Do Jews Believe in Karma?

"The Astrologers" by David Brook

Question

What is the Jewish view on karma?

Answer

Karma is an idea that permeates many cultures. In ancient Egypt, it was called "ma'at," in Greek, "heimarmene" or "fate" and in Germanic, "wyrd." Basically, the idea is everything is within the system (Greek: cosmos) and so everything bounces back eventually. You can play around with the system and even manipulate it, but you can't escape it.

Divine Providence ("hashgacha") means that we can reach beyond the system. We can plead with the Creator of the system, or do teshuvah (repent) and transform ourselves, even change our past. We can break out of the prison of our personal Egypt and reach to the pre-cosmic Infinite Light, unbounded and free.

For example, the "karma" of Abraham and Sarah was such that they would not have children together. The Torah tells that G‑d lifted Abraham above the stars and Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Similarly, the "karma" of his offspring was to be enslaved to Pharaoh. Again, divine intervention overrode that karma and they were miraculously freed.

Yes, karma envelopes us and all that exists. But there's an escape hatch, through teshuvah, through Torah and through good deeds.

By Tzvi Freeman

Tzvi Freeman is the author of Bringing Heaven Down to Earth and, more recently, Wisdom to Heal the Earth. Subscribe to The Daily Dose of Wisdom and Freeman Files for regular updates.

Artwork by David Brook. David lives in Sydney, Australia, and has been selling his art since he was in high school. He is currently painting and doing web illustrations.

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46 Comments

mk texas July 19, 2022

i thought karma was pretty simple... the energy you put out into the world is the energy you will get back... Reply

j Los Angeles June 15, 2022

Karma is not simple. That is probably why G-d does not like it. You can discern the 'cosmic web' exists, but it is more difficult to discern how this web operates without understanding its cause. It is difficult to figure out how things work unless you decide on what caused it first. You can't have time unless you understand the first mover as being the thing that moves without moving or being moved, which completely determines all things but also determines nothing. One can have the Karma of being Jewish, in which case the causes that you make in this life are completely different from the causes that others are expected to make. Reply

Joao Pedro Souza Matos August 18, 2020

What's the Hebrew word for karma? Karma is a Sanskrit word. I suppose that there's a hebrew word for the concept. Reply

Eli Mallon New City August 19, 2020

in response to Joao Pedro Souza Matos:

The most common corresponding phrase is “midah k’neged midah,” usually translated as “measure for measure.” There are other phrases as well. Reply

E.B. Bklyn August 12, 2020

When i use the term Karma, i really am thinking of Logical Consequences Reply

Davida Brown St. Pete October 30, 2019

Please remove the stumbling blocks from your thinking. Karma is strictly New Age/Eastern Religion which is forbidden by Torah, along with witchcraft, spiritism, consulting the dead etc.
Are there such things as witches? Of course; along with demons and angels. They are all very active during Halloween, since it is the Satanic/Pagan high (un)holy day for these folks. Ever notice a little stirring in the atmosphere? Many are searching for spirituality and don't discern where it's coming from. They do not know the awesome power of G-d in their lives. Prayer can make it happen. He is listening...pour out your heart, your questions and desires to HIM. Reply

Estelle November 13, 2018

Bad Karma seems to be linked to some unconscious thought of retribution for our deeds, like if we do something the world or my person values as ethically bad, we hold on to that guilt and eventually bring on our own punishment...or we project it onto G-d and make Him punish us... a very arrogant idea of Ego indeed, since G-d is only Unconditional Love and so are we, as His Children. How can Unconditional Love punish? Reply

Karsan London August 11, 2020

in response to Estelle:

Of course our parents punish us if we something bad to our brothers or sisters, you will not be rewarded for bad behaviour. Reply

bull July 22, 2017

Looks like Robert Shapiro is living proof. Reply

Anonymous Brooklyn January 12, 2016

I love this article, it is such an important concept.
Wouldn't the words be in capitals for Divine Intervention ? Reply

Stevie B August 11, 2015

This only addresses one idea about karma: that Judaism believes in Karma but not as an absolute. What else does Judaism tell us about Karma? Reply

Gabriel antwerp November 6, 2014

we were enslaved for 400 years in egypt, i think we can honestly say that karma worked once again

please stop your overly positive child like answers, a more deep cabalistic answer would have been much different

shalom gleichem

Gavriel Reply

David The Deep Backwoods July 31, 2014

A Light in the Fog So many expect an absolute definition of principles like karma, principles that span nations, eons, and cultural theologies in flux. Everyone defines them as they like, so as part of the expectation, it is also wanted that explanations be both...
a. Digestible to the listener
b. Requiring no significant commitment

To be blunt, those are expectations born of hubris, not of God. Does it matter if karma, or 'heimarmene' or any other system of retroactive 'hand smacking' is in effect - if one is about God's business?

