Judaism Beliefs

Question 1

What is the ‘Jewish Bible called’

Answer 1

the Tenakh

Question 2

What is the tenakh made up of

Answer 2

• Torah - written law (first 5 books, e.g. Genesis)
• Nebi’im - Prophets e.g. Jeremiah
• Ketuim - Writings e.g. Psalms

Question 3

What is Talmud

Answer 3

explanation of the Torah by the rabbis

Also called the ‘oral law’

Question 4

What are the three categories of Jewish belief

Answer 4

• Ultra-Orthodox
• Orthodox Jews
• Reform Jews

Question 5

What is Ultra-Orthodox

Answer 5

• very strictly follows laws and practices in the Torah

Question 6

What are Orthodox Jews

Answer 6

-Strictly follows laws and practices in the Torah

Question 7

What are Reform Jews

Answer 7

• Believes traditional Jewish Laws should be re-interpreted to suit modern life
• Reform Jews tend to follow the spirit of the
  law – not the specific laws

Question 8

What are the 4 beliefs about God

Answer 8

• God has no body (scripture speaks of God’s body just to make him more understandable)
• God is neither male nor female
• Jews refer to G-d using masculine terms
• Jews are forbidden from representing God in a
physical form – it is considered idolatry.

Question 9

What does Omnipotent mean

Answer 9

God is all powerful

Question 10

What does Omniscient mean

Answer 10

God is all knowing

Question 11

What does Omnipresent mean

Answer 11

God is everywhere at

once

Question 12

What are the characteristics of God

Answer 12

• Creator
• Sustainer
• Judge
• Lawgiver
• The divine presence

Question 13

God as one means….

Answer 13

• God is a single and whole being
• God is the only one who should be worshipped
• Everything has been created by God
• God is the source of all beliefs

Question 14

What is the shema

Answer 14

‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord
alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart and with all your soul and with all
your might’
(Deuteronomy 6:4-5)

Question 15

Why is the Shema important

Answer 15

• Expresses belief in the one God
• Instructs Jews on how they should respond to this
belief in daily life
• It is the word of God

Question 16

What are the Jewish beliefs on the creation of the world

Answer 16

•Orthodox: God literally made the world in six
days - they reject the Big Bang and evolution
•Reform: God created the world using the Big
Bang and evolution

Question 17

What are Jewish beliefs on Evil and Free Will

Answer 17

• God created evil but also free will
• Having a choice makes a good act more
  significant

Question 18

What are the Mitzvot

Answer 18

• 613 Jewish Laws
• First 10 are the 10 Commandments
• The first four commandments are between man and God
  2. The other six are how to treat others (man and man)

Question 19

When are Jews Judged

Answer 19

1. On death

2. Once a year ( Rosh Hashanah )

Question 20

What do Jews believe about Heaven

Answer 20

• Most Jews believe in heaven (paradise or Gan Eden). A place
  where you are WITH GOD. Whether it is a physical or
  spiritual place is unknown.

Question 21

What do Jews believe about Sheol

Answer 21

• If you don’t enter heaven you go to Sheol where you are

cleansed. No belief in eternal punishment

Question 22

What are the Orthodox views on the messiah

Answer 22

• In every generation a descendent of King David is born
with the potential to be the Messiah (a person).
• Will bring about world peace
• This is called the Messianic age
• He will be the ultimate teacher of the Torah (law).
• He will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem

Question 23

What are Reform Jewish beliefs on the messiah

Answer 23

The Messiah will not be a person….
• Instead, there will be a ‘messianic age’
• … a time of global peace and harmony
• Everyone has a duty to work together to
achieve this

Question 24

Bible teaching on the messianic age

Answer 24

‘Nations shall never again go to war.’

Micah 4:3

Question 25

What are the 3 moral principles

Answer 25

- Justice: bringing about what is right and fair for a just society. - Healing the world: charity work - also obeying the mitzvot and prayer - Kindness to others: the Torah encourages acts of kindness

Question 26

Bible teachings on kindness to others

Answer 26

You shall love your fellow as yourself | Leviticus 19:34

Question 27

What is the Sanctity of life

Answer 27

• Life is sacred and holy because it comes from God - God breathes life into Adam • As God gives life, only God should end life • Jews have a duty to preserve life – particularly those of innocent, vulnerable people • Jews should not do anything to quicken a person’s natural death

Question 28

What is Pikuach nefesh

Answer 28

The Jewish obligation (duty) to save a life even if it | means breaking Jewish laws (e.g. Shabbat)

Question 29

What is a bible teaching on Pikuach Nefesh

Answer 29

‘He who destroys one soul of a human is considered as if he has destroyed a whole world’. (The Talmud)

Question 30

What do Jews believe about Shekhinah

Answer 30

Jews believe that G-d can ‘focus his presence’ | on earth in certain places. This is the Shekinah (Gods Divine Presence)

Question 31

What is the tabernacle

Answer 31

- portable structure used while Jews were wandering in the desert after escaping Egypt but before arriving in the ‘promised land’

Question 32

What is a Covenant

Answer 32

Solemn promise

Question 33

What is God’s covenant

Answer 33

``` • To specially protect and favour the Jews • God gives Abraham the promised land of Canaan (Israel) for the Jews ```

Question 34

What is Jews’ covenant

Answer 34

To live a life dedicated | to God

Question 35

What was Gods covenant with Abraham

Answer 35

- “From now on you must circumcise every baby boy | when he is eight days old….this will show that there is a covenant between you and me’

Question 36

What is the story of Moses

Answer 36

- Hundreds of years later the Jews are in slavery in Egypt - Moses (a Hebrew) kills an Egyptian slave driver and flees - God tells Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery - Pharaoh releases the Jews… they are free - Pharaoh refuses to release them – eventually God sends the plagues - The Israelites wander in the desert for many years on their way to the ‘promised land’ of Canaan – which they eventually reach - At Mount Sinai God gives Moses the 10 commandments (second covenant)

Question 37

what is the the covenant at Sinai

Answer 37

• Given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai • Moses represents all Jews • Jews today believe this covenant is STILL BINDING • It is a major reason Jews believe they are God’s chosen people… and follow Jewish laws