Judaism : Beliefs And Teachings Flashcards
State the Genesis 1:27-28 Bible Quote
“God created humankind in his image,in the image of God he created them;male and female he created them.”
State Mark’s 10:6-9 Bible Quote
“But at the beginning of creation God ‘made them male and female.For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,and the two will become one flesh.’So they are no longer two, but one flesh.Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Define consummated
Make (a marriage or relationship) complete by having sexual intercourse
Define adultery
Sexual intercourse between a married person and a person who is not their spouse
Define extramarital
A sexual relationship between a married person and another person who is not their husband or wife
Define marriage
A relationship between two people who are married - in the eyes of the catholic church in order for a marriage to be valid the two people have to have sexual intercourse meaning they accept each other
Define sanctity of life
People are created in Gods image,where human life has an inherently sacred attribute that should be protected and respected at all times.You may kill and eat other forms of life but murdering humans is expressly forbidden
Define consent
Giving permission towards someone to do something meaning that you agree to it being done
Define annulment
This means that the official declaration of the marriage is invalid,so that legally it is considered never to have existed
Define divorce
The formal ending of a marriage by law - the catholic church still views the marriage as valid as said in the vows,the only way for the catholic church to acknowledge the marriage as invalid is if one party lies about their promises in the vows,then it will be an annulment
Define remarriage
Where you marry once again after your first or last marriage has ended through an annulment or divorce - the catholic church views remarriage as adultery
Define complement
Either saying nice things about someone or something that goes well with another thing that makes its good qualities more noticeable
Define gender prejudice
Actions or thoughts based on gender that men are better or worse than women,meaning that one gender is superior to the other - in the catholic church we are all equal
Define gender discrimination
Unequal or disadvantageous treatment on an individual or group of individuals based on gender
What is the catholic views on unitive sex?
The Catholic Church views unitive sex as the couple deepening their relationship and finding fufillment in their lives as they enter a new phase in life
What is the catholic views on marital sex?
The Catholic Church views marital sex as both partners giving themselves to each other, and you should and have sex in private and not lust for each other in public
What is the catholic views on procreative sex?
The Catholic Church views procreative sex as the couple welcoming new life as well as love for their own children,one of the commitments in the catholic church is the parents WILL love their children from God
God created humans beings in his image; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:27) - meaning 1
As we were made of God,we are to be the visible reflections of the invisible God
‘God created humans beings in his image; male and female he created them’ (Genesis 1:27) - Meaning 2
Human beings are created with unique abilities absent from every other creature on the earth that mirror the divine nature of God.
Three teachings about the human body from Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body
1) “Sex outside marriage and adultery,leads people to be selfish,and tendency to break promises” shows that we need to understand the importance of sex only to their eternal partner and that we must not be lustful of others but see them for what they truly are
2) “The human body,and sex are good.Sex outside marriage and contraception damage the significance of sex” is important as sex is beautiful as you accept your partner and deepen your relationship though having sex outside of marriage shows you are lusting for one another(adultery) and using contraception is BAD in Christian teachings as it kills new life - as sperm is wasted
3) “Unfaithfulness starts in the mind,we should avoid reducing people to sexual objects and not individuals” is important as we need to keep in mind the Christian teachings,that we need to respect other and not only see them as their appearance but personality and attitude
Sex before marriage,show 3 reasons that the catholic church teach its wrong
1) Sex in marriage is “a unity that,beyond union in one flesh,leads to forming on heart and soul”,this shows that sex within marriage is sacred,doing sex outside of marriage ruins the significance of sex
2) Sex within marriage deepens the relationship between the husband and wife,showing the sign of love between God and humanity.By having sex outside of marriage,you deepen your relationship though after having sex after multiple times it ruins the purpose of deepening bonds
3) Sex is a delicate,intimate,emotionally charged experience.When someone experiences an extremely powerful bond and suddenly is abandoned,it causes great pain making the person more selfish and lustful towards others.This is why sex must only be done with married people.
Two catholic teachings on homosexuality
1) Homosexuality is viewed as bad in the catholic church as you arent accepting the image God has created you in - this can be considered as a mortal sin
2) Under no circumstances can they be approved in the Catholic Church as two members of the same sex cannot reproduce,”they close the sexual act to gift of life”
Two catholic views on same sex marriage
1) The church opposes same-sex marriage as a “true” marriage in the eyes of the catholic church is a man and woman,so they can “be fruitful and multiply”
2) Same-sex marriages are not in God’s plan and creating a family and raising their children as they beleive it is not a “true marriage”
Contrasting views to the catholic church on homosexuality
It is fine to be a homosexual,as some may believe that God may of created them in the wrong image
Contrasting views to the catholic church on same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is fine as the same principles must be done in both opposite and same-sex marriage such as raising your child correctly,loving your partner eternally, staying together no matter the hardships you come across etc.
