Do Jews Believe in Karma? - Learning & Values

"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.

By Tzvi Freeman

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.

David 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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January 5, 2013

Omission?

Is Kismet not Jewish karma? ;-)

Barry
Scotland

October 31, 2012

karma

Anonymous in Detroit grades the Jewish beliefs and the Indian, or Oriental one. But faiths shouldn't be pitted against each other. I would say that the belief in karma is more fatalistic. The Universe is neutral and takes no sides, while the Jewish faith is moralistic. It aims to change , it believes in mercy

Anonymous
ny, ny

October 31, 2012

My answer is this:

Per the way the question is worded, I will answer personally. I am a Jew. I do not believe in Karma. Therefore, some Jews do not believe in Karma, and I understand, some Jews do. I do not because it is too much like pagan theology. Another reason is that the scriptures say "the rain falls on the just and unjust". Yet another reason is that I believe little babies are born with no sin. Just pure, from G-d. In reincarnation, if you have sinned, you get to come back in another body to re-try your sinful life, meaning your sins have entered a pure little baby. No, I do not believe in Karma in this or the next life. I am Jewish. Therefore, no, some Jews do not believe in Karma.

Karen Joyce Chaya Fradle Kleinman Bell
Riverside, CA, USA
jewishriverside.com

May 1, 2012

Intention

Firstly , Karma means "action". It is the effect of past action that set our view from which point we see the world in our current lifetime. Is it possible that if one where to , and only with real warmheartedness and pure intention, begin to act in a a way that is beneficial to others and less selfish, to gather positive karma. Now when I say gather positive Karma I mean the altering of ones View . I think this changing of the view is the most important aspect or Karmic Debt Relief.

Craig
johannesburg, South Africa

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

Anonymous
Detroit, US

March 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.

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

March 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.

Anonymous
ny, ny

March 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

David S. Bar-on
Haifa, Israel

March 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?

Shana Diamond
Vancouver, b.c.

November 29, 2010

Re: Karma taken personally

Like it!

Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

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