Judaism: Beliefs Flashcards
What is the meaning of omnipotent?
All powerful
What is the meaning of omniscient?
All knowing
What is the meaning of omnipresent?
Everywhere at all times
What is the meaning of benevolent?
All loving
What occurred on Day 1 of creation?
Light + Dark
What occurred on Day 2 of creation?
Stars + planets
What occurred on Day 3 of creation?
Day + night
What occurred on Day 4 of creation?
Land + Ocean
What occurred on Day 5 of creation?
Plants, fish, birds
What occurred on Day 6 of creation?
Mammals + humans
What occurred on Day 7 of creation?
God rested
What are Jewish beliefs of God’s concept and nature?
- Jews believe in one God who is the creator and sustainer of everything. He is eternal, all powerful, and beyond human understanding. God is the only being who should be worshipped and all morality comes from him.
- Jews write ‘G-d’ instead of ‘God’ to show respect and avoid erasing his name
Why do Jews write G-d instead of God?
To show respect and avoiding erasing his name
What is Jewish belief of God as one?
- God is a single, whole, indivisible being
- God is the only one being who should be praised and worshipped
- All morality- beliefs and values- come from God
- God is infinite, eternal
- Everything in the universe has been created and is sustained by God
The belief in one God is expressed in the Shema
What is the Shema?
A jewish prayer which affirms belief in the one God
The Shema Prayer:
Taken from the books of Deuteronomy and Numbers
An important Jewish prayer:
Reminds Jews of the importance of God being one.
What is the Shema prayer?
Hear, O Israel! The Lord your God, is one God. You shall love the Lord Your God, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
You shall teach these words to your children, and you shall talk about them
when you walk by the way, when you lay down and when you rise.
What are Jewish beliefs about creation generally?
- God took four days to make the universe fit to support life
- God took two days to create all living creatures
- God then rested and made the seventh day holy. When Jews celebrate Shabbat on this day, they are reminded of God’s importance and role as the creator
What do Orthodox Jews believe about creation?
Many Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews believe the events in Genesis literally happened about 6000 years ago. They reject scientific theories of evolution.
What are other Jewish beliefs about creation (non-orthodox)?
Other Jews interpret the Genesis creation story less literally. They still believe God is the creator of everything, but accept the universe is much older and life has evolved over many years.
What does Isiah 45:6-7?
‘I am the Lord and there is none else, I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe - I the Lord do all these things.’- Isiah 45:6-7
What are Jewish beliefs about God the Sustainer?
Jews believe that in addition to creating the universe, God also sustains it. He provides all the resources needed for life on earth to survive.
What are Jewish beliefs about evil through free will?
The belief that God created everything also means that God must have created evil. The existence of evil is considered to be a necessary consequence of free will:
* God gave people free will because he wants people to be able to choose good, making the act of doing good more significant
* In order to exercise free will, there must be a choice between good and bad
* This means evil has to exist
What are Jewish beliefs about free will?
Jews believe God has given them the free will to make their own choices. But this does not mean people can do what they like without any consequences: Good actions lead to a life of fulfilment. They bring Jews closer to God and ensure they are judged favourably by him. Bad actions will not bring people closer to God, in life or after death.
What is an example of free will?
In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve use their free will to disobey God and eat from the tree. They were banished from the garden of Eden as a result. This story shows God has given humans the choice of how to live their lives, but using free will to go against God has serious consequences.
What is the Jewish Bible?
The Tenakh
What is the Torah?
The written Torah is an important text for Judaism and world history, which by definition, means the ‘‘law’’ or ‘‘teachings’’ of Judaism. It contains the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The written Torah is the first part of the Tanakh, the Jewish Hebrew Bible or Christian Old Testament.
What is Mitzvot and how does it affect Jews?
Mitzvot: A mitzvah is a Jewish rule or commandment. There are 613 mitzvot in the Torah and others in the Talmud. The mitzvot gives guidance to Jews on how to use their free will correctly, to live in a way that pleases God. Jews believe that, as the mitzvot in the Torah came from God while the Jews were under the leadership of Moses, following them carefully makes it impossible to disobey God. The first 10 are the 10 commandments, given from God to Moses after rescuing the Jewish slaves from Egypt
What is the relation between Mitzvot and Free Will?
The mitzvot gives guidance to Jews on how to use their free will correctly, to live in a way that pleases God, whilst allowing people to exercise free will, to help prevent evil through free will however it cannot be ended as this would contradict the belief of free will
What is Mitzvot between man and God?
