Judaism: Jewish Beliefs

What Judaism: Jewish Beliefs covers

Judaism: Jewish Beliefs is examined in whichever of the three papers Judaism is studied for, because this section is the same in all three areas of study. It covers the nature of the Almighty in Judaism, Shekhinah, the divine presence, the Messiah and the Messianic Age, the covenant with Abraham, the Covenant at Sinai and the Ten Commandments, Jewish sanctity of life and Pikuach Nefesh, the Mitzvot and moral principles and olam Ha-Ba, resurrection and judgement.

The 8 subtopics

Each one has its own page.

• The nature of the Almighty in JudaismOne God and the ban on images, Genesis 2 on Creation and the seventh day, a Judge both just and merciful, Orthodox and Reform views of the Law-Giver, and the name left unwritten.Open →
• Shekhinah, the divine presenceIts signs in the Exodus, the completed Tabernacle in Exodus 40, 2 Chronicles 7:1–3 and the people's response, the Talmud on communal prayer and exile, Maimonides and Kabbalah, and the Western Wall.Open →
• The Messiah and the Messianic AgeMashiach and the family he is expected from, Jeremiah 23:5–8, Maimonides' account, Orthodox, Reform and Chabad views, Religious Zionist and Haredi positions on Israel, and why Jesus is not accepted.Open →
• The covenant with AbrahamThe promises to Abram in Genesis 12 and 17, the new name, the land and the sign of the covenant, the promise about Sarah, Terah's idol shop, aliyah, and Reform views of the land.Open →
• The Covenant at Sinai and the Ten CommandmentsWhere the Decalogue is recorded and its first statement, duties to the Almighty and between people, Moses' role and the Israelites' response, why it left daily prayer, and Orthodox and Reform views.Open →
• Jewish sanctity of life and Pikuach NefeshTalmud Yoma 83–84 on a collapsed building on Shabbat and danger on Yom Kippur, who should break Shabbat, the three commandments never broken, organ donation, and synagogues in the Covid-19 pandemic.Open →
• The Mitzvot and moral principlesHow the 613 are divided, Maimonides' Sefer Madda on free will, duties to the Almighty and to others, why Yom Kippur cannot atone for wrongs to others, Hillel's summary, and Orthodox and Reform views.Open →
• Olam Ha-Ba, resurrection and judgementGan Eden and Gehinnom, Ecclesiastes 12 on death and judgement, the resurrection of the dead in the Amidah, Orthodox and Reform differences, whether the afterlife matters less than life now, and comparisons with Christian belief.Open →

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Take Judaism: Jewish Beliefs further

The same content, four other ways.

Commonly confused

Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.

• Shekhinah vs Mashiach

  Shekhinah: the divine presence of the Almighty dwelling among people. Mashiach: a human descendant of King David expected to bring universal peace.

• Olam Ha-Ba vs Gehinnom

  Olam Ha-Ba: the world to come, both after death and at the end of days. Gehinnom: a place where souls are purified of sin for up to twelve months.

• Covenant with Abraham vs Covenant at Sinai

  Covenant with Abraham: God's promise of land and descendants, sealed by circumcision. Covenant at Sinai: the nation's acceptance of the Torah and Ten Commandments after the Exodus.

Questions from this topic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1. 1

   What do Jews mean by describing the Almighty as One?

   Model answer

   Jews believe there is only one God, who cannot be divided into parts or persons. The Almighty is a single, unique being with no equal.

2. 2

   Why is belief that the Almighty is One important in Jewish life today?

   Model answer

   The unity of God is declared every morning and evening in the Shema. The belief rules out worshipping any other power alongside the Almighty.

3. 3

   Why do Jews refuse to make pictures or statues of the Almighty?

   Model answer

   The Almighty has no body or physical form, so no image could represent God. An image would also risk idolatry, which the Torah forbids.

4. 4

   What does Genesis 2 show about the Almighty as Creator?

   Model answer

   Genesis 2 describes the Almighty forming the first human from the dust of the ground. God breathes the breath of life into him and plants the Garden of Eden.

5. 5

   According to Genesis 2, what did the Almighty do on the seventh day?

   Model answer

   The Almighty rested on the seventh day after finishing the work of creation. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.

6. 6

   How does Genesis 2 present the Almighty as Law-Giver?

   Model answer

   The Almighty gives Adam the first command in the Garden of Eden. Adam may eat from any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

Judaism: Jewish Beliefs revision questions

What does Judaism: Jewish Beliefs cover in Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B?

8 subtopics: the nature of the almighty in judaism, shekhinah, the divine presence, the messiah and the messianic age, the covenant with abraham, the covenant at sinai and the ten commandments, jewish sanctity of life and pikuach nefesh, the mitzvot and moral principles and olam ha-ba, resurrection and judgement. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.

How is Judaism: Jewish Beliefs organised?

By the Edexcel 1RB0 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.