Judaism Beliefs

Question 1

Give two people who had covenants with God in the Tenakh [2 Marks]

Answer 1

• Moses

- Abraham

Question 2

Give two promise that God made to Abraham [2 Marks]

Answer 2

• Make his wife, Sarah, pregnant

- Abraham would be a father of many nations

Question 3

Give two promise that God made to Moses [2 Marks]

Answer 3

• Moses and his people would be freed from slavery

- They will be his people, and he will be their God (exodus)

Question 4

Give two of the key moral principles in Judaism [2 Marks]

Answer 4

• Kindness to others

- justice

Question 5

Give two reasons why the promised land is important to Jews [2 Marks]

Answer 5

• it was promised to them by God

- It is considered mitzvah to live in Israel

Question 6

Explain two views on the role of the Messiah [4 Marks]

Answer 6

• Rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem

- Bring about a time of peace (Messianic age)

Question 7

Give two ways in which the nature of God as judge influences Jews today [4 marks]

Answer 7

• Build a relationship with God and others

- Follow the mitzvot

Question 8

Give two ways in which the nature of God as loving influences Jews today [4 marks]

Answer 8

• Want to build a relationship with God because they know how loving he is
• Love others because the God who created them is a loving God, therefore in loving others they are living out who they are designed to b while also loving God

Question 9

Give two ways in which the nature of God as law-giver influences Jews today [4 marks]

Answer 9

• Morally in their behaviour // “ thou shall not steal” (exodus) so they do not steal
• Socially binds their community because they have laws of God which they all follow together and set them apart from others eg. When they go out they do not eat pork

Question 10

Give two ways in which the nature of God as merciful influences Jews today [4 marks]

Answer 10

• Feel hopeful about God forgiving their sins because he is merciful
• They are merciful towards others so they are following God’s ways

Question 11

Explain two ways in which the belief that the mitzvot are the commands of God influence Jews today [4 Marks]

Answer 11

• It changes their day to day behaviour because they want to be obedient to God.
• The Mitzvot bind Jews together as a community

Question 12

Explain two beliefs about the nature of God [4 Marks]

Answer 12

• Omnipotent – all powerful

- Benevolent – all loving

Question 13

Explain two moral principles in Judaism [4 Marks]

Answer 13

• justice

- kindness to others

Question 14

Give two ways in which the Ten Commandments influence Jews today [4 Marks]

Answer 14

• jews will follow them, an therefore they will change their every day actions, because they are the word of God given by God
• Help Jews to grow closer to God because when they follow God’s will, they are building a relationship with God

Question 15

Explain two Jewish beliefs about the importance of the Messiah [4 Marks]

Answer 15

• Rebuild the temple in jerusalem

- Create a time of peace

Question 16

Explain two Jewish beliefs about shekinah [4 Marks]

Answer 16

• Come back in the messianic age when the messiah comes back to earth
• Other Jews believe that Shekinah is always with them in everyday life. Eg. Study, work, pray, eat, doing good deeds, in times of need, etc.

Question 17

Explain two ways that Abraham sealed the covenant with God [4 Marks]

Answer 17

• Abraham, and all the others in his household, was circumcised
• Abraham made an animal sacrifice, cutting the animals into two pieces

Question 18

Explain two promises God made to Moses during the covenant [4 Marks]

Answer 18

• Moses ad his people would be freed from slavery

- They would be his people, and he would be their God

Question 19

Explain two beliefs about Jews duty to heal the world [4 Marks]

Answer 19

• Stewardship
• Kind to others because in healing the world future generations do not have to live in a broken world full of air pollution and rubbish everywhere

Question 20

Explain two Jewish teachings about charity [4 Marks]

Answer 20

• Some Jews give tithe to charity / / 10% of what they earn as said in Leviticus “a tenth of produce of land, whether grain or fruit, is the lords and is holy
• Jews also believe in kindness to others which can be done through chairty // this could be giving money or even physically helping e.g soup kitchen

Question 21

Explain two Jewish teachings about charity [5 Marks]

Answer 21

• One Jewish teaching about charity is that Jews should give tithe to charity (10% of their earnings) – this is said in Leviticus
• Jews also believe in kindness to others which can be done through chairty // this could be giving money or even physically helping e.g soup kitchen.