- These are mitzvot that tell Jews how they can improve their relationship with God
- They cover areas such as worhsip, sacrifice, and the observance of festivals
- The most important are the first four of the Ten Commandments
What is Mitzvot between man and man and what is their significance?
- These are mitzvot that tell Jews how to improve their relationship with other people
- This is important because the Torah teaches that Jews should show love towards other people and by doing this, Jews are showing their love for God
- They cover areas such as the treatment of workers and how to settle disputes
- They help Jews to live as members of their faith and community in a way that pleases God
What is the Jewish belief of God as Lawgiver?
Jews believe God has given them many laws to follow. These laws help them to use their free will in a way that would be approved by God. There are 613 laws in the Torah, teaching people how to behave, called the Mitvot. These form the basis of the Halakah, the accepted code of conduct for Jewish life. The first 10 mitvot are the ten commandments
What are Jewish beliefs on God as Judge?
Jews believe God judges them for how well they follow these laws, based on their actions, behaviours and beliefs. God’s judgement are considered to be fair and tempered by his loving, merciful nature
What are the two main times Jews believe God judges people?
• During the festival of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)- God judges people for their actions over the past year and determine what the coming year will bring them
• Judgement after death, when God determines how they will spend the afterlife while others believe that they will be judged by both God and the Messiah on the Day of Judgement. On this day, some Jews believe that everyone will be resurrected.
What is Shekhinah?
The Divine Presence of God
What are Jewish beliefs on how the divine presence of God was experienced by the early Jews?
• In early Judaism, the Tabernacle was considered to house the divine presence of God. This was a portable temple that Jews carried with them on their journey through the wilderness to Canaan
• After Canaan was conquered, the Tabernacle was replaced with Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. This temple was the centre of Jewish worship at the time, and several prophets experienced the presence of God in the Temple
• The Tenakh describes how Jews were led at times by a pillar of fire or a cloud on their journey to Canaan, appearances from God
What does Isaiah 6:1-2 state?
“I beheld my Lord seated on a high and lofty throne”- God’s Presence in the Temple – The vision takes place in the temple, where God’s glory fills the space, similar to the Shekinah that filled the Tabernacle
What is Jewish belief of Heaven?
Many Jews believe that if they follow their faith correctly, they will go to heaven or paradise (Gan Eden) when they die. There is no clear teaching about what heaven is like. It is considered to be where people are with God, but it is not known if this is a state of consciousness, or a physical or spiritual place.
What is Sheol?
Some Jews believe that people who do not enter heaven go to Sheol, a place of waiting where souls are cleansed. Jews do not believe in a place of eternal punishment.
What is Jewish belief on when judgement happens?
Some Jews believe they will be judged by God as soon as they die. This belief is supported by Ecclesiastes 12:7. Others believe God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement, after the coming of the Messiah. This belief is supported by Daniel 12:2.
What does Daniel 12:2 state?
“Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence.” Daniel 12:2-
God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement, after the coming of the Messiah
What does Ecclesiastes 12:7 state?
‘And the dust returns to the ground as it was and the lifebreath returns to God who bestowed it’ Ecclesiastes 12:7
Jews will be judges by God as soon as they die
What is Jewish belief on resurrection?
Some Jews believe in the idea of physical or spiritual resurrection, but many do not.
What are the origins of the Messiah?
- '’Messiah’ was originally used in the Tenakh, referring to the King of Israel
- First King of Israel was Saul
- Before Saul was made King, the prophet Samuel anointed him with oil to show he was chosen by God to rule over Jews
- Today, the word ‘Messiah’ is used to refer to a future leader of the Jews, expected to be a future king of Israel- a descendent of Saul’s successor, King David
What are Orthodox beliefs about the Messiah?
Orthodox Jews believe there is a descendent of King David in every generation who has the potential to become the Messiah. If the Jews are worthy of redemption, this person will be directed by God to become the Messiah.
What are Reform beliefs about the Messiah?
Many Reform Jews reject the idea of the Messiah. They do believe in a future Messianic age, but believe this will be achieved by everyone working together to create world peace, rather than as the result of the leadership of one person.
What is the story of Abraham and the Promised Land?
- Abraham travelled to Canaan after promised this land by God, as a place where Abraham and his descendants could make a ‘Great nation’.
- Abraham born in city of Ur.
