J2 - Beliefs and Sacred Writings

Question 1

What is the Tenakh and what are the 3 branches

Answer 1

Sometimes referred to as the Hebrew bible
containing 3 key sections:
Torah
Nevi’im
Ketuvim

Question 2

What does Torah mean and what is in it? [2]

Answer 2

Means the law
contains:
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy

Question 3

what does Nevi’im mean and what is in it

Answer 3

means the prophets
contains two parts:
Part 1: former prophets
Part 2: latter prophets
(i.e. 1 and 2 samuel)

Question 4

what does Ketuvim mean and what is in it

Answer 4

means the writings
Includes what we might call books of wisdom
(i.e. song of solomon)

Question 5

Who wrote the Torah (acording to Orthodox Jews)

Answer 5

Orthodox Jews believe all 5 of these texts were recorded by Moses as dictated to him by God.

Question 6

How many laws are in the Torah and what are they called

Answer 6

613
Mitzvot

Question 7

Jewish law parts

Answer 7

Written law / TeNaKh
Oral law / Talmud

Question 8

what does Talmud mean and how many parts does it have

Answer 8

means oral law
has 2 parts

Question 9

name of one section of Mishnah and how many total sections

Answer 9

there are 6 total sections
known as ‘seder’

Question 10

Shekinah meaning

Answer 10

means the divine presence
is the presence of God on earth

Question 11

Promised Land

Answer 11

the land of Canaan which God promised to Abraham and his descendants

Question 12

Covenant

Answer 12

a solemn promise or agreement made between two people/groups. A covenant requires commitments from both sides.

Question 13

Promises God made in the covenant with Abraham

Answer 13

to bless and curse those who bless and curse Abraham
abraham’s name will be a blessing
he will bless and multiply Abraham’s family
he will be Abraham’s God and will give the land and will live among them

Question 14

what is the Gemara

Answer 14

commentary on Mishnah

Question 15

what is a tabernacle

Answer 15

In early Judaism, the Tabernacle was considered to house the presence of God

Question 16

what does the Te in TeNaKh stand for

Answer 16

Torah

Question 17

what does the Na in TeNaKh stand for

Answer 17

Nevi’ ‘im

(not potasium)

Question 18

what does the Kh in TeNaKh stand for

Answer 18

Ketuvim

Question 19

what aspects of the Torah do the mitzvot apply to

Answer 19

all

Question 20

to orthadox jews are the mitvot laws or guidance

Answer 20

laws

Question 21

Why was the torah written down

Answer 21

so people could not reinterperat or inproperly retell the Torah

Question 21

how where interpretations of the Mitzvot passed down in early Judaism

Answer 21

orally

Question 22

God as Lawmaker

Answer 22

Jews believe God gave them 613 Mitzvot to follow, they teach people how they should behave
Jews see following God’s laws as part of the covenant

Question 23

What promises did Abraham make in the covenant

Answer 23

he will walk with God, love him, walk a blameless life and trust him
he will take Isaac, go to mt Mariah, and sacrifice him as a burnt offering
he will leave his country and go to Canaan (the land God would show him)

Question 24

God as Judge

Answer 24

Jews believe God judges them for how well they follow these laws
God’s judgements are fair as He is merciful
two main times when God judges people:
- during the festival of Rosh Hashanah (God judges people for their actions over the past year)
- many Jews also believe they will be judged after death

Question 25

Seal of the Covenant

Answer 25

Abraham proved the acceptance of the covenant by being circumcised himself and by circumcising all the males in his household
Jewish boys are still circumcised today when they are 8 days old as a continuing sign of this covenant
a physical mark of the covenant

Question 26

God as Creator

Answer 26

it is written in the Torah that God took 6 days to create the universe
he took 4 days to make the universe fit to support life
he took 2 days to create all living creatures
God then rested and made the 7th day holy
All Jews believe that God sustains the universe

Question 27

what is the place where Moses received the 10 commandments from God

Answer 27

Mount Sinai

Question 28

Decalogue meaning

Answer 28

another name for the 10 commandments, the 10 commandments were a sign of the renewal of the covenant through Moses, the continuation of the covenant made with Abraham

Question 29

First commandment

Answer 29

You shall have no other gods before Me

Question 30

Second commandment

Answer 30

You shall make no idols

Question 31

Third commandment

Answer 31

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

Question 32

Fourth commandment

Answer 32

Keep the Sabbath day holy

Question 33

Fifth commandment

Answer 33

Honour your father and your mother

Question 34

Sixth commandment

Answer 34

You shall not murder

Question 35

Seventh commandment

Answer 35

You shall not commit adultery

Question 36

Eighth commandment

Answer 36

You shall not steal

Question 37

Ninth commandment

Answer 37

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

Question 38

Tenth commandment

Answer 38

You shall not covet

Question 39

What are commandments 1-4 about

Answer 39

directly about the relationship between the Hebrews and God

Question 40

What are commandments 5-10 about

Answer 40

they focus on ethical behaviour and conduct towards others