Judaism - Beliefs

Question 1

Shekinah?

Answer 1

Presence of God meaning glory

Question 2

What do Orthodox jews believe about the Shekinah?

Answer 2

They believe that it can only be found at the Temple, where Gods presence lives

Question 3

Where else do some jews believe the Shekinah can be felt?

Answer 3

Through prayer and when reciting the Torah

Question 4

Shema?

Answer 4

a prayer declaring jewish faith that is said by many Jews twice a day. It’s placed in the Mezuzah

Question 5

Pikuach Nefesh?

Answer 5

The obligation to save life where possible

Question 6

Torah?

Answer 6

5 books of Moses and regarded as the holiest books of the Tenakh

Question 7

Mizvot?

Answer 7

often used to refer to 613 duties and good deeds from the Torah

Question 8

Messiah?

Answer 8

The anointed one who Jews believe will bring in a new era or age for human mankind including rebuilding the temple

Question 9

Covenant?

Answer 9

a promise or agreement between two parties

Question 10

Summary of the Shema?

Answer 10

the belief that One God is at the centre of Jewish life. It also tells the Jews what God will provide for them and what they must do

Question 11

What was the covenant made between God and man?

Answer 11

“I will be your God if you will be my people”

Question 12

What happened in the Covenant with Noah?

Answer 12

God promised that he will not flood the earth again

Question 13

What were the 3 covenants that God made with Abraham?

Answer 13

He promised to make him the father of a great nation. He showed this by changing his name from Abram to Abraham

Gave him and his descendants to Land of Canaan to live in

God enabled his wife Sarah to have a child called Isaac

Question 14

What happened to show that Abraham and his descendants agreed to His covenant?

Answer 14

They had to circumcise all males born when they were 8 days old as a sign

Question 15

What happened in the covenant between God and Moses?

Answer 15

It was made while the Jews were wandering in the desert. God gave Moses the 10 commandments and the other 603 Mizvot. Moses promised God that the Hebrews would keep these laws. They would be Gods people

Question 16

3 reasons why Moses is important?

Answer 16

He saved Hebrews from the Pharaoh in Egypt

He got given the 10 commandments

Spoke to God (burning bush)

Question 17

What was the Covenant with David?

Answer 17

God promised David that his children will be looked after by God and will rule Israel.

Question 18

What was the Covenant with Jeremiah?

Answer 18

God promises the Jews a future with an new covenant centred around the Torah “I will be a God for them and they will be a people for me”

Question 19

Quote from Jeremiah 1:5?

Answer 19

“Before i formed you in the womb i knew you”

Question 20

What does the Talmud state about Pikuach Nefesh?

Answer 20

States that all rules can be broken in the instance of saving a life, as life is more important than anything

Question 21

God as One?

Answer 21

monotheism - there is only one God who is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. This belief in one God is at the forefront of Jewish life, the Shema is touched everytime they walk pass a door (which is considered to be the most important prayer) represents this belief “The Lord is our God, the Lord alone”
Out of respect they they do not say his name, and instead say ‘HaShem’
His name is also write as G-d as respect and that God is neither masculine nor feminine.
The worship against any other God is wrong and there are no statues in synagogues to highlight this

Question 22

Quote for God as a creator?

Answer 22

“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”

Question 23

God as a creator?

Answer 23

Judaism teaches that God create everything. In Genesis 1 in the Torah, God is shown as as an omniscient and transcendent creator. when he creates he does so with order and design and clear purpose. They believe that God’s final and most important creation was humans and we have a special role: to be stewards of the world which God created and gifted to humans

Shabbat is a weekly day of rest which reflects gods resting on the seventh day after completing creation

Question 24

what do orthodox Jews believe about God as the creator?

Answer 24

Many orthodox Jews rede creation stories in Genesis metaphorically so do not believe that God created the world as described in the Torah however they take very important messages from the text such as God is the ultimate and soul creator of the universe. this is reflected in orthodox prayers such as the start of the Barukh’ blessed be who spoke and the world came into being”

Question 25

God as a law giver?

Answer 25

Judaism teaches that God wants humans to live as in a specific way, so he revealed the tour to Moses which contains the 613 mitzvah. These duties are required for each due to live a good and moral life. They also helped to create a society that is fair and equal as God wanted.

Orthodox Jew try to keep all the duties whereas reform Jews believe the duties need to be adapted to fit with modern day life however most Jews will always try to keep the 10 Commandments

Question 26

God as a judge?

