Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017 Judaism Beliefs and Teachings

Covenant Kosher Messiah Mitzvot

Shabbat Shekinah Synagogue Torah

Exam Question - can you answer a question on the following topics?

Describe

Explain

Discuss

The

na

ture

of

Go

d

Know What Jews believe about God as one, creator and sustainer.

Know how the Shema shows that God is one.

Explain why Jews believe God is one, creator and sustainer.

Know what Jews believe about God as lawgiver and judge.

Explain why Jews believe God is lawgiver and judge.

Know what Shekinah is.

Explain why Shekinah is important.

Mes

sia

h

Know what is the Messiah.

Understand what Orthodox Jews believe about the nature and role of the Messiah.

Understand what Reform Jews believe about the nature and role of the Messiah.

Co

ven

an

t Know what a covenant is.

Understand that the Abrahamic Covenant.

Understand the Covenant with Moses at Mount Sinai.

Explain why the 10 Commandments are important to Jews.

Life

on

ea

rth

Know what Jews believe about the sanctity of life.

Explain why Jews believe what they do about the sanctity of life.

Compare Orthodox and Reform Jewish responses to the sanctity of life.

Explain what Pikauch Nefesh.

Compare Orthodox and Reform Jewish responses to Pikauch Nefesh.

Know what the 613 mitzvot are.

Explain the relationship between the 613 mitzvot and free will.

The

Aft

erlif

e Know what we understand by life after death.

Explain what Orthodox Jews believe about life after death.

Explain what Reform Jews believe about life after death.

Explain why there isn’t a firm belief about life after death in Judaism.

a) Question – I can define the key word and link to a teaching or example

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017 Judaism key words

Keyword Syllables (Helps you to say it)

Definition (What it means)

Picture Clue

Covenant Cov/e/nant A promise or agreement between two parties. Covenants were made between God with Noah, Abraham and Moses.

Kosher Ko/sher (fit or proper) Foods that are permitted to be eaten according to Leviticus Chapter 11. It is also used to refer to the purity of ritual objects such as Torah scrolls.

Messiah Me/ssi/ah The anointed one who Jews believe will bring in a new era or age for humankind. This will include rebuilding the Temple and bringing in an age and universal peace.

Mitzvoth Mit/z/voth The term has a mix of meanings. It is often used to refer to duties (such as the 613 in the Torah) and good deeds.

Shabbat Sha/bbat Day of spiritual renewal and rest.

Beginning at sunset on Friday and closing a nightfall on Saturday.

Shekinah She/ki/nah The place where God’s presence rests

and can be felt.

Synagogue Syn/a/gogue House of assembly; building for Jewish

public prayer, study and assembly.

Torah Tor/ah The five books of Moses (Genesis,

Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Regarded as the holiest books in the Tenakh.

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017 Origins and Meaning

Ex nihilo Evolution Imago Dei Inspiration

Omnipotence Revelation Stewardship Transcendence

Exam Question - can you answer a question on the following topics?

Describe

Explain

Discuss

Ori

gin

s a

nd

Mea

nin

g

Know St Augustine’s writings about creation from nothing

Know Catholic views on the origins of the universe

Know fundamental Christian views on the origins of the universe

Know non-religious views of the origins of the universe (Hawking’s Big Bang)

Compare the Catholic, other Christian and non religious views on the origins of the universe

Understand the scientific theories of evolution from Darwin and Dawkins

Explain the Catholic view that creation and evolution are compatible

Explain how the concept of imago Dei relates to the sanctity of human life

Explain the Catholic view on abortion and the value of human life

Explain the fundamental Christian view on abortion and the value of human life

Explain the non-religious view on abortion and the value of human life

Explain the Jewish view on abortion and the value of human life

Bel

iefs

- C

rea

tio

n

Understand what the two creation stories in Genesis convey different ideas about God

Understand the relationship that should exist between human beings and the rest of creation

Know the Catholic beliefs about care and respect of the planet and the environment

Know the humanist beliefs about care and respect of the planet and the environment

Know the Jewish beliefs about care and respect of the planet and the environment

Compare the Catholic, humanist and Jewish beliefs about care and respect of the planet and the environment

Sou

rces

–

The

Bib

le Understand how the Bible is considered the ‘word of God’

Understand that the Bible is compiled of a collection books written in different literary forms

Know the Catholic Christian interpretation of the Bible

a) Question – I can define the key word and link to a teaching or example

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017

Exam Question - can you answer a question on the following topics?

