1. 1 : The Almighty

Question 1

How is God’s oneness shown in Judaism?

Answer 1

• Jewish people have a mezuzah, holding the Shema, on the gates and doorposts. The prayer begins with ‘Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is One’
• Jewish men bind tefillin round their forehead and arm every morning when they pray
• Judaism teaches the unity of creation, and the need to try to bring this unity into society

Question 2

How is God the Creator?

Answer 2

• God the Creator is one of the Thirteen Principles of Faith, set out by Maimonides. “I believe with perfect faith that God is the Creator.”
• Because God is the creator, everything belongs to him, and the world, and everything in it depends on Him.
• Every day, during prayer, Jewish people praise God who “in His goodness, he renews the work of creation each day continually”

Question 3

Why is God the Creator important to Jews?

Answer 3

• God’s creation is good, and so Jews believe they must work to care for and protect the environment.
  * “The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground” Genesis 2:7

Question 4

How is God the Law-Giver?

Answer 4

• The Tenakh teaches that God is the great law-giver.
• God gave the 613 Mitzvot to Moses on Mount Sinai.
• He also give laws to Noah and Abraham

Question 5

Why is belief in God as the Law-Giver important to Jews?

Answer 5

• Believing in God the Law-Giver is important for Jews as the Mitzvot, which God gave to Moses, forms the halakhah (the divine law of Judaism), and is the basis of Jewish life.
• The fact that God is the Law Giver shows Jews that God cares about his creation, and cares about humans.

Question 6

How is God the judge?

Answer 6

• The halakhah is the divine law of Judaism, and every divine law needs a divine judge, and the Tenakh teaches that God is the divine judge.
• He ensures that the good are rewarded, and the evil are punished.
• Eventually God will make sure justice reigns.

Question 7

Why is belief in God the Judge important?

Answer 7

It ensures that:
* the good are rewarded and the evil punished
* prevents the world from the chaos that there would be if there was no way of making sure that God’s laws were kept.
* People know they will be punished if they do not keep to God’s laws.
* People know that if they obey and keep to God’s laws, they will be rewarded.

Question 8

What does Isaiah 33 say about God?

Answer 8

* “The Lord is our Law-Giver”

Question 9

What does Psalm 9 say about God as a Judge?

Answer 9

“The Lord shall judge the world in righteousness”