9) Judaism: Beliefs And Teachings

Question 1

What is the nature of god?

Answer 1

God as 1.

Question 2

What does monotheistic mean?

Answer 2

A religion which believes that there is only 1 God.

Question 3

What is the Shema?

Answer 3

Jewish prayer affirming belief in the 1 God, found in the Torah.

Question 4

Which word do some Jews prefer not to write?

Answer 4

God.

Question 5

What do Jews use instead of God as a sign of respect?

Answer 5

G-d.

Question 6

What do Jews do to any book containing the Hebrew name of God when it is too old to be used?

Answer 6

It is kept in special place in synagogue before being properly buried in a Jewish cemetery.

Question 7

What is the Torah?

Answer 7

1: The 5 books of Moses, which form 1st section of the Tenakh (Jewish Bible).
2: Jewish written law).

Question 8

What is meant by ‘creator’?

Answer 8

1 who makes things + brings things about.

Question 9

What is meant by an ‘Orthodox Jew’?

Answer 9

Jews who emphasise importance of following the laws + guidance in Torah; believe Torah was was given directly by God to Moses, so should be followed as closely as possible.

Question 10

What is meant by an ‘Ultra-Orthodox Jew’?

Answer 10

Jews who are even more committed than Orthodox Jews to strictly follow the laws + guidance in the Torah.

Question 11

What is ‘Shabbat’?

Answer 11

Jewish holy day of week; day of spiritual renewal starting shortly before sunset on Friday + continuing to sunset on Saturday.

Question 12

What is meant by ‘omnipotent’?

Answer 12

Almighty, having unlimited power; a quality of God.

Question 13

What is meant by ‘omniscient’?

Answer 13

Knowing everything; a quality of God.

Question 14

What is meant by ‘omnipresent’?

Answer 14

Being everywhere at all times; a quality of God.

Question 15

What do Jews believe that in order for God to have the ability and power to create the universe, it is essential that he has?

Answer 15

Characteristics that no other living being has.

Question 16

What are these characteristics that Jews believe God has that no other living being has?

Answer 16

Omnipresent: being everywhere at all times.
Omniscient: all knowing.
Omnipotent: all powerful.

Question 17

What do Jews believe that God is the creator of?

Answer 17

Everything, no concept in Judaism of evil having been created by the devil.

Question 18

Why do Jews believe God created evil?

Answer 18

As God is the only creator, He must have created evil Himself. They believe that in order for people to have free will, they have to be able to make their own choices between good + bad.

Question 19

What do Jews not seem to realise?

Answer 19

Humans created their own interpretation of good + evil which means that all good + evil are, are point of views.

Question 20

What do some find it difficult to accept that God created?

Answer 20

The potential for evil- particularly when remembering events such as the Holocaust, when Jews faced extreme persecution- but considered to be necessary consequence of giving humans free will.

Question 21

What do Jews believe that God provided sufficient amounts of to feed and provide for all species?

Answer 21

Resources.

Question 22

What are the ‘Ten Commandments’?

Answer 22

Ten laws given by God to Moses over 3000 years ago.

Question 23

What is meant by ‘mitzvot’?

Answer 23

Jewish rules or commandments.

Question 24

What are the ‘mitzvah’?

Answer 24

The singular version of mitzvot.

Question 25

What is meant by 'merciful'?

Answer 25

The quality of God that shows compassion or forgiveness to humans, even though he has the power to punish them.

Question 26

What do Jews not seem to understand?

Answer 26

God is all knowing if he uses his 'unlimited power' to punish us he may regret it, or he may know that using it out of anger has the same effect as misusing it.

Question 27

What is meant by 'Shekhinah'?

Answer 27

The divine presence of God.

Question 28

What is the 'Temple'?

Answer 28

The centre of Jewish worship at the time of Jesus; the meeting place between God + the priest.

Question 29

What did several of the prophets including Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel, make references to?

Answer 29

The presence of God in the temple. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I beheld my Lord seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of His robe filled the Temple. Seraphs stood in attendance on Him.”(Isaiah 6:1-2).

Question 30

What is meant by 'judgement'?

Answer 30

The belief that God judges a person based on their actions, + either rewards or punishes them as a result.

Question 31

What is meant by 'resurrection'?

Answer 31

Rising from the dead or returning to life.

Question 32

What is meant by 'rabbi'?

Answer 32

A Jewish religious leader + teacher.

Question 33

What does the word 'Messiah' mean?

Answer 33

'Anointed one'; a leader of the Jews who is expected to live on earth at some time in the future.

Question 34

What was the word 'Messiah' originally used in the Tenakh to refer to?

Answer 34

The kings of Israel.

Question 35

What is meant by the 'Messianic age'?

Answer 35

Future time of global peace when everyone will want to become closer to God, possibly through the intervention of the Messiah.

Question 36

Who is expected to be the Messiah?

Answer 36

A descendant of of Saul's successor, King David.

Question 37

During what will this expected Messiah rule the Jews?

Answer 37

During the 'Messianic age.

Question 38

What do Orthodox Jews believe that there is in every descendant?

Answer 38

That in every generation there is a descendant of King David who has the potential to be the Messiah.

Question 39

What do Orthodox Jews believe will happen if the Jews are worthy of redemption, and there is a descendant of Kind David with the potential to be the Messiah?

Answer 39

This person will be directed by God to become the redeemer and will rule over all humanity with kindness + justice.

Question 40

What do Orthodox Jews believe that the descendant of King David with the potential to be the Messiah will do?

Answer 40

Uphold the law of the Torah. Will rule over all humanity with kindness + justice. Will be ultimate teacher of the Torah. Will usher in world peace + unite humanity as 1. Will rebuild the temple in Jerusalem + gather all Jews back to land of Israel.

Question 41

What is a 'covenant'?

Answer 41

An agreement; in Judaism refers to agreement between individuals, often on behalf of Jews, + God.

Question 42

What are the 'Ten Commandments'?

Answer 42

Ten laws given by God to Moses over 3000 years ago.

Question 43

What is meant by 'justice'?

Answer 43

Bringing about what is right + fair, according to law, or making up for a wrong that has been committed.

Question 44

What is meant by 'healing the world'?

Answer 44

Being involved in God's work to sustain the world; can involve work to increase social justice or to preserve the environment.

Question 45

What is meant by 'charity'?

Answer 45

1) Providing help + love to those in need. | 2) Organisation that does not make a profit, whose main purpose is to help those in need.

Question 46

What is meant by 'kindness to others'?

Answer 46

Positive, caring actions that should be shown to all living things.

Question 47

What is the 'Talmud'?

Answer 47

Commentary by rabbis on the Torah- consists of Mishnah +Gemara together in 1 collection.