Zoroastrianism in Jewish Tradition
Question
Hello rabbis.
I’m a non-Jew asking again a question to you here. This is about Zoroastrianism:
In Persia (and this was also during the Jewish exile in Persia) the prominent religion was Zoroastrianism, for a very long time. And many have noted the many similarities between Zoroastrianism and Judaism, such as: a story of a forefather who rejected the religion of the time, Zoroastrianism is closer to monotheism than many other ancient idolatrous beliefs, many similar laws, like priesthood, separation from a female during menstruation, etc.
The main, “scholarly” view that you mostly see is that Jewish tradition developed off from Zoroastrianism.
Does your Jewish tradition offer any information as to the origin of Zoroastrianisn?
Do you think “Zoroaster” (Zarathustra, really) — their prophet — and his story, is just a mangled, messed up version of the story of Avraham?
Because I know how the ancients’ various worldwide flood stories are all just mangled, messed up versions of the real event, the story of Noach’s ark.
Thank you.
Simon
Answers
According to Jewish belief, the basic theological tenets of Judaism were incorporated into the creation of the world. Abraham, the founding father of Judaism was born over three thousand eight hundred years ago which dates him at more-or-less, the time of the beginnings of Zoroastrianism.
On a very superficial level they seem to share the concept of a Monotheistic power. However, that does not really bear up under scrutiny because Judaism categorically does not believe in the concept of two independent powers, good and evil, battling it out until one of them is victorious over the other. Judaism teaches that God is the source of everything in the world and that the power that we call evil is in this world to try and spur us upwards to an even closer relationship with Him.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team