Three reasons why adultery is wrong
1) You are lusting for another woman whilst you were/are still married.You can’t be selfish but you must respect what you currently have and enjoy every single moment you have with them
2) You “reduce people to sexual objects”,you have to not recognise a person for their body,you have to recognise them for their personality,attitude,traits and so much more.Also,you must not degrade someone as if they are an “object”
3) You ruin the significance of marriage and sex by lusting for another woman whilst having a deepened relationship with another,it shows that you dont hold any importance to the marriage
State what Natural Family Planning
Where the couple plan when they have sex to coincide with the woman’s natural infertile time,this is usually two days after the menstrual cycle and 40-60% effective if done properly
State an example of artificial contraception
Contraceptive pill
One form of contraception that goes against the ‘Sanctity of Life’ is
Condomns
Catholic views on contraception
1) Contraception is viewed as bad because of how sperm is wasted which kills new life
2) Pope Paul VI said that artificial contraception is “intrinsically evil” as new life is gone
3) God said to “Be fruitful and multiply” though using contraception goes against God’s saying ruining the significance of sex
Contrasting views on contraception to the catholic church
1) There are multiple different cultures that are pro contraception for their OWN reasons
2) If your wife or husband has an STI and you wouldn’t like to spread it but make the marriage fufilled by having sex
3) You may decide to do contraception because of how young the two people are or if they are too old
One bible quote against contraception
“Be fruitful and multiply”
Six marriage promises(vows) couples make during a catholic marriage ceremony
1) To have and to hold from this day foward
2) For better for worse
3) For richer,for poorer
4) In sickness and in health
5) To love and to cherish
6) Till death do us part
The nature of catholic marriage (mnemonic)
S- acramental
P- ermission
E- verlasting
L- ove
Two reasons why the Catholic Church doesnt recognise divorce
1) The bride and groom make the vow “till death do us part” meaning they will stay together until one of them dies,this means they arent staying truthful to their vows and lying to God
2) “What God has joined together let no man separate”,means that once you are married,you are obliged to love and care for your partner with the vows you had told at the marriage ceremony
Catholic view on remarriage
- Anyone in the Catholic Church can remarry if the marriage is anulled
- Anyone who is in another relationship should not receive holy communion
Church of England view on remarriage
- Remarriage is recognised as they beleive its a sign of God’s forgiveness and willingness to give a new start
The Catholic Church will allow an annulment under certain conditions.Name three:
1) The bride or spouse did not tell the truth with one of the vows in the marriage ceremony and can prove it was true
2) Fraud,one person in the marriage deceived the other in a type of way with the reason of deception to gain consent in the marriage
3) You or your spouse was affected by some serious circumstances or factors that made you unable to evaluate either the decision to marry or the ability to create a true marital relationship.
Two practical steps Christian couples can take to reduce the chances of splitting up
1) Go to marriage counceling and talk about their problems
2) Before the marriage,talk about their future plans as husband and wife and see if they both corelate,if not then consider ways that will help you when you marry
Catholic views on cohabitation
1) Living together before marriage is a sin because it violates God’s commandments and the law of the church
2) Devalues the significance of sex because you are having sex with someone before marriage which will lead you to become more selfish as a person
3) Ruins your relationships with others because you will begin to see people only sexually which leads you to become unfaithful and lead you towards the wrong path
4) Sleeping together is a sin as it is an intimate act of love which should only be done with your spouse after marriage
Contrasting views on cohabitation to the catholic church
1) It creates an evironment where couples can really get to know each other while learning how they function as a unit that shares their life together,it makes them see if they are fit for marriage
2) Some may need to share living expenses and may need to move in to somebodys house and share the living expenses - this can benefit both people
3) Some people may not be ready to commit towards a relationship,so they may test if living together will work out and prove that they both could marry each other
4) You can develop a stronger relationship with one another before getting married to each other by living together
Reasons why the catholic church dont allow female priests
1) There are no female priests as people beleive that women are not suitable for the male figure of Christ as stated in the Biblical Law
2) God appoints all roles within the Catholic church,meaning that you can’t claim a right to a role within the body of Christ,especially for sacraments
3) As the catholic church views that the womans image in the catholic church was something similar to Mother Mary
Contrasting views to the catholic church on female priests
1) If women and men are equal in the eyes of the Catholic Church then why are they not allowed to be a priestess
2) Women can perform just as well as men if they were able to host masses
3) It is unfair that just because of their gender,that women are unable to access the hiearchy of being a priest in the Catholic Church
Two bible quotes on gender equality
- “There is neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman”
Quote from the catholic church on gender equality
The Catechism of the Catholic Church leaves no room for doubt: “Man and woman have the same dignity and are of equal value”. It is beyond doubt that this is not merely a truth to be acknowledged but that it needs active promotion
2 examples of Jesus’ attitude towards women
- Jesus regularly adressed women directly while in public,which was unusual for a man to do an example of this was when he talked with the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar.The disciples were amazed to see this.
- Jesus’s regard for the full intrinsic value of women of value by adressing women ina thoughtful,caring manner.Examples of this is when he referred to a bent women as a “daughter of Abraham”
The purpose of the family is to provide what?
