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
Shekinah
God’s dwelling place (God’s divine presence as he created the world and is always here)
By studying the Talmud, praying and worshipping
Yeshiva
Place to focus on studying Jewish tradition
Importance of Jewish tradition today
The names of the Almighty help bring Jews closer to him as they understand his power and strength of nature but they are unable to fully understand God’s greatness. Help Jews act I. The image of God, in his mercy and justice. Laws are guidelines for living good lives (Mitzvot). Reminds them of their ancestry due to the covenant made between Jews and God. Inspires them to be good by modelling their behaviour on God. Although they believe in one God, they believe he has many attributes and therefore many names. Reciting Shema twice a day reinforces the importance of God as One. However, there is a gap in their understanding
Importance of Shekinah
They still try to understand God although they can never fully understand him. They study the Tenakh and Talmud to be closer to God and experience his presence. Both men and women study it. Children are sent to yeshiva to learn about God
Shekinah and worship (how Jews experience it)
Through worship. They can be close to God by following various rituals an purity laws. It is important to be pure and good in God’s presence.
Minyan
A group of ten men (orthodox) or adults (includes women in reform) over the age of 13
Barachu
Call to prayer
Talmud Sanhedrin (praying in a minyan)
“Whenever ten or more are gathered for prayer, there the Shekinah rests”
2 Chronicles 7:1 when Solomon had finished building the Temple
“The glory of Hashem filled the temple”
Messiah
Anointed / blessed / chosen one
Characteristics of the Messiah
Warrior, king, political leader, charismatic, authority on Jewish law
Teshuva
When an individual returns to God and says sorry for how they have acted
Tikkun Olam
Describes acts of goodness and kindness
Gan Eden
(Garden of Eden). Their equivalent of heaven. In the afterlife where the soul rests with God
Gehinnom
Jewish equivalent of hell
Olam Ha-Ba
A time of harmony. The world to come. Brought about by the Messianic Age
Halakah
The name given to the 613 Commandments given to Moses by God
Brit Shalom
A covenant of peace
Sanctity of Life def
The belief that all human life is sacred and holy as it is given by God
Pikuach Nefesh def
Preservation of life overrides any other religious law
Quotes for sanctity of life
“He who destroys one soul of a human being … destroys the whole world” - Talmud
“So God created man in his image” - Genesis
“You shall not stand aside while your fellow’s blood is shed” - Leviticus
“I put death and I bring to life” - Deuteronomy
Quote for Shekhinah
“If two sit together and the words of the Torah are between them then the Shekhinah is there” - Talmud
“Where ten or more
Quotes for the Messiah
“A king will reign and administer justice and righteousness in the land” - Nevi’im
“That king will do what is right and just throughout the land” - Nevi’im
“Raise a signal flag to show the nations flag that he is gathering” - Tenakh
Gemilut hasadim
Acts of kindness and good deed such as feeding the hungry
Christian vs Jewish view on life after death - similarities
Most believe that living a righteous life an help you get to heaven/Gan Eden. Some Christians (Jehovah Witnesses) and Orthodox Jews believe that faith (and faith alone) is the main thing that leads us to heaven/Gan Eden, not what you do “faith, not works”. Death is not the end. We will be judged by God at the stage of death (particular judgement)
Christian vs Jewish view on life after death - differences
Catholics believe in purgatory. All christians believe that hell is permanent and eternal (“the eternal separation from God”). Jews believe that Gehinnom is temporary - souls are cleansed before they move on to Gan Eden. Christians believe the Messiah has already come and will come again during Last Judgement. Jews believe he has not come yet but will come on the Last Day
