Jewish Beliefs Flashcards

1
Q

Key Jewish beliefs about God

A

God exists
God is one
God is eternal
God is both just and merciful
Creator of everything
bodiless
neither male or female
omniscient
omnipresent
omnipresent
holy and perfect

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2
Q

How do Jewish people view God?

A

—> God’s existence is accepted almost without question
—> The existence of the universe is sufficient proof of God

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3
Q

The Shema

A

—> important Jewish prepare that derives from passages in Deuteronomy and Numbers

—> many Orthodox Jews cover their eyes with their right hand

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4
Q

Why Orthodox Jews cover their eyes while praying the Shema?

A

—> aids concentration

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5
Q

God is unity

A

—> single whole indivisible entity

—> cannot be divided into parts or described by attributes

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6
Q

God is just and merciful

A

—> fair and compassionate

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7
Q

Avinu Malkeinu

A

—> our father and king

—> we are all God’s children

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8
Q

God is incorporeal

A

—> God has no body

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9
Q

Orthodox Jews

A

Jews that believe God have the complete Torah to Moses and therefore live according to the Jewish laws and traditions

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10
Q

Reform Jews

A

—> Jews who believe the Torah was inspired by God and was developed through their history

—> therefore laws may be changed or adapted as modern life changes

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11
Q

Orthodox Jews on Creation story

A

—> literal truth

—> happened 6000 years ago

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12
Q

Reform Jews on the Creation Story

A

—> accept evolutionary theory may be correct and that the universe is much older but God made it all happen

—> God is the creator but the story of Genesis is not literal

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13
Q

Heredi Jews on the Creation Story

A

Orthodox Jews read the creation story in Genesis literally, which means that they believe that God created the world and everything exactly as the story describes

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14
Q

God the Creator

A

—> created the world ex nihilo

—> world is proof of a designe r

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15
Q

How does the belief in God as the creator impact action ?

A

Jews remember it every week between sunset on Friday and night time on Saturday during the observance of Shabbat

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16
Q

Isaiah 45:6-7

A

I am the Lord and there is no other. I form light and create darkness. I make well-being and create calamity. I am the Lord who does all these things

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17
Q

Evil in the World — Satan

A

—> not considered as a power in its own right

—>All things are created by God

—>any reference to Satan he is seen as the equivalent of a tempter

18
Q

God the Sustainer

A

—> provide sufficient resources to feed and provide for all species

—>any lack of resources is simply unequal distribution, as a result of free will

—> created humans with a job to do. those who follow Jewish teaching and help to distribute resources fairly and are fulfilling God’s plan for the world

19
Q

How does belief in God as creator impact Jewish actions ?

A

—> Sabbath

—> worship God alone

—> Tikkun Olam

—> Follow mitzvoth

—> find own purpose

20
Q

The Mitzvot

A

—> a commandment

—> God have 613 to the Jews

—> To help Jews use their free will correctly, God has provided these mitzvoth that he expects them to obey

—> this why he is lawgiver - gives laws that each individual is freely able to observe

21
Q

God as a Judge

A

—> judges how well people follow his mitzvot and rewards and punishes them

—> only possible as they have free will

22
Q

what is a covenant ?

A

—> God made them with Noah, Abraham and Moses

—> agreement designed to allow both parties to benefit

—> believe their relationship with God is like an agreement, with Jews doing what God asks of them, as God’s special people

23
Q

Covenant key quote

A

“now Isreal, what does your Lord yout God require of you ?
To keep the Lord’s commandment and his statuses”

24
Q

Two main times when God’s judgement happens

A

Rosh Hashanah
After death

25
Q

God’s judgement : Rosh Hashanah

A

The festival offers Jews a chance to reflect on their behaviour over the year and repent for their wrongdoings and pray for everyone

26
Q

God’s judgement : After death

A

Belief in this means Jews will try to follow the 613 mitzvot and keep their covenant with God

27
Q

Impact of belief in lawgiver, judge & sheiknah

A

—> Adherence to the Laws of God for Orthodox Jews

—> study time in a Yeshiva to further their understanding of God’s laws

—> influence them to be just when judging others

28
Q

Shekhinah

A

—> presence

—> Jewish theology explains God’s presence on Earth

29
Q

Shekhinah Key Verses

A

“The earth shone with His glory” - Ezekiel 43:2

30
Q

The Shema

A

—> prayer from the Torah that is used in morning and evening services in synagogues

—> Shows how God should be respected.

31
Q

An example of God’s closeness

A

—> describes how the Jews were led at times by “a pillar of cloud by day, to guide them along the way and in a pillar of fire by night”
—> shows God’s presence and power

32
Q

God’s influence over Jewish people

A

—> believe that they must follow God’s law in order to serve him
—> believe in free will but must follow God’s laws in order to use this freedom in the way God wants
—-> believe all aspects of their lives are ruled by God
—-> God will punish or reward people depending on how well they have followed his laws

33
Q

Shema Key Quotes

A

“Hear, O Isreal! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.” - Deuteronomy 6:4

34
Q

When will the Day of Judgement occur, according to some Jews?

A

After the coming of Messiah

35
Q

In order to have a good afterlife, what should people do ?

A

Repair the world

36
Q

What is Gehinnom?

A

A place where souls judged to be bad will be punished in the afterlife

37
Q

How is the Messianic Age described?

A

time of perfect peace and prosperity

38
Q

Who does the Torah say will appear before the Messiah comes?

A

The prophet Elijah

39
Q

What do people need to in order for the Messianic Age to happen ?

A

improve their actions

40
Q

Tikkun Olam

A

Repairing the world

41
Q

Life after death - Judgement Key quotes

A

“God will bring every deed into judgement … whether it is good or evil” - Ecclesiastes 12:14

42
Q

Torah

A

First Five books of the old testament