Beliefs and teachings

• Tenakh - The Jewish scriptures
• Torah - 5 Books of Moses
• Nevi’im - the prophets
• Kevutim — the writings
• God is one

  ”there is no God besides me“ Deuteronomy 32

  ”the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below” Deuteronomy 4
• Shema - “The Lord our God is one, the Lord is One” Deuteronomy 6
• Importance of God’s oneness:

  • Jews have a container containing shema on their gates and doorframes “mezuzah” every time they pass one, they kiss their fingers and touch it
  • Jew men bind tefillin to foreheads and arm for prayer every morning
• God the law giver

  • 613 mitzvot
  • Some laws were given to Noah as part of God’s covenant
• Importance of God law giver

  • following God’s laws gives meaning and purpose to Jews lives
  • laws are part of covenant with Moses which is the basis of Judaism
  • shows God cares about them
• God the Judge

  • ”for the Lord is our judge” isaiah 33
  • “and he will judge the world in righteousness“ psalms 9
  • ”before the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth“ psalms 98
• Importance of God the judge

  • good are rewarded
  • evil are punished
  • world is protected from chaos
• Shekinah: describes the almightys prescence in the world
• How shekinah is shown in the Torah:

  • “My prescence will go with you and I will give you rest” Exodus 33 - guiding Moses through the wilderness to promise land
  • Divine prescence is associated with clouds - “the cloud covered it, the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai” Exodus 24
• The nature of the messiah:

  • Rebuild the temple in Jerusalem
  • Unite all peoples of the world
  • Establish God’s kingdom
• The messiah will be inspired by God

  ”the spirit of the Lord will rest upon him” Isiah 11
• Covenant at Mount Sinai:

  • ”out of all nations, you will be my treasured possession” Exodus 19
• Decalogue - 10 commandments
• Brit Milah- Covenant of circumcision
• Abrahamic covenant - father of many nations [ Genesis ]
• Pikuach nefesh - All life is important

  • ”You shall not murder” - Exodus 20:13
  • “If anyone takes the life of a human, he must be put to death” - Leviticus 24:17
• Jewish beliefs about life after death?


  ”But your dead will live, their bodies will rise” Isiah 26:19
• Gan Eden - Heaven
• Gehinom - Hell