Judaism

• God as One : Monotheism 


  • God is one. Jews believe there is only one God.
  • God is invisible + an eternal being.
  • Only one God worthy of worship
  • God is the source of all Jewish morality, beliefs + values
• The Shema prayer - declaration of Monotheism 


  • An important Jewish prayer that is repeated three times daily. This is the declaration of Jewish faith, affirming belief that God is One.
  • 'The Lord is One' - Deuteronomy 6:4-9
• God as Creator 


  • Jews believe that God made everything in the universe.
  • Genesis 1:1-3 'In the beginning, God made the heavens and the earth'
• How do Jews believe God created the world?

  Through Ex Nihilo

  • God had the omnipotence to make the word out of nothing, simply from the use of his voice.
  • 'God said let there be light;and there was light'
• Opposing views on creation by Jews -

  • Some Jews believe that the creation accounts in genesis are true are actually happened. Created the world in 6 days, rested on the seventh.
  • Some Jews believe that the creation accounts are not literal, but are examples of what could have happened.
• Explain two Jewish beliefs about God as One :

  1. God rules everything and God is omnipotent.
  2. God is the sole creator and the source of everything that exists.
• God as Lawgiver 


  1. God gave Jews the mitzvot, which are 613 commandments that Jews are expected to abide by throughout their daily lives.
  2. These laws teach Jews how to use their free will correctly, and guide them on how to establish good relationships with God and man.
  3. To be righteous and good-natured
• God as Lawgiver - quote 


  'Love the lord your God and keep his commandments' Deuteronomy 11:1
• God as Judge 


  • God will punish or reward people depending on how well they followed the mitzvot.
  • 'Do not worship any others God' decalogue
• Jews do not have a central belief on the afterlife as..


  • Jews do not have a central, concrete life on life after death as they believe they do not have a messiah as of now.
• Olam Ha-ze : Some Jews believe.. 


  .. to focus on life here and now. This means to worry about God's judgement in this life and to not worry about judgement upon death. This means to be righteous and good to others on earth.
• Olam Ha-ba : Some Jews believe.. 


  The world to come. Many Jews believe in a life after death where souls will be judged.
• Messianic Age 


  • When Jesus returns, and restores all peace and harmony in the world and Israel.
  • Judaism will be the central religion that everyone follows.
• Gehenna

  • Jews believe that is where those who are immoral and punished by God, are sent to.
  • A place of punishment.
• Gan Eden :

  • A state of paradise and eternal happiness.
  • Those who lived moral and righteous lives (e.g obeying the mitzvot), are rewarded with Gan Eden.
• Sheol 


  • A place of waiting where souls are cleansed
  • Gives Jews a sense of hope and relief
• Two Jewish beliefs about resurrection :

  1. Belief in physical resurrection. Therefore, body must be buried and not cremated.
  2. Some Jews believe in spiritual resurrection. The soul receives a spiritual body.
• Role of Messiah : Jewish belief 


  1. A future leader that will rule over humanity with kindness and justice, and to come by Messianic Age.
• 3 qualities that Jews believe that a Messiah should have :

  1. Be the perfect rabbi of God's laws
  2. Be a great political leader - inspirational, just + good
  3. Bringer of peace in the world, uniting harmony - Israel
• Quotes on qualities of Messiah : 


  1. 'He will judge between the nations' Isaiah 2:4
  2. 'He will swallow up death forever' Isaiah 25:8
• Why Jews do not believe Jesus was the Messiah?

  1. Not a descendant of David as he is a product of virgin birth. Jesus had no biological father.
  2. Did not fulfill messianic prophecies stated in Jewish bible, such as to gather all the Jews in Israel (Isaiah 43)
• Jews believe the Messianic Age is based on..


  ..Jews believe it is based on their actions on earth. That God is ready when they are.
• Prophet 1 : Abraham and his Importance


  1. Founding father of Judaism, as God promised Abraham many descendants. They believe Abraham to be their spiritual father.
  2. Circumcision Abraham and his household, in order to honour the covenant. This encourages male Jews.
• Prophet 2 : Moses and His Importance

  1. Moses received the decalogue on the Mount of Sinai. This is the foundation of the torah, and a guidance for Jews.
  2. liberated the Israelites from slavery, and enabled them to cross the sea.
  3. Led them safely through the wilderness.
• Shekinah :

  • The eternal presence of God on earth.
  • Jews believe that God is active on earth.
  • evidenced by the ner tamid, eternal light, in synagogues.
  • On the journey through the wilderness, Jews brought the tabernacle, a portable temple. God was with them.
• Free will + Mitzvot

  • Jews believe that they are free moral beings that have the ability to make their own decisions. Therefore, they have moral responsibilities.
  • Jews believe God's gift of free will helps them make choices that please God. Obeying the mitzvot is the right way to use free will.
• Sanctity of Life definition : 


  1. All life is holy as it is created by God. Therefore, life should not be misused or abused.
• Genesis 1:27-28

  'Let us make mankind in our image, according to our likeness'

  Made in Imago Dei, meaning we are sacred, holy + worthy of protection. And deserving of innate dignity.
• Sanctity of Life argument : God is the giver of Life 


  1. God can only decide when life should end so any action that ends in death is considered a sin and undermining God's authority.

  Because of the belief in Sanctity of Life, active euthanasia, abortion + murder is forbidden.
• Pikuach Nefesh + Sanctity of Life 


  Pikuach Nefesh aligns with the belief of sanctity of life, because all life is sacred and we have a duty to preserve holy life.
• Pikuach Nefesh :

  1. Obligation to save a life, even if this breaks Jewish Law.
  2. God gave us rules on how to live a better life, so if breaking a rule to save a life is necessary, it is okay.
  3. This may be working on the sabbath IN ORDER to save a life.
• 3 ways to do Pikuach Nefesh:

  1. A doctor could go to work.
  2. You could drive your car to take someone to the hospital.
• Talmud Quote on allowing Pikuach Nefesh :

  'The Sabbath has been given to you, not you to the Sabbath'
• Mitzvot Importance - Ten Commandments

  1. Teaches how to have a good relationship with God - first 4 commandments between God and man.
  2. Teaches how to have a good relationship with man - other 6 between man and man.
• Using free will for good actions leads to..

  .. A life of fulfillment

  Will bring you closer to God

  God will judge you well
• Using free will incorrectly :

  Distance from God

  God will not judge you well in the afterlife
• Key moral beliefs

  Jews believe they have moral obligations on earth, to sustain God's 'good' creation.
• Chesed

  Kindness to others

  • Positive, caring actions which should be shown to all loving things.
• Tzedakah

  Justice

  Bringing about what is right and fair, by making up for the wrong committed.
• Tikkun Olam

  'healing the world'

  Being involved in God's work to sustain God's 'good' creation.

  Charity work, helping the environment, praying