Judaism Flashcards
(24 cards)
1
Q
Nature of Yahweh
A
- God is 1. Only He, the creator, should be worshipped.
- God is the Creator. He made everything in 6 days (Genesis 1)
- God is the Lawgiver. He provides a guide on how to live and laws to follow (10 Commandments)
- God Judges and Forgives all fairly. Follow his laws to have a good afterlife
- God is Omnipotent. He is all powerful, even beyond human limitations.
- God is Omniscient. He sees all, past, present, and future.
- God is a Protector, protecting those who worship him.
- God is Loyal and dedicated to believers
2
Q
Split nature of human beings
A
- Yetzer Tov is our moral conscience reminding us of God’s law
- Yetzer Hera is our selfish nature, the desire to satisfy personal needs without thinking of others
- We all need a little bit of Yetzer Hera to get good things
- YT and YH need to be balanced or there will be suffering
- Linked to free will as humans chose whether to follow YT or YH
3
Q
How YT and YH affect people
A
- try to channel YH towards constructive ends eg marriage, career
- study Torah to follow practices and control YT and YH
- God provides instructions eg mitzvot, Torah, to stop Jews from sinning and let them control YH
- Jews will try not to participate in YH actions eg gossip
4
Q
YT and YH - Positives
A
- explains why suffering exists
- explains why Jews suffered in the past
- explains why people are disobedient
- allows us to control suffering and evil through choice
- those who control their YH will be forgiven and return to God after death
5
Q
YT and YH - Negatives
A
- YH is hard to resist as humans are selfish
- why did God create YH if it was only going to bring suffering?
- the Jewish nation has already suffered eg holocaust
- those who don’t control YH are punished after death
6
Q
Sin
A
- Breaking any of the 613 mitzvot is a sin
- People are born morally neutral, but struggle with YH which can lead them to making bad choices with their free will
- There are two types of sin, those against God (eg breaking Shabbat) and those against others (eg lying). Those against others are seen as more serious as they harm the community
- Sin is either done deliberately, emotionally (in a moment of weakness), or unintentionally
- For it to be a sin, the person must know it’s wrong at the time
- Judaism emphasises seeking forgiveness from God and others for your sins
7
Q
How beliefs in Sin affect Jews
A
- makes them strive to follow God’s law
- they ask for repentance for their sins eg by asking God for forgiveness
- They seek forgiveness when they’ve wronged and forgive others who ask for forgiveness
- They accept the possibility of punishment from God for sins
- They seek atonement by helping others eg through charity
- They follow the mitzvot
8
Q
Rosh Hashanah
A
- Rosh Hashanah remembers Gods creation of the world and is also a day of judgement.
- It is considered to be the anniversary of the day that God created humans as described in Genesis 1
- Some Jews believe that on this day G-d weighs up and judges a persons actions over the past year deciding what their fortune for the rest of the year would be like.
- During this time, people focus on asking for forgiveness from others and from God, and they think about how they can improve in the coming year
9
Q
Yom Kippur
A
- Yom Kippur is the holiest day for
Jewish people, a time to say sorry to God for any mistakes or wrong things they’ve done over the past year. - People don’t eat or drink for 25 hours and spend the day praying, thinking about their actions, and asking for forgiveness.
- The day is about cleaning your heart from bad choices and promising to try to be better in the future.
- It’s a day for confessing sins and asking for forgiveness
10
Q
Jewish beliefs about the Exodus
A
- Israelites enslaved in Egypt: Suffering under Pharaoh’s harsh rule.
- Moses chosen by God: God speaks to Moses through a burning bush, telling him to free the Israelites.
- Pharaoh refuses to free them: Moses and Aaron demand freedom, but Pharaoh resists.
- Ten plagues: God sends plagues to punish Egypt, including frogs, darkness, and the death of the firstborn sons.
- Passover: Israelites are spared by marking their doors with lamb’s blood.
- Freedom from Egypt: Pharaoh lets them go; they leave in a hurry.
- Crossing the Red Sea: God parts the sea for the Israelites; the Egyptian army drowns when it closes.
- Receiving the Ten Commandments: At Mount Sinai, God gives laws for the Israelites to follow.
- Journey to the Promised Land: A 40-year journey in the wilderness due to struggles with faith and obedience.
11
Q
How might beliefs about the Exodus affect Jews
A
- The Exodus shows Jewish people that God is powerful and cares for them.
- It teaches them to trust in God and be thankful for their freedom.
- It inspires them to help others and stand up against injustice, like God freeing the Israelites.
- The story strengthens their connection to Jewish traditions, especially celebrating Passover.
- Passover helps them remember the story and pass down their faith to future generations.
12
Q
Abrahamic Covenant
A
A covenant is an agreement between God and Humans
God’s side:
* He would give Abraham decedents who would become a great nation
* Give them their own land
* Protect and look after his people
Abraham’s side:
* Abraham and his descendent had to worship God and only God
* Move to the land of caanan
* All males had to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant.
13
Q
Ways Jews keep the covenant:
Brit Milah
A
Brit Milah:
* Baby boys are circumcised on the 8th day by a Mohel.
* at home or in the Synagogue, and the father must be present.
* An empty chair is provided for Elijah who is believed to at the ceremony.
* The baby may be presented for circumcision by the mother or grandmother and is placed on the lap of a specially chosen person - the Sandek.
