Judaism : beliefs and teachings Flashcards
what is the most key belief in Judaism
the belief in one God
what is the Tenakh and why is important
they are Jewish scriptures - it is important because -it shows God at work and it extends into the present and future - because they believe that God is constantly at work.
what does the Shema say
“hear o Isreal the lord is our God, the lord alone. you shall love the lord your God with all your heart all your soul and with all your might”
where in the Shema does it say that there is only one God.
“The lord alone”
what is God for Jews
God is a single, whole, invisible entity, that cannot be divided. he is infinite and eternal, beyond the full understanding of humankind.
what is the torah
-its the Jewish bible
what does the torah begin with and what does this show
-when God began to create heaven and earth. and this shows that God is a creator
in the torah how many days the earth and universe was created and who believes this is the literal truth
-orthodox and ultra-orthodox Jews believe that the earth was literally created in 6 days
what do reform Jews believe about the creation of the universe
they believe that the universe may be much older than that and accept the theory of evolution
why do jews celebrate shabbat
because in the torah it says that on the seventh day god rested and for respect for Gods importance in creation they make this day shabbat
what are the characteristics that God has that no other living being has
-omnipotent-all powerful
omniscient -all knowing
omnipresent- being everywhere at all times
do jews believe that God gave them free will
yes
who is God the sustainer
jew believe that God sustains the earth and gives all the resources needed to survive- (the unequal distribution of resources is a result of human free will)
who and when were the ten commandments given to.
they were given to moses after he freed the slaves from Egypt. they were originally inscribed on two tablets of stone
how many laws does the torah contain
613- and these are called these are called the mitzvot- by obeying these laws jews believe that they are doing what God requires from them and fulfilling his will on earth
what are the ten commandments
they are ten laws given by God to moses over 3000 years ago
what is the mitzvot
they are Jewish rules or commandments
God : merciful
the quality of God that shows compassion or forgiveness to humans even though he has the power to punish them
what is the shekhinah
the divine presence of God
what is the temple
the centre of Jewish worship at the time of Jesus; the meeting place between God and the priest
what are the two main times when jews believe judgement will happen
Rosh Hashanah and after death
what is Rosh Hashanah
it is the Jewish new year when God judges’ people on their actions over the past year and decides what the coming year will bring them. - it is also a chance to reflect on their past year and pray for their family’s
what is the definition of shekinah
-Gods manifested glory
-Gods divine presence
what is a tabernacle
it is a portable structure - early dwelling for the divine presence of God
the Jews carried the tabernacle with them on their journeys.
what do a small number of Jews believe about the shekinah
they believe that it is the feminine presence of God as shekinah is a feminine word.
what is judgment
the belief that God judges a person based on their actions, and either rewards or punishes them as a result.
what is resurrection
rising from the dead or returning to life
what is a rabbi
a Jewish religious leader and teacher
what are Jewish beliefs and customs around death.
-death is part of Gods plan
-jews should not die alone
-the dying persons family should make an effort to see them
- it is an act of great kindness to be present at the someone’s death
- upon hearing the death of a loved one, Jews make a blessing
Gods’ judgement quote
“Blessed, are you lord our God, king od the universe, the true judge”
what is the ritual after a persons death
intense mourning up until the persons burial followed by thirty days of lesser mourning
where do the people with good will go after death
paradise (Gan Eden)
where do bad people go after death
-sheol
what is the day of judgement
some jews believe that instead of being judged at straight after you die we will all be judged after the coming of the messiah
what is the messiah
the messiah is the anointed one a leader of the jews who is expected to live on earth at some time in the future
what is the messianic age
a future time of global peace when everyone will want to be closer to God, possibly through the intervention of the messiah
what is a quote on the messianic age
” And they shall beat their swords into plowshares. and their spears into pruning hooks Nation shall not take up/ sword against the nation; they shall never again know war”
what do some Jews believe is in every generation
they believe that there is one person in every generation that has the potential to become the messiah. but if the world is not in the position they won’t become the messiah
why do some jew reject the idea of the messiah
because they believe that we should all work together to make world peace instead of relying on just one person
what does monotheism mean
- the belief in one God
what is the promised land
the land of the Canaan that God promised to the Jews
what is a covenant
an agreement in Judaism it refers to an agreement between individuals, often on behalf of Jews and God
what is circumcision
the removal of the foreskin from the penis
at what point in his life did Abraham believe in monotheism
from a very young age
where did Abraham and his wife Sarah set off to
the city of canaan
once Sarah and Abraham reached Canaan what did God say
“For I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever”
what is the city of Canaan known as now
the promise land
what does the existence of covenants between Jews and God mean for Jews
that they are specially chosen by God to be his people
what is a quote on Jews being Gods chosen people
“For you are people consecrated to the lord your God; of all the peoples on the earth the lord your God chose you to be his treasured people”-Deuteronomy 7:6
what are the promises between God and Abraham in this covenant
God would make Abraham the father of many nations if Abraham would walk in his ways and be blameless
what is the sign of the covenant with Abraham
by circumcising himself and all those in his household
why was this a surprise when Sarah was expecting a baby
because she was very elderly and had previously been unable to conceive
who was moses
he was a boy who was rescued from the Nile as a baby and brought up in the royal palace he killed and Egyptian who was mistreating a slave and was chosen by god because of this
how did God appear to moses
he appeared to moses through a burning bush
what did God tell moses
he told him to approach the pharaoh and ask if the Jewish slaves could be released and travel back to the promise land
what was the final and worst plague sent to Egypt
the death of every first born child in a n Egyptian family
what did moses do to cross the red sea
he parted the red sea
where did moses receive the ten commandments
mount sianai
what is the first ten commandment
you shall have no other gods beside me
what is the second ten commandment
you shall not swear falsely in the name of the lord your God
what is the third ten commandment
remember the sabbath and keep it holy
what is the fourth ten commandment
honour your father and mother
what is the fifth ten commandment
you shall not murder
what is the sixth ten commandment
you shall not commit adultery
what is the seventh ten commandment
you shall not steal
what is the 8th ten commandment
you shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
what is the ninth ten commandment
you shall not covet
what is justice
bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law, or making up for wrong that has been committed
what is healing the world
being involved in Gods work to sustain the world ; it can involve work to increase social justice, or preserve the environment
what is charity
providing help and love to those in need, an organisation that does not profit. whose main purpose is to help those in need
what is kindness to others
positive caring actions that should be shown to all living things
what are the key moral principles of Judaism
-kindness to others
-charity
-healing the world
what is a quote for kindness to others
“Love your fellow as yourself”-leviticus
what is the sanctity of life
all life is holy as it is created and loved by God; human life should not be misused and abused
what is the Talmud
a commentary on the torah by rabbis - it consists of the Mishah and the Gemara together in one collection
do jews believe in the sanctity of life
yes
what do jews believe about the body when it is buried
they believe that the body should be whole
what is an examples of cases where it is acceptable to break the shabbat
-saving a life
what is free will
the belief that God gives people the opportunity to make decisions for themselves
what is the mitzvot
Jewish rules or commandments
