7.1 The Almighty

Question 1

What do Jews believe?

Answer 1

Only one God (monotheists)
special covenant relationship with God (Abraham & Moses)

Question 2

Who are Jews?

Answer 2

Any person whose mother was a Jew
Any person who has gone through the formal process of conversion to Judaism

Question 3

What are the different groups in Judaism?

Answer 3

Orthodox
Conservative
Reform
Liberal
Secular

Question 4

What are the religious texts in Judaism?

Answer 4

The Tenakh, The Talmud
Jews derive their beliefs about God from these religious texts

Question 5

What is the Tetragrammaton?

Answer 5

YHVH - The Hebrew name for God
‘Yahweh’ in English, ‘The Lord’ (Adonai)

Question 6

Jews believe that the name of God is so holy, so what aren’t they allowed to do?

Answer 6

Never be written, erased or defaced

Question 7

Names for God

Answer 7

El
Elohim
El shaddai
Hashem
Hashem Tzevaot
Hakadosh Baruch Hu

Question 8

El

Answer 8

A powerful and mighty God

Question 9

Elohim

Answer 9

Plural of El, suggesting that God is a complex being who cannot be simplified

Question 10

El Shaddai

Answer 10

God Almighty

Question 11

Hashem

Answer 11

The name

Question 12

Hashem Tzevaot

Answer 12

Lord of Hosts

Question 13

Hakadosh Barach Hu

Answer 13

‘Tho holy one blessed be he’

Question 14

What are the different sections in the Tenakh

Answer 14

T orah - law
E
N evi’im - prophets
A
K etuvim - the writings
H

Question 15

How strict/closely do Secular Jews follow the Tenakh?

Answer 15

Atheist (don’t follow)

Question 16

How strict/closely do Reform/Liberal Jews follow the Tenakh?

Answer 16

Progressive

Question 17

How strict/closely do conservative Jews follow the Tenakh?

Answer 17

In the middle?

Question 18

How strict/closely do Orthodox Jews follow the Tenakh?

Answer 18

Follow the Torah in a traditional sense

Question 19

How strict/closely do Ultra-Orthodox Jews follow the Tenakh?

Answer 19

Very strict

Question 20

How often do they recite the Shema?

Answer 20

Twice everyday, reinforces the importance of God as one

Question 21

One

Answer 21

impossible to divide God into parts, or describe him by physical attributes. God is the only being to whom Jews should offer praise and prayer. The Shema: ‘Hear O Israel, Hashem is our God, Hashem is the one and only’ Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Question 22

Creator

Answer 22

As only one God, everything in the universe is created by God. Many Orthodox Jews interpret the creation story more literally, while Reform and Liberal Jews see it as a metaphor
‘And Hashem for ed the man of dust from the ground’ Genesis 2:7

Question 23

Lawgiver, Judge

Answer 23

The Torah is a gift from God to Moses - guidance so that Jews can live good lives. They believe they are children of God; father-like to them. When Moses accepted the Law, he and the Jewish people entered into a covenant to keep it, God judges how well they keep the laws
‘Hashem is our Judge, Hashem is our Lawgiver, Hashem is our King; He will save us’ Isaiah 33:22

Question 24

Talmud

Answer 24

The ‘Oral Torah’

Question 25

Torah

Answer 25

Five Books of Moses (Genesis), Shemot (Exodus), Vayikra (Leviticus), Bamidbar (Numbers), Devarim (Deuteronomy)

Question 26

Shema

Answer 26

The main Jewish declaration of faith

Question 27

Why is The Almighty important for Jews today?

Answer 27

The names help bring Jews closer to him
Jews worship a single God
Reciting the Shema twice a day reinforces the importance of God as One
Understanding the God as a Creator, Lawgiver, Judge helps Jews to act ‘in the image of God’ with justice and mercy