* After the ceremony the child receives his Hebrew name, and a couple of drops of wine are placed on his tongue
14
Q
Ways Jews keep the covenant:
Shabbat
A
- Jews will rest from their work from sundown on Friday until Saturday evening. Particular kinds of work are not done, for example, ‘kindling a fire’, ‘striking with a hammer’
- Today this includes things like turning on a light or a cooker, or driving a car
- Jews will actively remember the importance of Shabbat - that God created the world and rested on the 7th day, and that He brought them out of slavery in Egypt. (Marks available for describing details of a typical Shabbat).
15
Q
Mosaic Covenant
A
- The Mosaic Covenant is the agreement between God and the Israelites, given to Moses on Mount Sinai, where God promised to protect them if they obeyed His laws.
- The core of the covenant is the Ten Commandments, which provide moral and religious rules for Jewish people to follow.
- The 6th Commandment, ‘to keep the Sabbath holy’ was the physical sign of this covenant.
- God promised to bless the Israelites with land, protection, and prosperity if they followed His laws.
- If the Israelites broke the covenant by worshipping other gods or disobeying the laws, they would face punishment such as exile or hardship.
- The covenant shaped Jewish identity and laws, as part of God relationship with His people.
16
Q
Judgement
A
- There isn’t one universal view on judgment in Judaism. Beliefs vary widely.
- Some believe God judges each soul at death, deciding its eternal fate.
- Others believe they are divided into three groups: the righteous, the wicked, and those in between.
- Some think of Gan Eden (paradise) and Gehinnom (punishment) as physical places.
- Others see them metaphorically, with the righteous feeling close to God and the wicked experiencing shame.
- Some associate judgment with Rosh Hashanah, with decisions sealed at Yom Kippur.
- The Torah tends to emphasizes immediate reward and punishment in life rather than future judgment.
17
Q
How beliefs in judgement affect Jewss
A
- encourages them to do the right thing
- encourages them to keep with Jewish traditions to avoid punishment eg Shabbat
- reminds them to apologise and forgive others
- even if things seem unfair now, fair judgement is coming
- encourages them to help others
18
Q
Messiah
A
Messiah means anointed one
The Messiah will be someone who:
* Obeys Jewish law & observes all commandments.
* Is charismatic and inspires others to follow their example.
* Wins military battles in Israel.
* Judges fairly and makes righteous decisions.
* Is a human being, not a God or other supernatural being.
The Messiah must arrive before the year 6000 from the time of creation. In Orthodox Jewish belief, the Hebrew calendar dates to the time of creation, making this correspond to the year 2240 on our calendar.
19
Q
How beliefs about the Messiah affect Jews
A
- Hope for Peace - Many Jews believe the Messiah will bring a better, fairer world.
- Keeping Traditions - Some follow Jewish teachings to prepare for the
Messiah. - Different Beliefs - Some see the Messiah as a person, others as a goal to work toward.
- Faith and Connection - The belief in the Messiah helps Jews stay connected to God.
20
Q
Olam HaBa - The world to come
A
- Olam HaBa is a time of peace and closeness to God, in either heaven
or a transformed world. - People are judged by their actions; the good are rewarded in Olam HaBa.
- Some believe the dead will return when the Messiah comes before
Olam HaBa. - The Messiah will bring peace and prepare people for Olam HaBa.
- Some see Olam HaBa as real, others as the impact of good deeds.
- Judaism teaches that doing good now is most important.
21
Q
How beliefs about Olam HaBa affect Jews
A
- Encourages Goodness - Jews strive to be kind and follow God’s commandments.
- Offers Hope - Belief in a peaceful future brings comfort.
- Shapes Practices - Prayer, study, and good deeds help prepare for Olam
HaBa. - Different Views - Some see it as real, others as the lasting impact of
good actions.
22
Q
Living according to the Torah
A
- Guide for Life - The Torah teaches Jews how to live, including rules about prayer, food, kindness, and justice.
- Each week, a different section of the Torah is read in the synagogue so the whole Torah is completed in a year. It is written on a scroll and treated with great respect.
- Studied at Home and School - Jews of all ages learn from the Torah to understand their faith and history.
- Many Jewish prayers and religious celebrations, like Passover and Yom Kippur, are based on the Torah’s teachings
- Follow kosher food laws
23
Q
Effects of living by the Torah
A
- Guides Life - Sets rules for prayer, food, rest, and behaviour.
- Strengthens Faith - Deepens connection to God and Judaism.
- Builds Community - Shared traditions unite Jewish people.
- Provides Morals - Encourages honesty, kindness, and fairness.
- Can Be Challenging - Some rules may be hard in modern life.
- Gives Purpose - Following God’s commandments brings meaning.
24
Q
Worship
A
- Synagogue Worship - Includes communal prayers, Torah readings, and key prayers. Often led by a rabbi or cantor.
- Home Worship - Daily prayers, observing Shabbat with blessings and meals, and following traditions like kosher laws.
- Orthodox follow traditional practices (e.g., separate seating in synagogue), while Reform allow more modern adaptations (e.g., mixed seating).
- Jewish Festivals - Worship is central to festivals like Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Atonement), and Passover, which include prayers and rituals.
- Purpose of Worship - Strengthens faith, connects the community, reinforces Jewish identity, and provides moral guidance.
