Judaism - Beliefs Flashcards
What are the key beliefs of the Nature of God?
- God as One
- God as the Creator
- God as the Lawgiver and Judge
What is Shekhinah
This is the belief that God can ‘focus his presence’ on earth in certain places.
What is the TeNaKh?
The Jewish “Bible” which is considered to be the Word of God.
What do the each indvidual parts of the TeNaKh mean?
Te - Torah, the written law
Na - Nebi’im, the Prophets
Kh - Ketuim, the writings
What is the Talmund?
The ‘Oral Law’ - which is the explaination of the Torah written by rabbis over time
What are the two main categories of Jewish Belief?
Orthodox Jews - strictly follow laws and practices of the Torah
Reform Jews - they follow the spirit of the law rather than the specific law
Who is the Messiah in Jewish belief?
The Future leader of the Jews, he is expected to bring world peace. The Messiah has been repeatedly promised by God in the Jewish Bible.
What are the Orthodox Jewish beliefs of the Messiah?
1) In every generation of a King David descendant, there is potential Messiah
2) Messiah will bring world peace (the Messianic Age)
3) He will be the Ultimate teacher of the Torah
4) He will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
What are the Reform Jewish beliefs of the Messiah?
- The Messiah will not be a person but a time of world peace (Messianic Age)
- Jews have a duty to work together to achieve this
Jews believe God is….
Omnipotent
Omniscent
Omnipresent
What are the meanings of God as One?
1) God is a single indivisible being
2) God is eternal
3) All beliefs and values come from God
4) God created everything
What does the Shema tell us about God?
There is only one God - “the Lord alone”
Loving God requires loyalty from the soul - ‘You shall love the Lord….with all your heart and soul’
What do Orthdox Jews believe about God the Creator?
God literally made the world in six days - they reject the Big Bang and evolution
What do Reform Jews believe about God the Creator?
God created the world using the Big Bang and evolution
According to Jewish belief, who created evil?
As creator of everything, Jews believe that God must have created evil