Question 22

Explain two ways in which the commandment with Abraham influences Jews today [5 Marks]

Answer 22

• The covenant with Abraham helps Jews to know that they are God’s people, and he is their God.
• The covenant with Abraham also influences Jewish boys to get circumcised (Brit Milah) when they are babies. This is a very important ritual in Judaism, and came from the covenant with Abraham when he was sealing the covenant.

Question 23

Explain two ways in which the commandment with Moses influences Jews today [5 Marks]

Answer 23

• The covenant with Moses gave Jews the Ten Commandments. These influences Jews greatly in their everyday life and in their actions. For example a Jew would not steal as the Ten Commandments (in Exodus) say clearly “thou shall not steal”
• It also influences Jews today as it brings them together as a community. One way in which it does this is because God renewed the covenant with Abraham and reaffirms that the Jews are God’s chosen people. Another way in which is unites them as a community is through following the ten commandments. This means that if they are all following the ten commandments together, then they are all uniting together.

Question 24

Explain two contrasting Jewish beliefs about the messiah [5 Marks]

Answer 24

• He will come to create the messianic age and rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. It is at this time that the dead will rise and be judged by God (Daniel)
• Reform Jews believe that the Messiah may never come, and even if he does we don’t know how long away that will be. Therefore, they believe that we should not wait around for the messiah but instead create the time of peace ourselves, all together.

Question 25

Explain two Jewish beliefs about Shekinah [5 Marks]

Answer 25

• In the book of Exodus, it accompanied Moses and the Israelites as a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night
• The tabernacle housed it during the wilderness journey. This means that the tabernacle (a tent-like structure) is believed to be where the divine presence was kept and lived.

OR

• Some Jews (mainly Orthodox) believe that shekinah is not with them not, but instead will return when the Messiah comes to earth and creates the messianic age
• Other Jews (mainly reform) believe that Shekinah has always been with them, and always will be. This includes work, recreation, doing good deeds, studying, eating

Question 26

Explain two contrasting beliefs about the nature of God [5 Marks]

Answer 26

• One Jewish belief about God is that he is a judge. This means that God judges people based on their actions, and can either reward them or condemn them.
• A contrasting belief about God is that he is merciful. This means that God shows compassion or forgiveness. Some Jews believe that this contradicts God being a judge because how can he condemn people to hell while also loving and forgiving them?

Question 27

Explain two contrasting beliefs about God as judge [5 Marks]

Answer 27

• One belief about God as judge is that he will judge humans straight after they die. This is called immediate judgement and means that, no matter when or even how old the person who dies is, God will judge them as soon as they die, and then decide whether they will go to Gan Eden or Sheol.
• Another belief about God as judge is that there will be final judgement. This is very different to immediate jusgement, and means that when a person dies their souls will almost ‘float’ until the Messiah comes to earth. It is at this point that the soul and the body will be resurrected, and Jews will be judged by God to see whether they go to Gan Eden or Sheol.

Question 28

Explain two promises God made to Abraham as his side of the covenant [5 Marks]

Answer 28

• God would make his older wife, Sarah, pregnant with a baby boy (Isaac)
• God would make Abraham a “father of many nations” – this means that #

Question 29

Explain two moral principles in Judaism [5 Marks]

Answer 29

• Justice – explain – “let justice roll on like a river”

- Kindness to others – explain – “love others as you love yourself” (Leviticus)

Question 30

Explain two meanings of the Jewish belief that God is one [5 Marks]

Answer 30

• God is a single whole being, is indivisible and the only one who should be worshiped – Shema: “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, might and soul”.
• Everything has been created and sustained by God (Genesis) and therefore everything owes its source to one being.

Question 31

Explain two moral principles Jews can follow to live in a way that pleases God [5 Marks]

Answer 31

• One key moral principle in Judaism is kindness to others. When Jews are kind to others, this not only pleases God because they are being good-natured humans, but it also pleases him because we are all made in the image of God – so when you are kind to your fellow humans you are also being kind to God. “love your neighbour as yourself” – Leviticus.
• Another key moral principle in Judaism is healing the world. In Genesis, God made Jews stewards of the world (meaning they can look after the earth on behalf of God). Healing the world pleases God as Jews are showing that they are caring for God’s lovingly made creation, and it is also kind to future generations.

Question 32

“For Jews, the most important Mitzvot are those between man and God”. [12 Marks]

Answer 32

For
- Man and god mitzvot helps build a relationship with God so can enter Gan Eden in the afterlife.

