Judaism: beliefs & teachings

What are Jewish beliefs about the nature of God?

→ God is one

→ God is omnipotent, omniscient & omnipresent

→ God is the creator & sustainer

→ God is personal

→ God is holy

→ God is the true judge & lawgiver

What is the Shema?

A prayer that expresses the belief that God is one

“Hear O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord is one”

What is the Tenak?

The Jewish sacred scriptures

(consisting of a collection of 24 books)

What is the Torah?

The first 5 books of the Tenak

Where is the creation story found in Judaism?

Genesis (the first book in the Torah)

What happens in the creation story?

Day 1 → God created night & day

Day 2 → God created heaven

Day 3 → God separated land & sea & created vegetation

Day 4 → God created the sun, moon & stars

Day 5 → God created birds & sea animals

Day 6 → God created land animals

Day 7 → God rested & made the 7th day holy

What are 2 contrasting Jewish beliefs about the creation story?

→ Many Orthodox Jews believe that the creation story literally happened & reject scientific theories of evolution

→ Other Jews interpret the creation story less literally & accept how the universe is much older & has evolved over many years - however they still believe that God is the creator of everthing

What do Jews believe about freewill & the existence of evil?

Jews believe that God gifted them freewill because He wants people to choose to do good, therefore making good acts more significant

However, to exercise freewill there must be a choice between good & bad

Therefore, evil & suffering exists

What does Genesis 3 teach Jews about freewill?

In Genesis 3, Adam & Eve use their freewill to eat from the tree, thus disobeying God

As a result of this, they were banished from the garden of Eden

This teaches Jews that if they use their freewill for good actions, they will grow closer to God - however if they use their freewill for bad actions they will become distant to God

What are the mitzvot?

Jewish laws given by God

How many mitzvot are there in the Torah?

613

How many positive mitzvot are there?

248

How many negative mitzvot are there?

365

The first 10 mitzvot are…

The 10 commandments

Why are the mitzvot important?

→ God commanded them

→ Strengthens Jews relationship with God

→ An important sign of Jewish identity

→ Fulfills Jews duty to the covenant

→ Helps Jews lead a morally righteous life that pleases God

What do Jews believe about afterlife?

→ Jewish scriptures do not include much about afterlife, so beliefs vary for different Jews & haves developed over time

→ Most Jews believe it is more important to focus on the present & live in a way that pleases God

→ Some Jews believe that God will judge them after death to determine whether the will go to Gan Eden or Sheol

→ A few believe in physical or spiritual resurrection, however most reject this idea

When do Jews believe God will judge them?

During Rosh Hashanah → this is a festival that celebrates the new year, God judges Jews on their actions over the past year & decides what the new year will bring them

After death → God judges Jews on their actions & faith during their life to determine whether they will go to Gan Eden or Sheol

What is the Shekhinah?

The Divine Presence of God on earth

What is Gan Eden?

Heaven / paradise

What is Sheol?

A place of waiting where souls are cleansed

What are 2 contrasting Jewish beliefs about judgement?

→ Some Jews believe they will be judged by God as soon as they die

→ Other Jews believe that everyone will be judged on the Day of Judgement

What does Messiah mean?

The anointed one

What is Olam Ha-Ba?

The Messianic Age (when the Messiah will come)

What are Jewish beliefs about the Messiah?

→ A descendant of David

→ Will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem & gather all Jews back to Israel

→ Will rule with kindness & justice

→ Will uphold the laws in the Torah

→ Will bring a time of universal peace & harmony (the Messianic Age)

What are 2 contrasting beliefs about the Messiah?

→ Orthodox Jews believe that a Messiah will come who is a descendant of David, bringing about a time of world peace

→ Many Reform Jews do not believe a Messiah will come, instead they think that the Messianic Age can only be achieved by everyone working together to create peace

Why do Jews believe that Jesus was not the Messiah?

Because Jesus did not fulfill the expectations Jews have for the Messiah

This is because Jesus did not observe the laws in the Torah strictly enough to establish the Messianic Age of world peace

What is the Promised Land?

The land of Canaan

What happens in the story of Abraham & the Promised Land?

→ Abraham was born in Ur where people worshiped idols of many different Gods

→ Abraham thought worshiping idols was wrong & tried to stop the people of Ur, however he had little success

→ Abraham & some of his family decided to leave Ur & travel to Canaan

→ Along their journey, they decided to settle in Haran

→ Many years later, God told Abraham to continue his journey to Canaan, promising to make a great nation of him

→ Once Abraham reached Canaan, God promised him the land & descendants

What is a covenant?

A 2 way solemn promise between God & his people

What is the covenant between God & Abraham?

God → promised Abraham land & decedents, promised Jews “you will be my people & I will be your God”

Abraham (+ Jews) → obey & worship God, circumcise male children at 8 days old

What is the covenant between God & Moses?

God → freed Jews from slavery in Egypt, made the covenant for all people on Mount Sinai, promised Jews “you will be my people & I will be your God”

Moses (+ Jews) → obey & worship God, keep the 10 commandments

What happens in the story of Exodus?

→ Around 400 years after the covenant with Abraham, Jews were enslaved in Egypt

→ God chose Moses to ask the Pharoh to release the slaves, but the Pharoh refused

→ After God sent 10 plagues to Egypt the Pharoh finally released the slaves

→ Moses lead the Jewish slaves & parted the Red Sea

→ On Mount Sinai, Moses received the covenant & the 10 commandments from God

What are the 10 commandments?

1 I am the Lord your God

2 You shall have no other Gods before me

3 Do not take the name of God in vain

4 Remember the Sabbath & keep it holy

5 Honour your mother & father

6 You shall not murder

7 You shall not commit adultery

8 You shall not steal

9 You shall not bear false witnesses

10 You shall not covet anythings that belongs to your neighbour

How are the 10 commandments organised?

First 4 → Rules on how Jews should interact with God

Last 6 → Rules on how Jews should interact with each-other

What are the key moral principles in Judaism?

Tikkum Olam (healing the world)

Tzedakak (charity & justice)

Hesed (loving & kindness)

Pickuach Nefesh (saving a life)

What are Jewish beliefs about the sanctity of life?

→ Life is sacred because it is created by God

→ Only God has the right to take life away; therefore Jews are against murder & active euthanasia

→ Jews have the duty to save a life if they can, even if it means breaking other Jewish laws (e.g. Shabbat)