RE: Judaism Beliefs

What is a covenant?

What is a covenant?

A promise or agreement between two parties. Covenants were made between God with Noah, Abraham and Moses

What is kosher?

Foods that are permitted to be eaten according to Leviticus Chapter 11. It is also used to refer to the purity of ritual objects such as Torah scrolls.

What is messiah?

The anointed one who Jews believe will bring a new era or age for humankind. This will include rebuilding the Temple and bringing an age of universal peace

What is mitzvot?

The duties and good deeds that Jews aim to fulfill, there are 613 stated in the Torah

What is Shabbat?

Day of spiritual renewal and rest. Begins at sunset on Friday and closing at nightfall on Saturday.

What is shekinah?

The place where Gods presence rests and can be felt

What is a synagogue?

A house of assembly, building for Jewish public prayer, study and worship God

What is the Torah?

The first five Books of Moses (Genesis,Exodus,Leviticus,Numbers,Deuteronomy)

The holiest book of the Tenakh

What is the belief of God as One?

Monotheism - one unique and indivisible God

Stated in Shema - ‘The Lord is our God, the Lord alone’

Shema was the most important prayer and is recited 3 times a day and is also in the mezuzah which Jews touch as they pass

In Exodus God says that we shall have no other gods

Synagogues have no images so worship is focused on God

What is the belief of God as creator?

God created the world

Genesis 1 - God is omniscient and transcendent creator

God creates with a clear design and purpose

In Genesis it says ‘in the image of God He created him’

What is the belief of God as law-giver?

God gave Torah to Moses and Moses revealed the mitzvot to Israelites

What is the belief of God as judge?

Judges individuals on how well they follow the Torah

Omniscient so he judges all moments of their lives

God judges us during Rosh Hashanah

What is the nature of the Shekinah?

Divine presence / God dwelling on earth

Shows immanent nature of God

Feminine aspect to God, representing his loving qualities

Closer relationship with God

What do we know about shekinah in the tenakh?

Not directly mentioned but there are scriptures that mention people experiencing God and his dwelling on earth

Genesis - Adam and Eve ‘heard the sound of the lord God moving about in the garden’

Exodus - ‘to guide them along the way’

Exodus - ‘let them make me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them’

What is the significance of the shekinah?

Indicates special relationship with God and Jews

God makes himself known at times of great need or significance

The shekinah shares in the pain and suffering of the Jews

When Torah was given to Moses, Shekinah is referred to as the ‘glory’ of God

How do Jews experience the Shekinah in worship?

A ner tamid (eternal light) is a light or lamp that is always present in a synagogue and never goes out. This shows that God is always present. Through communal worship Jews can be in the presence of God

How do Jews experience shekinah in prayer?

A minyan is required for prayers in the synagogue. The Talmud states that the ‘Divine Presence dwells in any place where there are ten adult male Jews’ so shekinah is felt in prayer

How do Jews experience shekinah in study?

Some Jews study Hebrew Scriptures at home, in synagogue or at yeshiva (a Jewish academy) in order to understand the faith more fully. By studying scriptures that are considered to be Gods revealed word some jews believe Gods presence can be felt

How do Jews experience shekinah in shabbat?

During Shabbat, the women of the home light two candles and welcome the shekinah into the home, so the home becomes a holy place for the duration of Shabbat

How do Jews experience shekinah in pilgrimage?

Orthodox Jews believe they can experience the Shekinah when they visit the Western Wall in Judaism

The Western Wall is the last part of the Second Temple that’s still standing

As Orthodox Jews believe the shekinah was fully present in the Temple, the believe its still present at the Western Wall

What does messiah mean?

Messiah comes from the Hebrew word ‘Mashiach’ which means annointed

Messiah is a future Jewish ruler who will be anointed in the same way a monarch is anointed with oils to mark them as special, unique and having the ability to rule with authority

Is the Messi mentioned in the Torah?

Its not mentioned directly in the Torah but there are some passages in the Tenakh that are interpreted to be about the Messiah

‘A time is coming - declares the lord - when I will raise up a true branch of Davids line. He shall reign as a king and shall prosper’ - Jeremiah

What do different kinds of Jews believe about the Messiah?

Traditional ideas include:

Messiah will be a human man, not God on earth

He will have the authority of God to rule in the best interests of God

Descendant of King David - influential ruler of Israelites

Great political leader and defend Judaism

Orthodox Jews wait for the coming of the Messiah

Some believe the messiah will come in a time of need and others believe hell come when the world is near perfection

Many believe that in every generation, someone has the potential to be the Messiah

How will the messiah be righteous?