Answer 26

He will judge individuals on how well they follow the torah and the duties he has given to them. as Jews believe God is omniscient, many believe that God judges every moment of their lives, therefore they should strive to do good and treat us as well always.

The festival of Rosh Hashanah represents when God starts his judgement of individuals based on their actions throughout the year. As God is compassionate, he gives Jews an opportunity to atone for anything they have done wrong in the 10 days leading up to Yom Kippur.

Question 27

What is the Shekinah?

Answer 27

It is seen as a way of God reaching out and connecting with us. It is a spiritual presence of God on earth. Many Jews believe it is important to engage in a spiritual and practical sense through prayer and pilgrimage.
some jews believe the Shekinah is the feminine aspect of God and therefore associated with feminine attributes representing the more loving, caring and compassionate qualities of God

Question 28

A quote from exodus about the Shekhinah?

Answer 28

Make me a sanctuary that I made dwell among them

Question 29

why is Shekhinah significant in Judaism?

Answer 29

It indicates the special connection between God and Jewish people and He makes himself known at times of great need and significance

Question 30

3 beliefs about the Messiah?

Answer 30

Will be a human man

He will have the authority of God to rule in the best interests of Judaism

He will be a descendent of king David, who was one of the most influential rulers of the Israelites

Question 31

3 roles of the Messiah?

Answer 31

he will be a righteous king who through his rule will spread good and justice through the world

A bringer of peace

The restorer of the temple

Question 32

Messianic age?

Answer 32

New era for humankind of peace and prosperity

Question 33

What do Orthodox and Reform Jews believe about the Messiah?

Answer 33

many orthodox Jews accept the traditional understanding of the Messiah and waiting hope for his arrival. Maimonides who was a an influential philosopher in the middle ages, shows how the Messiah is essential belief for many orthodox Jews with many praying for him to come and redeem the world

Reform Jew reject the belief in a Messiah who will bring about a messianic age. Instead they believe that the responsibility for bringing this era is is a collective one, for all people to do good actions to bring about a new world of peace.

Question 34

Value of Humanity

Answer 34

Life belongs to God and he created humans lastly and differently to other life, therefore indicating that human life is the most important of God’s creation.

Humans are created in the image and likeness of God, meaning w have special dignity and value which was given by God.

“In the image of God He created him”

Question 35

what is significant about Pikuach Nefesh?

Answer 35

it is so important that it is possible to break all but 3 mitzvah to save a human life. For example, a Jew who is starving can be fed non-kosher food in order to save their life.

However, it is not acceptable to kill someone else to survive as each life as equal value and killing for one’s own benefit is wrong

Pikuach Nefesh means that abortion may be permitted to defend the life of the mother

Question 36

quote about the mitzvah?

Answer 36

“Recall all the commandments of the Lord and observe them” Numbers

Question 37

3 points about the Mitzvot?

Answer 37

orthodox Jews believe that it is very important to keep as many of the mitzvah as possible to build a close relationship with God and they believe that it should not be changed in anyway

Reform Jews believe the mitzvah are important but they recognise that it is impossible to follow some of them due to the changes that have taken place in society since Moses’ time Therefore, it needs to be interpreted to fit with the modern society.

They are given by God about how to be a better person in society for when they lead up to Rosh Hashannah

Question 38

what is the mitzvah day and what happens in it?

Answer 38

It is one day set aside in the UK each year where Jews show their commitment to the mitzvah by doing projects including cooking meals for those in poverty, litter picking, creating care kits for the homeless.

Question 39

beliefs about the afterlife?

Answer 39

Judaism does not focus on what happens in the afterlife as there is no specific mention of it in the Torah. most jews are more focused on living a good life now. (olam ha ba)

Some Jews believe that after death, they will go to heaven (Gan Eden) if they have lived a good life and follow the mitzvah.

A small number of Jews believe in reincarnation and that when they are reborn, they should work to make the world a better place.

Question 40

Beliefs about resurrection?

Answer 40

orthodox Jews believe the body will be raised from the dead and reunited with the soul and they believe that the righteous will be resurrected and that this will take place during the messianic age, therefore they do not agree with cremation or organ donors as the body should be left ready for resurrection.

Reform reject belief in physical resurrection but do believe the soul will continue to live on after death. One teaching is that a person will live in the memory of others