KEY BELIEFS - JUDAISM

Question 0

What is the Jewish holy book called? (4)

Answer 0

1. The Torah
2. The first five books of the Old Testament
3. It is written in Hebrew
4. Hebrew is read right to left.

Question 1

When was Judaism founded?

Answer 1

In about 2000BCE by Abraham in Israel

Question 2

How do Jews believe the Torah came about?

Answer 2

The Torah was received by Moses from God around 1500BCE.

Question 3

Why is Moses more important to Jews than its founder, Abraham?

Answer 3

Because Moses received the Torah from God.

Question 4

What is the main activity of Judaism?

Answer 4

The study of, and sticking to, the laws and commandments set out in the Torah.

Question 5

What does ‘racial identity’ mean?

Answer 5

Some people can be racially Jewish but not religiously Jewish.
Being Jewish is mostly something someone is born into.

Question 6

How do religious Jews see their history?

Answer 6

As being deeply connected with God and God’s purpose for the world.
Judaism is very closely linked with the history of the Jewish people.

Question 7

What is a covenant?

Answer 7

A holy agreement.

Question 8

What was the covenant God made with the Jews?

Answer 8

Jews must worship God and in return God will consider Jews as his ‘chosen people’.

Question 9

What do Jews believe if they truly honour the covenant?

Answer 9

That Israel, the ‘promised land’ they believe God gave them, will be a holy nation and a light to the world.

Question 10

Who was Maimonides?

Answer 10

A 12th century Jewish rabbi (religious teacher) who set out the key beliefs about God which religious Jews follow.

Question 11

How many principles of faith do Jews have?

Answer 11

13 - can you name them?

Question 12

Principle 1

Answer 12

Belief in the existence of God, the creator of the universe

Question 13

Principle 2

Answer 13

god is the One and only God

Question 14

Principle 3

Answer 14

God is spiritual, not like any material object

Question 15

Principle 4

Answer 15

God was before the beginning of the universe and will be after it ends (God is ‘eternal’)

Question 16

Principle 5

Answer 16

God alone should be worshipped

Question 17

Principle 6

Answer 17

God revealed Himself to mankind through the prophets

Question 18

Principle 7

Answer 18

Moses is the greatest of all prophets

Question 19

Principle 8

Answer 19

God gave his law (The Torah) to Moses on Mount Sinai

Question 20

Principle 9

Answer 20

The Torah is the perfect version of God’s law

Question 21

Principle 10

Answer 21

God knows what people will do before they act

Question 22

Principle 11

Answer 22

Good acts are reward edge by God and bad ones punished

Question 23

Principle 12

Answer 23

The Messiah is yet to come to save the world

Question 25

Principle 13

Answer 25

The dead will be resurrected by God at the end of time

Question 26

What is a Jew’s holy building

Answer 26

A synagogue

Question 27

What is a religious leader called?

Answer 27

A rabbi

Question 28

Why did some Jews stop following their religion after WWII?

Answer 28

As so many Jews were slaughtered in WWII, and the Jews had a covenant with YHWH that He would protect them, some Jews may have felt that this covenant had been broken.

Question 29

How do Jews celebrate the Exodus? (3)

Answer 29

1. Pesach = Passover = The Festival of the Exodus Story
2. Lasts about 7 or 8 days
3. The most important part of the Festival is the Seder Meal which commemorates the Exodus Story.