Judaism - Principal Beliefs (Yr 11) Flashcards
lanie (47 cards)
What is Abraham’s covenant with God?
Abraham’s covenant with God was the first time that society had seen the concept of a relationship with a god that was more than just transactional and focused on a personal relationship with a person who was chosen specifically by God.
What is a covenant?
An agreement made between mankind and God.
What is the Hebrew term for covenant?
Brit
Outline the life of Abraham?
A man named Abram is called by God to “Leave country, kindred and father’s house” for a country that he would be shown.
God promises Abram “I shall bless you and make your name famous; You are to be a blessing.”
Abram was 75 years old when he took his wife Serai and all their possessions and left for the Land of Canaan which is the modern-day location of the state of Israel.
God comes to Abram again and makes a second promise that his “descendants would number as many as the stars in the sky”
Abram has a son with Hagar, a servant girl of Serai. This son’s name is Ishmael.
At this time God changes Abram’s name to Abraham. God also changed Serai’s name to Sarah and promised that she would give birth to a son.
In this covenant Abraham is called to ”walk in the presence of God and be blameless”.
Abraham is commanded that he and his descendants must keep the Covenant with God throughout the ages and that circumcision is to be the sign of this Covenant.
God eventually grants a son to Abram by Sarah. His name is Isaac.
Later God calls Abraham to take his son Isaac to the land of Moriah and offer him as a holocaust
Abraham is prepared to carry out the execution, but God prevents this from happening by sending an angel to stop Abraham and providing a sacrificial ram instead.
Describe the Covenant with the Patriarchs, including the promises of a People and a Land
The covenant was passed down from Abraham to his son Isaac, who in turn passed it to his son Jacob (Israel). This denotes the passing of the sacred relationship with God through the patriarchs.
Jacob was to be known as Israel, after he wrestled all night with an angel - the name Israel means ‘contender with God’ (Genesis 32).
Jacob had twelve sons who in turn became the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel (Genesis 35:16-27).
The youngest of the twelve sons was Joseph who ultimately became a chief advisor to the Pharaoh in Egypt. His story resulted in the Hebrews coming to reside in Egypt and is the precursor to the story of Moses and the Exodus (Genesis 37-50).
Outline the story of the Exodus?
At this time Moses is working as a shepherd for his father in law. One day as he’s tending the flock, God appears to him in the form of a burning bush.
God gives Moses the mission to go to Pharaoh and tell him to set the Israelites free.
As the encounter proceeds, the name of God is revealed to Moses. This name is regarded as sacred in the Jewish tradition and is not spoken out of reverence for God.
Moses returns to Egypt and with his brother Aaron petitions Pharaoh to set the Israelites free.
When Pharaoh rejects their request, God sends nine Plagues to try to persuade him to change his mind.
When Pharaoh refuses after the ninth plague, God sends the final plague, in which the angel of the Lord brought death to every firstborn in Egypt. To avoid this the Hebrews were to paint their door frames with the blood of a sacrificial lamb.This event becomes known as the Passover.
Pharaoh ultimately relents, however, as the Israelites are leaving he pursues them to the Red Sea.
God destroys the Egyptian army in the waters while the Israelite people pass through to freedom from slavery.
Outline the story of the giving of the Law at Sinai, including the Ten Commandments?
Moses sees God face to face on Mt Sinai. It is here that he receives the 10 commandments, which are also known as the Decalogue. These Commandments were given to Moses in the form of the Torah.
The ten commandments are the fundamental rules by which Jewish people are called to live their lives. They provide guidance on how to relate to God and to others, and help adherents to live a morally just life.
What is Modern Judaism?
Is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law with the secular, modern world.
What does Modern Judaism consist of?
- Orthodox Judaism
- Conservative Judaism
- Progressive Judaism
What is Orthodox Judaism?
Orthodox Judaism is the most similar form of Judaism to traditional belief and practice. Orthodox Jews believe that the covenant between God and the Israelite people was the moment that the whole Torah (written and oral law)(including the Halakhah) was given to Moses.
What are the two categories the Orthodox Jews fall under?
- ultra-orthodox - see that the continuation of the Jewish race hinges upon the strict separation from secular society.
- modern-orthodox Jews - seek to keep with the traditional requirements of Jewish law but still engage with society.
What are the unique features of Orthodox Jews?
