Judaism Beliefs And Teachings V2 Flashcards
Jewish beliefs about life after death
Many Jews believe you get judged right after death whereas some Jews believe it to be on the day of judgment after the coming of the Messiah
Furthermore, Jews are unsure whether it is a spiritual, physical or a state of consciousness
Many Jews believe if they follow their faith correctly they can enter Gan Eden.
Jews do not believe in eternal punishment and instead believe in sheol - a state of cleansing of the soul
Jewish beliefs about heaven and sheol
Many believe if Jews follow their faith correctly they will go to Gan Eden
Gan Eden is not known to be a spiritusl or physical place
Some Jews believe that people who do not enter heaven they go to Sheol, their souls are cleanses
Jewish beliefs about judgement and ressurection
Some Jews believe they will be judged as soon as they die - Ecclesiastes 13:7- “and the dust returns to the ground as it was, and the lifebreah returns to God who bestows it”
Others believe they will be judged on the Day of Judgement - Daniel 12:2 - “many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake”
Jewish belief that God is one
God is single (indivisible)
God is the only being sho should be praised and worshipped
Everything in the universe made/sustained by God
God is the source of all Jewish morality
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear O Israel! The lord is our God, the Lord alone”
What is the shema
Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone. you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your might - Deuteronomy 6:4-5
What does the shema teach Jews
Expresses belief of one God and show how Jews should respond with loyalty,love and dedication
Explain the Jewish belief about the Shekhinah
In early Judaism the tabernacle was considered to be the house of divine presence of God. Portable temple Jews used travel while travelling through Canaan
After Canaan was conquered , the tabernacle was replaced with Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. The new centre of worship - Isaiah 6:1-2 “ In the year that King Uzziah dies , I beheld my Lord seated on a high and lofty throne”
Explain the Jewish belief about God as creator and sustainer
God took four days to nake the universe fit to support life
God took two days to create all living creatures
God then rested and made the seventh day holy.
Jews celebrate shabbat on this day - reminded of Gods importance
God sustains all the life he has created
What do different denominators of Judaism believe about creation
Orthodox:
Many orthodox Jews believe the events in Genesis literally happened about 6000 years ago. They reject evolution.
Every generation has the potential to be the messiah
The person directed by God will be the Messiah
The messiah will rebuild the temple and establish peace
Reform:
Reform Jews interpret the Genesis creation story less literally. God is creator although theories of evolution is accepted and the universe is older
What do Jews believe that God creating the world teaches us about nature
God is omnipotent , God is present , God is omnisicent, God is transcendent
What do Jews believe about free will and evil
Evil is a consequence of free will
God has given free will to make doing good acts more significant
Evil has to exist
Isiah 45:6-7 “ I 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- proves God as one and creation of of everything
What do Jews believe about God as lawgiver
God has given laws to help Jews use free will in a way accepete by God:
613 laws mitzvot (code of conduct)
First 10 mitzvot are the ten commandments. Form foundation for all the other mitzvot.
What do Jews believe about God as judge
Jews believe God judges based on how well they follow the 613 mitzvot e.g actions , behaviour , beliefs.