- People worshiped idols of many different Gods. Abraham convinced there was only one God who created everything. Tried to stop people worshipping idols.
- Decides to leave Ur and travel to Canaan.
- Before reaching Canaan, they settled elsewhere.
- Many years later, God told Abraham to continue his journey, promising a great nation.
- Once reaching Canaan, it became the promised land,
What covenants did Abraham make to God?
- Abraham agreed to ‘walk in my [God’s] ways and be blameless’ Genesis 17:1
- Covenant sealed through the action of circumcision . Abraham proved his acceptance of the covenant by being circumcised himself and by circumcising all males in his household
How did God follow through with the covenant with Abraham?
- God promised to make Abraham father of many nations
- God made Abraham father of many nations, and possible for his wife Sarah to conceive, despite the fact she was very old
- Sarah gave birth to a son called Isaac. His birth seen by some as a gift from God to mark the start of the covenant between Abraham and God
What is the importance of Abraham to Jews?
- One of the founders of Jewdaism
- Known as a man who did everything for God, acting as an example of obedience to God
- The story shows that G-d is always faithful
What is the story of the Escape from Egypt?
- Jews being forced to work as slaves in Egypt. God chose Moses to lead their escape and to ask the Egyptian Pharaoh to release the Jews from slavery.
- After God sent a number of Plagues, the Pharaoh finally agreed to release the Jews. Jews left Egypt and wondered many hears in the desert in the Sinai region.
- When they arrived at Mount Sinai, Moses climbed it, leaving the rest at the base.
- Moses returned to see them worshiping a golden calf.
- This is where God gave Moses the Ten commandment, carved on two stone tablets
What is the importance of the Covenant at Sinai- The Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments form the foundation of Jewish law. They give Jews important guidance on how to have a good relationship with God (the first four commandments), and how to have good relationships with each other to create a peaceful society (the last six commandments).
What was agreed for the Ten Commandments?
It was agreed at Mount Sinai under the terms: God would protect the Jews from harm and be their God, in return, Jews would have to obey his laws
What does Genesis 2 state about the Sanctity of life?
Genesis 2 tells how God breathed life into Adam and the while of creation; life is thus valuable and sacred as it is given by God. God gave life, only God has right to take it away. Jews have duty to preserve life.
What expresses the importance of preserving life?
Sanhedrin 4:5 in the Talmud: ‘He who destroys one soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should destroy a whole world’
What is the meaning of Pikuach Nefesh?
Saving a life
What is the Jewish belief of Pikuach Nefesh?
A belief in the sanctity of life is behind the concept of pikuach nefesh. This is the obligation that Jews have to save a person’s life if they can, even if doing so breaks Jewish laws.
* Pikuach nefesh emphasises how valuable human life is to Jews, as it puts human life above Jewish law.
What is an example of Pikuach Nefesh?
Jews are required to observe Shabbat, which means they are not allowed to do certain types of work from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. But Jews are allowed to break Shabbat law in order to save a life.
What are 3 Key Moral Principles for Jews?
Justice, Healing the world, Kindness
What is Jewish belief on Justice?
- Justice refers to bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law, or making up for a wrong that has been committed.
- Pursuing justice is a sacred duty for Jews. God requires people to do justice
- The laws in the Torah give guidance to Jews on how to treat the poor and vulnerable, to help achieve justice.
What does Micah 6:8 state?
Pursuing justice is a sacred duty for Jews. God requires people ‘to do justice and to love goodness’ (Micah 6:8).
What is Jewish belief on Healing the World?
- Healing the world is an important concept in Judaism, which involves taking actions to help God’s work in sustaining the world.
- Some Jews also believe healing the world should also include obeying the mitzvot and trying to become closer to god
- Links to Jewish beliefs of God the sustainer and creator- by healing the world, Jews are helping to sustain the world God created
What is an example of a Jewish Charity that helps to ‘heal the world’?
World Jewish Relief, helps those living in poverty
What is Jewish belief on Kindness?
Jews aim to show kindness to others by showing positive, caring actions towards all living things.
* Many of the laws in the Torah give guidance to Jews on how to be kind to others, teaching Jews to love others as they love themselves
What is a quote about kindness
‘You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellow as yourself’ Leveticus 19:18
What is an example of a commandment of Man and God?
You shall have no other Gods before me
What is an example of a commandment of Man and Man?
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
What does Genesis 1:1 state?
“When God began to create heaven and earth”
