Judaism - Jewish beliefs

Question 1

What does Deuteronomy teach about Gods oneness

Answer 1

“There is no God besides me”

Question 2

In what ways can Gods oneness be shown

Answer 2

• All Jews kiss their fingers and touch a mehzuza in a household
• Jewish men bind tefillin to their arms and foreheads
• Jews think of humans, plants, animals, rock formations and so on as unified as they are all creation of one God

Question 3

How does Genesis show Gods Creativity

Answer 3

The first words of the Torah are “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis)

Question 4

How does Genesis show that God gave humans control over the earth

Answer 4

“Rule over the fish…and the birds…and over every living creature”

Question 5

Why is God the creator important for Jews

Answer 5

• Creation is a gift from God and therefore Jews should look after the creations as God intended
• As God created the universe, life must have a meaning and a purpose
• All of Gods creations are good, so Jews respect Gods creations

Question 6

What does Deuteronomy say about God as a law giver

Answer 6

“obey carefully all the words of this law”

Question 7

Why is believing in God the law giver important for Jews

Answer 7

• Gods laws make up the the halakha which is the basis of how Jews should live their lives
• Following Gods laws gives purpose to Jews lives
• Gods laws are part of the covenant with Moses which is the basis of Judaism

Question 8

What does Isiah say about God the judge

Answer 8

“For the Lord is our judge…He will save us”

Question 9

Why is belief in God the judge important for Jews

Answer 9

• The good are rewarded and the evil are punished
• Jews know that there will be punishments for those who don’t keep Gods laws
• There will be rewards for those who keep Gods laws

Question 10

How is the shekhinah shown in the Torah

Answer 10

“My presence will go with you and i will give you rest” Exodus

Question 11

How do Orthodox Jews understand the shekhinah

Answer 11

Orthodox Jews base themselves on the teachings of Maimonides who describes the shekhinah to be light between God and the world

Question 12

How do other Jews understand the shekhinah

Answer 12

• Some Jews believe it is just means God

Question 13

How do Reform Jews understand the shekhinah

Answer 13

Reform Jews believe the shekhinah represents the feminine attributes of God as shekhinah is a feminine word in Hebrew

Question 14

Why is the shekhinah important for Jews

Answer 14

• The shekhinah tells Jews that Gods presence is so holy that they should always have the largest amount of respect for God
• The Tenakh says that the shekhinah is at the Temple
• The shekhinah teaches that Gods presence is always in the world so Jews may experience the shekhinah at any time

Question 15

What do Jews believe is the purpose of the Messiah

Answer 15

• To rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
• Unite all the people of the world
• Establish Gods kingdom

Question 16

What is the nature of the Messiah

Answer 16

• He will be a human and not a divine being
• He will be a descendant of King David
• He will be a man with great leadership qualities

Question 17

What does Isaiah say about the Messiah

Answer 17

” The Messiah will rule wisely and justly”

Question 18

What are three beliefs about the Messianic age

Answer 18

• There will be peace among all nations
• There will be no sin or evil as everyone will obey all the commandments
• There will be justice and prosperity across the world

Question 19

Why is the Mosaic Covenant important for Jews today

Answer 19

• The covenant has become the basis of Judaism
• The covenant tells Jews that they have a duty to fulfil all the 613 mitzvot
• The Tenakh teaches that by keeping the mitzvot, Jew will have succeeded in making everyone in the world believe in God

Question 20

What does Genesis say about the Abrahamic Covenant

Answer 20

“I will make you a great nation and i will bless you”

Question 21

Give a SOWAA about circumcision

Answer 21

“Every male among you shall be circumcised” Genesis

Question 22

Why is the Abrahamic Covenant important for Jews today

Answer 22

• Most baby boys are circumcised when they are 8 days old
• Liberal and Reform Jews may not circumcise their children but would rather host brit shalmon ceremonies instead
• There is an increasing popularity in the ceremony brit chayim which is used for baby girls in Liberal or Reform Jew families

Question 23

What does Deuteronomy say about the sanctity of life

Answer 23

“I put to death, and i bring to life”

Question 24

What does the Talmud say about pikuach nefesh

Answer 24

“for the person who obeys them will live by them”

Question 25

Give a SOWAA about God creating humans in his image

Answer 25

"So God created man in his own image" Genesis

Question 26

What is the Orthodox view about the mitzvot

Answer 26

The mitzvot are very important for Orthodox Jews because they cover every part of life, which means that for Orthodox Jews there is a right and wrong way of doing everything

Question 27

What is the Liberal/Reform view on the mitzvot

Answer 27

The mitzvot are not as important for them as they believe they did not come to Moses directly from God. Therefore they believe it is up to personal choice

Question 28

What are the different beliefs about resurrection

Answer 28

- Some believe it will come during the Messianic age - Others believe it will come after the Messianic age - Some believe only the righteous will be resurrected

Question 29

What are the differences about the nature of judgment

Answer 29

- Some rabbis have taught that judgement will be based on behaviour alone - Maimonides taught that all good people will go to heaven - Others have taught that judgement will be based on belief and behaviour

Question 30

What are the differences about heaven and hell

Answer 30

- Some rabbis have taught that only the completely righteous will go to heaven while ordinary people will go to hell - Some rabbis have taught that the Jewish hell is more like purgatory - Some rabbis have taught that only evil souls will go to hell

Question 31

Why is belief in live after death important for Jews

Answer 31

- It is the teaching of the Talmud - It is one of the Thirteen Principles of Faith - Many Jews believe that belief in life after death gives their lives purpose