Jewish beliefs

What is god as one

Monotheism is the essence of Judaism

• “You shall have no gods before me”

• “You shan’t make any idols ”

What does god as one influence Jews to do

• recite shema

• Attach mezuzah

• Don’t worship idols

Why did god become a law giver

As a result of the covenant at Sinai where god gave Moses the 613 mitzvot

What is god as lawgiver

God gave 613 mitzvah to guide Jews and hell judge us based on this

• “The lord is out lawgiver”

What does god as lawgiver influence Jews to do

• use free will wisely

• Avoid sin

• Seek atonement on Yom Kippur

What is god as loving and merciful

God will not always punish sinners if you listen to his mitzvah

• “God will be merciful if you listen to his voice and commands”

What does god as loving and merciful influence Jews to do

• ask god for forgiveness

• Feel comfort if they make mistakes

• Attend synagogue on Rosh Hashanah

What is god as creator

God created the universe in 6 days and rested on the seventh

• “In the beginning, god created the heavens and earth”

• “It was very good”

What does god as creator influence Jews to do

• thank god

• Celebrate Shabbat

• Practice tikkun olam

What do Orthodox Jews believe about the creation story

It’s literal

What do reform Jews believe about creation

See genesis as symbolic

• they accept scientific theories lie big bang

• “Let there be light” hints at big bang

What is shekhinah

Gods divine presence

Where is shekhinah felt

At tabernacle which developed into a synagogue

• “Let them make me a sanctuary that i may dwell among them”

Where is shekhinah in the Torah

Does not appear but humans experience it

• Adam and Eve after they eat forbidden fruit

• Moses atop mount sinai as pillar of cloud and fire

How does the shekinah influence Jews

• read Torah to feel gods presence

• Worship god at synagogue where there is ner tamid

• Pray in a minyan where shekinah is felt

• Visit western wall where shekinah is felt

For Jews, who is Jesus

Not the messiah

What will the messiah bring

Olam ha ba

Who will the messiah be

A descendant of king David who is sent by god who will follow all 613 mitzvot

What will messiah do regarding war

He will bring world peace

• “Beat their swords into ploughshares”

What will messiah do regarding dead

He will resurrect and judge the dead

• “Many of them that sleep in the dust shall wake”

What will messiah do regarding promised land

He will gather all the people in the promised land which was promised to Abraham in the covenant

What will messiah do regarding temple

He will rebuild the temple

• “Let them make me a sanctuary that i may dwell among them”

What will messiah do regarding idols

He will signal the end of the world when humans worship one god

• “You Shant make idols”

What do Orthodox Jews believe about the messiah

• real human descended from king David who will establish peace

• They are influenced to pray for messiah to make world good again

What do reform Jews believe about messiah

• symbolic

• Influenced to practice tikkum olam and bring the messianic age

What does god state about Abraham in the covenant

• “You shall be the father of a great nation”

• “All people on earth will be blessed through you”

• Established belief in monotheism

What was promised in the covenant between Abraham and promised land

• promise Jews Canaan (promised land)

• Worship one god

• “I will give you more descendants than stars in the sky”

• Circumision as physical symbol “every male among you shall be circumcised”

How does the covenant between Abraham and promised land influence Jews

• believe they are gods chosen people so they will lead by example

• All Jews will return to promised land (zionism)

• Worship one god

• Brit milah ceremony

What is given at covenant at Sinai

613 mitzvah including the Ten Commandments

What does the covenant at Sinai influence Jews today

• use free will wisely

• Believe in shekinah as it was present there

• Celebrate festivals like pesach and Yom Kippur

What do Orthodox Jews believe about covenant at Sinai

Torah’s was given directly by god so they are influenced to follow all 613 mitzvah as they are direct word of god

What do reform Jews believe about covenant at Sinai

Torah is inspired by god so they are influenced to choose whether to follow all mitzvah or adapt them

Why do Jews follow mitzvah

They are judged based on how they followed the mitzvot so it influenced them to follow gods laws so they can go to gan eden.

• they try to follow all about 200 unused as they are temple-focused

What are mitzvot between man and god

• brings Jews closer to god and form a personal covenant

• First four commandments are these

• Influences Jews to worship god and connect with him

What are mitzvot between man and man

• how Jews should act towards other humans and act as a community

• The Ten Commandments are a guide for moral behaviour and act as chosen people

• Influence Jews to be just

What do the KMP do

Helps Jews make moral decisions and it offers them guidance

How are the KMPs linked

They all contribute to social justice

What is justice

• Bring about what is right and fair

• Influences Jews to work for social justice

• Everyone is created equally by god

  • “The lord loves justice”

What is tzedakah

• charity so they have a responsibility to support poverty

• Influences Jews to give 10% of their annual income to poor

  • “Love your fellow as yourself”

What is tikkun olam

• healing the world linking to stewardship

• Jewish people have the responsibility to make the world good just like how god created it

• Influences Jews to follow all of the mitzvot

What is chesed

• kindness so Jews should treat others with kindness

• This influences Jews to act lovingly to each other

  • “The world is built on chesed”

What is sanctity of life

Human life is superior as god made us in his “own image”, emphasising its a gift from god

• “Before i formed you in the womb, i set you apart” shows how he formed us individually

How does sanctity of life influence Jews

• protect human lives as only god can give or take life

• Observe pikuach nafesh

What is pikuach nafesh

Duty for all Jews to protect their own life or save another even if it breaks a mitzvot

Why do Jews allow pikuach nafesh

Human life is precious due to sanctity of life leading to many Jews having jobs where they save lives

What are the limitations of pikuach nafesh

Four commandments must still be followed such as committing murder

What is an example of pikuach nafesh

Doctor working of Shabbat to save a life

Why do Jews see the afterlife as unimportant

Judaism focuses on people actions during their lives on earth so people will heal the current earth themselves

What is life on earth preparation for

Olam-ha-ba

• pirkei Avot stated, “the world is like a lobby before olam-ha-ba”

What is Sheol

A place of waiting where souls are cleaned before gan Eden or Gehenna

What is gan Eden

• represents paradise for those who have lived according to gods law

• Influences Jews to follow all 613 mitzvot and repent sins on Rosh Hashanah

What is Gehenna

• a place of punishment for those who have lived immoral lives

• Influences Jews to avoid punishment

When will judgement take place

After the coming of the messiah

What will god judge us on

He will judge us mercifully depending on how well they followed the mitzvot

• “The lord is our lawgiver”

What is resurrection

Act of brining someone back to life which Orthodox Jews mention in prayer

Who will resurrect Jews

Messiah

• “Those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall wake ”

What do Orthodox Jews believe about resurrection

• their physical body will be resurrected

• Influenced them to pray for god and not cremate bodies as its needed for olam-ha-ba

What do reform Jews believe about resurrection

• only their soul is resurrected

• Influences them to remove prayers about resurrection and cremate

What did god give humans

Free will

Are mitzvot compulsory

No, Jews can choose whether to follow them as they are guidance and can choose to accept covenant

• “I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses”

What do Jews believe the mitzvot lead to

Being closer to god

• influences Jews to follow it in order to be judged favourably by god

What do orthodox Jews believe about mitzvot

• obey mitzvot strictly As laws were given directly to Moses by god

• They are influenced To use free will wisely in order to follow all mitzvot

What do reform jews believe about mitzvot

• observing mitzvot is a choice since the mitzvot are only divinely inspired by god

• They are influenced to choose whether to follow them and may adapt them