Component 3: Jewish Beliefs Key Questions Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are examples of Shekinah from the Torah?
The Pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire from the Exodus showing how God protects and nurtures his people/ The burning bush when Moses spoke to God showing how Jews have a personal relationship with God as he guides them
Why is Shekinah important today?
Divine presence of God is important for Jews because they mean they have a personal relationship with God/ Many feel that when the candles are lit for Shabbat the presence of God (Shekinah) is welcomed into the home
Why is Abraham important?
Apart from being the father and ‘founder’, he was also chosen by God to establish the Abrahamic covenants of blessing and redemption/ descendants and promised land.
What are Orthodox views about the afterlife?
The Hebrew for cemetery translates as the ‘house of life’. References to Sheol in the Torah have been interpreted by some to refer to a physical place of the afterlife/ Some argue that the resurrection of the dead will occur during the Messianic Age/ God is seen as a Judge of life on Earth.
What are Reform Jewish views about the afterlife?
Many believe that what is important is living a good life now in preparation for the world to come./ There is no point discussing it as the ways of God are not for humans to understand/ No specific teaching in the Torah about the afterlife/ The present life on Earth is considered as important- thus the importance of Pikuach Nefesh.
The promised land
God calls Abraham and his family to a new lands
Abraham and his family must be faithful and trust God
God will give them a new home to live in
The descendants
God promises he will make a great nation from Abraham
Abraham and his family must be faithful and trust God
God will bless them, give them many descendants
Blessing and redemption
God promises to bless Abraham and his family
Abraham must circumcise every male in the family before 8 days old.
God will bless and protect them.
God will cut off those who are not circumcised.
Moses covenant
God calls Moses to free the Jews, Moses trusts and believes in God so God will always be with Moses
God promises to deliver the Jews to the promised land
Moses leads the Jews out of slavery
God leads them and gives the Jews the promised land
Moses receives the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai
God shows the Jews how to worship him and treat each other
What is the messianic age
The Messiah will bring a new era or age. This includes rebuilding the temple and an age of peace.
Orthodox: actual person, rule from Jerusalem, born from line of Abraham and David, just and fair
Reform: Not a real person, a time on earth, false Messiahs, brought by following mitzvot, the torah does not mention the Messiah directly