He will be a righteous king who through his rule will spread good and justice throughout the world so that all people are untied and can live equally.

‘For a child born has been to us […] he has been named […] a peaceable ruler’ - Isiah

How will the messiah be a bringer of peace?

Some Jews believe the messiah will bring about a Messianic Age of peace and harmony for all nations. This is also known as olam ha-ba and will signal the end of the world as it is

How will the messiah restore the temple?

Some believe the Messiah will rebuild and restore the Temple in Jerusalem that was destroyed in 70 CE

How will the messiah be the restorer of Israel?

Some Jews believe the Messiah will return the Jewish people back to Israel and bring understanding of God to all people

What do Jews believe about the Messianic Age?

A new area for humankind of peace and prosperity. For many Orthodox Jews the arrival of the messiah will indicate the beginning of the Messianic Age and then the dead will resurrect and the Jews will return to Israel

Peace for everyone ‘the wolf shall dwell with the lamb ‘ - Isiah

What are Orthodox views of the Messiah?

They accept the traditional understanding of the messiah and wait in hope for his arrival

Maimonides was a popular Jewish philosopher in the Middle Ages, who’s twelfth principle shows how the Messiah is a central belief for Orthodox Jews, with many praying for him to come

What are Reform views on the Messiah?

They reject the belief in a Messiah who will bring about a Messianic Age. They believe bringing the Messianic Age is the collective responsibility of all people to do good actions.

Reform Jews get their vision of the Messianic Age from the Prophets e.g Micah 4:3 desribes a time when ‘nation shall not take up sword against nation, they shall never again know war’

What actions do Reform Jews engage in to bring about the Messianic Age?

They promote helping individuals and supporting environmental causes and they also believe in Tikkun Olam to bring about the Messianic Age

They believe in the ‘Messianic impulse’ - the urge to bring about the Messiah and the Messianic Age

Who is Abraham and why is he such a role model to Jews?

Abraham, called the father of Judaism is considered to have founded Judaism as he made his covenant with God

He rejected the widespread polytheism and he trusted in God no matter what he asked

What were Gods three promises to Abraham and what is the sign of the covenant?

Land, descendants and blessings

The sign of the covenant is the one condition Jews have to undergo to fulfil the Abrahamic covenant, males must undergo circumcision

What was the first promise of the Abrahamic covenant?

Land.

God tells Abraham to leave Haran and travel to Canaan, which God promised would become his home and a home for his future descendants

Abrahams grandson Jacob was known as Israel so his children became the children of Israel and the land became the Land of Israel, the Promised Land

Jews feel a special connection with Israel due to Gods promise of land to Abraham, it is the focus of daily prayers, synagogues face Jerusalem, glass is broken at weddings to represent the destroyed Temple etc.

What was the second promise of the Abrahamic covenant?

Descendants.

God promised Abraham will become the founder of a ‘great nation’ so hell have many descendants who are connected to God and the Promised Land

What was the third promise of the Abrahamic covenant?

God promises to bless Abraham and his descendants so for Jews this reinforces a special connection with God

Jews are the chosen people because they have been chosen to enter and keep Gods covenants and they have the obligation to keep the miztvot.

What was the one condition of the Abrahamic covenant?

Abraham and all his male descendants go through circumcision. This is known as the seal of the covenant and is a physical sign of entry into the covenant relationship with God.

Circumcision is an important rite in Judaism and the ceremony is known as Brit Milah and the baby is also formally names at the ceremony

‘You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin’ - Genesis

What happened with Moses and the escape of the Israelites?

God chose Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and take them to the Promised Land.

Moses was unsure but God gave him the courage and through him performed miracles (the ten plagues) that allowed Israelites to be freed

After the tenth and worst plague the Pharaoh reluctantly let the Israelites go however he ended up chasing them to the Red Sea. God parted the sea and destroyed the Pharoah’s army and now Jews celebrate Pesach in commemoration

Why is Moses such an important figure to Jews?

He is considered the greatest prophet and only person to have a face-to-face encounter with God. He’s considered a great teacher after receiving the Torah and he taught it to the Israelites

He also had great empathy for the Israelites despite being raised by the Pharaoh after being abandoned by his mother at the Nile

How did Moses receive the Torah?

God made a covenant with Moses and the Israelites where he reaffirmed that the Israelites are the chosen people who hell protect

He gave Moses the Torah and Moses taught it to the Israelites so they’d follow Gods desires

Moses gave commentary on the Torah (Oral Torah) to help them better understand it

What is the importance of the Promised Land?

