Judaism - beliefs

Give two Jewish beliefs about the nature of God. (2)

God is one / the creator / law-giver / judge / loving / merciful

Explain two ways in which Jews understand the belief that God is One. (5)

One God is the source of all Jewish morality beliefs and values

One God is ever present in people’s lives / every sight, sound and experience is regarded as a meeting with the one God.

The Shema: ‘Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone (is One). You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.’ (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

‘You shall have no other gods besides me’ (Exodus 20:3).

Explain two ways in which the nature of God as Judge influences Jews today. (4)

God’s judgement = Jews believe they must live up to God’s expectations

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - God judges humanity throughout their lifetime

Jews are encouraged to repent and repair any damaged relationships with others in order to please God

they will be judged as to how they have obeyed God at the end of their life - righteous will live on in Gan Eden and who need to be cleansed will be sent to Sheol to learn from their mistakes

Explain two Jewish beliefs about the divine presence (Shekhinah). (5)

Represents feminine attributes of presence of God / Shekhinah a feminine word in Hebrew.

Translates as dwelling or setting found in rabbinic literature so Shekhinah is dwelling or settling of divine presence.

Thought to be shown via a pillar of dust or fire ahead of the Israelites whilst they wandered in the wilderness / guide to Promised Land

Give two Jewish beliefs about life after death. (2)

there is the idea of Sheol, described as a dark shadowy place

after the soul has been purified then it may move onto Gan Eden which is where the soul will be reunited with its ancestors

there is the idea of Gehinnom where wicked souls are punished

The resurrection is not an important Jewish belief.’ (12)

FOR:
very little in the Tenakh on the resurrection,

if it were an important belief it would appear more frequently

Name other beliefs - shekinah, nature of god, messiah

AGAINST:
Orthodox Jews believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead
beliefs in Gan Eden, Olam HaBa, Sheol, Gehenna

belief in resurrection has an effect on this life/idea of punishment or reward after death depending on how this life has been led

Explain two ways in which belief in the future Messiah influences Jews today. (4)

• Messiah means ‘anointed one’ and was first used to refer to the high priests and kings of Israel / influences Jews to believe that the Messiah will be special and close to God.

The Messiah will rule the Jews during the future / influences Jews to look forward to the coming of the Messiah

as it will be a time of greatness when the dead will be resurrected and live in peace and harmony in a restored Israel.

Explain two Jewish teachings about the Messiah. (5)

• the Messiah is the anointed one

  direct descendant of King David; Jeremiah 23:5

  Isaiah 11:2 the spirit of the Lord will be on him, he will have no fear

• the Messiah will come at the end of time

  Isaiah 2:4 – He will be king and other nations will come to him for guidance

  as it will be a time of greatness when the dead will be resurrected and live in peace and harmony in a restored Israel.

• the Messiah will restore Israel

  he will gather Jews back to the promised land

Explain two views about the Messiah in Judaism. (5)

• The Messiah means the anointed one

  in Orthodox Judaism this is the idea that an exceptional leader will come at the end of time

• this leader will be a descendent of King David

• In Orthodox Judaism the Messiah will bring all Jews back to the land of Israel

• In progressive Judaism the Messiah is more of a symbol for a time of peace in the future (i.e the Messianic age)

• a time when people will work together for justice and fairness

‘For Jews, the most important role of the Messiah is to bring peace to the world.’ (12)

FOR:

• future king of Israel, chosen by God, a great politcal leader

• living in peace in a restored Israel

• Prophets, Jeremiah and Micah, prophesied a future when war would end, and would be a time of peace - Nation shall not take up sword against nation; they shall never again know war.’ (Micah 4:3)

• Through upholding the Jewish Law and Commandments, the Messiah will establish peace and justice - rule with kindness + justice

AGAINST:

• this phrase was first used for Saul and kings of Israel - some were warriors - showing not the need for peace - great military leader

• Many Reform Jews do not believe in an individual Messiah: the Messianic age will come as a result of people’s collective action and not as a result of a special individual

• The role of the Messiah will be to uphold Torah law and be the ultimate teacher of it

Give two promises God made to Abraham. (2)

