Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings
What's covered
Key facts
613 Mitzvot: Man-God and Man-Man
The 613 mitzvot are traditionally divided into 248 positive (do) commands and 365 negative (do not) commands.
Beliefs About Life After Death
Jewish views of the afterlife vary widely: from traditional resurrection beliefs to liberal emphasis on legacy.
Free Will and the Mitzvot
Free will is the human ability to choose.
God as Loving and Merciful
Chesed describes God's loyal love and kindness, covenantal faithfulness.
Sources of Wisdom and Authority: Key Quotes
Deuteronomy 16:20 commands "Justice, justice shall you pursue", establishing the active pursuit of justice (tzedek) as a fundamental moral obligation.
Key Moral Principles: Justice, Healing, Charity, Kindness
Jewish ethics emphasises action over belief alone: what you do matters as much as what you think.
Nature and Role of the Messiah
Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah: they hold the messianic age has not yet come.
Nature of God: Oneness, Creator, Law-Giver, Judge
Jews avoid writing God's full name out of respect, to prevent accidental erasure or disposal of God's name.
Sanctity of Life: Pikuach Nefesh
Human life is so valued in Judaism because each life is made in God's image (b'tselem Elohim).
Shekhinah: Divine Presence
Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) strongly emphasises mystical experience of the Shekhinah.
Practice questions with answers
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How are the 613 mitzvot divided?
- •100 each in six categories
- ✓248 positive and 365 negative commands
- •Based on day of the week
- •Equal halves with one extra
What is Sheol in Jewish thought?
- •A garden paradise like Eden today
- •A modern museum in Jerusalem
- •A specific synagogue location
- ✓Shadowy realm of the dead
What is the Jewish view of free will?
- •Free will is a Christian-only concept
- •God forces every choice on humans
- ✓Humans can choose to obey or disobey God
- •Humans cannot choose anything ever
What does chesed describe?
- •God's distant indifference to humans
- ✓God's loyal love and kindness
- •God's silence on all human affairs
- •God's strict legal punishment only
What does tzedakah link in Judaism?
- ✓Charity is part of seeking justice
- •Charity replaces prayer entirely
- •Justice is irrelevant to all believers
- •Wealth is unimportant to Judaism
What do traditional Jews expect the Messiah to be?
- •A divine being already arrived
- ✓A future human leader who brings peace
- •A prophet who replaces the Torah
- •An angel from heaven who has come
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