Judaism beliefs

• Monotheistic religion


  Jews believe there is only one God
• God is one means

  • God is a single, whole, indivisible being
  • God is the only being who should be praised and worshipped
  • Everything in the universe is created and sustained by this one God
  • God is the source of all Jewish morality, values and beliefs
• Shema


  Important Jewish Prayer expressing monotheism that starts "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might"
• Significance of "The Lord is our God, the lord alone"


  Confirms belief in only one God
• Significance of "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might"


  Jews show total love, loyalty and dedication towards God
• Many Jews cover their eyes while reciting the first line of the Shema to avoid distractions
• Jewish Bible is called the Tenakh and the first five books are called the Torah
• Jews believe God is the creator and the sustainer and that he created the universe out of nothing
• Why do Jews celebrate Shabbat


  God rested on the seventh day so this reminds Jews of God's importance and role as the creator
• Orthodox Jewish view on Creation


  Events of Genesis literally happened 6000 years ago. They reject scientific theories of evoloution
• Other Jews' view on creation

  Still belive God is the creator of everything but accept that the universe is much older and life has evolved over many years
• Jews believe God is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient
• God gave Jews free will because he wants them to actively choose to do good- making the act of doing good more significant. However to excercise free will there must be a choice between good and bad so God had to create evil
• Why do Jews believe the World's resources are distributed unevenly


  Because of the existence of Free will. Jews will excercise free will to help improve the balance of resources by giving to those less fortunate to fulfil God's plan for creation
• Quote to show how God created everything (including evil)

  "I am the Lord and there is none else, I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe- I the Lord do all these things" - Tenakh
• Mitzvot

  613 laws given to Jews in the Torah to tell them how to behave in a way thats approved by God
• Halakah


  Accepted code of conduct for Jewish Life
• Ten commandments

  The first 10 mitzvot that are particularly important and form the foundation for all other mitzvot. They were given to Moses after he helped the Jewish Slaves out of Egypt
• Jews believe God is both the Lawgiver and Judge as he gives them laws and rewards or punishes them as a result of if they follow them
• Two main times when God judges Jews


  Rosh Hashanah and After Death
• Jewish judgement at Rosh Hashanah

  The Jewish New year when God judges people for their actions over the past year and decides what the coming year will bring them
• Jewish judgement after death

  God determines how they will spend the afterlife
• Shekhinah


  Divine presence of God on earth
• Tabernacle

  In early Judaism this was considered to house the divine presence of God. It was a portable temple similar to a tent that the Jews carried with them on their journey to Canaan (Promised land)
• Solomon's temple

  After Canaan was conquered, Tabernacle was replaced with Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. It was the centre of Jewish worship at the time and several of the prophets experienced presence of God in the temple
• "The skirts of his robe filled the temple" Isaiah
• Tenakh describes how the Jews were led at times by a pillar of fire or a cloud on their journey to Canaan, these were considered to be appearances from God that desmonstrated his power and glory
• There is little agreement amongst Jews about the afterlife and many do not think it is important to know what happens after death - they are more concerned about living their lives in a way that is pleasing to god
• Why do Jews not have universal beliefs about the afterlife

  Holy books do not contain much information on them
• Gan Eden


  Many Jews beliee if they follow their faith correctly they will go to heaven or paradise when they die
• Sheol


  Where people who do not enter Gan eden go, a place of waiting where souls are cleansed
• Jews do not beliee in a place of eternal punishment like Hell
• Why do some Jews believe they will be judged as soon as they die


  "And the dust returns to the ground as it was and the lifebreath returns to God who bestowed it" - Tenakh
• Why do some jews believe God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement after the coming of the messiah


  "Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence"
• Messiah

  'The annointed one' - Future leader of the Jews who will rule over humanity with kindness and justice
• Messianic age


  The time when the Messiah will rule, when the world is united in peace
• First King of Israel

  Saul, he was annointed by prophet samuel by oil to show he was chosen by God to rule over Jews
• Who is the Messiah expected to be


  Descendent of David
• Orthodox Jews believe there is a descendent of King David in every generation who has the potential to become the Messiah. If Jews are worthy of redemption this person will be directed by God to become the Messiah
• Many reform Jews reject the idea of a Messiah - they believe in a messianic age but believe this will be achieved by everyone working together to create world peace rather than the result of leadership from one person