• Promise of the land

• make your name great

• promise of son

• make you a great nation

• descendants

Give two reasons why the promised land is important to Jews. (2)

God gave Abraham the promised land as part of the Covenant

God repeatedly promised to give the land to the descendants of Abraham throughout Jewish history

it is considered a mitzvah to live in Israel

Explain two ways in which the Covenant with Abraham influences Jews today. (4)

• circumcision of male children - Brit Milah: remembrance of covenant

‘Every male among you shall be circumcised’

• Jews must be monotheists - worship one God alone

• Jews must continue to obey God as Abraham was instructed to / they must follow God’s teachings and live an ethical life

Explain two Jewish beliefs about the Covenant with Abraham. (5)

• It was an agreement made between God and Abraham (Avram) / as the first Jew and thus binding on all Jews.

• Abraham was instructed to keep his belief in monotheism - not to make idols so that God would keep his promise to Abraham

• God promised that he would make Abraham a great nation / would bless him / make his name great

• The covenant was sealed by circumcision / Abraham became circumcised as did the males in his family / this has continued to the present day as a sign of the covenant

The Lord said to Avram (Abraham), “Go forth from your native land and from your father’s house to the land that I will show you / I will make of you a great nation, / And I will bless you; I will make your name great, And you shall be a blessing.

Give two of the Ten Commandments. (2)

You shall have no other gods before me

You shall not make for yourself an idol … shall not bow down to them or worship them … /

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God (swear falsely by the name of the Lord your God) … /

Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy …

Honour your father and your mother

You shall not murder (kill)

You shall not commit adultery

You shall not steal

You shall not give false testimony (bear false witness) against your neighbour

You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife

You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods. 

Explain two ways in which the Ten Commandments influence Jews today. (4)

The Ten Commandments must be obeyed by Jews → this shows that Jews are following God’s rules for his people

Jews are expected to learn and do God’s will to show that they are observing the faith

the Commandments describe the Jews’ relationship with God

the observance of Shabbat makes Judaism different from other faiths

‘The Ten Commandments are the most important part of the Sinai Covenant with Moses.' (12)

FOR:

first ten of all the mitzvot

forms foundation of Jewish ethics, religious and civil law

underpin laws in society, for instance do not steal or kill are laws in most societies

Ten Commandments were the only part of the covenant which God inscribed / more than once / done in stone, - their eternal nature / shows they must not be forgotten or ignored

AGAINST:

only have value because the Israelites agreed to keep them - assent of the Israelites

faith made the Ten Commandments more than just words

God promised the Israelites would be God’s chosen people - role is more important than actions

God gave Moses all of the mitzvot - not just 10

Explain beliefs about the covenant with moses

• contains the 10 commandments and to obey God

• reinforces the Israelites as the chosen people

• The covenant is for all the people, not just Moses

• freedom from Egypt and the Promise of the Land

Give two of the key moral principles of Judaism. (2)

• justice

• healing the world

• kindness to others

• charity

• saving a life

Give two ways in which Jews might follow the moral principle of healing the world. (2)

• contribute to social justice and a better community

• protect the environment

• repair the world - Tikkun Olam

• support charities - help those living in poverty

Explain two ways in which belief in healing the world influences Jews today. (4)

• Tikkun Olam = healing the world - role of stewardship given as duty by God

  responsibility to heal, restore the world to its harmonious state in the beginning

• Ethical Mitzvah - Jews have a duty to make the world better for everyone - not just self

• Belief in messianic age = when world is repaired - age begins

  so encouraging healing the world brings that day nearer

Explain two Jewish teachings about charity. (5)

• Tzedakah = Jews expected to give 10% of disposable income to charity - instructed in the Mitzvot = ‘Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year’

• Act with righteousness - treat others with dignity and deal with those living in poverty with mercy

• unable to give money = expected to give in other ways

  volunteering, visiting elderly etc

The moral principle of justice teaches Jews all they need to know about the way they should live.’ (12)

FOR:

moral principles = justice, healing the world, charity and kindness to others

• taken together = cover important aspects of life - produce a better society

• living by God’s wishes and following his teachings

• Justice = what is right and fair - essential in society

• Law and Prophets = emphasise importance of justice

• ‘Let justice well up like a river’ Amos

• ‘Turn from evil and do good’ Psalm

AGAINST:

