During the eighth century, the Karaites emerged as an anti-rabbinic sect. Led by Anan ben David, Karaites rejected the rabbinic interpretation of Scripture and insisted that each person is free to interpret the Biblical text for himself. Thus Anan ben David advised: ‘Search thoroughly in Scripture and do not rely on my opinion.’ Like the Sadducees of the Hellenistic period, the
Karaites insisted that Jewish observance must conform to Biblical law rather than rabbinic legislation. After
Anan ben David’s death, rival Karaite groups advocated a variety of anti-rabbinic positions. Although these sects were short-lived, Karaism eventually became a uniform movement and by the tenth century a number of Karaite communities were established in Israel, Iraq and Persia. Rejecting the authority of the rabbinate, these groups devised their own rules and founded a Karaite rabbinical academy in Jerusalem which produced some of the most distinguished scholars of the period.
Not surprisingly, this anti-rabbinic movement was bitterly condemned by the Jewish establishment. Such figures as the tenth-century scholar and philosopher
Saadiah Gaon polemicized against Karaite heresies.
You should ask yourself whether this medieval sect had any justification for rejecting the rabbinic interpretation of the law. Were Anan ben David and his followers correct in believing that the rabbis of early centuries had distorted the true meaning of the Biblical text? Remember that such a claim was made centuries earlier by the Sadducees in their rejection of Pharisaism. And, in modern times, Reform Jews have adopted a similar position. As we will see, beginning in the nineteenth century Reform Judaism insisted that all Jews have the freedom to select those elements of the tradition which they find spiritually meaningful.
Were the critics of Karaism right to denounce Anan ben David and his followers as heretics? Does the same apply to non-Orthodox Jews today?
• Go to Google. Search for Karaism, such as at
<www.karaite-korner.org/history.shtml>.
You will find a considerable amount of information. You should also look up material dealing with Karaism in modern times.
• Go to Amazon.com. Search for books dealing with the Karaite movement.
• Imagine you are a Karaite writing to the local rabbi.
Write a letter defending Karaism explaining with specific examples why you believe that the rabbis have misinterpreted the Biblical text. In writing your letter look at the material in this chapter dealing with the Karaite attack on the rabbinic tradition.
• Distribute the map of Karaite settlements from the
Judaism book to your class. Make sure they have an understanding of the various Karaite settlements from the seventh to the twentieth centuries.
• Stage a debate about Karaism. One side should represent the Karaite position; the other should express the views of the rabbinic establishment.

52 PART I: HISTORY
• Divide your class into small groups. Ask them to discuss whether Karaism and Reform Judaism are similar. They should look at Chapters 44 and 45.
Reconvene the class for a discussion.
• Ask a Reform rabbi to speak to your class about the Reform Judaism’s attitude toward traditional rabbinic Judaism. He or she should focus on Reform
Judaism’s attitude to rabbinic law. Encourage the class to question him or her about the similarities between Reform Judaism and Karaism.