T7: Jewish Beliefs Flashcards
Books in the Torah
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
Tenakh
The Jewish holy book (the Christian’s Old Testament
Torah
The first five books of the Tenakh (based on Laws)
Nevi’im
The second main division of the Hebrew Bible (Prophets)
Ketuvim
Third section of the Hebrew Bible (Writings/Book of Wisdom)
Shema
The first word of a section of the Torah
- a prayer
Kaddish
A prayer to glorify and magnify God and for universal peace
Talmud
Ancient Jewish laws - an interpretation of the Torah
Mitzvot
613 Jewish laws
Gentile
A person who is not a Jew
Kashrut
Dietary regulations for a Jew and objects
Orthodox Jews
Traditional
Reform Jews
Liberal/Progressive
Orthodox beliefs
Believe God is one. Separate from Gentile society. Reserved tradition. Reject Jesus as the Messiah. Believe that death is a start into a better life. A person is a Jew if their mother is. Resist modern changes. Believe that they are the chosen nation. Believe that the Torah is inerrant. Must follow the commands. Keep Jewish identity as much as possible but think it is important to be connected to the modern world
Reform Jews beliefs
Adapt tradition to modern life. Maintain Judaism as a second identity. Gender equality and individual choice (female rabbis). Equal citizenships to gentiles. It doesn’t matter genetically how you are considered Jewish. Also reject Jesus as the Messiah. They see the Torah as written by those inspired by God but it should be read alongside science. Only follow the moral commands rather than the rituals. Work for fairness and equality
Names for God
Yahveh (yhvh - tertrag rammaton “Lord”), G_d (his name is so holy that it can’t ever be spoken or even written, El (a powerful and mighty God), Elohim (to describe that he has many facets and parts), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Hashem Tzevaot (Lord of Hosts), Hashem (the name), EhYeh (“I will be” told to Moses by God), Yahweh (“He will be” God of our ancestors), Adonai (to respect his name)
Bible “quote” to describe God’s eternity
The one who is, who was, and who always will be
“Hashem is Our God, Hashem is the one and only’
God is One, indivisible, whole, eternal
Anthropomorphic
Made more human like (language used in the Tenakh)
Importance of Jewish life today
The names of the Almighty help bring Jews closer to Him
God as One
The only being to whom Jews should offer praise and prayer to, a single unity who is whole complete and indivisible, infinite, impossible to describe him by physical attributes
God as a Creator
Only one God who took part in Creation, orthodox believe that everything in the universe was created by God, reform regard the creation story as a metaphor, reform believe in evolution but that God caused it
God as a lawgiver
His gift of the Torah to Moses at mount Sinai. Guidance to the Jews freed from slavery to live good lives. Believe they are children of God. Only God has the power to rule and judge, to save and destroy. “Our father, our king” - Arhu Makeinu
God as a judge
Judaism is a religion of strict law. God’s justice is tempered by his mercy (perfectly balanced). Elohim = might, Tetragrammaton = mercy - balance of his qualities. Moses formed a covenant with God to keep the Law. Jews believe God judges how well they keep both the ritual and moral laws