Important theme in Moses’ covenant as Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land which is also known as the Land of Israel

By Moses taking the people back to the Promised Land, it demonstrates that it is their home and place and sanctuary

What is the value of humanity?

God is creator and giver of life and life belongs to God

God created humans last and differently to other life indicating humans importance to God

Humans are made imago dei

‘blew into his nostrils the breath of life’ Genesis 2

Each person is a part of God (a soul) meaning that humans have a special dignity and relationship with God

We are distinct and unique because we have responsibility over animals

What is the sanctity of life?

The belief that human life is sacred because its a gift from God

All humans are special and equal value

‘I praise You, for I am awesomely, wondrously made’ - Psalms

What is Pikuach Nefesh?

Obligation to save a life in need

Moral duty as the value of human life is so high

So important that its possible to break all but three mitzvoth (incest, idolatry and adultery)

Not acceptable to kill yourself to save others

Practical way of showing that all life is sacred and of equal value

Jewish celebrations use the toast ‘L’Chaim’ which means ‘to life’ and is to celebrate the joy in life and that it should be celebrated

What is the significance of the mitzvot?

Important because they’re given by God and form basis of Jewish ethical behaviour

Mitzvah means commandment and show how God wants us to behave

There are 613 that were first taught by Moses to the Israelites

How are mitzvot split up?

Positive mitzvot explain what actions can be done and negative mitzvot are actions that can’t be done.

What do Orthodox Jews believe about the mitzvot?

Important to keep as many of the mitzvot as possible to build a close relationship with God.

Shouldn’t be changed because they’re divine

What do Reform Jews believe about the mitzvot?

Important but they recognise its impossible to follow some of them due to the changes in society since Moses’ time.

How does free will relate to the mitzvot?

God created humans with free will and gave the mitzvot asa. moral guide. Humans can choose to follow the mitzvot or not.

All humans are held accountable for their actions because God doesn’t force anyone to do good or evil.

What do Jews believe each person is born with that helps to maintain the mitzvot?

Yetzer ha tov - tendency to do good

Yetzer ha ra - tendency to do bad

God gave us an indication of what’s good and bad but its still humans decision whether they follow the mitzvot and their moral goodness

What are moral mitzvot?

Moral mitzvot deal with humans and explain how people should treat each other and how we are important in building just and fair societies

What are ritual mitzvot?

How people should show respect to God

Help to establish and maintain a strong relationship with the individual and God

‘you shall have no other God besides me’ - Exodus

How do Jews live out the mitzvot?

In the UK there is a Mitzvah Day where Jews give their time to make a difference to the community by:

Tikkun Olam

Gemilut Hasadim - ‘acts of loving-kindness’

Tzedekah - righteousness or justice

Why do Jews not focus on the afterlife?

No specific mention of it in the Torah

Jews are more focused on living a good life and not worry about what happens after death

They believe the true understanding of life after death is beyond human understanding

What are Jewish beliefs about life after death and how it links to life on earth?

The afterlife is called olam ha-ba whereas life on earth is called olam ha-ze.

Olam ha-ze is preparation for what is to come in olam ha-ba and therefore we should live this life to the Torah.

‘Do not be like servants who serve the master in the expectation of receiving a reward’

What are Jewish beliefs about heaven and hell?

Heaven, Gan Eden, will be for the righteous Jews

Hell, Gehenna, is a place of suffering and torment

Sheol is a place of waiting and purification where souls will either be sent to Gan Eden or destroyed

A small number of Jews believe in reincarnation

What are Jewish beliefs about the immortality of the soul?

Genesis 2 describes how God made man and gave us a soul - something fundamentally different from other animals

Orthodox Jews believe that when they die the soul will live on and be resurrected with the body during olam ha-ba

Reform Jews reject any form of physical resurrection or physical life after death and therefore Reforms don’t reject cremation

What are Jewish beliefs about judgement?

God is the ultimate judge and will judge us on how well they have followed the mitzvot

God will hold a Day of Judgement after the arrival of the Messiah

Rosh Hashanah allows Jews to reflect on their actions of the previous year and recognise misdeeds

What are Jewish beliefs about resurrection?

Orthodox Jews believe in resurrection of the body where the body will be raised from the dead and reunited with the soul. The righteous will be resurrected during the Messianic Age. They don’t agree with cremation, organ donation or post-mortems. Cemeteries are Houses of Life.

Reform Jews reject belief in physical resurrection but do believe the soul lives on after death