Judaism beliefs

-'the LORD is our God, the LORD alone' shows there is only one God so false idols and statues must not be used
- 'love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might' shows Jews must be completely focused on God during worship, so they may close their eyes

the belief that there is only one God

Orthodox- strictly follow laws
Reform- more liberal

God created the world in 6 days (4 for the universe and 2 for life)
God rested on the 7th day and made it holy
The events of Genesis happened around 6000 years ago
They reject evolution

Like Catholics, they believe the Creation stories shouldn't be taken as historical facts.
It is symbolic.
God continues to provide and sustain us through evolution.
The universe is very old
God is still the Creator

He created the universe and everything in it

God gave everyone free will so people can choose to do good
God created evil because evil has to exist for there to be free will
'I make weal and create woe- I the LORD do all these things'- Isaiah 45:6-7

omnipotence
omnipresence (present everywhere at all times)
omniscience

to help guide their free will

613 commandments (ten of them are the Ten Commandments)

God judges them based on how well they follow laws
God's judgement is fair and merciful

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish new year) - God judges people for their actions during the past year and decides what the coming year will bring them

After death- God determines how they will spend the afterlife
Others believe they will be judged on the Day of Judgement after the coming of the Messiah

Noah's ark - 'make yourself an Ark' Genesis 6-7
Adam and Eve- 'you shall not eat from the fruit' Genesis 3

God's divine presence

The Tabernacle during the journey to Canaan
The pillar of fire/cloud on the way to Canaan

Solomon's Temple replaced the Tabernacle and became the centre of Jewish worship

Isaiah 6:1-2 'I beheld my Lord seated on a high and lofty throne; and the skirts of His robe filled the Temple'

Jewish word for the afterlife or world to come

it is for people who follow their faith correctly and is a place where people are with God (Shamayim)

Some Jews believe people who do not enter heaven go to Sheol, a place of waiting where souls are cleansed and wait for the coming of the messiah

Yes - Sheol is in hell. Gehenna is also a place for souls who have not followed God's law
No - Some would argue that there is only heaven and sheol. Some Jews would say sheol is not in hell.

Prayer
Worship
Study

'and the dust returns to the ground as it was, and the lifebreath returns to God who bestowed it'

- originally referred to the kings of Israel
- the first king of Israel was Saul, who was anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel to show he was chosen by God
- The Messiah is expected to be a descendent of King David

-rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
- bring world peace (Messianic age)
- uphold the law in the Torah and be the ultimate teacher of it
- rule over humanity with kindness and justice

He saved humanity through his death and resurrection and established the Kingdom of God on earth

They do not believe he was the Messiah and the son of God because he did not follow Torah law strictly enough or bring about the Messianic age

- Do not interpret message literally
- Believe in a Messianic Age rather than an individual Messiah
- It will be brought by collective work of the Jews, not one person

Canaan

People at the time worshipped idols, but Abraham believed there was only one God. God entered a covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham. His wife Sarah could not have children any more, but God told Abraham he would have as many descendants as the stars, he would own his own land (Canaan) And they would have God's blessing.

to make Abraham the father of many nations
'I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you'- Genesis 12: 1-2

'walk in my [God's] ways and be blameless'-Genesis 17:1

circumcision

Made Sarah able to conceive, Sarah gave birth to Isaac

'I give all the land that you see to you and your offspring forever'- Genesis 13:15

Mount Sinai

God promised to protect the Jews from harm and to be their God and in return the Jews would obey his laws

They worshipped a golden calf idol
God wanted to destroy Israel, but Moses reminded him of his covenant to Abraham, showing that God is merciful and forgives, but 'cannot leave the wicked unpunished'

father of many nations and the founder of Judaism

God chose Moses to lead them, asked the Pharoah to release them from slavery, sent plagues and finally he agreed

Justice
healing the world
kindness to others/the stranger

what is right and fair according to the law
Jews believe the Torah and prophets were sent by God to help people bring about justice in a way that involves mercy
'do justice and love goodness' Micah 6:8

-contributing to social justice
-helping the environment
-volunteering for charities
-some believe this also includes following the mitzvot and getting closer to God
-by doing this they are helping to sustain the world that God created

-positive, caring actions
-the law in the Torah shows how to do this
-'love your fellow as yourself'-Leviticus 19:18

life is given by God so only God has the right to take away life

'he who destroys one soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should destroy a whole world'

The obligation to save a life despite any religious obligations e.g. taking someone to hospital on Shabbat

Adam and Eve were banished from the garden

between God and man (helps relationships between God and men, covering worship, sacrifice etc. these are the first four commandments), and between man and man (relationships and showing love towards others, helps Jews live in community)