Describe

Explain

Discuss

Know the Fundamentalist Christian interpretations of the Bible

Compare the different Christian interpretations of the Bible

Understand the Jewish views about the importance of sacred scripture

Form

s –

Pa

inti

ng

Understand the meaning of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam

Explain how the painting expresses Catholic beliefs about Creation, God and human beings

Form

s –

Sym

bo

lism

Understand the Tree of Life mosaic

Explain the meaning of the symbols and images within the Tree of Life

Explain why the symbols of the cross in the mosaic is referred to as the Tree of Life

Pra

ctic

es –

Lo

vin

g a

nd

ser

vin

g Understand how the concept of imago Dei has influenced

Catholic Social Teaching

Explain the importance of justice, peace and reconciliation in the Catholic Church

Explain how the Catholic Church promotes understanding, respect, tolerance and harmony between different religions and those with no religious faith

Explain how CAFOD demonstrate love and service of their neighbours in the work they do

Explain how SVP demonstrate love and service of their neighbours in the work they do

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017

Origins and Meaning key words

Keyword Syllables (Helps you to say it)

Definition (What it means)

Picture Clue

Creation ex nihilo Cre/a/tion ex ni/hi/lo

Creation out of nothing. Before God created the universe, nothing existed. Only God can create out of nothing.

Evolution Ev/o/lu/tion The process of mutation and natural

selection which leads to changes in species over time to suit particular environments.

Imago Dei I/ma/go Dei In the image of God. The belief that human beings are uniquely a reflection of God’s personhood. Unlike the other animals, human beings are rational, free and moral.

Inspiration In/spi/ra/tion “God breathed” The belief that the Spirit of God guides an individual to act or write what is good and true.

Omnipotence Om/nip/po/tence The belief that God is all powerful.

Revelation Rev/e/la/tion The word used to describe all of the ways

in which God makes himself known to human beings. Christians believe that God does this finally and fully in the person of Jesus Christ.

Stewardship Ste/ward/ship The duty to care for creation responsibly, as stewards rather than consumers, and to protect it for future generations.

Transcendence Tran/scen/dence Existing outside of space and time; God

exists in a way that makes him nothing like anything else that exists, above and beyond creation.

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017 Good and Evil

Go

Conscience Evil Free will Goodness

Incarnation Natural Law Privation Suffering

Exam Question - can you answer a question on the following topics?

Describe

Explain

Discuss

Go

od

, Evi

l an

d S

uff

erin

g

Know Christian attempts to answer questions about the problem of evil

Know non-Christian attempts to answer questions about the problem of evil

Know philosophical attempts to answer question about the problem of evil

Understand what St Augustine meant when he called evil a ‘privation’

Understand what Catholics mean by ‘original sin’ and ‘free will’

Understand the Catholic beliefs about Jesus’ suffering

Understand Jewish views about suffering and evil

Know that Catholics believe that the world is fundamentally good

Understand what Catholics mean when they call God ‘good’

Understand Catholic ambivalence about suffering using examples of the suffering of Jesus to show it can be beneficial

Bel

iefs

- T

rin

ity

Know that Catholics believe that God is a Trinity of persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit

Understand why this belief is important to Catholics

Understand where this belief can be found in the scriptures and how it has developed

Understand the importance of St Augustine’s metaphor of the love, lover and beloved as an image of the Trinity

Understand why Jews have no belief or teachings about the Trinity

Bel

iefs

–

Inca

rna

tio

n

Know the meaning of the word ‘incarnation’

Understand the Biblical origins of the belief that Jesus is God incarnate

Understand how this doctrine influences Catholic understandings of the meaning of suffering

Understand what Pope John Paul II said about suffering in Salvifici Doloris

a) Question – I can define the key word and link to a teaching or example

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017

Exam Question - can you answer a question on the following topics?

