covenant

• Abraham


  Founder of Judaism. Jews strive to follow his example. Made the first covenant with God.
• 1st part of Abraham's covenant with God.


  Abraham is told to go to the promised land where God will bless him and those who are kind to him.
• genesis 12: 1 - 3


  "The LORD had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you'".
• 2nd part of Abraham covenant


  God says he will give Abraham a very successful lineage.
• Genesis 15: 5 - 14


  "Look up at the sky and count the stars - if indeed you can count them."..."So shall your offspring be".
• 3rd of the Abraham covenant


  All men and Abraham should be circumcised as a sign of the covenant. Babies are circumcised at 8 days old.
• Genesis 17: 11 - 14

  "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you".
• The story of Abraham teaches Jews today about their ancestry and origin. It also shows that God is their protector and he will always be there for them.
• Exodus 20:1 - 16


  The ten commandments.
• Why did God give his people rules?

  So that they would be good people, to remind them of the covenant and to give guidance and order in order to live well.
• What is the most important commandment to Jews?

  To have no other god but God. Supported by the reciting of the SHEMA prayer - God is one.
• Why is the covenant important to Orthodox Jews?

  Gives binding laws to obey (MITZVOT).
• Why is the covenant important to Reform Jews?

  Gives a clear outline to God's people on how to live as Jews.
• Why is the covenant important to Secular Jews?

  Helps them trace their ancestry.
• The covenant is important to Jews as it enables them to live a halakhic life.
• The promised land

  All jews believe that Israel is the promised land. Some Jews do not recognise the state of Israel as the promised land as they believe that humans cannot define it and/or they have no right to the land.
• The chosen people

  Some Jews keep themselves separate from other people to preserve the pure relationship between them and God. Others consider being chosen a great responsibility. "I have chosen you therefore I will punish you for all of your sins".
• Orthodox and Progressive on circumcision

  All men are circumcised - Genesis 16 - failure to be circumcised will cause one to be cut off from God's community.
• A small minority of Reform jews do not see circumcision as necessary. Some say it conflicts with the TORAH's prohibition on marking the body - "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh".