1.3 The Nature of God: God as Lawgiver and Judge; the Divine Presence Flashcards
What did God Jews give to exercise their free will?
The Ten Commandments
What were they originally inscribed on?
Two tablets of stone and Jews will consider these laws to be of great importance
How many laws does the Torah contain?
613 mitzvot - form basis of Halakhah
What do Jews believe God provided they 10 commandments and other mitzvot for?
To set the basis of his relationship with his people, and that is the purpose of God being the lawgiver
What do Jews believe God judges them on?
Their actions, behaviour and beliefs
What do Jews believe Gods judgements are like?
Fair and always tempered by his loving, merciful nature - qualities of justice and mercy are perfectly balanced
When do Jews believe they are judged?
- festival of Rosh Hashanah
- after death
What does Shekhinah mean?
The divine presence of God - God on Earth
What do many Jewish writings refer to?
Tabernacle - portable structure, similar to a tent - being early dwelling place for the divine presence of God
When did Jews carry the tabernacle with them?
On their journey after their exodus from Egypt, throughout the wilderness, to the conquering of the land of Canaan
What is the Shekhinah associated with?
Gods presence among his people and their experience of the spirit of God - seen as sign on power and glory
Quote from Isaiah?
‘In the year that King Uzziah died, I behold my Lord seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of His robe filled the Temple. Seraphs stood in attendance on Him’
What happened after the Canaan was conquered?
The Tabernacle was replaced with Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem in the tenth century BC
