Y10 Judaism Flashcards
What do people believe God is like? (3)
1) Omni - benevolent.2) Omni - potent.3) Omni - scient.
What is the Shema?
The basic prayer of Judaism and is said every morning and evening.
What is the basic belief of Jews?
That there is one God and he is the creator and designer of the universe.
Give 2 Jewish beliefs about God:
1) God’s existence is accepted without question.2) Proof is not needed for how God exists.
The Torah begins by…
Stating “In the beginning, God created”, It does not say who God is or how he was created.
Why do some Jews not write the word “God”?
They use G-D as a sign of respect.
How are books containing the Hebrew name of God treated?
Treated with respect and is never destroyed or thrown away.
What happens when a book containing the respected Hebrew name of God gets too old?
It is kept in a special place in the Synagogue before being properly buried in a Jewish cemetery.
What does the Shema tell Jews to do?
To love God with all their heart, soul and might.
What does the Shema show about God?
That God is one - he is whole and unity; he cannot be divided into different parts.
Why would Jews use the word “Hashem” and what does does it mean?
” The name “ because when speaking of the one we should not use his name unnecessarily.
Explain the belief that God is law giver and judge:
In Exodus 20 God gives the Jewish people the 10 Commandments starting with “You shall have no other Gods before me.” In Exodus 34 God is said to be “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” but God is also a vengeful warrior.
Explain the belief that God is present:
God is omni present. This divine presence is called the shekinhah. When Moses received the covenant he was “not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord” (Exodus 34).
Explain the idea that God is the creator:
In Genesis 1 it says that God created the world in seven stages “and God said let there be light “. Genesis also told us about the creation of humanity “so God created mankind in his own image.”
What is the Shekinhah?
The divine presence. It is also used to describe God is more feminine attributes and characteristics.
Who put together the 13 main beliefs in the Torah
Maimonides.
State 3 of the principle beliefs in the Torah:
1) God exists, is perfect and created everything.2) only God should be worshipped.3) what does not have a physical body and it’s not affected by the same needs as humans.
In the two main Jewish groups in the UK:
1) Orthodox Jews.2) Reform Jews.
What must each Jew decide?
Whether they will follow the Torah as it was originally intended or whether they believe religion must adapt and change.
How do Orthodox Jews live?
Closely to the teachings of the tour as it was originally intended as it came from God and cannot be changed; society may change but teachings do not.
How many of the Mitzvot Orthodox Jews try to observe
All of them - 613.
What will Orthodox Jews spend their life devoted to?
The study and practice of the Torah.
Which laws of the Torah are binding for Reform Jews?
Ethical Laws.
Why are some laws not necessary in reform Judaism?
They were products of the time and place.
What does interpretation rely on?
Individual reasoning and conscience.
What are Secular Jews?
They don’t believe in God and so don’t see the teachings of the Torah as sacred.
What would orthodox Jews say about the creation story in Genesis 1? Why?
That is 100% true and they would reject all scientific theories. Because God has direct Power and influence on what happens in the world so is extremely important for them to follow what it says in the Torah.
What would Reform Jews say about the creation story in Genesis 1? Why?
They believe God created the universe but they do except some scientific theories. Because God didn’t take it literally seven days to make the world and God made the process of evolution begin.
The five main events of creation are:
1) creation of the universe.2)creation of the earth.3) creation of Adam and Eve (humankind.)4) Temptation of Adam and Eve.5) The fall of humankind from grace.
What did God make on the first day of creation?
God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness ‘night.’
Give a quote which shows that we are made in the image of God:
‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’ Genesis 1 day 6.
What is the big bang theory?
Idea that about 13.7 million years ago all the matter in the universe was concentrated at a single point. An explosion happened and everything went spiralling until the universe was created.
What commanders God give to Adam and even Genesis?
To not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. “You must not touch it or you will die.”
What consequence did Adam and Eve face for disobeying God in Genesis 2?
Was sent to the garden of Eden where there was no tree of life so death enters the world.
What is “The Fall”?
When Adam and Eve are tempted by a serpent to eat from the tree against God’s will.
What is the prayer that is said in orthodox services that illustrate how God created the world?
“Blessed be he who spoke, and the world existed.”
What is the importance of Shabbat? Link it to creation.
It is a day of rest but also the celebration of creation because God rested on the seventh day too.
What is the purpose of mankind (In genesis)?
To have ‘domain’ or power over the earth.
Explain the idea that Jews believe ‘God as Law Giver’:
Jews believe that God revealed to the Prophet Moses laws and duties are expected of all Jews. The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:1 - 17)
What happens if Jews obey the 10 Commandments?
Jews are not only fulfilling what God wants but they are also forming a close relationship with him.
Explain the idea that Jews believe ‘God as Judge.”
Judaism teaches that God is a God of both justice and that he will judge each person. God has no pleasure in judging humans wrongly so the ones he makes are just.
Give a quote that shows God is a good judge:
Psalm 5:4 :”You are not a God that has pleasure in wickedness.”
What does the Jewish Festival ‘Rosh Hashanah’ celebrate?
It’s all about the creation of the world. At this time, it is believed God will judge every person.
What happens in the 10 days after Rosh Hashanah?
God is believed to be a God of mercy so humans are given 10 days to make up for any bad deeds and to also ask for forgiveness.
Why is the Shekinhah important? (3)
1) It guides the people to live how God wants them to.2) It acts within the world - present.3) The divine presence of God saved the Israelites from slavery by guiding them out of Egypt.
Where do Orthodox Jews believe the Shekinhah is?
In the ‘Wailing Wall’Which is a wall in Jerusalem that is part of the ruins of the very first temple which was built after God saved the Israelites. His true presence is here.
Where do Reform Jews believe the Shekinhah is?
It is with them when Jewish people are together and when they study the Torah and the Talmud.
Why do Jews believe a Messiah will come?
They were told 1000 years before Jesus that a Messiah would come to Earth.
What do Orthodox Jews believe about the Messiah?
They believe that a Messiah will come to earth and there is a possibility of one in every generation.
What do Reform Jews believe about the Messiah?
They don’t believe that an individual Messiah will come but that there will be a Messianic age where everyone obeys the laws of God and people of different faiths will work together to establish harmony.
Jews believe that the Messiah will: (3)
1) Save Jews from evil.2) Enemies of Jews will be defeated and peace will come.3) Be a descendant of the great king David but even more powerful.
Give 2 quotes about the Messiah from the Torah:
“The Messiah would be greater than David”“The Messiah will come”
What was a Covenant?
A serious/strong promise.
What did God promise Abraham?
God promised to make Abraham the father of great people and have many descendents if he obeyed him.
What did Abraham have to do for God in the covenant?
He had to abandon his way of life and leave his country and in return God made Abraham’s wife be able to have a son even though she was too old.
God caused Abraham’s wife to have a child. What does this show? (2)
That he is in control of even the processes of nature. And that God kept his promises.
Later, Abraham was ordered by God to kill his son. What happened?
He obeyed but God stopped him.
What happened in the covenant between God and Moses?
God gave Moses the 10 Commandements at Mount Sina and expected all Jews to follow them and in return, he would free them from slavery.
What did God say about people who weren’t circumcised?
Exodus 3”Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
Why is human life so holy? (3)
1) People are made in the image of God.2) God gave life so only he can take it away.3) Life is holy.
How does the Sanctity of Life affect Jewish beliefs about ending life?
It helps them to see if an action is acceptable to God. This means that protecting life is a duty in Judaism.
What is the most important commandment?
To “treat human life as sacred”. A person could break all of the rules of the Torah to save a life.
