Judasim Beliefs

Question 1

What is the Jewish scriptures made up of?

Answer 1

Tenakh (Jewish Bible)

Talmud

Question 2

What is the Tenakh made up of?

Answer 2

Torah- written law (first 5 books of genesis)
Nebi’im-prophets (e.g Jeremiah)
Ketuim- writings (e.g Psalms)

Question 3

What is the Talmud and what’s made up of?

Answer 3

Explanation of the Torah by rabbis
Also called the Oral Law

Made up of the Gemara and Mishnah

Question 4

What are the 3 catergories of Jewish belief

Answer 4

Orthodox (strictly follow laws and practices of Torah)
Ultra-Orthodox (very “ “)
Reform (believes traditional Jewish laws should be re-interpreted to suit modern life)

Question 5

What do Reform Jews tend to do (in terms of following laws)

Answer 5

They follow the spirit of the law, not the specific laws

Question 6

Jewish beliefs about God (9)

Answer 6

• God has no body
• Neither male or female (i.e no physical form)
• Jews refer to G-d using masculine term “he” for convenience
• Forbidden to represent God in any physical form
• Most basic belief= God is one (Monotheistic religion)
• Omnipresent
• Omnipotent
• Omniscient
• Eternal

Question 7

Characteristics of G-d (6)

Answer 7

Merciful (forgiving)
Lawgiver
Judge
One
Creator and Sustainer
The divine presence

Question 8

What does “God is one” mean?

Answer 8

• God is a single whole, indivisible being
• The only being that should be worshipped and praised
• The source of all morality- beliefs and values
• Everything in the universe has been created and sustained by this one God

Question 9

What can we learn from the Shema (3)

Answer 9

• “Alone” confirms that is One God, he is eternal, single, whole and indivisible
• “Heart” loving God requires total loyalty
• “Soeul” Spiritual dedication to God is needed

God is ever present (every experience that Jews have is to be considered as a meeting point with God)

Question 10

Importance of the Shema (3)

Answer 10

Expresses the belief in one God
It’s the word of God
Instructs Jews on how they should respond to this belief in their daily life

Question 11

God as creator (Reform v Orthodox)

Answer 11

• Jews believe that God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th
• Orthodox Jews believe that God literally made the world in 6 days (reject Big Bang and Evolution)
• Reform (God created world using Big Bang and Evolution)

Question 12

Evil and Free Will

Answer 12

• As creator of everything, God also created evil

- However he gave humans free will- ability to make their own choices (Adam and Eve)