Describe

Explain

Discuss

Sou

rces

– J

esu

s

Understand how the teaching and example of Jesus provide authority for Christian moral behaviour

Know the details of the moral teaching of Jesus in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’

Understand beliefs about Natural Law and conscience

Understand how suffering can make people more virtuous

Form

s –

Scu

lptu

re

an

d S

tatu

ary

Understand why Catholics have statues in churches and how they aid worship

Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using statues in worship

Understand why there are no statues or images of people in Jewish synagogues and why Jews would never depict God

Understand what Michelangelo’s Pieta means as a reflection on God’s goodness and human suffering

Pra

ctic

es –

Pilg

rim

ag

e

Know the meaning of the word ‘pilgrimage’

Understand why pilgrimage is important to Catholics

Understand how pilgrimages can be a response to the existence of suffering

Understand Jewish attitudes to pilgrimage

Know what a rosary is and how it is prayed

Know what the Sorrowful Mysteries are

Understand how the Rosary is used as a Catholic response to suffering

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017 Good and Evil key words

Keyword Syllables (Helps you to say it)

Definition

(What it means) Picture Clue

Conscience Con/science Human reason making moral

decisions. The knowledge we

have of what is right and wrong

and the God-given compulsion

within all human beings to do

what is right and to avoid what is

evil.

Evil E/vil The absence of good and the

impulse to seek our own desires

at the expense of the good of

others which often results in

suffering.

Free-will Free-will The decision making part of a

person’s mind is called the will. A

will is free if a person is able to

choose right from wrong without

being controlled by other forces.

Goodness Good/ness The quality of being like God:

seeking the well-being of others

selflessly.

Incarnation In/car/na/tion “Made flesh” The Christian

belief that God became man in

the person of Jesus, fully human

and fully divine.

Natural

Law

Nat/u/ral Law The moral laws of right and

wrong which are universal and

not dependent on human laws.

The belief in natural law is the

belief that the moral law is

discoverable by every human

being and is the same for all

human beings in all places at all

times.

Privation Pri/va/tion The loss or absence of a quality

or something that is normally

present. Evil is a privation of

good.

Year 11 Mock Exam Revision List

2017 Suffering Suf/fer/ing Pain or loss which harms human

beings. Some suffering is caused

by other human beings (often

called moral evil); some is not

(often called natural evil).

GCSE exam skills:

In all answers make sure you include these three things :

Knowledge and

understanding

Sources of wisdom and

authority

Influence of belief

Key words

Keyword Syllables (Helps you to say it)

Definition (What it means)

Picture Clue

Covenant Cov/e/nant A promise or agreement between two parties. Covenants were made between God with Noah, Abraham and Moses.

Kosher Ko/sher (fit or proper) Foods that are permitted to be eaten according to Leviticus Chapter 11. It is also used to refer to the purity of ritual objects such as Torah scrolls.

Messiah Me/ssi/ah The anointed one who Jews believe will bring in a new era or age for humankind. This will include rebuilding the Temple and bringing in an age and universal peace.

Mitzvoth Mit/z/voth The term has a mix of meanings. It is often used to refer to duties (such as the 613 in the Torah) and good deeds.

Shabbat Sha/bbat Day of spiritual renewal and rest.

Beginning at sunset on Friday and closing a nightfall on Saturday.

Shekinah She/ki/nah The place where God’s presence rests

and can be felt.

Synagogue Syn/a/gogue House of assembly; building for Jewish

public prayer, study and assembly.

