RS (Judaism)

• What is meant by the term covenant

  A solemn, binding agreement
• What are 3 things god promised Abraham?

  To be his god

  To make him father of many nations

  To give him the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession
• 3 thing Abraham promised God

  Worships God and the covenant

  Circumcise all males on the 8th day after birth

  Change his name
• Which country is the promised Land?

  Canaan
• 3 reasons why the covenant is important to Jews today

  - It marks the beginning of Judaism as a monotheistic religion

  - defines who the Jews are, they are descendants of Abraham and Sarah

  -Jews are still circumcised on the 8th day as a sign of the covenant
• Where did the Mosaic covenant take place?

  Mount Sinai
• What 3 things does god give to Moses in the covenant?

  10 commandments

  613 Mitzvot

  Explanation of how the laws should be carried out
• Why do Jews believe in the oneness of god?


  -to worship and obey the One god

  -"you shall have no other gods before me" (exodus)

  - shema states "the lord our god, the lord is one" which reminds about oneness of god
• How is belief in the oneness of God shown in a Jew's everyday life?

  - shema is recited daily and worn in the tefillin for prayer

  - shema placed in mezuzah and fitted to doorposts of the house where it is touched as a reminder of one god
• What does god promise the Israelites, if they keep the convenant?

  "Treasure possessions" "A kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus)
• Why is the covenant at Sinai important for Jews today?

  -God gave Moses the Torah on mt Sinai, which contains the mitzvot

  - God made a promise, if the isrealites keep the covenant. And mount Sinai is where god gave Moses the covenant

  -god gave Moses the 10 Commandments on stone tablets
• Why is the covenant with Abraham still important to Jews today?

  - It marks the beginning of Judaism

  -it defines who the Jews are- they are descendants of Abraham and Sarah
• Why is the 10 commandments important for Jews today?

  -of all the mitzvot given to Moses, they were given on tablets of stone, shows importance

  -"do not steal" and "do not kill" form the basis of society

  -the command to "remember the sabbath and keep it holy"
• God as creator


  -"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (genesis) Emphasises gods great power

  -the Tenakh reminds Jews that the world belongs to god- "the Earth is Lords, and everything in it" (psalms)

  - sabbath- "for in 6 days the lord made the heavens and the Earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day" (Exodus)

  - Humans are created "in the image of god" (genesis) and have been given the responsibility to care for creation as Gods steward
• God as lawgiver


  God revealed himself to Moses the duties Jews should keep, including the 10 commandments

  Following these laws Jews can build a relationship with God as well doing what he wants

  Before Moses died he reminds the Jews that the mitzvot is "not just idle words for you- they are your life"

  Tenakh says "lord is our lawgiver" (Isaiah")
• God as judge


  -Jews are judged by god to see if they fulfil the law. The tenakh says "the lord is our judge" (Isaiah)

  -" I have set before you life and death, blessing and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live." (Deuteronomy)
• Shekhinah


  Gods presence amongst human beings
• Examples of Shekinah


  -Moses and the burning bush, took place after Moses had killed the Egyptian slave driver.

  - god guides the isrealites through the wilderness "By day the lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide there way" (exodus)
• References to Shekhina in the Talmud


  "The shekhinah dwells over the head of the sick person bed"

  "Wherever they exiled the shekhinah went with them"
• What is the connection between Shekinah, the tabernacle and the temple

  The shekinah is referred to as manifest in the Temple in Jerusalem throughout rabbinic literature
• 2 reasons why shekinah is important to Jews today

  - When 10 or more Jews are gathered in prayer, god is present

  - Jews believe they can connect with god by studying Jewish scripture
• Messiah


  Savior sent by God
• What do Reform and Liberal Jews think about the Messiah

  They do not expect god to send an individual messiah instead they see descriptions of the messianic age as an ideal to aspire to, and try to work towards peace and justice.
• What will the messiah be like

  - descendants from king David

  - "the spirit of the Lord will rest on him" (Isaiah)

  - he will be a messenger of peace
• What will the Messianic Age be like?

  All creatures will live side by side in harmony.

  "The wolf will live with the lamb" (isaiah)

  There will be justice for the poor

  "With justice he will give decisions for the poor of the Earth"

  Temple will be rebuilt

  Jews in exile will return to Israel
• Torah- The law


  first 5 books of the tenakh, which Jews believe were given to Moses by god.
• What is the Tenakh?


  Jewish bible
• What are the three parts which make up the Tenakh

  -Torah (which consists of 5 books & most important to Jews as they believe it comes from God)

  - Nevi'im (the prophets)

  -Ketuvim (the writings)
• What is the Talmud?

  Oral Torah
• What does Halakhah mean?

  The path that one walks
• Why's the Mitzvot important to Jews today?

  Points of guidance to help Jewish people use their free will
• Mitzvot


  a commandment of the Jewish law. Jews regard the mitzvot as their way of connecting with god
• What are the chukim?


  Jewish food law
• Liberal and other Jews thoughts on Mitzvot (Chukim)


  No obvious explanation. Orthodox see it as a test of faith and obedience to god. Liberal and reform may not follow it, as they don't think it will help there relationship with god.: Kosha food
• Sanctity of life


  The belief that life is precious, or sacred. Only god has the right to give and take life. Humans are made in the "image of god" (genesis)
• 2 reasons why belief in sanctity of life is important to Jews today

  - They are taught the life comes from god, and it should be treated well

  - god created humans in the image himself, so we should look after each other like he dies
• Pikuach Nefesh


  Preservation of human life takes precedence over everything else

  "You shall not stand by the blood of your fellow" (Leviticus) you should not stand by without helping someone whose life is in danger
• Why do Jews believe in pikuach Nefesh

  - Jews believe because the Talmud explains that you should not stand by without helping the person in danger

  -"you shall not stand by the blood of your fellow" Leviticus
• An example to show pikuach Nefesh might work in practice


  Working on the sabbath generally is not allowed, but if your saving someone or putting out a fire it is allowed.
• abortion


  A foetus is expelled from the womb at a stage when it cannot survive by itself