Judaism - Beliefs - Key Terms - Revision

Question 1

Monotheism

Answer 1

Only believe in one God e.g. Jews E.T.C.

Question 2

God, G-D, Yahweh, Lord, Adonai

Answer 2

Jews don’t write GOD when they write because its too holy, God is beyond writing. They write G-D in their writing

Question 3

Shema

Answer 3

Very important prayer and its from the Torah

Question 4

Torah

Answer 4

Jewish book of laws and scriptures (holy book for Jews)

Question 5

Talmud

Answer 5

Explanations of the Torah by rabbis

Question 6

Shabbat

Answer 6

Its a special day of rest (known as sabbath). Jews cannot do work on that day

Question 7

Creation

Answer 7

God created the world in 6 days but he rested on the 7th day

Question 8

Properties of God

Answer 8

Omnipotent = God is powerful
Omniscient = God is all knowing 
Omnipresent = God is everywhere at once

Question 9

Evil and Free

Answer 9

If God is the creator, God must have created evil
However, he also gave people the free will to choose what is right and to reject evil
Jews may use their free will to help those less fortunate – they are helping with God’s plan for his creation
Some Jews find this difficult to accept especially when remembering the Holocaust

Question 10

God as Creator and Sustainer

Answer 10

Jews believe God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh (Genesis)
Most orthodox Jews believe God literally made the world in six days – they reject the big bang and evolution
Most reform Jews believe God created the world using the big bang and humans through evolution
God also sustains the universe – prize resources needed for life on earth

Question 11

Orthodox

Answer 11

Strictly follows laws and practices in the Torah

Question 12

Ultra-Orthodox

Answer 12

Very strictly follows laws and practices in Torah

Question 13

Sinai Covenant

Answer 13

The covenant between God and Moses (representing all Jews)
This is the foundation (basis) of all Jewish law (Exodus 20:2–14)
Jews today believe the covenant is still binding
The 10 Commandments give guidance on how to have a good relationship with God (first four) and…
How to have good relationships with others in order for a peaceful society (last six)

Question 14

Moses

Answer 14

400 years after Abraham the Jews are in slavery in Egypt
There was so many Hebrews that the king issued a command: “Take every newborn Hebrew boy and throw him into the Nile, but let all the girls live”
Pharaoh: Ancient Egyptian king
Moses goes back to Egypt to demand the release of the Israelites from slavery. Pharaoh refuses

Question 15

Ten Commandments

Answer 15

1. Worship no other Gods but me
2. Do not worship false idols
3. Do not use Gods name for evil purposes
4. Keep the sabbath day holy
5. Respect your father and your mother
6. Do not commit murder
7. Do not commit adultery
8. Do not steal
9. Do not accuse anyone falsely (lie)
10. Do not be jealous of other peoples belongings

Question 16

God as Judge

Answer 16

Jews believe…
Our actions have consequences
Good actions bring Jews closer to God and ensure they are judged favourably
Going against God has serious consequences
God judges Jews on how well they follow the laws
Gods judgements are always fair and merciful

Question 17

Shekhinah (the divine presence)

Answer 17

Divine = God
Shekiniah means Gods manifested glory
It is also the presence of God on Earth
On their journey to Canaan Jews believe they were led by a pillar of fire or a cloud which was the divine presence (shekhinah)
Many of the prophets made reference to God in the temple
Some Jews believe its the female presence of God

Question 18

Temple

Answer 18

A place of worship/a holy building in ancient times where Jews used to go

Question 19

Synagogue

Answer 19

A place of worship/a holy building where Jews go today

Question 20

Afterlife - Heaven, Sheol, Judgement, Resurrection

Answer 20

Life after death (general beliefs):
The Jewish holy books do not contain much information about the afterlife, so beliefs about it have developed gradually over the centuries
Many differences about what happens after death
Jews are not too concerned with the afterlife
Important to focus on present life in order to please God

Heaven:
Following the faith correctly, will lead them to heaven/paradise (Gan Eden) when they die
No teaching about heaven and what it is like
It is considered to be where people are with God
It is not known if this is a state of consciousness, or a physical or spiritual place

Sheol:
If they don’t go to heaven, they believe that God judges, they go to Sheol
Sheol is a place of waiting where souls are cleansed
They do not believe in eternal punishment

Judgement:
Some believe they will be judged by God as soon as they die (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
Others believe God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement, after the coming of the Messiah (Daniel 12:2)

Resurrection:
Some believe in the idea of physical or spiritual resurrection, but many do not
Some believe in resurrection (rising from the dead to live again). However, many reject the idea of resurrection

Question 21

Messiah - origins, belief, messianic age

Answer 21

Messiah = future leader of the Jews, prophesied (predicted) throughout Jewish scripture

Jews believe in a Messiah because God promised a Messiah

Beliefs:
It gives them hope
The Messiah is expected to be a future king of Israel

Messianic age:
Some believe the dead will be resurrected and live in a time of peace in a restored Israel
The prophet Micah describes it as a time when war will end and people will live in universal peace and harmony

Question 22

Abrahamic Covenant - Promised Land - Circumcision - How both sides committed to the covenant

Answer 22

Promised land: The land of Canaan that God promised to the Jews
Circumcision: The removal of the foreskin from the penis

Question 23

Justice

Answer 23

Bringing about what is right and fair, according to the law, or making up for a wrong that has been committed

Question 24

Healing the World

Answer 24

Being involved in Gods work to sustain the world; it can involve work to increase social justice or to preserve the environment

Question 25

Kindness to Others

Answer 25

Positive, caring actions that should be shown to all living things

Question 26

Sanctity of Life

Answer 26

Definition: All life is holy as it is created and loved by God; human life should not be misused or abused

Notes:
Life is sacred and holy because it comes from God (Genesis) – God breathes life into Adam)
As God gives life, only God should end life
Jews have a duty to preserve life – particularly those of innocent, vulnerable people
Jews should not do anything to quicken a persons natural death

Question 27

Pikuach Nefesh

Answer 27

The obligation to save a life, even if doing so breaks Jewish law

Question 28

Mitzvot

Answer 28

Definition: Jewish rules or commandments

Notes:
God gave Jews 613 mitzvot (commandments or laws) that they must obey. By following them, Jews believe they are doing what God wants of them

Question 29

Mitzvot - between man and God

Answer 29

Free will/means covenant/613 laws/first 4 commandments

Question 30

Mitzvot - between man and man

Answer 30

The last 6 commandments