Judaism Beliefs SOWA

Question 1

The nature of the almighty - God is one

Answer 1

‘The Shema: Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one’ Deuteronomy 4:5

Question 2

The nature of the almighty - God is lawgiver

Answer 2

‘Hashem is our lawgiver’ Isaiah 33:22

Question 3

The nature of the almighty - God is judge

Answer 3

‘Hashem is our judge’ Isaiah 22:33

Question 4

The nature of the almighty - God is creator

Answer 4

‘Hashem formed man from the dust of the ground. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.’ Genesis 2:7

Question 5

The nature and importance of shekhinah

Answer 5

‘The glory of God filled the temple’ 2 Chronicles 7:1

‘They shall make a sanctuary for me and I may dwell among them’ Exodus 25:8

‘If two people sit together and study the Torah, the shekhinah is present’ Rabbi ben Teradion

‘Whenever ten men are gathered for prayer, there the shekhinah rests’ Talmud Sanhedrin

Question 6

The nature and purpose of the Messiah

Answer 6

‘A king will reign and prosper and he will administer Jewish law in the land.’ Jeremiah 23:5-8

Question 7

The Covenant at Sinai

Answer 7

The Ten commandments Exodus 20

‘Everything that Hashem has spoken, we will do’ Exodus 19:8

‘For you are a holy people to the Lord, your God’ Deuteronomy 7:6

Question 8

The Covenant with Abraham and his descendants

Answer 8

‘I will make of you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing’ Genesis 12:1-4

Question 9

Sanctity of life

Answer 9

‘So God created man in his image’ Genesis 1:27

‘That he shall live by them and not that he shall die by them’ Talmud Yoma 85b

‘You shall observe my decrees and laws and the person who obeys shall live by them’ Leviticus 18:5

‘You shall not stand aside when your neighbour’s blood is shed’ Leviticus 19:16

‘Every danger to human life suspends the laws of the Sabbath’ Talmud Yoma 83-84

‘Taking a life is like destroying the entire world and saving a life is like saving the whole world’ Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:3

Question 10

Moral principles and the Mitzvot

Answer 10

All 613 Mitzvot are contained in Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah

‘I present before you today a blessing and a curse’ Deuteronomy 11:26

Question 11

Jewish beliefs about life after death

Answer 11

‘The dust returns to the ground, as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it’ Ecclesiastes 12:7

‘Many of the people who sleep in the dusty earth will awaken: some for everlasting life and some for shame’ Daniel 12: 2-3

‘Jacob is gathered to his people when he dies’ Genesis 49:33

‘I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when it shall please the creator’ Thirteen principles

‘The pious of all nations of the world have a portion in the world to come’ Thirteen principles

‘In the Messianic Age, God will establish peace and they will sit at ease and eat in Gan Eden’ Exodus Rabbah