What is Karaism?

Karaism is the original form of Judaism commanded by God to the Jewish people in the Torah. Karaites accept the Tanakh (Jewish Bible) as the word of God and as the sole religious authority. At the same time, Karaites deny human additions to the Torah such as the Rabbinic Oral Law because Deuteronomy 4:2 states, “You shall not add to the word which I have commanded you, neither shall you diminish from it…” Karaite Judaism also rejects the Rabbinical principle that the Rabbis are the sole authorities for interpreting the Bible. Karaites believe that every Jew has the obligation to study the Torah and decide for him/herself the correct interpretation of God’s commandments, since in the end it is the individual, not the central authority, who is responsible for his own actions. This principle was expressed best in the Karaite Motto: “Search in the Scriptures well and do not rely on anyone’s opinion.”[1] Karaites do not reject all interpretation and do not take the Bible literally, since everything requires interpretation. Instead, Karaites hold every interpretation up to the same object scrutiny regardless of its source.

[1] The Karaite Motto does not say to reject the opinion of the learned. It simply warns against relying solely on an opinion without verifying its merits in light of the Tanakh.