1) Provide a place which feels safest for everyone in the household
2) Providing support by care of one another in the family
3) Learning how to deepen relationships with other in MANY types of scenarios and hardships the family will come across
4) Follow God’s plan of us and realise the reason why he put us into this world
Single parents and same sex are not encouraged by the catholic church to become parents.Give two reasons:
1) This is because it is not defined as a “true family” in the eyes of the catholic church which consists of a wife,husband and child,this is because the wife and husband had sex to deepen their relationship and made a child which is a product of their love.
2) Furthermore,it is not encouraged by the Catholic Church for same-sex partners or single partners to be in a relationship as they do not beleive the relationship is “proper” as you cannot have sex with your partner which means the bonds havent gone deeper which means there may not be enough or proper love for the child
Two contrasting views to the catholic church on same-sex mariage and homosexuality
1) Having same sex-marriage or a single parent is fine to raise a child because the same principles can be applied to their child such as loving their child,raising him to be an independent and mature child and giving continual support for your child when needed
2) There may of been serious circumstances which had turned the result of them being homosexual or divorced which is why we need to accept them as who they truly want to be
2 examples of gender discrimination in the workplace
1) Someone being abused/harassed in the workplace because of their gender
2) Someone gaining unequal pay compared to another for their gender despite all of their hard work
2 Catholic teachings on gender discrimination
1) “God gave men and women identical dignity as humans.”,shows that men and women are equal in the eyes of the catholic church too
2) “God loves every human for his or her own sake” shows that God loves every human which will go for the same as God loves everyone no matter the identity and traits anyone has
The family described by the catholic church as ‘Church in Miniature with 4 tasks,they are:
1) Forming a community of persons
2) Serving Life
3) Participating in the development of society
4) Sharing in the life and mission of the church
What is the traditional role of the male in the household
The traditional role of a male is to handle the public and economic affairs
What is the traditional role of the female in the household?
The traditional role of a woman is to handle the maternity,education and caring of the family
Give one reason why catholics regard men and woman as equally important in bringing up children
This may be because of how they are splitting their responsibilities to make the job easier to handle for the parents
When making the decision about who should work, what is the main thing Catholics should take into account?
The main thing that Catholics should take into account is that if they are still making time up for their child and helping them grow into a mature and independent person
Forgiveness
The act of forgiving somebody; the quality of being willing to forgive somebody
Reconciliation
Being angry at all the things that oppose God in the world without being motivated by sin
Holy War
A war declared or waged in support of a religious cause
Just War
A war that is deemed to be morally or theologically justifiable
WMD
Weapon of mass destruction is a weapon that can kill and bring significant damage to numerous people or structures
Nuclear War
A war fought using nuclear (fission and/or fusion) weapons
Non-violent resistance
achieving goals through nonviolent methods, such as symbolic protests, civil disobedience,political protests
Torture
The action or practice of inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something
Conflict resolution
Methods and processes involved in facilitating the peaceful ending of conflict and retribution
Pacifism
The belief that war and violence are unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means
Terrorism
The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims
Radicalisation
The action or process of causing someone to adopt radical positions on social or political issues
Matyrdom
The suffering or death of a matyr
Bullying in the Bible ( James 3:8-10)
“But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,full of deadly poison.With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings,who have been made in God’s likeness.Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing”
What is the message in James 3:8-10 (Bullying)
We could either be loving towards our neighbours or resent our neighbours.God teaches us that we are vulnerable to hating our neigbours but we must follow God’s path and love everybody
John 14:27(Reconciliation)
“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
Mathew 5:21-22
Jesus answered, “I assure you that if you believe and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I have done to this fig tree. And not only this, but you will even be able to say to this hill, ‘Get up and throw yourself in the sea,’ and it will. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Mathew 5:24(Reconciliation)
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first. be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift
Pope Francis quote on reconciliation
Reconciliation is not merely the result of our own efforts; it is a gift that flows from the crucified Lord, a peace that radiates from the heart of Jesus, a grace that must be sought
Luke 23:34 (Forgiveness)
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his draiment, and cast lots
Mathew 18:21-22(Forgiveness)
“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “but seventy times seven,”
John 21:15-17(Forgiveness)
“After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” A second time Jesus said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.” A third time Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” and so he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.”
Mathew 6:12(Forgiveness)
and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors
What does reconciliation give us with God and our brothers and sisters?
- Learning from the wrongdoings you have done
- A stronger connection with God
- Appreciation and acceptance of God
- An oppurtunity to live without sin
- A respect for other peoples opinion
- A more peaceful attitude and state of mind
Amos 5:23-24 (Justice)
Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your harps. Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry
What is the key message of Amos 5:23-24? (Justice)
This is the call for individuals to repent.God told His people to take away the songs that they sang when they worshipped Him because they were only so much noise in His ears.
