judaism

Religious Studies Revision Guide

  • EDUQAS SYLLABUS B
    Component Three: "Judaism"

Component Three Overview

  • COMPONENT THREE IS DIVIDED INTO TWO SECTIONS:
    • Beliefs and Teachings
    • Practices
  • Component Three will be examined at the end of Year 11 and will make up 25% of your RE GCSE. The exam will be 60 minutes long.
    • Exam structure includes various question styles:
    • a) DEFINE: Define a Key Concept (2 marks)
    • b) DESCRIBE: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of a belief, teaching, or important person (5 marks)
    • c) EXPLAIN: Explain a Jewish belief or teaching and its importance to different Jews (8 marks)
    • d) DISCUSS: Argue about the most important teaching in Judaism considering different perspectives (15 marks)
  • Time Management: Spend “a minute a mark” on each question.
  • Diversity in Beliefs: Jews do not all share the same beliefs and practices depending on upbringing and reasoning.

Who's Who in Judaism

  • Modern Orthodox Jews:
    • Largest branch in Britain.
    • Believe God gave the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai; Jews must uphold it while embracing modern culture.
  • Reform Jews:
    • Faithful to many traditional customs but believe Judaism should harmonize with modern lifestyles, leading to different interpretations of practices.
  • Ultra-Orthodox Jews:
    • Very traditional, adhering closely to Torah commandments, often separating themselves from modern society. This group is rapidly growing in Britain due to high birth rates.

Key Concepts

  • Acknowledgement of diversity in Jewish thought and behavior.
  • Maimonides’ Principles (12th Century Rabbi):
    1. Synagogue - a house for prayer and community engagement.
    2. Shekhinah - God's presence felt in the world.
    3. Shabbat - day of rest and spiritual renewal (Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall).
    4. Kosher - food permitted to be eaten, as per Leviticus 11.
    5. Torah - the five books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy).
    6. Mitzvot - commandments and duties for Jews, often referring to the 613 laws in the Torah.
    7. Messiah - the Anointed One who will bring peace and rebuild the Temple.
    8. Covenant - agreements between God and significant biblical figures (Noah, Abraham, Moses).
  • Jewish Beliefs:
    • God exists and is perfect.
    • God is one and without a physical body.
    • God is eternal and should be the only one worshipped.
    • Prophets are messages through which God communicates, with Moses being the most significant.
    • Torah is immutable; all must uphold it.
    • God rewards good and punishes evil.
    • Belief in a coming Messiah and resurrection of the dead.

The Nature of God in Judaism

  • Monotheism:
    • Belief in one God; indivisible and all-powerful.
    • God is perceived as ever-present in human experiences.
  • The Shema Prayer:
    • Recited daily, encapsulating the belief in God's oneness: “Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”
    • Exists in traditions such as the Mezuzah attached to doorposts.
  • God as Creator:
    • God is the creator of the universe, as reflected in Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning, God created heaven and earth.”
    • Creation is significant to Jewish identity with Shabbat celebrating God's rest after creation.
  • God as Law-Giver:
    • Delivered the Ten Commandments and 613 Mitzvot to Moses after the Exodus. These laws form the basis for Jewish ethics and relationships.

God as Judge

  • Justice and Fairness:
    • God judges humanity, with fairness and impartiality.
    • The festival of Rosh Hashanah links to God's role as judge, where deeds are evaluated in preparation for the new year.
    • Repentance is encouraged during the Ten Days of Awe leading to Yom Kippur.

The Concept of Shekhinah

  • Shekhinah refers to the presence of God felt in different forms:
    • In the Ark of the synagogue, signifying God's eternal light.
    • Accompanying groups of Jews, especially in communal worship.
  • Jews can experience the Shekhinah during prayer or studying together as a minyan (group of ten).

The Messiah Concept in Judaism

  • Messianic Beliefs:
    • Mashiach means “anointed”; anticipated leader chosen by God.
    • Orthodox View: The Messiah is a physical person, a descendant of King David, expected to restore Israel and bring peace.
    • Reform View: The idea of the Messiah represents an era of peace, achieved through collective good actions.

The Covenants

  • Covenant with Abraham:

    • Established with God as the first monotheist via three promises:
    1. The Promised Land: Canaan promised as an eternal inheritance for Abraham's descendants.
    2. Promise of Descendants: Ascendants to form nations, affirming Abraham's role as Father of Nations.
    3. Blessings: God pledges to bless Abraham and his descendants made tangible through circumcision.

  • Covenant with Moses:

    • Considered the foundation of Jewish law.
    • Moses' connection with God, act of delivering laws after Exodus and receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai.
    • 613 Mitzvot are detailed in these laws; specific ones (10 Commandments) are fundamental for all Jews.