Nature of God

Question 1

God as a Judge?

SOA and issues with nature

Answer 1

• Makes FAIR judgements based in actions, behaviour and beliefs
  -Jews are judged TWO TIMES: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year) + after death

‘But with righteousness he shall judge’ (Isiah)

• True freewill? Pressure of being judged preventing humans from having freedom
• Is God all-loving if those who are judged badly are sent to Hell?

Question 2

God as a Creator?

SOA and issues with nature

Answer 2

• God created the universe out of nothing (ex-nihlo), protects and sustains it

‘In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth’ (Genesis)

• Beliefs don’t align with science
• Why does evil exist if God created it?

Question 3

God as a Lawgiver?

SOA and issues with nature

Answer 3

• Gave the 613 mitzvot via covenant with Moses
  -Helps lead Jews to live a life in accordance with God’s will (halakhic life!!)

‘____’ can use any of the commandments in Exodus/existence of Torah

• Freewill is non existent with so many mitzvot to follow

Question 4

God as One?

SOA and issues with nature

Answer 4

• Judaism is a monotheistic religion
  -there aren’t different parts to God, makes him unlike anything in the universe

‘The Lord our God, the Lord is One’ (Deuteronomy)

• Is God’s Shekinah another form of God? God therefore cannot be one

Question 5

How can the Holocaust challenge the nature of God?

Answer 5

• PROBLEM OF EVIL - God cannot be omnibenevolent if he’s omniscient and omnipotent, would therefore have the power to prevent evil
• Jews questioning if they are ‘God’s Chosen people’ if God seemingly didn’t stop the atrocities of the Holocaust from happening

Question 6

What is the Shekinah?

Answer 6

• God’s divine presence on Earth
  -allows God to be specially present in a place on Earth WHILST also be omnipresent
  -appears when a MINYAN is formed
  -desc of God is feminine: implies this part of God is creative and nurturing

Question 7

SOA for God’s Shekinah?

Answer 7

‘Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting…the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle’ (Exodus)

Question 8

When is the Shekinah said to be especially present?

Answer 8

• On the nation of Israel
• In the synagogue, congregation gathering to hear the Law - ner tamid, everlasting candle representative of God’s presence
• Weddings and the Friday Shabbat meal

Question 9

Divergence around the Shekinah?

Answer 9

Reform - feminine reference to God justifies practice of female rabbis and equal rights for men and woman in divorce

Orthodox - Shekinah CANNOT be female, goes against oneness of God

Question 10

How does the belief of the Shekinah affect a Jew?

Answer 10

• May feel more connected with their faith, God always there protecting his people when they’re in worship/undergoing family rituals