Judaism

Question 1

outline the life of Abraham

Answer 1

• He led a nomadic life, then settled in Canaaan

Question 2

describe the Covenant with the Patriarchs, including the promises of a People and a Land

Answer 2

God instructed Abram to leave his country and to follow god and Abram agreed to follow and leave canaan.

covenant was established with the patriarchs, firstly with Abraham.

• gods eternal promise to make him the ancestor of a nation and the promised land of Canaan.
• changed name to Abram indicating Abrahams commitment to god
• the key to god’s covenant was every male be circumcised - remains the ritual mark for Jewish males today - everlasting covenant, symbolic reminder of covenant

Question 3

outline the story of the Exodus and the giving of the Law at Sinai, including the Ten Commandments

Answer 3

• Moses: One of Judaism’s great figures
• Moses is the channel between God and the Hebrews
• Saved Jews from Egypt, got the 10 commandments - He gave the 10 commandments to the people
• God spoke to Moses through the burning bush – Exodus 3:1-22
• Moses helped Jews go back to the promised land – restores the original covenant god made with Abraham
• Moses was born Hebrew, sent down the river, rescued by Egyptian princess

Question 4

outline the unique features of:
– Conservative Judaism
– Orthodox Judaism
– Progressive/reform Judaism

Answer 4

Orthodox Judaism: The most traditional - Orthodox Jews believe that god gave Moses that whole Torah (written and oral) at Mount Sinai (Divinely written – word of God)

Progressive /reform -Was a result of modernism. They attempted to make Judaism more compatible with contemporary life
- Torah is human not divine (divinely inspired – people wrote it not God)

progressive - third variant, - More traditional than progressive Judaism, especially in matters of worship, reaction to reform Judaism

Question 5

discuss the belief in the one God and the attributes of God

• Omniscient:
• Omnipotent:
• Omnipresent:
• Anthropomorphic:
• Incorporeal:

Answer 5

Jews believe there is only one god and therefore it is a monotheistic religion.

• • Omniscient: the knowing
• Omnipotent: all powerful
• Omnipresent: everywhere
• Anthropomorphic: human qualities
• Incorporeal: without body or material form

Question 6

outline the concept of a divinely inspired moral law

Answer 6

Divinely inspired moral law is central to Judaism, it is the set of rules laid down by God that provide moral guidance and decision making for adherents.

• God gave Jews a code of ethics which is intended to guide them in relation to ethical decision making in keeping with their dignity as God’s creations
• 613 Mitzvoth. 248 positives, 365 negatives. Positive refers to the expression of faith towards god while the negative refers to the denial of faith towards god (day to day guidance)
• ten commandments (moral guidance)
• Jewish people believe that the Torah contains these laws
• Moral law binds them to God

Question 7

identify the importance of the Covenant for the Jewish people

Answer 7

Abraham:
the Covenant expresses the commitment of God to the people known as the Hebrews or the people of Israel. It is from this group of people that Judaism stems.
- The covenant for the Jewish people creates more than a religion, it creates a relationship with God.

Moses:
- He gave the 10 commandments to the people

Question 8

identify the importance of the:

– the Hebrew Bible

Answer 8

The Tanakh provides the basis for the beliefs and practices of its adherents.

The Torah (Teachings) - The Torah is the basis of Jewish law and details their principal beliefs. Orthodox - literal word of god, conservative - divinely inspired
 It gives Jews identity and explanation as to why they are the chosen people. contains the 10 commandments

The Nevi’im (prophets) -The Nevi’im consists of the writings of or about the visions of prophets. Provided instructions to the Hebrews about standards of conduct and goals to pursue

Ketuvim (Writings) - The ‘writings’ comprise works of prayer, poetry, wisdom and philosophy. Psalms and proverbs teach how to pray

Question 9

Identify the importance of the:

– the Talmud

Answer 9

• The oral law- an explanation of the writing in the Torah and how to interpret and apply its laws
• Second most important source of Jewish law and love.
• It includes the discussions and comments on the Tenak by Rabbis
• Contains Jewish laws along with legal discussion and narratives about Jewish history, ethics and traditions

Question 10

Examine extracts from the Hebrew scriptures which demonstrate the principal beliefs of Judaism

Answer 10

• Belief in One God
  “You shall have no other God before me” (Exodus 20:3)

“in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”

Covenant
“and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great and you shall be a blessing” (Gen. 12:1-3)

“This is my covenant, which you shall keep.” (Gen. 17:8-9.)

“to love all human beings who are the covenant” (Lev 19:18

• Moral law prescribed by God

“thou shalt not kill” (Ten Commandments)

• Thirteen articles of faith
• Sacred texts and writings