We all slip around on the rocks, trying to buttonhole these things, when God makes it childishly simple: Stop that. Stick to my plan.

That's it.

Easy, right? Reply

Anonymous New City, NY June 24, 2013

karma Dear Rabbi Freeman,
To reiterate something I posted previously, I do see "karma" as a "Jewish idea," or, more correctly, principle. But we teach it as "midah k'neged midah" or "ba midah sh'adam moded, ba mo'd'din lo." I also wrote on my own blog that we, as Jews, also don't regard "karma" -- reciprocal reaction -- as an impersonal force per se, but as a Divine Quality (midah); i.e. G-d's "personal" response to what we think, say and do. That response is determined, to no small degree, by us; the consistency of that is its "karmic" quality. Reply

Peter Vink June 10, 2013

My understanding is Jews need to place importance on Torah because that's what we live by, it's Jews guiding light. Reply

Rodolfo NJ May 29, 2013

I'm with David S. Bar-on I acknowledge the comment by David S. Bar-on. I am non- "Jew-ish."

One day I had the "aha" experience. And I remembered that the problem I had, I had from practically birth, so...I thought, if my spirit is to endure, let it do so without this baggage, and thus...the change began. "Unless you become as a child..." Reply

Anonymous USA March 12, 2013

Karma and Fate are different concepts The definition of karma as equivalent to Western ideas like fate on the one hand, or wrong. Karma is part of a system of ideas that includes reincarnation. Actions (in past lives) have results (in present conditions) - as you sow, so shall you reap. Divination (like astrology) may show the workings of karma, but only as a sign, not as a cause. And any action, including prayer and teshuvah, will have their own karmic effects. That is the idea as it developed in Hinduism and Buddahism.

Whether there are similar ideas in Judaism is difficult to say. Certainly not in the form of Judaism best known today. But in Kabbalah there may be similar, if not identical, ideas. Some scholars believe that the kabbalah was influenced by Hinduism, via Sufism in the 13th century. Now, go and learn! Reply

Isaac Brooklyn March 3, 2013

Re: Karen Joyce Chaya Fradle Kleinman Bell I hope no one thinks of me as insensitive with my comment here. My heart goes out for all the disadvantaged, and unfortunate people of the world.

I believe Karma explains why there are babies that are born sick, and why some die at an early age, why some are born to poor families, and why some are born in 3rd world countries etc. and vice versa. You get the idea.

On a spiritual realm (for all our souls comes from the spiritual world) it is the only logical, rational reasoning I have thus far heard as to why some are born more fortunate then others.

Furthermore, I believe that the Karma or Tikun of the fortunate is to help, and change the circumstances for the unfortunate, and disadvantaged people of the world, so all can live a joyous and prosperous life.

Reply

Barry Scotland January 5, 2013

Omission? Is Kismet not Jewish karma? ;-) Reply

Anonymous ny, ny October 31, 2012

karma Anonymous in Detroit grades the Jewish beliefs and the Indian, or Oriental one. But faiths shouldn't be pitted against each other. I would say that the belief in karma is more fatalistic. The Universe is neutral and takes no sides, while the Jewish faith is moralistic. It aims to change , it believes in mercy Reply

Karen Joyce Chaya Fradle Kleinman Bell Riverside, CA, USA via jewishriverside.com October 31, 2012

My answer is this: Per the way the question is worded, I will answer personally. I am a Jew. I do not believe in Karma. Therefore, some Jews do not believe in Karma, and I understand, some Jews do. I do not because it is too much like pagan theology. Another reason is that the scriptures say "the rain falls on the just and unjust". Yet another reason is that I believe little babies are born with no sin. Just pure, from G-d. In reincarnation, if you have sinned, you get to come back in another body to re-try your sinful life, meaning your sins have entered a pure little baby. No, I do not believe in Karma in this or the next life. I am Jewish. Therefore, no, some Jews do not believe in Karma. Reply

Craig johannesburg, South Africa May 1, 2012

Intention Firstly , Karma means "action". It is the effect of past action that set our view from which point we see the world in our current lifetime. Is it possible that if one where to , and only with real warmheartedness and pure intention, begin to act in a a way that is beneficial to others and less selfish, to gather positive karma. Now when I say gather positive Karma I mean the altering of ones View . I think this changing of the view is the most important aspect or Karmic Debt Relief. Reply

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