9.1 The Nature Of God As One

Question 1

The first two verses of the Shema

Answer 1

“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Question 2

Explain the Jewish belief of God as one

Answer 2

Jews believe that:
God is one and ever present in people’s lives.
Everything we see, hear and experience is a meeting with God.
God is the source of all morality, beliefs, values and laws
They will be judged on how they respond to laws
They can learn more about God by looking at History in the Historical books in the Tenakh

Question 3

How Jews write God

Answer 3

Some Jews prefer not to write God.
They use G-d instead as a sign of respect
When written in Hebrew Gods name can never be erased or destroyed
The Hebrew letters for God are YHWH and is never said aloud by Jews
When it appears in scriptures or liturgy Jews say ‘Adonai’ meaning my lord
Any book containing the Hebrew name of God is never destroyed
When it is too old to use it is kept in a special place in the synagogue before being properly buried in a Jewish cemetery