Judaism Flashcards
Beliefs about God
List the beliefs about God
Can Someone Give Jim Rice Snacks
- God the creator (created everything)
- God the sustainer (provides food and natural resources for the world)
- God the giver of law
- God the judge
- God the redeemer
- God the sanctifier
Beliefs about God
Jews believe God is judging…
humans every moment of everyday and he cares how people treat one another.
Beliefs about God
With this knowledge, Jews strive to…
act in a good, kind way to one another and carry out good deeds and obey the Mitzvot.
Beliefs about God
One of the major festivals (Rosh Hashanah) provides Jews…
with an opportunity to repent and reflect on their behaviour, and to pray for goodness and happiness for themselves and their families.
Beliefs about God
Redeemer
Explain how Jews believe God is a redeemer.
Many Jews believe God to be a redeemer. This is one who saves them even though they have sinned and protects them from the consequences of their actions.
This is a fundamental belief that God will always save or redeem his people, especially at times of crisis.
Beliefs about God
Redeemer
Jews believe that gratitude…
is a vital part of their worship, and one that will strengthen their loyalty to them.
Beliefs about God
Sanctifier
Jews believe that the act of sanctification - becoming holy - …
is achieved by fulfilling the mitzvot, the commandments, that God gave to them which is underlined by a famous quote in the Torah.
Beliefs about God
“Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am Holy”
Describe how Jews can become holy and follow this quote.
One of the most important ways a Jew can become holy is by helping another person who is in need. This could be by giving to charity, or helping in any ways that is benefitting a person.
Beliefs about God
“Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” - Deuteronomy 6:4
Explain this quote.
(monotheistic God)
This is the opening line of the Shema - a Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God. It is recited twice a day as part of the morning and evening service.
It declares the most important and basic principle in Judaism - the belief in one God.
Beliefs about God
Explain how God is the Creator and his 4 main characteristics.
By understanding the whole act of creation as coming from nothing, Jews accepted that God created the world exactly as he wanted it to be.
God is not a person and has no physical attributes but there are 4 important characteristics:
- Omnipotent= all strong
- Omniscient= all knowing
- Omnibenevolent= all loving
- Omnipresent= he is everywhere
Beliefs about God
Why does God allow free will?
God holds back his power and allows humans the freedom to choose the way they wish to live on Earth.
It is believed that God through miracles, does occasionally intervene in earthly affairs. He allows humans to develop spiritually and to grow according to his divine plan.
Beliefs about God
“We don’t have free choice; God controls all our lives”
Explain how people may agree and disagree
Some people may agree as they may see that God has decided their life for them and they have no control (free will)
However, some people may disagree as they know they have free will and that they can make their own decisions.
Beliefs about God
“For He is God who feeds and sustains all, does good to all, and prepares food for all creatures He has created. Blessed are You, Lord who feeds all”
Explain this quote and the problems that arise with God being the sustainer.
God is fairly successful in preparing “food for all creatures” as he allowed for humans to have food but some people are in food poverty.
This idea can be problematic to understand, especially when people think of famine and world poverty.
Beliefs about God
Explain what Jews believe about God the Sustainer.
Jews believe that God does provide enough good to sustain the entire world, but it reminds the basic responsibility of humanity to ensure that this food is distributed fairly across the world.
By exercising free will and reaching out and helping those in need, Jews believe they are fulfilling God’s plan for the world.
Suffering
Most Jews believe that everything God does…
is for good. From a human perspective, some actions might seem evil, but they trust that whatever happens on Earth is ultimately according to God’s plan which is good.
Suffering
The Tanakh teaches…
that suffering can be a punishment for sins. It also could teach that suffering can be part of a test from God of a person’s faith and to see if they will freely follow God’s commandment.
Suffering
Jews believe suffering can bring people…
closer to God in times of trouble many people turn to religion for comfort and support. Also, it can help people to empathise with others and to assist them when necessary.
Suffering
Suffering cannot be understand by humans…
this particularly relates to the suffering Jewish people endured during the Holocaust. However, Jews believe they must do all they can to overcome and relieve suffering i.e practice tzedakah.
Suffering
The Holocaust was a true example of how many innocent people…
face suffering, even though they feel that they don’t deserve it, it needs to be recognised that there are times in life that suffering happens and this needs to be accepted
Suffering
Describe how the Story of Job links to suffering.
The story of Job found in the Old Testament depicts how a man’s life was ruined by God yet he failed to question or turn away from God, rather he accepted it as part of life.
What is Yetzer Tov?
Inclination to do good.
What is Yetzer Hara?
Inclination to be selfish.
Describe the Yetzer Tov and Yetzer Hara.
The Yetzer Tov and Yetzer Hara are the ways in which Jewish people use their free will either to act in a moral way or to act in a way that could be regarded as selfish to fulfil one’s own desire without regard for the moral consequences of fulfilling those desires.
Free Will
Describe the main points about Genesis 2.
- cursed
- pains in child bearing
- painful labour
- desire will be for your husband
- he will rule over you
- cursed is the ground
- for dust you are and to dust you will return
