Judaism Beliefs And Teachings V2

Question 1

Jewish beliefs about life after death

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Jewish beliefs about heaven and sheol

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Jewish beliefs about judgement and ressurection

Answer 3

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”

Question 4

Jewish belief that God is one

Answer 4

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”

Question 5

What is the shema

Answer 5

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

Question 6

What does the shema teach Jews

Answer 6

Expresses belief of one God and show how Jews should respond with loyalty,love and dedication

Question 7

Explain the Jewish belief about the Shekhinah

Answer 7

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”

Question 8

Explain the Jewish belief about God as creator and sustainer

Answer 8

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

Question 9

What do different denominators of Judaism believe about creation

Answer 9

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

Question 10

What do Jews believe that God creating the world teaches us about nature

Answer 10

God is omnipotent , God is present , God is omnisicent, God is transcendent

Question 11

What do Jews believe about free will and evil

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What do Jews believe about God as lawgiver

Answer 12

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.

Question 13

What do Jews believe about God as judge

Answer 13

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

Question 14

What are the origins of the Messiah

Answer 14

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

Question 15

What do Orthodox Jews believe about the Messiah

Answer 15

There is a descendant of King David in every generation

Messiah will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem

Teacher of the law in the Torah

Question 16

What do reform Jews believe about the Messiah/ Messianic age

Answer 16

Don’t believe in a messiah

Belief in a messianic age when all Jews work together to achieve peace and please God

Question 17

What contrasting beliefs do christians hold about the Messiah

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Why do Jews diagree with christian beliefs about the messiah

Answer 18

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

Question 19

How do 10 commandments influence Jews today

Answer 19

They gives Jews a guide to keep a good relationship with God (first 4 commandments) and each other (last 6 commandments)

Question 20

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:

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What are the key moral principles of Judaism and what do they demonstrate

Answer 21

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”

Question 22

What do Jews believe about free will

Answer 22

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

Question 23

What is a mitzvah and how many are there in the Torah

Answer 23

Jewish rule or command there are 613 in total in the Torah

Question 24

Why are the mitzvot important to Jews

Answer 24

Gives guidance to Jews on how to use their free will correctly to please God.

Question 25

What is meant by mitzvot between man and God

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What is meant by mitzvot between man and man

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Summarise the covenant at Mount Sinai

What are the 10 commandments:

Why are the ten commandments important:

Promises made by God and the Jews:

Answer 27

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

Question 28

What do Jews believe about sanctity of life - Jews don’t agree with

Answer 28

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”

Question 29

What is pikuach nefesh and what does it mean

Answer 29

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)

Question 30

Quotes which show idea of one God

Answer 30

Isiah 45:6 - “I am the Lord and there is none else”

Question 31

Quotes which support relationship in general

Answer 31

Leviticus 19:18- “love your fellow as yourself”

Leviticus 19:16- “Do not profit by blood of your fellow”

Question 32

What is the Jewish holy book and how is it grouped

Answer 32

Tenakh

Torah-law
Nebi’im-prophets
Ketium-writings

Question 33

What is the talmud how do redorm and orthodox Jews view it

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Quotes that highlight justice

Answer 34

“Let justice well up like water, Righteousness like an unfailing stream” -Amos 5:24