SOR1 - Principle Beliefs of Judaism

Belief in One God

• One God who is the Creator and Ruler of the Universe
• Most fundamental Jewish belief
• God is known as YHWH (Yahweh)
• This belief forms the center of the Shema Prayer:
  • “Hear O Israel, God is Our God, God the One and Only” (Deuteronomy 6:4)
• G-d is both Transcendent and Immanent:
  • Transcendent: G-d is intangible/not of physical form
  • Immanent: G-d interacts with people’s lives through the Covenant
• G-d is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient (G-d is everywhere, knows everything and is all-powerful)
• G-d is referred to as Anthropomorphic in the TaNaKh. While G-d is canonically intangible, many sections of the TaNaKh seem to imply that G-d has a physical form, such as Genesis 2, where G-d “breathed into his (Adam’s) nostrils the breath of life.”

Divinely Inspired Moral law

• Laws given by G-d to guide Jews in ethics and morality
• The belief that G-d has provided Jewish Adherents with a code of ethics to guide them in their daily decisions
• Jews are encouraged to study the Torah in order to understand G-d’s teachings
• Binds Jews to G-d
• Also known as MITZVOT
  • 248 do’s
  • 365 don’ts
  • Covers all aspects of life as a Jew (marriage, Shabbat, Passover, Sabbath)

  Variant	Beliefs around the Mitzvot/Divinely Inspired Moral Law
  Orthodox	- The moral code laid down by G-d is complete and non-evolving in its application to all situations for the past, present and future.
  	- The main role of Talmudic scholars and halakhic lawyers is to find the exact authority within the text to justify behaviour for the case at hand.
  Conservative	- The Written Torah is open to some re-interpretation in light of changing circumstances as the text does not represent the literal word of God.
  Progressive	- Place greater emphasis on the broad principles established in the moral to guide ethical decision making in new situations.

The Covenant

• A promise from G-d to the Jewish people in exchange for certain obligations
• Affirms the unique relationship between G-d and the Jewish people
• Halachah: Jewish Law
  • The covenant is a legal requirement for Jews. By breaking the Laws, you abandon toe Covenant
• Example: Noahic Covenant
  • Obligation: Noah and his family were called to live in G-d’s image and walk His path by caring for all of Creation
  • Privilege: G-d promised to save Noah’s family from the Flood
  • Sign of the Covenant: the Rainbow