Why is injustice wrong in the eyes of the Catholic Church
Injustice is wrong as we are all equal under the eyes of the Catholic Church and by creating hierarchies we are not listening to the Word of God,we are all equal as one
Under what circumstances should we use to protest against injustice?
It is fine to use violent protest to respond to injustice if the leader acts like a dictator or a leader that abuses those below him as the people are fighting for more peaceful times
Why may people be against violent protest?
People may be against violent protests as it leads to casualties whilst fighting for better days.Additionally,if the violent protest fails the government may make more stricter and harsher rules
Name one Christian that has used non-violence successfully and the Catholic Church have supported a potentially violent protest
Martin Luther King Jr protested peacefully in the american civil rights movement to bring greater equality to the people of America
Just War Criteria includes
Just Cause - There has to be a just or moral reason to do the war E.g Stopping tyranny
Proportional - The force used in the war must be proportional to the cause. The good must outweigh the harm going to war
Behaviour of troops - You must not target the wrong people (civilians) the troops also must be controlled to not let a further war break
Last resort - You must try all peaceful alternatives before going to war
Right intention - The war must be fought to restore peace or to prevent a greater evil
Ressonable chance of success - You must have a reasonable chance of success to win the war to not let lives go to waste
Proper authority - The war only can be fought by proper authority of a goverment or United Nation,This rules out civil wars
6 main reasons the catholic church opposes WMDs
1 - Creates inequality, only rich and powerful countries can afford the best
2 - WMD production and maintenance is expensive,money should instead be spent on education and healthcare
3 - WMD’s can fall into wrong hangs or be to used by unpredictable leaders like North Korea
4 - Violates Sancity of Life, “Thou shalt not kill “ and “Love thy neighbour” (Jesus)
5 - Biological and chemical weapons are frequently used by dictators to keep people living in fear and maintain power. - e. g chemical attacks by the government on Syrian people who want to Change the government
6 - There is never a good reason to use WMD as they kill multiple people
Three main consequences of modern warfare
- Environmental catastrophe ( Mass bombings and chemical weapons destroy the environment)
- Damage to infrastrcuture ( The use of bombs damages the infrastructure)
- Refugees ( Wars cause many people to leave their country out of fear)
Environmental catastrophe statistic from modern warfare
7700 square miles of forest was destroyed in vietnam. 1955-1975
Damage to infrastructure statistic from modern warfare
In WW2 Great Britain had 30% of homes destroyed or damaged.Bombings in London in WW2 with more than 70k buildings abolished,killing 30 thousand people and 1.7 million people damaged
Refugee statistic from modern warfare
7 million syrian refugees ran away to turkey. March 15 2011-2022
Catholic views on terrorism
Opposes any form of terrorism.’Terrorism threatens, wounds, and kills indiscriminately; it is gravely against justice and charity. ‘
Other views on terrorism: (opposing terrorism)
Terrorism is effective at getting your message across to the government or leader and force them to talk about the message
Two practical things Pope Francis has done to try to bring peaceful resolutions to conflict
- The pope has shown deep love for the poor,and challenged the status quo in many interesting and good ways
- Brought greater attention to the persecution of religious minorities
( He has also done a charity match including all abilities and religions to remove discrimination)
Two Catholic organisations working for peace
1 - Pax Christi (Works for peace based on justice,reconciliation and non violence)
2 - National justice and peace network (Work to a world where people live in peace and harmony,where our common hummanity is respected and all are able to contribute freely to the common good)
Two Catholic agencies that help victims of war
Catholic relief services - In September 2017 CRS responded to Hurricane Marine by distributing 7,000 food and hygeine kits to families in Cuba and more than 1,700 kits to families in the Dominican Republic
Cafod - Providing refugees fleeing conflict with emergency aid such as food, shelter and cooking equipment
Differences in religion can sometimes cause war
1) The Crusades (Christians and Muslims) to win back holy land
2) Isis/Daesh,trying to make a new Islamic Caliphate
Three non-religious reasons a war may occur
1) Impose domination or political change on another state
2) Resist domination from another country
3) Challenged a threat to ‘essential national interests’ from another country
Catholic teaching on pacifism (Quotes)
Mathew 5:9 - Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children
Mathew 26:52 - Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “All who take the sword will die by the sword
Christian pacifist views (Quotes)
- “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
- “Turn the other cheek”
- “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be the children of God”
- “Those who live by the sword,Die by the sword!”
Opposing views on pacifism (against catholicism)
- You must fight to protect the civilians in your country,by not fighting you aren’t protecting your homeland
- The world is not perfect,so we must fight to remove all wrong things from this world
- Pacifism is unrealistic as if an enemy would fight you,if you are a pacifist you cannot counter brutality and cruelty without fighting so you would injure yourself and die
- Sitting back and doing nothing is morally wrong as you are avoiding to fight for your own country
Catholic view on torture
The church views torture as an “intrinsic evil” that can never be justified. The inevitable harm it does to individuals and to society as a whole allows no exceptions
Catholic view on radicalisation
The Catholic Church promotes mutual respect- radicalisation goes against this because it encourages tension
Catholic view on Matyrdom
Matyrs are considered heros for dying for their faith
What is the concept and nature of judaism?
