Judaism

Question 1

Why do Jews believe in one God?

Answer 1

• Belief in one God is a mitzvot

- There are no statues or pictures of human beings as it is God alone who should be worshipped

Question 2

What is ‘Shekhinah’?

Answer 2

-God’s presence in the world. It is seen as a way of God reaching out and connecting with Jews. They believe it enables a closer and more personal relationship with God.

Question 3

Why do Jews believe God is a law giver?

Answer 3

-God gave the mitzvot to help Jews live in a way that pleases Him

Question 4

Why do Jews believe that God is a judge?

Answer 4

• There is no Jewish view of what happens to a person after death
• Many Jews believe that God will judge each person on how well they have kept His laws

Question 5

What are the 613 mitzvot?

Answer 5

Some don’t make sense, many are common sense, some are outdated.

Question 6

Why do Jews believe God created the world?

Talk about Jews in general, Reform Jews and Orthodox Jews

Answer 6

• For many Jews, the world is too powerful and complex to have happened by chance so it just have had a creator.
• Orthodox Jews believe the creation story literally
• Reform Jews believe in evolution and Big Bang

Question 7

What is pikuach nefesh?

Answer 7

• you can break any 613 mitzvot to save a life
• It could be thought of as the most important commandment
• saving a life should take priority over everything

Question 8

What was God’s covenant promise with Abraham?

Answer 8

• God promised Abraham that he would make a great nation out of him
• God gave Abraham the rite of circumcision

Question 9

What was God’s covenant with Moses?

Answer 9

• God promised to bless the Jews
• The Jews would increase in number
• He would bless the land the Jews were going to live in

Question 10

What does Olam Haba mean?

Answer 10

The world to come

Question 11

What do Jews believe about life after death?

Answer 11

• God will bring every deed in to judgement

- There will be a ressurection of the body(Orthodox-physical. Reform-spiritual)

Question 12

Why is life after death not really thought about in Judaism?

Answer 12

The believe that;

• what is important is living a good life now in preparation for the world to come
• The ways of God are not for humans to understand(God is transcendent)so there is no point in trying to do so

Question 13

What do Jews believe about the Messiah?

Answer 13

• He will rebuild the Temple
• Bringer of peace
• He will bring about the end of the world

Question 14

What is the connection between free will and mitzvot rules

Answer 14

Some say
-You have a choice to follow mitzvot but you get judged on if you do and how you do
Others say
-The mitzvot show you how to use your free will

Question 15

What does the Genesis account of Adam and Eve show Jewish people today?

Answer 15

It shows how God gave free will but also that there are negative consequences if that free will is used to go against God

Question 16

KC- Shekhinah

Answer 16

-The place where God’s presence rests and can be felt

Question 17

KC-Mitzvot

Answer 17

• There are 613 mitzvot rules in the Torah

- They are duties or good deeds

Question 18

KC-Torah

Answer 18

• The five Books of Moses, eg Genesis

- The holiest books of the TeNaK

Question 19

KC-Covenant

Answer 19

• A promise between two people or groups

- Covenants were made between God with Noah, Abraham and Moses

Question 20

KC-Messiah

Answer 20

• The anointed one who Jews believe will bring in a new age

- This will include rebuilding the Temple and bringing in an age of universal peace

Question 21

Why do Jews celebrate Shabbat?

Answer 21

In the creation story in Genesis, God rested on the 7th day, So Jews do the same