Judaism

• Nature of god

  • Shema: believe in one god
  • Monotheistic
  • God made the world from nothing
• God as lawgiver and judge

  • God gave mitzvot (613 laws) on how he wants humanity to live
  • Jews believe god will judge everyone resulting in punishment or reward
• Shekhinah


  • The divine presence of god
  • Human cannot see god but some can feel his presence
• Influence of the nature of god on jews

  • Follow the law is to please and serve god
  • All aspects of their lives are ruled by god
  • Religious clothes are a constant reminder of god's laws
• Torah on the afterlife

  • Focus more on the life we are living now (Olam Ha Ze)
  • Repairing the world
  • References the righteous reunited with loved ones
• Resurrection


  • Efforts to repair the world is a way for good afterlife
  • Will happen in messianic age
  • Righteous will rise and evil people will not resurrect
• Reincarnation


  • Souls are reborn to continue tikkun olam (repairing the world)
  • Allows the soul to fulfil the mitzvot that the soul a second chance to get it right
• Gan Eden


  • Good place people go when they die
  • All nations sit and eat there when the peaceful messianic age comes
• Gehenna


  • A place to see and be remorseful for wrongdoings rather than punishments
  • People who doesn't live by the torah will spend time there
• Covenant


  Creates a permanent link between the past, present and future that will never be dissolved
• Covenant with abraham

  • God promised abraham land and descendants
  • Abraham should only worship one god
• Impact of covenant with abraham

  • The first covenant connected the jews to god before the torah
  • Abraham had his faith in god tested 10 times
  • The father of judaism and the role model of jews
• Covenant with moses

  Moses was given the laws (ten commandments and mitzvot)
• Impact of covenant with moses

  • Freed israelite people from slavery
  • Led the chosen people to the promised land
• Mitzvot

  • 613 laws
  • Govern every aspect of Jewish life (food, clothing, rituals...)
  • 356 negative and 248 positive
• Ten commandments

  • Found in torah
  • Baseline of moral behaviour
  • 4 about god, 6 about relationship with other
• Mitzvot between humans and god

  • Show god reaching out to his people
  • Jews encouraged to not just believe in god but also love him
  • Bring jews closer to god
• Mitzvot between human and human

  • Relate to action towards others
  • God is pleased if jews act in a responsible way
• Free will


  Having the ability to make decisions and to choose right from wrong
• Key moral principles

  • Tikkun olam
  • Justice and charity
  • Loving kindness
• Tikkun olam (healing the world)


  • Mankind has responsibility to heal or restore and change the world
  • The more people do this, the more the world is repaired and nearer it is to the messianic age
  • Jews pray for the harmony of nations, uniting of people
  • Some believe it is to follow the mitzvot and others think that they have to do it in a more practical way
• Justice and charity

  • Promote justices (discrimination towards race, age...)
  • Believe that their wealth is on loan from god (help the less fortunate through charity)
• Loving kindness

  No one should harm another or take advantage of others' misfortune
• Pikuach nefesh

  • Saving a life is more important than the mitzvot
  • Human life is sacred as god breathed life into them, gave them free will and a soul
• Synagogue

  • Special place to worship god and study the word of god for jews
  • A minya (ten members) must be present to worship
• Importance of synagogue

  • Displays community spirit
• Key feature of the exterior of the synagogue

  • Star of david symbol
  • Menorah
• Key features of the interior of the synagogue

  • Aron hakodesh (contains the torah and other scrolls, most sacred part of the temple)
  • Ner tamid (the ever burning lamp in the tabernacle, show that torah should always have meaning)
  • Bimah (raised platform where the torah is read from)
• Elements in synagogue

  • Orthodox male wear kippah, tallit and tefillin
  • Reform jews usually just wear kippah
  • Rabbi is the spiritual leader (only male in orthodox but can female in reform)
• Importance to worship

  • Forms part of the covenant as it's in mitzvot
  • Keeps people mindful of god and show their devotion
  • Brings the community together
• Key prayer

  • Shema
  • Amidah
  • Kaddish
  • Aleinu
• Both torah and prophecies will be read on shabbat
• Worships in synagogue

  • Shabbat services
  • Daily services
  • Festivals
  • Rites of passage
• Worships at home

  • Shabbat meals and prayer
  • Variety of prayer
  • Thanksgiving
• Shema

  • Recited 3 times daily
  • Three sections (God and religious duties, Accepting and keeping the law, Keep the mitzvot and wear tzitzit)
• Amidah

  • Said while standing facing jerusalem
  • Spoken with movement of lips rather than out loud
• Kaddish

  Hymn of praise to god
• Aleinu

  • Said at the end of services
  • Reminds people that god's rule is eternal
  • Reminds them they are the chosen people and that choosing brings difficulties
• Kippah yarmulke

  Skull cap worn by jewish men as a sign of respect for god
• Tallit


  • Prayer shawl worn around the shoulders
  • Has 4 corners for the 4 corners of the world
  • Fringes hang loose to represent the 613 mitzvot