baseline year 11

shema

the jewish declaration of faith that affirms belief in one god, beginning “hear, o israel: the lord our god, the lord is one.”

monotheism

the belief in only one god

jewish understanding of god

jews believe god is the one eternal, creator, sustainer, lawgiver, and judge

why jews may not write ‘god’

out of respect for god’s holiness, many jews avoid writing the full word in case it is damaged or erased

god as ‘one’ in shema

jews interpret god as one unified being, indivisible and unique, as stated in the shema “the lord our god, the lord is one”

orthodox jewish belief about creation

orthodox jews believe god created the world exactly as described in the torah, in six days, and rested on the seventh

other jewish belief about creation

some jews accept scientific explanations like the big bang and evolution, seeing the torah’s account as symbolic or poetic

jewish belief about evil

jews believe god created free will, meaning evil is a result of human choice; god is still omnibenevolent and omnipotent

importance of choosing good

it is more valuable to freely choose good over evil because it shows true obedience and commitment to god

isaiah 45:6-7 and creation

the verse shows god creates both light and darkness, good and evil, teaching jews that god is the ultimate source of everything

god as sustainer and free will

god sustains the world by providing for creation, while giving humans free will to choose their actions responsibly

mitzvot

the commandments given by god in the torah, covering moral and religious duties

shekhinah

the divine presence of god in the world

10 commandments and mitzvot

they show god as a lawgiver who guides jews in how to live, worship, and treat others

god as judge

jews believe god judges individuals based on their actions, supported by scripture such as psalm 50:6 “god himself is judge”

tabernacle

the portable temple built by moses for the divine presence of god during the exodus

shekhinah and tabernacle

jews believe god’s presence (shekhinah) dwelt in the tabernacle, showing his closeness to his people

jews and death

jews may feel comfortable with death because life and death are both part of god’s plan

jewish belief about heaven

many jews see heaven (gan eden) as being in god’s presence, though details are not fully described

jewish belief about judgement

some jews believe they are judged by god immediately after death, while others believe judgement will happen at the end of time

contrasting views on resurrection

orthodox jews often believe in physical resurrection in the messianic age, while reform jews may see it as spiritual or symbolic

focus on this life

jews focus more on actions in this life because living by god’s law and doing good deeds (mitzvot) are central to their faith

messiah original understanding

originally, “messiah” (mashiach) meant an anointed king from the line of david who would rule israel; for example, 1 samuel 10:1 describes saul being anointed with oil

jews today and messiah

many jews believe the messiah will be a future leader anointed by god who will bring peace and rebuild the temple

contrasting views on messiah

orthodox jews expect a personal messiah who will rule in jerusalem, while reform jews often see the messianic age as brought about by human effort for justice and peace

messianic age

a future time of global peace, harmony, and justice when people will live according to god’s will

jesus as messiah

jews do not accept jesus as the messiah because he did not fulfill messianic prophecies such as bringing peace and rebuilding the temple

covenant

a sacred agreement between god and his people

circumcision

the removal of the foreskin of male jews, a sign of the covenant with abraham

god’s request to abraham

god asked abraham to leave his home and travel to canaan, the promised land

covenant with abraham

god promised abraham descendants as numerous as the stars and the land of canaan if he and his family followed god’s ways (genesis 17)

chosen people

jews believe they are chosen by god to live by his laws and set an example of holiness to the nations

10 commandments description

ten key laws given by god to moses at sinai, covering duties to god and to other people

reason for 10 commandments

god gave the commandments to guide the jewish people after freeing them from slavery and to mark them as his people

jews in egypt

the israelites were enslaved in egypt until god sent moses to lead them out in the exodus

importance of 10 commandments today

they remain central to jewish faith and identity, reminding jews of their covenant with god

sanctity of life definition

the belief that life is holy and given by god, so it must be respected and protected

protecting life

jews believe protecting life comes before almost all other commandments because life is sacred

sanhedrin 4:5

“whoever destroys one life destroys the world entire; whoever saves one life saves the world entire” – teaches the infinite value of every life

pikuach nefesh

the principle that saving a life overrides almost any other religious law, for example breaking shabbat to take someone to hospital

free will explanation

the ability to choose between good and evil actions

origin of free will

free will comes from god’s creation of humans with choice, for example deuteronomy 30:19 “i have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. now choose life”

problem of free will

free will can lead to disobedience and sin, damaging the relationship between jews and god

