovitz highlight this diversity by pointing out several synonyms
for happiness in Jewish literature and exploring their nuances. Recognizing the
individual and contextual nature of happiness, along with its varied sources and
expressions, is crucial for fruitful research and practice in this area.
2. Blending of Pleasure and Meaning- The Jewish conceptualization of happiness
incorporates both pleasure and meaning, exemplified in the celebration of
holidays. While festive meals are enjoyed, they also hold a spiritual significance,
emphasizing celebration before God and the duty to provide for the less fortunate.
Judaism recognizes happiness as having both hedonic and eudaimonic aspects,
stressing self-transcendence through aiding others and acknowledging the divine
presence.
3. Importance of Action- In Judaism, happiness is linked to the role of law, ritual,
and action in cultivating an inner state. While Judaism emphasizes action over
beliefs and internal states, it does not diminish their importance. Committed
action is seen as the pathway to developing inner states, as emphasized in Jewish
spiritual-ethics, or mussar. This tradition highlights the significance of focusing
on the inner life while also stressing the importance of ritualized acts, which
should be done with joy and result in joy.
4. Happiness is Not the Goal- In Judaism, happiness is recognized as important but
not the central value. Prominent Jewish thinkers like Soloveitchik and Sacks
emphasize that while serving God should be accompanied by joy and lead to a
joyous life, the ultimate goal is the pursuit of holiness, not happiness itself.
Happiness may result from living in accordance with the will of God, but it is not
the primary aim of Judaism.

Character Strengths

1. Commandment- In positive psychology, character strengths are emphasized for

living a fulfilling life, aligning with the eudaimonic approach. Similarly, the
Judaic tradition underscores the importance of character development, albeit with
a key distinction from Aristotle's framework. While Aristotle emphasizes
 subordinating passions to human reason, Judaism prioritizes subordinating
passions to God's laws. Thus, character strengths in Judaism involve developing
personal discipline and ethical behavior to fulfill God's commandments.
Additionally, character development is considered a biblical commandment aimed
at emulating God, turning it into a spiritual endeavor.
2. Virtues and Strengths- Peterson and Seligman (2004) identified six core virtues
necessary for good character: transcendence, wisdom, courage, humanity, justice,
and temperance, along with 24 character strengths that correspond to these
virtues. While their examination of Judaic texts only covered some of these
strengths, Schnall et al. (2014) argue that all 24 character strengths are present in
classic Jewish texts. Schnall and colleagues specifically surveyed Torah literature
related to the virtues of transcendence, which include hope, humor, gratitude,
spirituality, and appreciation of beauty. In this summary, we will discuss the
remaining virtues (wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, and temperance), followed
by an examination of spirituality in Judaism.
3. Wisdom- In Judaism, wisdom holds great significance as evidenced by numerous
references in Psalms and Proverbs highlighting its importance in understanding
both the world and God. The sages considered the learning of Torah as a
fundamental daily commandment, devoting substantial time and effort to it.
Various forms of wisdom are recognized in Judaism, with two primary paradigms:
the rationalist perspective and the Kabbalistic tradition. Rationalists like
Maimonides emphasized achieving wisdom through knowledge of Torah and
nature, while the Kabbalistic tradition suggests that wisdom is attained through
contemplation of God's nature and direct experiences of His presence.
4. Courage- Courage holds significant importance in Judaism, as evidenced in both
the Hebrew Bible and Talmudic teachings. In the Hebrew Bible, bravery in battle
is explicitly emphasized, highlighting the importance of facing challenges
fearlessly (e.g., Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:6). Talmudic sages further
conceptualized courage as a moral and psychological strength, emphasizing the
conquest of one's desires as a form of strength (Mishna Avot 4:1). Additionally,
traits of vitality and enthusiasm are encouraged in fulfilling commandments, with
figures like Abraham serving as role models for performing God's will with zeal
and alacrity (Genesis 22:3; Talmud Pesachim 4a).
5. Humanity- In Judaism, the virtue of humanity is celebrated in biblical and
Talmudic texts, emphasizing strengths and traits that foster caring relationships
with others. This includes traits like love and kindness, which are seen as
reflections of God's own nature and are thus to be emulated through imitatio Dei.
This ethical mandate to emulate God creates an ethic of responsibility, compelling
Jews to engage in acts of kindness (gemilut chasadim). These acts encompass
various forms of assistance, such as giving charity to the poor, showing
 hospitality to strangers, visiting the sick, comforting mourners, facilitating
marriages, and redeeming captives. Rabbi Akiva notably regards the
commandment to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" (Leviticus 19:17) as the greatest
principle in the Torah, underscoring the paramount importance of kindness and
compassion in Jewish tradition.
6. Justice- In Judaism, the virtue of justice, encompassing traits like fairness and
leadership, holds significant importance. The Hebrew Bible mandates a just
judicial system, with the command to "pursue justice" (Deuteronomy 16:20).
Business ethics are also emphasized, with individuals instructed to conduct
themselves honestly and with integrity (Leviticus 19:35). Figures like Abraham
serve as examples of advocating for justice, as seen in his plea to God regarding
Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:13–23). Additionally, leaders such as Moses
exemplify qualities of leadership, providing valuable lessons for contemporary
leadership practices as outlined in both biblical and Talmudic texts.
7. Temperance- In Judaism, the virtue of temperance encompasses character
strengths such as forgiveness, prudence, humility, and self-control, all of which
are emphasized in Jewish literature. Granting forgiveness is strongly encouraged,
with withholding forgiveness from those who sincerely repent considered cruel.
Prudence is highly valued, as evidenced by the Talmud's endorsement of
foreseeing the consequences of one's actions. Humility is regarded as a prized trait
by the sages, often described as the crown jewel of character. Moreover, many
commandments advocate for exercising self-control, particularly in matters of
eating and sexual relations. Cohen et al. (2013) suggest that self-control may
serve as a protective factor in Jewish religious and spiritual practices, potentially
contributing to positive correlations with mental and physical health, a notion
supported by empirical research.

Spirituality

- In Judaism, spirituality is characterized by a clear belief in the meaning and

purpose of the cosmos, as well as in a transcendent, nonphysical element that
imbues life with higher purpose and influences actions. Concepts such as divine
providence, which asserts God's guidance over historical and everyday events,
align with this definition. Central examples include the recitation of the shema
affirmation and the belief in divine reward and punishment. Prayer, considered an
essential component of spirituality, is mandated three times a day in Judaism and
is seen as a significant form of divine service, involving not only requests but also
a yearning for connection to the Divine. Additionally, Judaism conceptualizes
spirituality as a meta-trait, encouraging the infusion of even mundane activities
with sanctity, aligning with the idea that spirituality directs behaviors in both
secular and religious contexts and that any action can be imbued with sacredness.