Judaism, a monotheistic religion developed among ancient Hebrews. Judaism is characterized by a belief in one transcendent God who revealed himself to Abraham, Moses, and the Hebrew prophets and by a religious life in accordance with Scriptures and rabbinic traditions
Do Jews say ‘God’ or ‘G-D’ and why?
In writing Jews refer to God as either G-D or adonai (Lord) to show respect. Jews believe the name of God is holy and special. To misuse the name is a sign of disrespect.
What type of religion is Judaism?
Judaism is a monothiestic religion - meaning Jews believe there is only one God
What does God as one mean?
God as one means:
• Everything in the universe has been created and sustained by God
• All morality-beliefs and values come from God
• God is a single,whole indivisible being
• God is infinite,eternal
• God is the only being who should be praised and worshipped
What is the Shema?
The Shema is a Jewish prayer which affirms the belief in one God
Where does the Shema come from and what does it say?
The Shema says from deuteronomy 6:4-5 - ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.You shall love the God your Lord with all your heart and all your soul and with all your might.’
Why is the Shema important to Jews?
The Shema is important as it expresses the belief in one God, it instructs Jews on how they should respond to this belief in their daily life and it is the word of God
How do Jews see God as a lawgiver?
Jews believe that God has given many religious laws to help them live in a way that pleases him. These laws are called mitzvot, and there are 613 mitzvot in the Torah that give Jewish people detailed instructions about many aspects of daily life.
How do Jews see God as a judge?
While there is no one Jewish view of what happens to a person after death, many Jews believe that after they die, God will judge each person on how well they have kept his laws. Those who have followed God’s laws will be rewarded but those who have not will be punished.
What is the Shekhinah?
Shekhinah is the belief that God can focus his presense in a certain place, on earth. This means humans can more readily experience God - not that God is more present
Where does the word Shekhinah come from?
The word Shekhinah comes from the Hebrew word ‘ shocken’ meaning to dwell or to settle
What do Jews believe God does not have?
Jews believe that God has no physical form - so shekniah does NOT mean that God is physically present nor that God is split into certain parts
State the quote from Isiah 6:1-2
“I beheld my Lord seated on a high and lofty throne”
What are the three main ‘categories’ of Jewish belief
Orthodox Jews,Ultra-Orthodox Jews and Reform(Liberal) Jews
What do Orthodox Jews do?
Orthodox Jews strictly follow laws and practices in the Torah
What do Ultra-Orthodox Jews do?
Ultra-Orthodox Jews very strictly follow the laws and practices in the Torah
What do Reform Jews do?
Reform Jews believe Jewish laws and practices should be re-interpreted to suit modern life
What do Jews believe God is?
- Omnipotent ( God is all powerful )
- Omniscient ( God is all knowing )
- Omnipresent ( God is everywhere at once )
- Omnibenevolant ( God is all loving )
What do most Orthodox Jews believe about creation?
Most Orthodox Jews believe God literally made the world in six days - they reject the Big Bang and evolution
What do most Reform Jews believe about creation?
Most Reform Jews believe God created the world using the Big Bang and humans through evolution - they embrace science
Why do Jews believe God as a ‘sustainer’?
God sustains the universe - everything needed for life. But, humans have distributed resources (food,water etc) unequally so some people have less than they need. Jews who choose to help those in need are therefore helping fufill God’s plan for creation.
Fact: There is enough food available for everyone in the world to have 3,000 calories per day.But food is not distributed equally
What is free will?
Free will is the G-D given ability to make our own choice
State how free will originated
- As creator of everything, Jews believe that God must have created evil
- However he gave humans free will
- The choice to do good rather than bad makes the act more significant to God
- However, people sometimes choose to misuse their free willl, therefore evil has to exist
What is the mitzvot?
The mitzvot are 613 commandments which help Jews to use their free will correctly by providing divine guidance on how to live
What do the mitzvot help Jews with?
They help Jews make responsible choices, and ensure that the results of their choices are good and pleasing to God. This is why Jews believe the mitzvot are important
What are mitzvot between man and God?
Mitzvot between man and God are mitzvot that tell Jews how to build their relationship with God. E.g. the Torah teaches that Jews should remember and worship God on Shabbat
What is mitzvot between man and man?
Mitzvot between man and man tell Jews how to treat one another and improve their relationship with other people. E.g. the Torah teaches love for our neighbour
What is the Jews belief about heaven?
For many Jews, thinking about whether there is reward, punishment or any sort of afterlife at all, is unimportant. Judaism focuses much more on people’s actions and purpose in their lives on Earth, rather than ideas about what might happen after people die.
Judaism does have ideas about an afterlife, but unlike some other religions, the Jewish faith does not have a single, agreed-upon teaching about life after death
What is Sheol?
