Judaism Beliefs Flashcards
Monotheistic
A religion that believes in one G-D
The Nature of G-D
G-D influences the world and our places in it Not a Person Source of all Morality Creator Loyalty in exchange for life Judges people on how they follow laws See G-D's work in History so by study text, they learn more about G-D Constantly at Work
G-D or God?
G-d is used as a sign of respect
Cannot be destroyed when written in Hebrew
Not said out loud- Adonai said instead
Any book with it in is treated with respect
Buried in Jewish Cemetery
Some say it’s a Title, some a Name
What does Adonai Mean?
My Lord
What are the Hebrew letters of G-D?
YHWH
What is the Shema?
An important Jewish Prayer from Deuteronomy and Numbers
Comes from “Lishmoa”- to listen/hear
What is expressed in the Shema?
G-D is always Present
What you see, hear and experience is a meeting with G-D
G–D is one
Unity of G-D
Quote about the Shema: One G-D
“Hear, o Israel! The Lord is our G-D, the Lord is one”
Quote about the Shema: Loving G-D
“You shall love the Lord your G-D with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might”
Quote about the Shema: Children
“Impress them upon your Children”
Quote about the Shema: When Said
“Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down, and when you get up”
Quote about the Shema: Tefillin
“Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead”
Quote about the Shema: Mezuza
“Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”
What is the First line of the Torah?
“When G-D began to create heaven and earth”
Beliefs about Creation
G-D is the Creator
Created the Universe out of nothing as He wanted it to be
6000 years ago
Ultra Orthodox/Orthodox Beliefs about Creation
Happened 6000 Years Ago
Reject evolution
Reform Beliefs about Creation
Accept Revolution but that G-D made everything happen
Structure of Creation
4 Days for Universe to support Life
2 Days to create all living Creatures
G-D rested on the 7th Day
Omnipotent
All Powerful
Omniscient
All Seeing
Omnipresent
Everywhere at all times
Omnibenevolent
All Loving
Evil and Free Will
G-D created Evil
Gave us Free will to do the right thing
Know the difference between good and bad
Choosing good makes the deed more Significant
Quote about G-D and Free Will
“I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe”
G-D as a Sustainer
G-D provided sufficient resources to feed and provide for all species
Distributed unevenly due to Free Will
Helping others fulfils G-D’s Plan
G-D as a Lawgiver
Torah Contains 613 Laws governing Jews’ behaviour
Form the Basis of Halakhah
Basis of relationship between G-D and Jews
The Ten Commandments
Given to Moses by G-D over 3000 Years Ago
Inscribed on 2 Tablets of Stone
Halakhah
Accepted Code of Conduct for Jewish Life
G-D as a Judge
Judged by how well Jews follow G-D’s Laws
Judged no matter of Religion
Judgements are Fair
Qualities of Justice and Mercy Perfectly balanced
When are the 2 Main Times of Judgement?
Rosh Hashanah- Decides what the year will bring them
After Death- Where they will spend their afterlife
Shekhinah
The Divine Presence of G-D on Earth
Sign of G-D’s Power and Glory
Feminine Presence as it’s a Feminine Word
Tabernacle
A portable structure which was the early dwelling place of G-D before Solomon’s Temple in 10th Century BCE
Carried from Egypt to Canaan
Which Prophets referenced the presence of G-D in the Temple?
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Ezekiel
What are the Customs Surrounding Death?
Inevitable-Part of G-D’s Plan
Jews shouldn’t die alone so should be looked after and Visited
Should be close to their eyes
Intense Mourning till Burial
What do Jews recite upon hearing of the Death of a loved one?
“Blessed are you, Lord our G-D, King of the Universe, the True Judge”
Beliefs on the Afterlife
Teaching developed over time
Could be Physical or Spiritual
Heaven
The good enter Paradise
Gan Eden
At one with G-D
Sheol
Place of waiting where souls are cleansed
Quote on Heaven and Sheol
“some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting Abhorrence”
Judgement and Resurrection
Some Believe they are Judged by G-D as soon as they die
Some Believe they are Judged on the Day of Judgement or after the arrival of the Messiah
Quote to Show Immediate Judgement after Death
“And the dust returns to the ground as it was, and the lifebreath returns to G-D who bestowed it”
Quote to Show late Judgement after Death
“Many of those that sleep in the dust of the Earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence”
Origins of the Messiah
In the 12th Century, Maimonides complied “Thirteen Fundamental Principles of Jewish Faith”
The 12th Principle was the belief in the Messiah and the Messianic Age
What is the Messiah?