• Helps to show that you are obedient and committed in your faith, which (some would say) are really what the laws are about. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, might and strength” (Deuteronomy – the Shema)

Against
- Build a nation, build an identity, the way you build a community is through all following the mitzvot between man and man “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” (exodus)

• the mitzvot between man and man help jews to “love thy neighbour” which is one of the most important commandements in Judaism. Widows/orphans – kind (exodus)

Question 33

“For Jews, the most important Mitzvot are those between man and man”. [12 Marks]

Answer 33

For
- Build a nation, build an identity, the way you build a community is through all following the mitzvot between man and man “You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk.” (exodus)

• the mitzvot between man and man help jews to “love thy neighbour” which is one of the most important commandements in Judaism. Widows/orphans – kind (exodus)

Against
- Man and god mitzvot helps build a relationship with God so can enter Gan Eden in the afterlife.

• Helps to show that you are obedient and committed in your faith, which (some would say) are really what the laws are about. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, might and strength” (Deuteronomy – the Shema)

Question 34

“The resurrection is not an important belief”. [12 Marks]

Answer 34

For
- There is very little in the Tenakh about the resurrection//if it was important it would be mentioned.

• Reform Jews//important thing is life that is lived now, not life after death//whatever happens after death is in Gods hands.

Against
- Orthodox - Bodily resurrection at messianic age (Daniel: “many of thoses who sleep in the dust will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt)

• Justice will occur in messianic age when we are judged and we will participate in this final peace and justice (implies resurrection).

Question 35

“Jews do not have to follow all of the Mitzvot”. [12 Marks]

Answer 35

For
- Teachings are outdated. Eg. Treat Canaanite slaves worse than Hebrew slaves — not relevant today

• It is more important to worship God and be faithful than to slavishly obey irrelevant rituals
• Free will

Against
- It is the word of God//religious duty//covenant//why would he make so many rules if he did not want the Jews to follow them?

• You can’t start picking and choosing the mitzvot you want t follow// this suggests you have the right to pass judgement on God’s laws (you know better than him – and Moses)
• Mitzvot bind Jews as a community

Question 36

“The covenant at Sinai is more important to Jews today than the covenant with Abraham” [12 Marks]

Answer 36

For
- Gave Jews the Ten Commandments (the basis of the 613 mitzvot) which are now followed by all Jews and bring them together as a religious community.

• Ten commadements show Jews how to have a healthy relationship not only between God and men, but also a good relationship between man and man on Earth. For example, ‘do not kill,’ ‘do not steal.’ Without these commandments many Jews wouldn’t have a good relationship with God.

Against
- Covenant with Abraham is the foundation for the Jewish religion//God told Jews that they were his chosen people, and he was their God//they would multiply and have a promised land (Israel)

• Covenant with Abraham began ritual of Brit Milah and whole concept of sacrificial commitment (which is still fundamental to Jewish identity today)//shows commitment to God and shows obedience to him which is a large feature and sign of Jewish culture and religion.

Question 37

“God can be loving and just at the same time” [12 Marks]

Answer 37

For
- God can be viewed like a parent//sometimes has to exercise harsh discipline precisely because he does love his children//this is a commonly talked about in psalms and proverbs

• God is God//it is not for humans to judge the infinite justice and infinite love as our human minds will never truly understand it//the common concept of the messiah is that all we be judged, but all will also be reconciled to a loving peaceful God//therefore we should trust that he can be loving and just at the same time

Against
- Afterlife // if God was loving he would not condemn people to Sheol, particularly for human weaknesses which he allowed in their characters.

• Life on earth // if God was just, dictators and tyrants would not prosper – however they often do. Therefore God is not loving or just to common people.

Question 38

“it is more important that God is merciful than he is a judge” [12 Marks]

Answer 38

For
- On earth, God’s mercy allows us to be forgiven and therefore to establish a relationship with him. A God who is only a judge would be a figure of fear, and humans would never be able to form a loving relationship with him on earth.

• In eternal life, God offers the promise of salvation. This is based on the premise that he is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love” (Psalms). No human will ever meet God’s standard of perfection, and therefore for eternal life we rely on his mercy.

Against
- Being self-disciplined and sticking to a moral code can be very difficult for humans, but knowing there is a God who always sets the moral standard creates ordered and moral society because people are aware, or even fearful, of God’s judgement.

• The problem of evil is very hard to understand, particularly for people who are being persecuted, oppressed or discriminated against. Although they may have no hope of justice on earth it is essential and reassuring that they believe in a God who is just and whose final judgement and revenge will see their oppressors paid back.

