judaism

• Judaism

  Monotheistic religion - Belief in ONE God
• God in Judaism

  • Non-physical, definitely not human, much more than that and therefore difficult to describe fully
  • Name of God is so holy, should not be spoken aloud, written or ever erased/ destroyed
  • Has different names found in Jewish scripture that describe his different characteristics
• Names of God

  • Hashem = The name
  • El = A mighty & powerful God
  • God = Almighty
• Characteristics of God

  • One
  • Creator
  • Law giver
  • Judge
• How God's Oneness is seen

  1. Jewish people have a Mezuzah containing the Shema prayer on their doorposts

  2. Jewish men bind (tie) the tefillin to their forehead and arm when they pray each morning

  3. Judaism teaches the unity of creation and the need for people to try to bring unity to society
• God as creator


  Everything belongs to him, everything comes from God so it also depends on him, God's creation is seen as 'good', therefore Jewish people must care for the environment
• God as Law giver


  Evidence found in the Tenakh, God gave laws to help us to look after the earth, Laws were given to Noah, Abraham & Moses, Moses received 613 Mitzvot (commands), a good Jew lives their lives following the halakhah -Laws given by God
• God as Judge


  The Tenakh teaches that God is the divine Judge who ensures that the good are rewarded and the evil are punished, this is an important belief for jews because people know that they will be punished if they do not keep Gods laws, they also know there will be rewards for those who do
• Importance of God's titles for Jews today

  • They allow Jews to understand the greatness and nature of God
  • The different names show how complex God is, yet he is One
  • Reciting the Shema prayer every day helps a Jew to remember that God is One
  • Understanding that God is Creator, Law giver and Judge helps a Jew to act justly and with mercy
• Shekinah


  The divine presence of God in the world
• Ways Jews can connect with the Shekinah

  1. In study

  2. In worship

  3. In prayer
• Studying scripture for Jews

  • An act of worship
  • Believe the Shekinah is present
• Divergent views on studying scripture

  • Orthodox Jews - Torah is of primary importance, other subjects secondary
  • Hassidic Jews - only study Torah, no other subjects
• Tabernacle


  • A portable dwelling place for God so he may travel with his people
  • Helped people focus and feel God's presence
• Synagogue


  • Eternal light burns in front of the Ark
  • Represents God's presence
• Praying together as a community

  • Jews believe God is present
• The Torah mentions the Shekinah as surrounding Moses, guiding him through the wilderness to the promised land, and as a cloud of smoke present when Moses received the commandments
• The idea of the Shekinah helps Jews and Christians to come together to search for God
• Messiah


  A 'great leader' that Jews do not recognise Jesus as
• Purpose of the Messiah

  • Rebuild the temple in Jerusalem
  • Unite all the people of the world
  • Make all the people of the world aware of God's presence
  • Bring peace to the world
• Nature of the Messiah

  • A great political leader, descended from King David
  • Human, not divine
  • A man of great piety and close to God
• Messianic age


  The time when the Messiah will rule
• The Torah does not mention the Messiah, information is found from the prophets - Nevi'im
• Divergent views on the Messiah

  • Orthodox Jews - Messiah will only come when everyone observes the Mitzvot fully
  • Some Jews - God has set a date and time when the Messiah will arrive
  • Some ultra-orthodox Rabbis - believe they know when the Messiah will arrive
  • Some Reform Jews - it is up to individual Jewish people to make the world a better place, not the Messiah
• Belief in the Messiah is important because it is 1 of the 13 principles of faith
• Jews pray daily for the coming of the Messiah, the return of those who were exiled, reward for the righteous and rebuilding of the temple
• Messiah


  A 'great leader' that Jews do not recognise Jesus as
• Messiah


  • He will come to earth, bringing with the Messianic age
  • He will be anointed King of Israel in the End of days
  • His purpose will be to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, unite all the people of the world, make all the people of the world aware of God's presence, and bring peace to the world
• Messianic age


  A time when the Messiah will rule
• Messiah


  Anointed one
• Nature of the Messiah

  • He will be a great political leader, descended from King David
  • He will be human, not divine
  • He will be a man of great piety and close to God
• The Torah does not mention the Messiah, information is found from the prophets - Nevi im
• Many Jews are working together to bring about a better world - Tikkun Olam
• Divergent views on when the Messiah will come

  • Some Orthodox Jews believe the Messiah will only come when everyone observes the Mitzvot fully
  • Some Jews believe God has set a date and time when the Messiah will arrive
  • Some ultra-orthodox Rabbi's believe they know when this will be
  • Some Reform Jews believe it is not up to the Messiah, one man, to make the world a better place, but up to individual Jewish people to do this
• Belief in the Messiah is important because it is 1 of the 13 principles of faith
• Jews pray daily for the coming of the Messiah, the return of those who were exiled, reward for the righteous and rebuilding of the temple
• Covenant


  An everlasting agreement between two parties with certain conditions and obligations that must be followed
• Brit Olam


  Everlasting Covenant between God and the Jewish people
• The Jewish people recognise that from time to time, they may fail to follow all the laws of the Covenant
• The Covenant was between God and Moses, where Moses received the Torah, the laws which are still very important and relevant today