The ‘anointed one’ and future leader of the Jews in the future
Nature of the Messiah
No suggestion it’s Saul as he disobeyed G-D
G-D changed Saul- Could apply to future Messiah
Descendent of King David
Rule Jews in Messianic Age
The Messianic Age
Dead resurrected and Temple Rebuilt
War will End and people will live in Peace and Harmony
Quote about the Messianic Age
“And the wolf shall dwell the lamb”
Orhtodox Belief on the Messiah
Desendent of David in every Generation as a potential Messiah
Provides hope to those facing hard times
Expectations of the Messiah Outlined in the Tenakh
Uphold the Torah and to be the Ultimate Teacher
Rebuild Temple
Usher World Peace
Unite Humanity as One
Reform Beliefs on the Messiah
Reject Messiah
Everyone working together to acheive Peace
Abraham
Born in Messopotamia in 20th BCE Idol Worshup Abraham Beilevd in One G-D Beleived Worshipping Idols was wrong Monotheistic
The Promised Land and Abraham
Abraham, Sarah, Terah and other family left for Cannan
Settled at Haran where Terah died
G-D told him to continue and made a covenant
Once they reached Cannan, G-D told Abraham to look around at the Promised Land
What is a Covenant?
Agreement between G-D and the People Benefits both Parties Still apply today G-D will never break his side Sealed by oaths and a special action
Who have Covenants been made between?
Adam, Abraham, Noah, Moses
The Chosen People
Jews chosen by G-D to be his people
Not superior to others
The Covenant with Abraham
Circumcision-Removal of the Foreskin from the Penis
Made him the Father of many nations
Circumcised himself and all males in his household
Sarah Conceived at old age
Isaac Born
Quote about the Covenant with Abraham
“I will make of you a great Nation and I will bless you”
The Escape from Egypt
400 Years after Abraham’s Covenant-Jews Slaves
Moses rescued from Nile as a baby and bought up in the Palace
Killed Egyptian Worker who was Hitting a Jew so fled
G-D spoke to him through Burning Bush
Told him to ask Pharaoh to free the Israelites
Pharaoh refused and G-D sent 10 Plagues so G-D let them go
Parted the Red sea and rescued 3 Million Jews
The Ten Commandments
Moses went up Mount Sinai and G-D gave him the 10 Commandments
What are the 10 Commandments?
I am the Lord your G-D, who bought you out of Slavery in Egypt
You shall have no other G-D’s beside me
Don’t use G-D’s name in Vain
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy
Honour your father and mother
Thou Shall not Kill
Thou Shall not Commit Adultery
Thou Shall not Steal
Thou Shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
Thou shall not Covet
What are the Key Moral Principles
Last 6 Commandments outline this
Justice
Healing the World
Kindness to Others
Key Moral Principles- Justice
Sacred Duty Acheived with truth and Peace
Bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law, or making up for a wrongdoing
Justice chnges to suit situation
Torah brings it Via Mercy
Guidance on treatment of Poor and Rich
Shouldn’t ignore suffering of others
Key Moral Principles- Healing the World
Tikkun Olam- Being involved in G-D's work to sustain the world Increase Social Justice Preserve environment Some don't believe that's enough Become closer to G-D through Prayer
Key Moral Principles- Kindness to others
Positive, caring actions shown to all living things
Jews and Non-Jews
Love others as they love themselves
What is the meaning of the Sanctity of Life?
All life is Holy as it’s created by G-D
Human life shouldn’t be Misused or Abused
Stems from Creation Story- Made in G-D’s image
Beliefs about ending life
Only G-D can take away life
Preserving life is a duty
Death can only be Natural
Controversy in ending life
War
Murder
Abortion
Capital Punishment
Natural Death
Medical Technology
Patients kept alive at all costs
Others believe you shouldn’t wait until the patient is in great pain
E.G: Ventilator removed if preventing natural death
Pikuach Nefesh
Saving a life
Value of Human life
Can break Shabbat
Transplant Surgery
Quote on Saving a life
“He who saves a life, saves the world entire”
Save family and generations
When their world is destroyed so is yours
Quote on Pikuach Nefesh
“Do not profit off the blood of your fellow”
When do you choose death over Pikuach Nefesh?
Murder
Idol Worship
Adultery
Free Will
The belief that people have the opportunity to make decisions for themselves Seen in Adam and Eve's disobedience Choices have consequences Do a good thing- Judged Favourably Do a bad thing- Judged Badly
Mitzvot
Commandment Good deed or charitable act 613 in Torah 248 Positive 365 Negative Given at Sinai Helps Jews use free will correctly
Mitzvot between Man and G-D
First 4 Commandments
Further guidance on building a strong relationship with G-D
Mitzvot between Man and G-D Areas
Ritual, Worship Sacrifice Food laws Festivals
Mitzvot between Man and Man
Someone who doesn’t love people doesn’t love G-D
How to be a member of the community
Mitzvot between Man and Man Areas
Treatment of Workers
Settling Disputes
Kashrut
