Judaism

• Judaism & Religious Themes Topics

  • Judaism Beliefs and Teachings
  • Judaism Practices
  • Religion, Peace & Conflict
  • Religion, Human Rights and Social Justice
• You need to know all 4 topics
• The exam paper will have all four modules in it – answer these 4
• The exam will also have an extra theme (Religion, Relationships & Families) – DO NOT ANSWER THIS MODULE!
• Judaism Beliefs & Teachings

  • The Nature of God
  • Life After Death, Judgement & Resurrection
  • Nature & Role of the Messiah (means 'Anointed One')
  • Covenant (agreements / solemn promises) with Abraham
  • Covenant at Sinai and 10 Commandments (Moses)
  • Key Moral Principles – help Jews live in a way pleasing to God
  • Freewill & Mitzvot
• God as One


  • Judaism is monotheistic religion
  • Belief in 1 God expressed in the Shema "Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone" (Deuteronomy)
  • A single, whole, indivisible being
  • Only being to be worshipped
  • Source of all Jewish morality, beliefs & values
  • Everything created and sustained by this one God
• God as a Creator & Sustainer

  • Torah teaches God took 6 days to create world
  • 4 days making it fit to support life
  • 2 days creating all living creatures
  • 1 day of rest (Shabbat)
  • Orthodox Jews – literal understanding, reject scientific theories, believe it happened about 6000 ears ago
  • Reform Jews – more liberal interpretation – shows God is the creator of all
• Evil & Freewill


  • God gave freewill – to exercise freewill needs to be a choice between good & bad – this means evil has to exist and was created by God
  • Jews who use freewill to restore equality & justice are doing God's will
• God as Law Giver


  • To help use freewill properly God has given 613 laws in the Torah (mitzvoth)
  • Help have a good relationship with God
  • These form basis of Halakah – accepted code of conduct for Jewish life
  • 1st 10 mitzvoth = 10 commandments (foundation of other mitzvoth)
• God as a Judge


  • Will be judged during festival of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year) on actions of previous year
  • After death – rewarded or punished dependent on how lived
• The Divine Presence (Shekhinah)

  • The Presence of God on earth – demonstrating his power & glory
  • Examples: Tabernacle – housed divine presence of God. A portable temple that Jews carried through wilderness on way to Canaan
  • Solomon's Temple – Tabernacle was replaced with Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem (Holy of Holies)
  • Jews led by a Pillar of fire or a cloud on journey to Canaan
  • Burning Bush & Moses
• Life after Death


  • Jewish holy books do not contain much info on afterlife
  • Ideas developed over the years, thus differences in opinion
  • Jews believe more important to focus on present and live in a way pleasing to God
  • Heaven & Sheol: Follow faith correctly = heaven or paradise (Gan Eden)
  • No clear teaching on heaven – where present with God but unsure if physical or spiritual place
  • Sheol – if not heaven go to Sheol place of waiting where souls are cleansed.
  • No place of eternal punishment
• Judgement & resurrection


  • Some believe judged as soon as die "and dust returns to the ground As it was, And the lifebreath returns to God Who bestowed it" Ecclesiastes
  • Others God will judge everyone on the Day of Judgement after coming of Messiah "Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence" Daniel
  • Some believe in idea of a physical or spiritual resurrection – but many do not.
• Origins of the Messiah

  • Word originally used in Tenakh to refer to Kings of Israel
  • When Saul (1st King) was made king he was anointed with oil to show he was chosen by God to rule
  • Today word is used to refer to future leader of Jews
  • Leader expected to be a future King of Israel – descendant of Saul's successor – King David
• Nature of the Messiah

  • Future Messiah will Rule with kindness and justice
  • Rebuild Temple in Jerusalem and gather all Jews back to Israel
  • Uphold law of Torah & be ultimate teacher of it
  • Bring world peace & unite humanity together
• Orthodox Beliefs


  In every generation there is a descendant of King David who has potential to be Messiah. If Jews are worthy of redemption this person will be directed by God to become Messiah
• Reform Beliefs


  • Many reject idea of Messiah.
  • Believe Messianic age will be established by all working to create world peace.
• Covenant with Abraham


  • Abraham 1st person to believe in one God
  • Left Ur to go to Canaan (promised by God to him – hence the promised land)
  • Went with some of his family including wife Sarah
  • "I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you" & "I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever"
  • Promise: Make Abraham father of many nations
  • Abraham needed to: Be obedient to God "walk in his ways"
  • Covenant Sealed by: Act of circumcision
  • God kept his side by: Made possible for his old wife to conceive Isaac
• Covenant at Sinai and 10 Commandments (Moses)

  • Escape from Egypt: 400 yrs after Abraham, Jews were forced to work as slaves in Egypt
  • God chosen Moses to lead them out
  • God sent plagues to set Jews free
  • Jews escaped and wandered in desert.
  • Arrived at Mount Sinai
  • Moses climbed mountain and was given 10 commandments on two tablets of stone
  • The 10 commandments: Form foundation of Jewish law
  • Guidance on how to have a good relationship with God (1st 4 commandments)
  • Man (last 6 commandments)
  • Promise: God would protect Jews & be their God
  • In return they would keep his laws
  • One of the reasons Jews believe they are the chosen people of God.
• Justice


  • Bringing about what is right and fair
  • Sacred duty "do justice and to love goodness" Micah
  • Torah – sent by God to help people understand how to bring Justice to the world (Mercy is v. important)
• Healing the World


  • Taking actions to help God's sustaining work in the world.
  • Social justice or protecting the environment
  • Jewish Charity for the poor– World Jewish Relief
  • Obeying Mitzvot also helps healing the world
• Kindness to Others