- Orthodox Judaism is generally characterised by strict adherence to the mitzvot, as it is seen as the direct word of God.
- Application of strict dietary rules, ritual observances to everyday life.
- Adherence to all ethical guidelines prescribed by the Torah and the Halakha
- Separation of men and women during temple services.
- Temple services are held in Hebrew.
What is Conservative Judaism?
Conservative Judaism arose as a response to early reform/progressive Judaism. While being more involved with the contemporary society they still feel that the oral law is important and that Jewish people should be bound to adhere to the Halakha (ritual law). Conservative Judaism is often seen as a ‘middle ground’ between Orthodox and Progressive Judaism.
What are the unique features of Conservative Judaism?
- Services are held in the local vernacular.
- Men and women are seated together during worship
- Organs used in services
- Holds to the importance of the land of Israel and the continuation of the Jewish tradition. This belief leads many conservative Jews to agree with Zionist ideals.
What is Progressive Judaism?
Progressive Judaism arose as a response to modern philosophical movements within society, as certain parts of Jewish society saw a need to integrate with contemporary society.
What are the unique features of Progressive Judaism?
- Religious services are held in local vernacular rather than Hebrew.
- Men and Women sit together during worship.
- Organs are often used in temple services.
- Recently progressive Jewish groups have pushed for greater female involvement, for example looking to ordain female Rabbis.
- With greater engagement in society reform Judaism looks to engage with others in society through social justice initiatives
What are the principal beliefs (PB)?
- Belief in a single God who is the creator and ruler of the universe
- The concept of a moral law prescribed by God
- The idea of the Covenant
What is the principal belief of one God (PB)?
- Maimonides(1135-1204 CE) drew up 13 articles of faith which are the basic components of Jewish faith. They are:
1.God is creator
2.God is one
3.God is incorporeal(without a bodily or material form)
4.God is eternal
5.God alone is to be worshipped
6.God has spoken through the prophets
7.Moses was the greatest prophet
up to 13
-The Shema
What do the first 5 articles of faith relate to? Include QUOTES
- The nature of God is transcendent (Ultimate reality that exists beyond our world), immanent(An indwelling constant reality, God is incorporated(no form) etc.
- “I am your lord, who brough you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other Gods before me.(Exodus 20:2-3)
- “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below”(Deuteronomy 5:8)
How does The Shema emphasise God’s oneness? Include QUOTE
God’s oneness is emphasised in the Jewish prayer, the Shema(“Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, The Lord is one”)(Deuteronomy 6:4) and the morning prayer the Shacharit.This statement reflects Judaism’s monotheistic nature, which rejects any form of idolatry. God is regarded as being all powerful and the source of creation. It follows, therefore, that there can be no other gods. The Shema is a reaffirmation of God’s oneness that is recited twice daily, as is commanded in Deuteronomy.
What are the attributes of God (PB)?
- Concept of a creator God.
- God is Omnipresent-Always/ever/all
- God is Omniscient-All knowing
- God is Omnipotent - All powerful
Outline the attribute of God being ‘concept of a creator God’? Include QUOTE
- God is seen to be the creator of everything and thus has a hand in the events of the world, being involved in the history of his people. This idea of creation moves forward from a simple worship of a maker God, to respect for the world around the Jewish people because of the sanctity of God’s creation.
- The Jewish perspective of respect to all creation because of God’s work can be attributed to a famous saying by Hillel the Elder in the early 1st Century BCE: “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow. That is the entire Torah, and the rest is its commentary.” (Babylonian Talmud)
Outline the attribute of God is Omnipresent-Always/ever/all? Include QUOTE
-The belief that God is omnipresent is the belief that God is everywhere.
-The most explicit Jewish account of God’s intervention in human history is the Exodus where God liberates the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.
“The people of Israel groaned because they were slaves. They also cried out to God. Their cry for help went up to him. God heard their groans. He remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites with concern for them.” Exodus 2
Outline the attribute that God is Omniscient-All knowing? Include QUOTE
- Jewish adherents believe that God is all-knowing – this term is called ‘omniscience’.
The omniscience of God can be defined as the attribute of God whereby He knows all things possible and actual in one eternal act. - God is depicted as the God of knowledge in several places in the Hebrew sacred Texts. He is referred to as the ‘God of knowledge’, ‘the Lord who sees’, and is described as the keeper and giver of wisdom.