When the early Jewish scriptures were written, many Jews believed that when they died, people descended to a dark place called Sheol. In early Judaism, a place of darkness. In later tradition, it became a place of purification or waiting
What do many Orthodox Jews believe about when the Day of Judgement will happen?
Many Orthodox Jews believe that the Day of Judgement, or Yawm ad-Din, will occur after the coming of the Messiah.
What do many Reform Jews believe about when the Day of Judgement will happen?
Some Jews, including some Reform Jews who do not accept the idea of a Messiah, believe that they will be judged as soon as they die.
Others believe they will be judged twice: firstly by God when they die, and secondly by the Messiah on the Day of Judgement
What do many Orthodox Jews believe about resurrection?
Many Orthodox Jews believe that after they die, each person’s physical body will be resurrected. Therefore, cremation and any action that changes the body after death, like autopsy, is forbidden
What do many reform Jews believe about resurrection?
Many Reform Jews believe that only the soul will be resurrected. The body is not needed because in life it was simply a container for the soul
What is the origins of the belief of the Messiah?
Many Jews today believe that God will one day send a Messiah who will lead the world into an age of peace and understanding
Where did the word messiah originate?
The word Messiah, which is Mashiach in Hebrew, means ‘anointed one’. It comes from the time when kings were anointed as a sign of their God-given power.
What are the Orthodox beliefs about the messiah and the messianic age?
• The Messianic Age will only start after the Messiah’s arrival on Earth. It is therefore important for Jews to pray for the Messiah, also known as the ‘redeemer’, to come.
• The Messiah will be a human being descended from King David, although he will have superhuman qualities and abilities
• In the Messianic Age, Jews will triumph over the enemies of Israel leading to the destruction of weapons and people living in peace.
• The Messianic Age will be a sign of the end of the world and the physical resurrection of the dead.
• The Messiah will rebuild the ancient Temple in Jerusalem and restore the authority to rule over Israel to the descendants of King David.
What are the reform beliefs about the messianic age?
• Human beings are responsible for bringing peace to the world. Instead of praying for a Messiah, Jews should pray for a Messianic Age, which will be an age of peace. Reform Jews pray for redemption rather than for a ‘redeemer’.
• There will not necessarily be a person who is the Messiah
• Humans can bring on the Messianic Age by joining together to create a better world. The Messianic Age will not bring about conflict, but peace and understanding between all people
• Many Reform Jews do not believe that there will be an end to the world, or that the dead will be resurrected
• The rebuilding of the Temple is a metaphor for the Messianic Age where there is peace and all people know God and follow his commandments
In the Abrahamic Covenant, what did the lord say to Abraham about the promised land?
The lord said to Abraham, “ Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”(Promised Land).
This lead to Abraham leaving with his family and set out on the the journey.
If Abraham agreed to what God said about the promised land, what did God do in return? (Abrahams first covenant)
In return of what Abraham did, God would do in return blessing everyone, make his name great, bless those who bless Abraham, and curse those who curse Abraham and people on Earth will be blessed by G-D . This is Abrahams first covenant
What is the second covenant with Abraham?
Abraham agreed to G-D that he would sacrifice some of his livestock. In return, God promised to give Abraham children and descendants more than the stars. G-D also repeats the promise of land
What is the third covenant with Abraham?
G-D makes promises to Abraham but it requires that all male Jews are circumsised at the age of 8 days old.In return, G-D promised Abraham that he would be fruitful and make him the father of nations
What was the story of the escape from Egypt with Moses and the Jews?
- Many Jews that lived in Egypt were slaves
- Moses told by God to tell Pharaoh to let Jews go
- Pharaoh refuses
- God sends 10 plagues each representing an egyptian god
- On the 10 plague, angel of death visits egypt and pharaohs first born son dies
- So pharaoh frees Jews
- These events above are connected to the Jewish festival of the Passover feast
- Jews had 24 hours to pack up everything and leave (known as exodus)
- After Jews leave Pharoah changes his mind and sets after Jews to stop them
- When Moses crossed Red Sea, god parted it so they could cross
- As pharaoh pursued them g-d closed the waters and they drowned
- The hebrews made it safely across and they found themselves in the desert
- Journey lasted 40 years in search for the promised land
How did the Ten Commandments originate?
After some time in the desert, Jewish people forgot G-D of Abraham had freed them from slavery and began to worship other G-Ds and idols that were prevalant at the time. This created for themselves a golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai. This angered Moses and G-D,it was at this point in Jewish history G-D gives the 10 commandments (Mitzvot or laws) which were instructions for the Jewish nation.
When the Jews had to keep the Ten Commandments, what did they respond with?
The Jews had to keep these commands, and when Jewish people Were given these commands by Moses, they responded ‘We hear and obey’
What is the sanctity of life?
The Sanctity of life is the belief that life is holy and precious because it comes from God (seen in Genesis when God breathes life in Adam)
How does the Sanctity of Life influence Jewish attitude?