Question 39

“Kindness to others is the most important moral principle in Judaism” [12 Marks]

Answer 39

For
- We are all made in Gods image, so being kind to others (widows, orphans, outcasts – Deuteronomy) must be the best way to also become closer to God

• Many jews believe that kindness is the key to healing the world (and therefore takes priority over other moral principles). This means that if Jews are kind to others, then all will want to act with justice and environmental responsibility so that future generations have a beautiful and harmonious world to live in.

Against
- The three key moral principles must be balanced and as important as each other. You cannot make one more important than the other, otherwise you throw God’s universal harmony off balance.

• It is all about context. In some situations (such as dealing with a naughty child) kindness is clearly the best principle, but in a court of law dealing with a murderer then justice must be served. Therefore, they are all overall equally important, but sometimes they must be used differently in different situations

Question 40

“the moral principles of justice, kindness to others and healing the world are all intertwined and equally important” [12 Marks]

Answer 40

For
- Kindness to others is linked with the others as it involves seeking justice for them and sustaining the environment.

• Justice can be achieved only if there is an attitude of kindness and a desire to improve the world.

Against
- Some Jews believe that justice is more important than kindness. In the book of Genesis, when God banished Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden after they ate the apple, he has to be fair and just – not kind. For some Jews, this example is clear that justice is more important than kindness.

• The torah speaks of justice, but nothing directly that tells jews to care for the environment.

Question 41

‘The Ten Commandments are the most important part of the Sinai Covenant with Moses.’ [12 Marks]

Answer 41

For
- The ten commandments give Jews a chance to be united with God in Gan Eden at the end of times. This is because through following Gods laws Jews will deepen their connection with God, and therefore be more likely to unite with him.

• The Ten Commandments have remained the foundation of Jewish identity and tradition for thousands and year and thus are the most remembered and important part of the covenant at Sinai. Therefore, the Ten Commandments bring Jews together as a community, making them very important.

Against
- The most important part of God’s covenant with Moses was to renew his covenant with Abraham and remind Jews they were his chosen people. It is true, that the Ten Commandments were significant because they showed what God demanded in return, but they are not as important as what God himself was promising.

• For the newly liberated Jews setting off on their journey to the Promised Land, it was more important to know that God was with them and would never abandon them, than it was to know about the new rules he wanted them to follow.

Question 42

‘Free will means that Jews can behave however they like.’ [12 Marks]

Answer 42

For
- Free will is a gift from God, so Jews should be able to use it in whatever way they chose.

• Without free will humans could not actually do good because there is no choice to also do bad.

Against
- There are 613 Mitzvot which suggests that God actually does have strict expectations and commandments for Jews

• The Ten Commandements given to Moses in the book of Exodus are very important and how clearly that you cant act however you like otherwise the world would be chaos.

Question 43

‘Jews do not need to worry about creating a more peaceful society because this will be achieved by the messiah.’ [12 Marks]

Answer 43

For
- Orthodox Jews believe a future leader will bring about world peace and unity, ruling with kindness and justice according to the torah. The book of Micah says that when the Messiah lives on earth he will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem and create a time of peace when “sword shall not take up sword against nation”.

• One of the main purposes of the Messiah is to bring about peace, therefore they don’t need to create a more peaceful society because he said her would do it for them.

Against
- Reform Jews believe that we should not wait around for the Messiah to create a time of peace, but instead make it ourselves (possibly by following the key moral principles). This means that everyone should make and effort to make society a more peaceful place to live.

• Orthodox Jews - the Messiah will come only when human beings are worthy of the messiah to come. Therefore Jews have to put the three moral principles for the Messiah to come.

Question 44

‘For Jews it is more important to understand God as judge than anything else.’ [12 Marks]

Answer 44

For
- Jews believe that God will judge them in the afterlife for how they have lived on earth. Daniel

• They believe that Rosh Hashanah is a time when they will be judged to determine their fortunes for the coming year. Yom Kippur (the final day) is considered the most important day in the Jewish calendar.

Against
- A judge needs laws, so God has to be seen also as lawgiver

• It is more important to see God as creator as this influences how Jews regard other people and the world, sanctity of life, free will, healing the world.
• God is benevolent. The Jews are his children and he is their father (as said in exodus) so God loves them like a father. This also extends to his judgement, as many Jews believe that when God judges he will be loving and merciful at the same time.