  • Jews aim to show kindness to others by showing positive caring actions to all living things
  • Torah gives guidance on how to do this.
  • Torah teaches "love others as you love yourself" – instruction is given twice in the book of Leviticus
• Sanctity of Life


  • Life is sacred and holy because it is God-given
  • God gave Adam life
  • Life is therefore valuable
  • As the giver of life, only God has right to take it away
  • Thus Jews have a duty to preserve life
  • No to euthanasia & murder
  • Pikuach Nefesh The concept that you should preserve life even if it means breaking Jewish laws.
  • Human life is put above Jewish laws.
  • Examples: Allowed to break Shabbat law to save a life
  • Driving a sick person to hospital, putting out a fire or performing a life saving operation
  • "He who destroys the soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should destroy a whole world" Sanhedrin, Talmud
• Freewill


  • Ability to make your own decisions
  • Decisions have consequences
  • Good actions = life of fulfilment & closer to God
  • Bad actions = not bring people closer to God in life or after death
  • Story of The Fall (Adam & Eve)
• Mitzvot


  • A Jewish rule or commandent
  • 613 in Torah & others in Talmud
  • Give guidance on how to use freewill wisely.
  • As given by God to Moses, following them carefully makes it impossible to disobey God.
  • Mitzvot between man & God Relationship with God
  • 1st 4 commandments
  • Concerned with worship, sacrifice & observing festivals
  • Mitzvot between man and man Relationship with people
  • Links to key moral principles
  • Concerned with community, treatment of workers and how to settle disputes
• 2 mark questions


  • Give two of the Ten Commandments. [2 marks]
  • Give two reasons why the promised land is important to Jews. [2 marks]
  • Give two Jewish beliefs about life after death
  • Give two of the promises that God made in the Covenant with Abraham (Abram)
  • Give two Jewish beliefs about the role of the Messiah.
• 4 mark questions


  • Explain two contrasting beliefs of Judaism and the main religious tradition of Great Britain about the Messiah. You should name the main religious tradition of Great Britain in your answer. [4 marks]
  • Explain two ways in which the Ten Commandments influence Jews today. [4 marks]
  • Explain two ways in which the religious beliefs about monotheism are similar in Judaism and in the main religious tradition of Great Britain.
  • Explain two contrasting Jewish beliefs about life after death.
  • Explain two ways in which God's covenant with Abraham influences the lives of 21st century Jews.
• 5 mark questions


  • Explain two Jewish beliefs about 'saving a life' (pikuach nefesh).
  • Explain two Jewish teachings about the sanctity of human life.
  • Explain two Jewish beliefs about the Messiah
  • Explain two Jewish beliefs about the divine presence (Shekhinah).
  • Explain two Jewish beliefs about God as One.
• 12 markers


  • 'For Jews, the most important belief about God is that God is the law-giver.'
  • 'Free will means that Jews can behave however they like.'
  • 'The most important Covenant for Jews was the one made at Sinai.'
  • 'The most important duty for Jews is to show kindness to others.'
  • 'For Jews today, the mitzvot between man and man are more important than the mitzvot between man and God.'
• Judaism Practises


  • The Synagogue
  • Comparison: Orthodox & Reform Worship
  • Prayer (builds relationship with God, strengthens the community) & Daily Services
  • Shabbat (Day of Rest – sunset Friday to Sunset Saturday) at Home & in the Synagogue
• Synagogue


  • Building where Jews meet for worship, study, social activities, charitable events, celebration of festivals and rites of passage
  • Called: House of prayer, House of Study, 'Shul' = school (orthodox), Temple (reform)
  • Identified by menorah – many branched candle stick
  • Star of David
• Importance of a Synagogue

  • Worship & Prayer: Communal prayer – good to pray in group
  • Minyan (minimum of 10 needed)
  • Education: Educates Jews of all ages in their faith
  • Hebrew classes
  • Understanding of scriptures
  • Social Activities in social hall: Youth club, music, drama groups
  • Charitable Events: Hold events to raise money for charity
  • Collect money & other items to give to poor
• The Prayer Hall


  • Room where all come together for communal worship
  • Usually rectangular – seats on 3 sides facing the Bimah, 4th side is where Ark is kept
  • Decorated with patterns, Jewish symbols or scripture but no images of God or prophets
• Bimah (The Reading Platform)


  • Raised platform in centre of Synagogue where Torah is read from during services
  • Provides focal point
  • Reminder that altar was central feature of courtyard in Temple in Jerusalem
• Ark (Aron Hakodesh)


  • Ornamental cabinet reached via stairs where Torah scrolls are kept.
  • Front of synagogue facing Jerusalem
  • Most Holy place – represents original ark where 10 commandments were transported and then placed in Temple
• Ner Tamid (ever burning light)


  • Light above the ark
  • Symbolises God's presence
  • Reminder of of menorah lit every night in the Temple in Jerusalem
• Orthodox (traditional Judaism)


  • Strict followers of Jewish law
  • Men & women should have different roles
  • In Synagogue: Daily services
  • Only in Hebrew
  • Person leading service has his back to congregation
  • Men & women sit separately
  • Congregation may arrive late and catch up at own pace
  • Singing is unaccompanied
• Reform (progressive Judaism)


  • Importance on individual choice
  • Torah, as written by men, can be adapted to modern times
  • In Synagogue: Men & women can be Rabbi and form Minyan
  • Service in Hebrew & country's own language
  • Person leading service faces congregation
  • Men & Women sit together
  • Set times & more rigidly structured
  • Singing accompanied by musical instruments
• Tallit


  • Prayer shawl – remind they are obeying God's word when wear it
  • Long tassel attached to each corner – represents the mitzvoth
• Tefillin


  • Pair of small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah (& Shema)
  • Attached to centre of forehead – Mind should be on God during prayer
  • Attached to upper arm in line with heart – prayers should come from the heart