The Sanctity of Life inflences Jewish attitude as the Sanctity of life means only God should begin and end life and that all life should be preserved and protected. Jews show this belief by condemning murder and abortion but also giving blood and having organs donated after death
What is the Pikuach Nefesh?
Pikuach nefesh is a Jewish principle which allows Jewish laws being broken to save life,this emphasises how important life is to Jews
When is it acceptable for Jews to break the mitzvot? (Example)
For example, the Jews find the Shabbat very valuable to them as it is a law which keeps the Sabbath day holy, it is permitted for them to save a life (for eg),removing rubble from a collapsed wall to save a child or extinguishing a fire if someone was trapped. This is an example of when breaking the Mitzvot is acceptable
How is Justice defined in Judaism?
Justice is defined in Judaism as bringing about what is right and fair,according to the law, or making up for a wrong that has been committed.It is important as the Torah gives important guidance on the treatment of the poor and vulnerable,so there is equality in justice. For Jews there is never any reason to ignore justice or suffering of others
What are examples of a Jew showing ‘justice’?
E.g - Participate in your community and help those who are traumatised
What is healing the world defined as in Judaism?
Healing the world is defined as actions that draws people closer to God. Other Jews believe the term means obeying the mitzvot and trying to become closer to God spiritually. It is important as God created the world, and by protecting the environment or poor, Jews are protecting Gods creations
What are examples of Jews ‘healing the world’?
E.g:
- Buying recyclable products or biodegradable products
- Buying eco-friendly products
- Using renewable sources of energy
- Participating in charitable work
What is kindness defined as in Judaism?
Kindness is defined as being kind to others whilst not doing anything that is negative. This is to make sure Jews love themselves and others. It is important as the Torah contains positive laws about acts of kindness to living things, both Jews and non-Jews alike.
What are examples of Jews showing acts of ‘kindness’?
E.g:
- Helping elderly with groceries
- Being kind to friends
What is a synagogue?
A synagogue is a place of worship for Jews. It is also an important centre for Jewish communities where meetings take place and social gatherings happen
Why is the synagogue important?
The synagogue is the central point for life as a Jewish community- it is where many rites of passages take place. It is important as a place of study e.g. it is where a young boy/girl will learn Hebrew and study the Torah in preparation for their bar/bat mitzvahs.
What are orthodox synagogue services like?
- Person leading the synagogue has his back to the congregation so he is facing the Ark (Aron Hakodesh) and prays facing the same direction as the congregation
- Service conducted in Hebrew
- Singing is unaccompanied
- Men and women sit separately; traditionally the women sat in an upstairs gallery or at the back of a synagogue which nowadays this arrangement is often replaced with a dividing structure between men and women sitting at the same level
Where did women sit traditionally in synagogues and how had it changed nowadays?
Traditionally the women sat in an upstairs gallery or at the back of a synagogue
Nowadays this arrangement is often replaced with a dividing structure between men and women sitting at the same level
Why do Orthodox Jews pray separately?
Orthodox Jews believe that when men and women pray separately, they avoid distractions or sexual thoughts and it enables the focus to be on the prayers and coming close to God. They believe that a greater level of personal connection with God can be achieved this way.
Within the orthodox tradition, what are women working to?
Within the Orthodox tradition, women have been working towards change in recent times, promoting greater equality, looking at ways of expanding their roles in prayer services, and taking greater community leadership roles. Currently Orthodox rabbis are all male.
What are reform synagogue services like?
Many reform synagogues do not hold daily services, but concentrate instead on celebrating Shabbat and festivals
How are reform synagogues structured?
In Reform synagogues the men and women sit together and the person leading the service is facing the congregation most of the time. The Reform communities allow women to take a more active part than in the Orthodox tradition.
How long are reform services and how are they structured?
Reform services are shorter than Orthodox ones but tend to be more rigidly structured; there is a set time and all worshippers are usually present at the beginning.
What can women reform jews do?
The Reform communities allow women to take a more active part than in the Orthodox tradition. Women can perform all rituals traditionally reserved for men such as becoming a rabbi, publicly reading the Torah, being a cantor and being part of the minyan.
What are reform services like?
Reform services are conducted in both Hebrew and the country’s own language (English in the UK), and the singing may be accompanied by musical instruments. In larger synagogues in America, there is often a choir to lead the singing, but this is not common in the UK.
In reform services what do the people wear?
In a Reform service, most men wear a head-covering and some female worshippers wear a kippah or a hat.
What are examples of the interiors of a synagogue?
- Prayer hall
- Arc
- Ner tamid (the ever-burning light)
- Bimah (the reading platform)
What are requirements for prayers?
Jews believe it is good to pray together, but there must be a minimum of ten people present for certain prayers to be said. This is called a minyan .
What is the ark and how is it used?
A cabinet with the Torah scrolls. The ark is the holiest place in the synagogue because it has the sacred writings of Judaism and it represents the original ark of the Jewish people.
What does the ner tamid(ever-burning light) symbolise?
