Q&A: Christianity and Hasidism
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Christianity and Hasidism
Question
Is there a difference between “The Holy One, blessed be He, the Torah, and Israel are all one” (Keter Shem Tov, vol. 2, Noach, 88) and the Holy Trinity? If there is no difference, then according to the medieval authorities (Rishonim) who held that Christianity is idolatry, would Hasidism also be idolatry?
Answer
I’ve written more than once that no, there isn’t. There are different interpretations of this principle, and according to some of them there is no problem here at all. Jews tend to interpret the Christian Trinity in a way that makes it idolatry, and the Jewish trinity in a way that makes it not idolatry. But that’s just bias.
Discussion on Answer
Accordingly, do you think Christianity is not idolatry?
In my opinion, it isn’t.
It’s interesting that Jews look at Christianity as polytheistic, while Christians (at least the main denominations) see themselves as monotheists. The Trinity as Jews understand it is basically a straw man. In Christian theology these are different aspects of one God (a bit more complicated than that, but that’s the idea).