Chapter 3 - Jewish Religous Words

Question 1

Messianic age

Answer 1

For Jews, the Messianic age refers to a period of time after the ‘ ‘ anointed one ‘ ( the Messiah ) has come on Earth. In this age, all evil, such as death, conflict and hate is put aside for the greater good of humanity.

Question 2

Covenant

Answer 2

A covenant refers to a special promise and entrustment between God and man. In Judaism, there is a covenant between Abraham and God . During this Covenant, Abraham promised that his descendants would worship only God.

Question 3

Monotheism

Answer 3

Monotheism is a practise in global religions, were the followers worship only one God . Monotheism is practised in Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Question 4

Tenakh

Answer 4

Similar to Christianity, Judaism can trace back all it’s religious beliefs, traditions and prayers to a particular holy book. For Jews, this scripture is the Tenakh.

Question 5

Messiah

Answer 5

Meaning the ‘ anointed one ‘ in Hebrew, the Messiah refers to the person that will come down from heaven , to judge all humanity.

Question 6

Shabbat

Answer 6

Lasting between nightfall on Friday, to nightfall on Saturday, Shabbat is a period of time where Jews remember God’s day of rest, after he had created of Earth and humans. During Shabbat, only a certain creative activities are allowed to occur.

Question 7

Torah

Answer 7

The first five books of the Christian Old Testament, the Torah is a main component of the Jewish Bible, the Tenakh. In the Torah, Jews are told of various commandments and laws about what they should do and not to do in life . The Torah also contains the 613 Mitzvot.

Question 8

Mitvot

Answer 8

Totalling to about 613, Mitzvots are various laws and commandments telling Jews how to live . For many Jews, the Mitzvot laws stand as a guidance in how to use their free will.

Question 9

Two people that had a covenant with God

Answer 9

Two people in Judaism that had a covenant with God include: Abraham and Moses. Abraham promised his descendants would worship God only, while God promised Moses that he would give the Israelites a new country and land to live on after being liberated.

Question 10

Pikauch nefesh

Answer 10

Pikauch nefesh is a belief in Judaism, that states all laws, commandments and traditions can be set aside , if a person needs to save a life. Through Pikauch nefesh, Jews are able to understand the sanctity of life in a clearer way, as it shows that the gift of life bypasses all the laws and traditions man has established.

Question 11

Rosh Hashanah

Answer 11

Meaning the Head of the year in Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah refers to the new year for Jews. Similar to other religions, Jews see Rosh Hashanah as a way of looking back at the events of the previous year, and making resolutions. These resolutions will in turn help Jews to lead a better life.

Question 12

Shoel

Answer 12

In the Tanakh ( the Jewish scripture ) , the Shoel is a spiritual place of darkness, and is said to house the people that have died.in Judaism, it is believed that all love, envy, destruction and evil is vacant from the Shoel, and is merely a dark bleak atmosphere where the dead rest in peace.

Question 13

One way a covenant is sealed

Answer 13

In Jewish history, a covenant ( a sacred promise between you and God ) can be sealed through the saying of an oath, and the act of circumcision. This can be seen to occur with Abraham, when God promised him that all Jews will love in their own land , Canaan.

Question 14

God gave the Jews the promised land called what ?

Answer 14

The promised land in which God promised the Jews they would live in, was called Canaan , in what we would call today Modern Israel.

Question 15

Why did God send the ten plagues ?

Answer 15

God decided to send the ten plagues to Egypt, as a way to force the Pharaoh Ramses to liberate the thousands of Jews held in Slavery. The final plague, the death of the first born child , would ultimately cause Ramses to allow Moses to lead the Jews forth on the path to Canaan.

Question 16

Who rescued the Israelites from Slavery ?

Answer 16

With the help of the ten plagues sent from God to Egypt, Moses was finally able to persuade Pharaoh Ramses to liberate all the Jews held in Slavey. Moses would also be tasked with leading the Jews to the promised land of Cannon.

Question 17

Define omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient

Answer 17

Omnipotent - Omnipotent refers to God as being all powerful, meaning that he can control all creation and demise.

Omnipresent - Omnipresent refers to God as being everywhere in a spiritual form.

Omniscient : Omniscient refers to God as being all knowledgable, as he is the creator of the universe and man kind.

Question 18

How many mitzvot are in the Hebrew Bible

Answer 18

In the Tenakh ( the Hebrew bible ) , there are exactly 613 mitzvot. Along with these 613 laws are the Ten Commandments , and the writings of the Torah.

Question 19

Religious Judgement for Jews

Answer 19

In Judaism, it is believed that followers are judged in death, and in events such as Rosh Hashanah , where Jews reflect over the past year.

Question 20

Beliefs on the afterlife

Answer 20

In death, many Orthodox and Ultra Orthodox Jews believe that their moral judgements in life will either place in them in the sanctity of heaven, or in the dark atmosphere of the Shoel.

Question 21

Orthodox Jew’s beliefs about the Messiah

Answer 21

• One of the main Orthodox beliefs about the Messiah is that, in every generation, there is a descendent from king David. This descendent is then thought to have the potential to become the Messiah.
• The Messiah will rebuild the holy temple that once stood in Jerusalem.

Question 22

Reform Jew’s beliefs about the Messiah

Answer 22

• For reform Jews, there will not be a single Messiah who comes down to earth and judges all mankind.
• Instead, Jews believe in a Messianic age of global peace, without hate , despair or evil. This is thought to be an age of harmony, were mankind puts aside it’s differences and unites.

Question 23

Two beliefs in Judaism about the Divine presence/ Shekhinah

Answer 23

• When the liberated Jews followed Moses into the desert, they carried around a small tent like structure. This was believed to house the sacred presence of God .
• During their journey through the desert, Jews were led by a pillar of fire, believed to be God’s spirit. For Jews, this is seen as a sign of his manifested glory and power.
• God’s divine presence
• God’s manifested glory ( God’s glory shown )
• God ‘s presence on earth
• The spirit full body of God
• A sign of his power and glory illustrated
• Prophet, e.g Isiah referred to God’s presences in the temple
• Described as a pillar of fire or cloud, leading Jews out of Egypt, from slavery
• Some believe it is the feminine presence of God. It’s a feminine word.