Why Some Parts of the Jewish Scriptures are Described as Myth
A myth is a story that may or may not have actually happened, but one
that teaches us a truth.
Some parts of the Jewish Scriptures are described as myth. For
example, it is suggested that; the story of Adam and Eve, the story of
Cain and Abel, the story of Noah and the flood, the story of the Tower
of Babel and the story of Jonah and the giant fish, are all myth.
They are described as myth because they are all individual stories,
which do not link to one another; they all have a beginning, middle
and an end. Also they are all fantastic stories, each with their own
morals to be discovered and taught.
There are always many powerful lessons to be learnt from all of the
parts of the Jewish Scriptures which are described as myth.
In the story of Jonah, which we read on Yom Kippur, we learn that G-d
is kind and forgiving, the importance of prayer and faith, the mercy
of G-d, the importance of repentance and that you can never run away
from G-d. The lessons learnt from this story are appropriate for the
time of year in which we read it. On Yom Kippur we ask forgiveness
and repent.
Although the stories are suggested to be myth, this does not mean that
the ‘characters’ or people involved did not actually exist. On the
contrary it is probable that they did exist, however it is the stories
which may or may not have in fact occurred, hence the suggestion that
they may be myth.
A problem arises at the proposal of stories in the Jewish Scriptures
being myth. If some stories may or may not have happened, how do we
define which parts of the Bible are mythical and which parts are
literal? This dilemma can raise many questions and doubts about
faith, belief and truth.
Chief Rabbi Herz says; “With the patriarchs we leave the dim primeval