Covenant and mitzvot

• Covenant


  An agreement between two or more parties that benefits each party
• Covenant


  • It can be thought of as a deal where both sides have responsibilities or duties that must be upheld if the covenant is to be considered binding
  • It is a commitment of love and creates a relationship that is different from that of a contract
• Covenants in Judaism can only be established and sealed by an oath
• The oath is so important in a covenant that the word "oath" is sometimes used as a synonym for covenant
• Covenant with God


  An everlasting covenant (brit olam) and describes the view that God will never break his covenant with the Jewish people
• Covenant


  It means that Jews believe they have a special relationship with God and means that Jews have a relationship with each other
• Covenant


  The relationship contributes to the Jewish identity and encourages them to examine who they are in relation to God
• Covenant


  It means that everyone in the community is a member of the covenant and important to God, and therefore, all Jews should be important to each other
• Covenant


  It also helps Jews to focus on their obligation to live as our tradition teaches, and the way God wants people to live: generously, compassionately and with concern for justice and the welfare of others
• Covenant made with Abraham
• Abraham


  • He was the first Jewish prophet who received the first covenant from God and took God's message to the people
  • It was through Abraham that the idea of the Promised Land, a homeland for Jewish people, was created
• Three main parts of the covenant between God and Abraham

  • God called Abraham and his family to the new land of Canaan, often referred to as the Promised Land
  • God promised Abraham he would make a great nation for him
  • God promised to bless Abraham and his family
• Abraham was born in the city of Ur (located in the country now called Iraq) at a time when worshipping idols was common
• Genesis 12:1–2: 'Go forth from your native land and from your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, And I will bless you'
• God instructed Abraham to leave his home and travel to Canaan, the Promised Land, which is today known as Israel
• God asked Abraham to follow his rules and be a good example to others
• In return, God promised to give Abraham and his wife Sarah the child they both longed for and to name their descendants as his chosen people
• Abraham agreed that he and his descendants would obey and worship God and lead by example
• Genesis 17:11–14: '[Circumcision] shall be the mark of the covenant between Me and you… Throughout all generations, every male shall be circumcised when he is eight days old… The uncircumcised male… shall have his soul cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant'
• Abraham kept this covenant and his wife, Sarah, gave birth to their son, Isaac
• God chose Isaac to inherit the covenant directly from his father, and Isaac handed it on to his own son, Jacob
• Therefore Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are known as Israel's patriarchs
• As a sign of this continuing covenant, Jewish people perform the rite of circumcision of male babies eight days after they are born, in a ceremony called Brit Milah
• Moses is regarded as the greatest prophet in Judaism
• Jews believe that he too made an important covenant with God
• It is believed that Moses is the only person to have ever witnessed God face to face
• Moses delivered the words of God and received miracles sent by God
• Jews believe that God acted through Moses
• Exodus 3:11–15: '"Who am I to go to the pharaoh?" said Moses to God. "And how can I possibly get the Israelites out of Egypt?" "Because I will be with you" replied God'
• After Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt, he took them through the desert and disappeared up a mountain (Mount Sinai)
• This is when God revealed to Moses the 613 commandments that Jews are expected to follow, including the Ten Commandments
• Many Jews (mainly Orthodox Jews) also believe that Moses was given the Oral Torah, which was passed down by word of mouth to help people interpret the Written Torah
• This journey is remembered and celebrated at the festivals of Succoth and Pesach
• God promised to be with him in his role
• The Ten Commandments forbid

  • Idolatry
  • Blasphemy
  • Adultery
  • Stealing
  • Murder
  • Lying
  • Envy
• The Ten Commandments also tell Jews to remember the importance of God, to remember and keep the Sabbath day and to honour parents
• Each year there is a Mitzvah Day (Translated as "commandment"), on which Jews aim to make a positive impact on their local community
• The Ten Commandments


  • They act as a guide for Jews living today
  • Following the Ten Commandments is part of the covenant made at Mount Sinai, which applies to all Jews then and now
  • God will judge Jews on how well they have observed these commandments
  • Following the commandments helps Jews to become better people today
  • The commandments help Jews to treat other people with respect
  • The commandments guide Jews to love and worship God effectively
• Mitzvot


  Jewish people believe they have a special responsibility to follow God's laws or commandments (called mitzvot in Hebrew), because of the covenants they have made with him
• Maimonides, an influential rabbi, compiled a list of the 613 mitzvot. He wanted to provide a summary of Jewish law