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Do Jews Believe in Karma?


By Tzvi Freeman
''The Astrologers'' by David Brook
"The Astrologers" by David Brook

Question

What is the Jewish view on karma?

Answer

Karma is an idea that permeates many cultures. In ancient Egypt, it was called "ma'at," in Greek, "heimarmene" or "fate" and in Germanic, "wyrd." Basically, the idea is everything is within the system (Greek: cosmos) and so everything bounces back eventually. You can play around with the system and even manipulate it, but you can't escape it.

Divine Providence ("hashgacha") means that we can reach beyond the system. We can plead with the Creator of the system, or do teshuvah (repent) and transform ourselves, even change our past. We can break out of the prison of our personal Egypt and reach to the pre-cosmic Infinite Light, unbounded and free.

For example, the "karma" of Abraham and Sarah was such that they would not have children together. The Torah tells that G‑d lifted Abraham above the stars and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Similarly, the "karma" of his offspring was to be enslaved to Pharaoh. Again, divine intervention overrode that karma and they were miraculously freed.

Yes, karma envelopes us and all that exists. But there's an escape hatch, through teshuvah, through Torah and through good deeds.
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By Tzvi Freeman   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author
Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, a senior editor at Chabad.org, also heads our Ask The Rabbi team. He is the author of Bringing Heaven Down to Earth. To subscribe to regular updates of Rabbi Freeman's writing, visit Freeman Files subscription.
About the artist: Dovid Brook lives in Sydney, Australia, and has been selling his art since he was in high school. He is currently painting and doing web illustrations. To view or purchase David’s art, please visit davidasherbrook.com.

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Latest Comments:
Posted: July 1, 2011
Let's escape it then....

"You can play around with the system and even manipulate it, but you can't escape it." So when you say it this way it is PAGAN.

But when you say: "Yes, karma envelopes us and all that exists. But there's an escape hatch, through teshuvah, through Torah and through good deeds."...... This is not PAGAN? Really???

Both are the same thing... What I see here is a word game....!!! If you believe there's an "escape" in other words "possibility of Manipulation" then it is still pagan....:)) Then maybe pagans had a stronger belief in G-D that they truly believe that they can NOT escape from G-D's system (it doesn't matter what they name it, G-D system or system are same).... According to what I see here, then I can say Judaism teaches a lower level of belief in G-D... Since through my deeds, Teshuvah and Torah I can escape from the system..

So let's do the deeds, use Torah and Teshuvah to escape the system. I want to re-born in a different city. How can I escape from the system? Which part
Posted By Anonymous, Detroit, US

Posted: Mar 31, 2011
For anonymous in New York, NY
Please read the article again. You'll note that the point is that karma is not a Jewish idea. We acknowledge that such a thing exists, and then we say that it does not have to be that way.
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Mar 25, 2011
Do Jews believe in Karma
This is the first time I heard that Karma is part of the Jewish faith. Or is this a new (as in the New Age) addition? So Judaism is going backwards? Back to astrology, back to mysteries that were floating around even thousands of years ago? How very interesting.
Posted By Anonymous, ny, ny

Posted: Mar 23, 2011
karma = tikunne
Rabbi Freeman, Karma is the baggage (good & difficult) that one brings to this incarnation from past lives as well as the spiritual resuts of the good/negative deeds that are performed in this lifetime. Having studied Torah, Hasidut and Kabbalah only here in Israel I learned this all in Hebrew and it is called Tikune Atzmi which indeed is one's Karmic Correction in English. Sorry but Mazal is only a part of one's tikune (karma). So our tikune process revolves mainly around the body & family that we are born into, our abilities our weaknesses fears desires etc. The Mazal is the system of cosmic influences that were active at the moment of our birth and continue throughout our lives. For example it is quite obvious the diiference between a soul coming into this physical world on the 9th of Av compared to the third night of Hanukah!
Yalla` all the best
Posted By David S. Bar-on, Haifa, Israel

Posted: Mar 21, 2011
Karma a Jewish Perspective
I think it is interesting to note that we can "mend our ways" and bypass the result that was intended for us. Obviously, we want to grow, change and amend any wrong doings that we have done , in order to divert a harsh decree. It is my understanding that G-d wants us to take note of our offenses and gives us many chances to act better. This in turn may lesson or erase our Karmic debt. Would this system apply to both Jews and non-Jews alike? Is this system Universal and applicable to all?
Posted By Shana Diamond, Vancouver, b.c.

Posted: Nov 29, 2010
Re: Karma taken personally
Like it!
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Nov 29, 2010
Karma taken personally
Rabbi Tzvi appears to have a far better understanding of Karma than I do. Therefore, I can't claim that my usage is correct, but here's a little anecdote. I spent two years kicking around philosophical ideas with a fellow whom I will call Jeff the Atheist. Jeff thought it was ridiculous that I worshiped G-d but couldn't tell him what G-d was. I think Jeff was quoting someone when he told me that luck is chance or probability taken personally. I thought this was a great comment, and it gave me an idea. I told him then that G-d was Karma taken personally. I will defer to the Rabbi, however, since he has pointed out that there's more to G-d than that.
Posted By Rob W., Pittsburgh, PA / USA

Posted: May 11, 2010
karma
The concept of "karma" can be found in innumerable places in Jewish tradition. In addition to TaNaCh itself, the Talmud says, for example, "Midah k'neged midah," ("Measure for Measure") and "Bamidah sh'adam moded, ba mod'din la" ("As one does, so do 'They' do to him'). The Zohar, too, says "Itaruta d'l'tata, itaruta d'l'eela" ("A 'push' from below [creates] a 'push' from Above'). There are too many others to mention here. As for 'reaching beyond' the system through t'shuvah, Yoga, too, speaks of "moksha," or "liberation," with that same meaning in mind. So, while Judaism is not "Yoga," the above are overlapping concepts; present in both.
Posted By Anonymous, New City, NY

Posted: Mar 8, 2010
Interesting
I thought the Jewish "version" of karma was kismet?
Posted By Anonymous, Beaverton, OR/USA

Posted: Nov 9, 2008
Karma
But your actions do bring a reaction. That, too is Karma. Karma does go into the realm of reincarnation and where our souls do go when we die. I have read this in Judaism. Yes, t"shuva helps. But I was told that only those that observe all 613 commandments truly go to heaven. This is what has disturbed me all my jewish life.
Posted By Pam Reynolds, Southampton, Pa.



 


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