• OTHER PRINCIPLES:

• Pikuach Nefesh and sancinty of life = importance of life - how it must be preserved and protected

• 10 Commandments + mitzvot = base of Jewish moral teaching

  come from God, crucial - set in stone, keep the day of Shabbat

• Healing the world = protects the environment, drawa people closer to God, brings Messianic age closer

• kindness = required in Torah - God shows loving kindness to all people - so example should be followed

  ‘love your fellow as yourself’

Explain two Jewish teachings about the sanctity of human life. (5)

• life is sacred = made in the image of God - ‘made in God’s own image’ = formed humanity in his likeness, treat everyone equally - respect all

• humans have special value = God ‘breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’ = human life is sacred

• Obeying mitzvah – "do not do anything that endangers your neighbour's life"

• No human has the right to take life - ‘do not murder’

Explain two ways in which the belief that the mitzvot are the commands of God influences Jews today. (4)

• mitzvot = must be obeyed - One responsibility from the covenant

• so 10 commandments must be kept

• unites the Jews = gives them their identity - clear pattern of dress / keep the Sabbath every Friday - no work

• ‘Keep the sabbath holy’

• liberal groups = observe less strictly = relevant for that time

• do not kill - respect life

• covenant with abraham = circumcision

• only worship one god = monotheistic religion

• honour your parents = respecting and obeying parents

Free will means that Jews can behave however they like.’ (12)

FOR:

• gift from God to humanity

• truly free to love God and obey commandments

• people make wrong choices - god is aware of this possibilitty

• free will → morality

• Torah = God gives man free will to encourage him to listen to God’s word

• God would not be able to judge - if mankind did have true free will

AGAINST:

• 613 mitzvot = God has strict commandments + expectations of Jewish nation

• reuired to keep all mitzvot as part of the covenant with Moses

• responsible for their actiosns - duty and a blessing

‘Jews do not have to follow all of the mitzvot (Jewish laws).’ (12)

FOR:

• gift of free will - make choices for themselves

• different religions and people - not following mitzvot - life is not unethical or morally wrong

• 613 mitzvot = too many

• many = old fashioned - law was written thousands of years ago - society has changed - some are illegal in modern society

• some Reform + Liberal Jews - do not follow mitzvot on clothing

• Temple no longer exists - Jews cant follow all mitzvot

AGAINST:

• God = commands Jews to follow ALL mitzvot - clear expectations

  why make so many if they werent supposed to follow them

• Torah = all mitzvot are equally sacred and binding

• Free will → test that Jews will do the right thing and follow mitzvot by choice = duty and blessing from God

• Jewish identity = obeying all of God’s law - Orthodox Jews

‘For Jews, the most important mitzvot are those between man and God.’ (12)

FOR:

• mitzvot between man and God = foundations of faith

• person must put God first - commanded to love their God with all their heart, soul and might

• cannot be jewish without relationship with God

• 1st FOUR OF TEN COMMANDMENTS

• practices of Judaism = focuses on relationship - prayer and synagogue worship

• Covenant relationship with God - obliged to keep God’s law - life is an act of worship

AGAINST:

• mitzvot between man and man = important

• treating others is equally important

• last 6 of 10 commandments

• living the faith = most important → participate in community, stand up against injustice, care for planet

• ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’

Explain why the mitzvot are important

• God has commanded it

• maintaining covenant relationship with God

• joy to follow God’s guidance

• crucial for Jewish identity

• ensure to lead a morally righteous life

• action speaks louder than words = how we behave towards God and one another is the best testament to our faith

explain 2 ways in which Torah influences the lives of Jews today

• beleive they are the chosen people - have responsibitiles as well as privileges

• keep and honour the covenant

• Learn and teach the Torah - teach their children about being Jewish, recite the shema twice daily

• How to live = what to eat, how should they pray, how should they behave

• have faith in one god

• respect the patriarchs

how does pikuah nefresh influences Jews

• Suspend obedience to mitzvot to save a life - abortion of foetus when mother's life is endangered​

• Do everything in your power to save a life providing it does not endanger your life – e.g. organ donation​