mitzvot and free will

jews use free will to follow the mitzvot, showing loyalty and obedience to god

mitzvot between man and god

commandments about worship, shabbat, festivals, and prayer

mitzvot between man and man

commandments about ethical behaviour, justice, and how to treat others

importance of mitzvot today

mitzvot guide jewish daily life and help maintain their covenant relationship with god

other names for synagogue

beit k’nesset (house of assembly), beit midrash (house of study), shul, temple (used by reform jews)

what jews do at synagogue

pray, study the torah, celebrate festivals, and hold community events

minyan

the minimum group of ten jewish adults required for certain prayers

symbols of synagogue

star of david and menorah often mark or decorate a synagogue building

no images in synagogue

to avoid idolatry, as the ten commandments forbid making images of humans or animals for worship

meaning of shul

“school” in yiddish, emphasising learning and community

meaning of beit t’filah

“house of prayer”

reform jews and ‘temple’

reform jews use “temple” to emphasise that their synagogue replaces the ancient jerusalem temple as the centre of worship

synagogue focal point

worship, prayer, study, education, and community life

classes in synagogue

hebrew, religion, history, and preparation for bar/bat mitzvah

seating layout

men and women sit separately in orthodox synagogues, but sit together in reform synagogues

for the rabbi

a lectern or seat for teaching and leading services

aron hakodesh

the holy ark, a cabinet on the east wall where torah scrolls are kept

stored in ark

the torah scrolls

original ark

the ark of the covenant built to hold the stone tablets of the 10 commandments

ark after sinai

carried by the israelites through the desert and placed in the temple in jerusalem

reminder of ark today

the synagogue ark symbolises the original ark of the covenant

steps to ark

show respect and that the ark is above the congregation, closer to heaven

ark contains

the torah scrolls

curtain over ark

symbolises the curtain that covered the ark in the temple and shows holiness

ner tamid

the “eternal light” kept burning in front of the ark

location of ner tamid

above the aron hakodesh (holy ark)

symbolism of ner tamid

god’s eternal presence and the menorah that burned in the jerusalem temple

bimah

the raised platform from which the torah is read

location of bimah

usually in the centre (orthodox) or front (reform) of the synagogue

focus of worship

it makes the torah reading central to worship and accessible to all

orthodox jews definition

jews who strictly follow traditional laws and teachings of the torah and talmud

reform jews definition

jews who adapt jewish practice to modern life, focusing on ethical teachings rather than strict laws

daily prayers

jews are expected to pray three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening)

similarities between orthodox and reform services

use of hebrew in prayer, reading of the torah, synagogue as place of worship, prayers from the siddur, weekly shabbat service

differences between orthodox and reform services

orthodox services are in hebrew, men and women sit separately, led facing the ark, often no musical instruments; reform services use both hebrew and local language, men and women sit together, women may be rabbis, services may include music and shorter liturgy

tallit

prayer shawl with fringes (tzitzit) on the corners

tefillin

small leather boxes containing torah verses, strapped to arm and forehead during prayer

when tallit and tefillin worn

tallit is worn during morning prayers, tefillin during weekday morning prayers (not on shabbat or festivals)

tallit symbolism

reminds jews of god’s commandments

tefillin symbolism

symbolises keeping god’s law in the heart and mind

importance of prayer

prayer connects jews with god, shows obedience, and is a duty

source of daily prayers

siddur (prayer book)

opening prayers vary

they vary depending on the day, service, and community

shema

declaration of faith in one god, recited daily

amidah

central prayer of jewish worship with blessings of praise, petition, and thanksgiving

blessings in amidah

19 blessings including praise of god, requests for forgiveness, peace, healing, and thanks

prayer importance to jews

it maintains a personal and communal relationship with god

shabbat definition

the jewish day of rest and worship

shabbat opportunity

to rest, spend time with family, and worship god

shabbat times

begins at sunset friday and ends at nightfall saturday

shabbat scripture link

based on genesis creation story and the 10 commandments to keep the sabbath holy

friday evening service

includes the shema, amidah, and welcoming of shabbat

saturday morning service

torah reading, prayers, blessings, and sermon

ark opened

when torah scrolls are taken out

reminder of ark opening

reminds congregation of god’s gift of the torah

torah parade

shows respect and brings torah close to the people

torah reading

portion of the weekly sidra (torah portion)