JUDAISM

• Abraham


  Significant figure in Judaism, revered as the father of the Jewish people and a model of unwavering faith
• Abraham's covenant with God


  • Established the notion of circumcision
  • Marked the beginning of a special relationship between God and the Jewish people
• Covenant


  A promise made with God, fulfilling the covenant with God epitomises all aspects of Judaism
• Moses


  An Israelite saved from genocide, became a shepherd in Midian, where God revealed himself to Moses via a burning bush
• The Exodus


  1. Pharaoh refused Moses's request to free the Israelites

  2. God sent the 10 plagues to Egypt

  3. The tenth plague was the death of the first born child

  4. Pharaoh freed the Israelite slaves

  5. Israelites crossed the Red Sea, Egyptians drowned
• The giving of the Torah


  • Moses went up Mount Sinai and stayed there for 40 days
  • God gave Moses the 10 Commandments and the Torah
  • The Torah is made up of 613 mitzvot, it covers laws concerning prayer, diet, family, crime etc.
• Orthodox Judaism


  • Hasidic Jews are usually regarded as an example of ultra orthodox judaism
  • Try to obey all 613 mitzvot given to Moses
  • Conservative, do not reinterpret the Torah
• Progressive Judaism (reform)


  • Holds the belief that the Torah was written by divinely inspired human beings
  • Believe God's laws evolve and should be reinterpreted
  • Every individual should make up their own beliefs
  • Flexible practices, less strict guidelines
  • Torah is a human creation
• Characteristics of God in Judaism

  • Creator of the universe
  • Law giver
  • Judge who will reward those who follow the mitzvot
  • Omnipotent (powerful)
  • Omnibenevolent (loving)
  • Omnipresent (everywhere)
  • Omniscient (all knowing)
• Mitzvah

  A Jewish religious commandment or divine law
• Mitzvot


  The collection of all Jewish commandments in the Torah
• Positive Mitzvot


  248 commandments that instruct Jews to perform a specific action
• Negative Mitzvot


  365 commandments that instruct Jews to avoid a specific action
• Shabbat


  Saturday, the Jewish day of rest and worship
• Kashrut


  Jewish dietary laws to ensure permissible foods are eaten
• Halachah


  Jewish law and tradition guiding Jewish practice and behavior
• Jewish people believe that the Torah was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai.
• The Jewish religion is monotheistic, meaning that it believes in one God.
• The Talmud is a collection of rabbinic teachings and commentaries on the Torah.
• When is Shabbat?


  Sundown Friday to sundown Saturday
• Divinely Inspired Moral Law

  Written laws that come directly from God and are considered sacred.
• Covenant


  A sacred agreement between Jews and God, demonstrating faith and acknowledging a personal relationship with God.
• Judaism


  A monotheistic faith, they believe in one God "God alone is worthy '' (Exodus 20:3), and worship him through the Shema prayer
• Characteristics of God


  • God is the creator of the universe, evident in Genesis God saw everything he had made and it was good" (Genesis 1:31)
  • God is a law giver, evident in Exodus 20 were he gives Moses the Torah
  • God is the judge for Jewish people and will reward those who follow the mitzvot
  • God has unique characteristics, he is omnipotent (powerful), omnibenevolent (loving), omnipresent (everywhere) and omniscient (all knowing) ie. in Exodus 14:26-3 God is omnipotent and parts the Red Sea
• Adherents must follow the 613 mitzvot given to Moses to show their faith in God. This is evident in Exodus 20 where God gives the 10 commandments to Moses
• Fulfilling the covenant with God


  An ultimate declaration of faith, it is a way for Jews to honour their God and build a relationship with him; this is evident in Lev 26:12 "And I will walk among you, I will be your God and you will be my people''
• The covenant


  Guides Jews to fulfil their covenant by obeying God's laws
• Parts of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible)

  • The Torah (first 5 books containing stories about God's interaction with humans and rules of Jewish Life ie 613 mitzvot)
  • The Neviim (8 books about the Prophets which communicate messages from God to the people)
  • The Ketuvim (11 books about historical and wisdom writings about the Jewish nation, it includes psalms and proverbs)
• The Tanakh


  Allows Jews to build their relationship with God and fulfil their covenant as it provides them with laws, rituals and beliefs to abide by. It is a way for God to communicate with his people
• The Talmud


  A collection of discussion and comments by rabbis (priests) concerning the Tanakh, providing an interpretation of the Tanakh which can be applied to the everyday life of adherents
• God and his commandments

  The basis of Jewish ethics, derived from Torah, specifically the 613 mitzvot given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20). These laws explain a diverse range of lifestyle requirements such as Leviticus 19 stating dietary laws
• This belief (God and his commandments as the basis of Jewish ethics)


  • Provides order to society
  • Ensures ethical behaviour
  • Guides Jews to fulfil the covenant
• Prophetic vision


  Allows Jews to envision a world of social justice by looking after the world and displaying kindness
• Tikkun Olam


  Repair the world, Jews can act upon this by engaging in tzedakah (charity) and gemilut chasadim (loving-kindness)
• Michah 6:8: 'Act justly, love mercy, and work humbly with your God'
• This belief (prophetic vision)


  • Gives them purpose to pursue justice
  • Make the world a better place
  • Care for the vulnerable