Pharisees - Kararites and Pharisees

Kararites and Pharisees

One group that has been particularly at odds with the Pharisees and their successors throughout history is the Karaites. According to Nehemiah Gordon, the Pharisees—for example--"do not follow the calendar given to the People of Israel in the Tanach". Making this worse, the Pharisees "were influenced by the pagan Babylonian religion" when they began to follow their calendar. "During their sojourn in Babylonia our ancestors began to use the pagan Babylonian month names, a fact readily admitted in the Talmud: “The names of the months came up with them from Babylonia.” (Jerusalem Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 1:2 56d)"

Putting the Karaites and Pharisees at further odds are the apparent Pharisee falsehoods regarding tzitzit and tefillin :

• "But don't Karaites hang their Tzitzit on the wall of the Synagogue?" "No. This is a Rabbanite lie..."
• "But I thought Karaites wear Tefillin between their eyes?" "This is not true..."
• .

In concurrence with Gordon regarding Pharisee falsehoods about Karaites is Avrom Aryeh-Zuk Kahana haKohen. For instance:

"One of the more common accusations made against Karaites, especially by leaders of Rabbinic Judaism, is that the Karaite religion is closer to being a Muslim faith. It's an odd accusation especially to those of us that practice Karaism, making no sense at all since there is no adherance to the Qur'an and Mohammed is definitely not seen as a prophet. ".