This symbolises God’s presence and a reminder of the Menorah that was lit every night in the Temple
What is the bimah and how is it used?
This is a raised platform which is usually in the very centre- it is used for reading from the Torah and becomes the focus of worship.
What is the torah?
The Torah is a very important text and refers to the first five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). The Torah, which includes the Laws, is the first section of the Tenakh . The Torah contains the basis of all the Jewish teachings and guidance on how to live a good Jewish life.
How do orthodox Jews regard the torah?
- Central revelation from God given to Moses on Mount Sinai in its final form.
- They believe it is as relevant to life today as it was on the day it was given.
- They try to keep the commandments set out in the Torah in every detail.
- They would not try to modify them considerably to bring them in line with modern life or to reject them altogether because they might no longer be relevant.
How do reform Jews regard the torah?
- Ultimately based on the central revelation from God.
- They do not consider the Torah to have been given to Moses at Sinai in its final form, however, but think that it was written by humans over a long period of time, based on their experiences with God and other human beings.
- Since humans formulated the Torah and adapted it to changing circumstances, it may contain contradictions and inconsistencies.
What are the characteristics of orthodox judaism?
- They follow the Jewish laws very strictly from Moses
- Their Key practices are observing the Sabbath, eating kosher, and Torah study.
- Language of services are in hebrew
- Men can only lead the services
- Men and women sit seperately
What are the characteristics of reform judaism?
- Reform Jews believe the Jewish laws should be re-interpreted to suit modern life
- Language in services depends on what country you are in
- Men and women can lead services
- Men and women sit together
What do Jews wear during prayer
- Prayer shawl (Tallit)
- Kippah
- Phylacteries (Teffilin)
Characteristics of the prayer shawl
A prayer shawl is made from wool or silk, with a long tassel called a tzitzit attached to each corner. It is usually white with blue or black stripes.
What does the tallit(prayer shawl) remind Jews of?
The tallit reminds Jews that they are obeying God’s word whenever they wear it
What is the kippah and what is its meaning?
The kippah, often referred to as a skull-cap, is a small cap worn by Jewish males as a sign of Jewish identity. It fufills the customary requirement that the head must be covered. Some people also believe that it is respectful to God if you cover your head
What is the phylacteries and what is its significance?
A pair of black leather boxes (phylacteries) containing passages of scripture, including some of the words from the Shema. One is fastened with leather straps to the centre of the forehead,the other is around the upper arm in line with the heart
This reminds Jews that during prayers their total concentration should be on God and the prayers should be completely from the heart
What is the importance of private prayer?
Allows Jews to ask God for help with personal situations and it means Jews can contact God whenever they want.
What is the importance of formal set prayer?
Provides a sense of community
Connects Jews to their history
Where can worship take place for Jews?
For Jews, worship can take place either in the synagogue or at home. It is often more important to practice faith at home. For example, this is the case for the practices related to Shabbat.
What is an example of one of the key mitzah?
One of the key mitzvah is worship, which is a duty as part of the covenant with God. Worship is also important to Jews because it brings the community together.
What does worship in the synagogue and at home include?
Worship in the synagogue includes daily services, rites of passage and festivals.
Worship at home includes prayers, Shabbat meals and study.
What is the shema?
The Shema is a Jewish prayer which affirms the belief in one God
What does the shema say?
The Shema says from deuteronomy 6:4-5 - ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.You shall love the God your Lord with all your heart and all your soul and with all your might.’
Why is the shema important?
The Shema is important as it expresses the belief in one God, it instructs Jews on how they should respond to this belief in their daily life and it is the word of God
What is the amidah and what is its characteristics?
• The core prayer of all weekday prayer services
• Prayed in silence, facing Jerusalem
• Prayed while standing up
• Consists of 19 blessings : - Praising God and asking for his mercy(first three) , asking for his help(middle thirteen), thanking God and praying for peace and kindness(final three)
What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is a festive day when Jews exercise their freedom from the regular labours of everyday
Observing Shabbat is one of the Ten Commandments . Jews observe a day of rest to commemorate God resting on the seventh day after he made the world. Shabbat begins on Friday at sunset and lasts until sunset on Saturday.
What are the shabbat services?
Shabbat is welcomed with hymns, prayers and psalms called Kabbalat Shabbat.
On Saturday morning there is the main service of the week, with readings from the Torah and Nevi’im .
The afternoon service on Saturday includes a reading from the Torah as well as prayers.
What happens on saturday and why is it important?
On Saturday, the Shabbat occurs, this is important for Jews as it is a day of rest. It also reminds them of how God rested after he created the Earth. Jews see its importance through the sense of family and community involvement in the synagogue.
What are the shabbat preparations at home?
In Jewish homes, a number of preparations are made before Shabbat. The house is tidied and food is prepared, and two candles are placed on the dining table.
What is “lighting the candles?”
Two candles are placed on the dining table. These represent the two commandments received by Moses on Mount Sinai related to Shabbat, which were to “remember” and “observe” the Sabbath .
