Jewish Beliefs

Question 1

What is the Tenakh

Answer 1

The jewish sacred scripture

Question 2

How many books are in the tenakh

Answer 2

24

Question 3

What is the name of the 3 sections of the tenakh?

Answer 3

Torah-law (first 5 books)
Nebi’im-prophets (e.g jeramiah)
Ketuim-writings (e.g psalms)

Question 4

What is the Talmud

Answer 4

The oral law/comentary on the Torah
(Explination of the Torah by thr rabbis)

Question 5

Orthodox jews

Answer 5

Striclty follow laws and practices in the Torah

Question 6

Ultra orthdox jews

Answer 6

Very Striclty follow laws and practices in the Torah

Question 7

Reformed jews

Answer 7

The belief that traditional jewish laws should be reinterpreted to suit modern life

Question 8

What does the Shema say ?

Answer 8

‘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 9

4 sections of Gods nature?

Answer 9

He is…
ONE
CREATOR
LAWGIVER
JUDGE

Question 10

God as ONE (quote):

Answer 10

‘Hear, o Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone’ (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) (SHEMA)

Question 11

God as CREATOR (quote):

Answer 11

‘God created the heavens and the earth’ (Genesis 1:1)

Question 12

God as LAWGIVER (quote):

Answer 12

“The LORD is our Lawgiver” (Isaiah 33:22)

Question 13

God as JUDGE (quote):

Answer 13

“The LORD is our Judge” (Isaiah 33:22)

Question 14

God’s characteristics as ONE

Answer 14

• Single, whole, indivisible being
• Everything is created and sustained by one God
• Only being who should be worshipped
• Shema shows we should love and be dedicated to God • Source of all morality, beliefs, values

Question 15

God’s characteristics as CREATOR

Answer 15

• Created the universe with the ability to support life
• Created all living things
• ‘Rested’ and made the seventh day holy
• Sustains life on earth. He provides all the resources needed for life on earth the survive
• God created everything, including evil which is a necessary consequence of free will

Question 16

God’s character as Lawgiver

Answer 16

• Gave the Jews 613 mitzvot (laws)
• He expects people to follow to help them love/worship Him/love each other/teach them how to behave

Question 17

God’s character as judge

Answer 17

• Judges people on how well they follow the laws he gave
• Judgements are considered to be merciful (fair)

Question 18

Omnipotent

Answer 18

All powerful

Question 19

Omniscient

Answer 19

All knowing

Question 20

Omnipresent

Answer 20

All present

Question 21

omnibenevolent

Answer 21

All loving

Question 22

Eternal

Answer 22

Everlasting

Question 23

Merciful

Answer 23

Shows compassion and forgiveness to humans

Question 24

Shekhinah

Answer 24

The devine presence of God at a specific place or time
(God focuses his presence in a certain place) e.g The temple, the tabernacle

Question 25

Life after death

Answer 25

• Tenakh does not contain much info about afterlife • Difference in beliefs among Jews • Jews are not too concerned with life after death

Question 26

Heaven and Sheol

Answer 26

• Many Jews believe if they follow the faith correctly = heaven/paradise (Gan Eden) • Not known if heaven is a place or a state • Some Jews believe those who do not go to heaven go to Sheol → a waiting place where souls are cleansed • Some Jews believe souls that do not go to heaven cease to exist after a period of time

Question 27

Judgement and resurrection

Answer 27

• Some Jews believe that they will be judged by God as soon as they die →‘the lifebreath returns to God.’ • Others believe God will judge on the Day of Judgement, after the coming of the Messiah → “Many of those that sleep ... will awake, some to eternal life, others ... to everlasting abhorrence” • Some Jews believe in physical or spiritual resurrection, but many do not

Question 28

Messiah meaning

Answer 28

Anointed one

Question 29

Who is the messiah in jewish belief?

Answer 29

the one who will be anointed as King at the End of Days or Messianic age.

Question 30

Orthodox jews believe the messiah will be...

Answer 30

Messiah will be a person who is a descendant of King David In every generation there is a descendent of King David who has the potential to be the Messiah if the Jews are worthy. This person will be directed by God to become the Messiah Encourages Jews to work harder at making the world a more fair place and to follow Jewish law more enthusiastically Messiah will gather Jews back to Israel, re- establish government Messiah will rebuild the Temple Will bring world peace and unite humanity Will rule over humanity with justice and kindness

Question 31

Christians believe the messiah is....

Answer 31

Believe the Messiah was Jesus Believe this because his death lead to the salvation of humanity He established the Kingdom of God He will come again at the end of time to complete the Kingdom of God (Messianic age)

Question 32

Reformed jews believe the messiah will be...

Answer 32

Messiah is metaphor, not a literal person Believe in a future Messianic age, achieved through people working together to achieve peace It is a means to encourage Jews to work harder at making the world a more fair place

Question 33

Moral principles of judeism

Answer 33

Justice, healing the world, kindness to others

Question 34

Sanctity of life/Pikuach Nefesh

Answer 34

Sanctity of life - the belief that all life is holy as it was created by God Pikuach Nafesh - the obligation to save a life even if doing so breaks Jewish law

Question 35

Mitzvot

Answer 35

Mitzvot – Jewish rules or commandments • There are 613 mitzvot ➢There are 248 positive mitzvot which are commandments telling Jews what they should do ➢There are 365 negative mitzvoth which are commandments telling Jews what they should not do