God is fair and is tempered by his merciful nature
One way Jews are judged is through the festival of Rosh Hashanah - God judges people for their actions over the past year and decides what the coming year will bring them
Many Jews also believe they will be judged after death, God determines their afterlife
What are the origins of the Messiah
Was used in the Tenakh to refer to the kings of Israel
First king of Israel was Saul 11BCE he was anointed with oil (chosen by God)
Today the word is used to refer to the future leader of the Jews- descendnat of King David
What do Orthodox Jews believe about the Messiah
There is a descendant of King David in every generation
Messiah will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem
Teacher of the law in the Torah
What do reform Jews believe about the Messiah/ Messianic age
Don’t believe in a messiah
Belief in a messianic age when all Jews work together to achieve peace and please God
What contrasting beliefs do christians hold about the Messiah
Jesus viewed as messiah since through his death and resurrection he saved humanity , established God’s kingdom. At the end of the world he will create a messianic age,
Jews disagree with this since Jesus did not fulfil the expectations that Jews have for the Messiah- didn’t obserbe Torah strictly or establish a messianic age
Why do Jews diagree with christian beliefs about the messiah
Jews disagree with this since Jesus did not fulfil the expectations that Jews have for the Messiah- didn’t observe the Torah strictly or establish a messianic age
How do 10 commandments influence Jews today
They gives Jews a guide to keep a good relationship with God (first 4 commandments) and each other (last 6 commandments)
Summarise covenant with Abraham
Promises made by God:
What was required:
How the covenant was sealed:
How did God keep his side of the covenant:
Abraham born in Ur 19 BCE , many people worshipped idols of different gods, Abraham was convinced there was one God , Abraham tried to convince other this but failed , Abraham and family travelled to Canaan , God promised Genesis 12:1-2 “I will make of you a great nation , and I will bless you” and Abraham reached Canaan and God created the promised land “I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever Genesis 13:15
Make Abraham the father of many nations
To walk in my God’s way and be blameless
Circumcising himself and all other males in his household
Gave Sarah the ability to reproduce and create Isaac
What are the key moral principles of Judaism and what do they demonstrate
Justice: Bringing about what is right , Micah 6:8- “to do justice and to love goodness” , gives guidance to Jews to strengthen relationship with God and demonstrate mercy
Healing the world: takes action to sustain the world by contributing in chairty of protecting the environment , Some Jews believe it also involves obeying mitzvot and being close to God
Kindess to others: care for others , many laws in the Torah guides Jews to be kind to others as themselves - leviticus 19:18- “you shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against your countrymen. Love your fellows as yourself”
What do Jews believe about free will
Good actions lead to a life of fulfilment. They bring Jews closer to God.
Bad actions will not bring people closer to God , in life or after death
This is shown in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree of knowledge causing sin demonstrating the choice of free will and the choice of evil and its consequences
What is a mitzvah and how many are there in the Torah
Jewish rule or command there are 613 in total in the Torah
Why are the mitzvot important to Jews
Gives guidance to Jews on how to use their free will correctly to please God.
What is meant by mitzvot between man and God
Mitzvot that tell Jews how they cns improve their relationship with God
Cover areas such as worship , sacrifice , and observance of festivals
First 4 commandments
What is meant by mitzvot between man and man
Mitzvot that tell Jews how to improve their relationship with other people which shows love to God
Cover areas such as treatment of others and how to settle disputes
Helps Jews live in a way that pleases God in a community
Summarise the covenant at Mount Sinai
What are the 10 commandments:
Why are the ten commandments important:
Promises made by God and the Jews:
400 years after covennat of Abraham Jews were slave in Egypt , God chose Moses to ask the Pharaoh to free the Jews but he refused , God sent a number of plagues to Egyot , Jews released and wandered for many years in Sinai , Moses climbed Mount Sinai and recieved the ten commandments
Laws that form the basis of the covenant at Sinai
Shows that the Jews are the chosen people by God
God would protect the Jews from harm and be their God in return Jews must obey his laws
What do Jews believe about sanctity of life - Jews don’t agree with
Jews believe that sanctity of life should not do anything to quicken a person’s natural death (active euthanasia or murder)
Sanhedrin 4:5 - He who destroys one soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should destroy a whole world”
What is pikuach nefesh and what does it mean
The obligation that Jews have to save a person’s life of they can , even if doing do breaks Jewish law
For example Jews are required to observe Shabbat, which means no certain types of work but Jews my need to break this rule to save a life (use electricity)
Quotes which show idea of one God
Isiah 45:6 - “I am the Lord and there is none else”
Quotes which support relationship in general
Leviticus 19:18- “love your fellow as yourself”
Leviticus 19:16- “Do not profit by blood of your fellow”
What is the Jewish holy book and how is it grouped
Tenakh
Torah-law
Nebi’im-prophets
Ketium-writings
What is the talmud how do redorm and orthodox Jews view it
Oral law
Orthodox Jews- believe the Torah and Talmud are considered to be the source of all Jewish laws and therefore affect daily lives
Reform Jews- do not view them with the same absolute authority, do not study them like Orthodox Jews
Quotes that highlight justice
“Let justice well up like water, Righteousness like an unfailing stream” -Amos 5:24