Torah Tor/ah The five books of Moses (Genesis,

Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Regarded as the holiest books in the Tenakh.

You need to know these key words so that you can use them in your GCSE answers.

Introduction to Judaism

- The Jewish Holy Book is called the Tenakh. It is made up of three sections:

Torah—law/teachings./instructions

The Torah is the first five books of the Bible. They are the same first five books of the Old

Testament in the Bible.

The Torah contains the law of Moses. Jews believe God gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai.

There are 613 mitzvoth (commandments) in the Torah that Jews are meant to follow.

Nevi’im—prophets

This is a collection of books divided into two parts.

The books contain information about the lives of the prophets.

They look at the history of Judaism after the death of Moses and they also encourage the Jews to

obey God and follow the Torah.

Ketuvim—writings

This contains the books of Psalms and Proverbs as well as other books.

- The Talmud is also a Jewish Holy Book.

The Talmud contains the teachings of the Rabbis. It looks at how Jews should follow the mitzvoth in

the Torah.

There are different branches of Judaism:

Orthodox Jews:

1. They believe the Torah and Talmud have been given to the Jews by God (they are of divine origin).

They should be followed completely and the teachings should not be changed to adapt to life

today.

2. They strictly observe Shabbat (the day of rest) and laws about what they should eat.

Progressive Jews:

1. They believe the Torah and Talmud are people’s interpretations of God’s word. They see Judaism as

a developing religion, so they apply the Holy Books to modern life in a more flexible way.

2. There are two main Progressive Jews—Reform and Liberal.

The natureof

God

God as one

God as creator

God the sustainer

God as lawgiver

God as Judge

Judaism is a monotheistic religion. This means

Jews only believe in one God.

God as one

What do Jews believe?

For Jews there is only one God, but monotheism means more than this.

God as one means that God is always present in people’s lives, every sight they see, sound they hear, and experience they

are aware of is regarded as a meeting with God.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

The Shema is a Jewish prayer that says ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.’ This shows there is only one

God.

In Exodus when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments he said ‘I am the Lord your God”. This shows he is one.

Influence of belief (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews believe that God should be praised so they will go to the Synagogue to pray.

Jews will have a mezuzah on the doorframes of their house and inside will be the Shema.

Jews believe that God is eternal and is beyond human understanding.

Some Jews might cover their eyes when reciting the Shema to avoid all distractions and to show loyalty to God.

Jewish beliefs about God

God as Creator

What do Jews believe?

Jews believe that God created the universe out of nothing. He created it exactly how he wanted it to be.

The Book of Genesis in the Torah describes the creation story.

It took four days for God to get the universe fit to support life and a further two days to create all living creatures. On the

seventh day God rested and made it holy.

Orthodox Jews believe that Genesis is literally true and that it happened around 6000 years ago. They do not believe

scientific theories like the Big Bang and evolution. They believe Genesis tells them exactly how God created the world.

Reform and Liberal Jews do not believe Genesis is literally true. They believe in evolution and accept that the universe is

much older, but they do believe that God made everything happen and still believe that God is creator.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

Genesis 1 says “When God began to create the heaven and earth..”

In Genesis it says “Let us make man with our image and likeness….in the image of God he created him.”

Influence of belief (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews remember the seventh day of creation because God made it holy.

Jews remember this every week between sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday during the observance of Shabbat. This

reminds them every week that God is important and is the creator.

Evil and free will

What do Jews believe:

Jews believe that God is:

Omnipotent – all powerful

Omniscient – all knowing

Omnipresent – being everywhere at all times

They believe that God is the creator of everything including evil. There is no belief in the devil in Judaism. God created evil

but gave humans free will to be able to choose between good and evil; to follow God or reject God.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence)

In Isaiah it says that God created light and dark and all things. This means he created good and evil.

God the sustainer

What do Jews believe?

Jews believe that God not only created the universe but also sustains it. This means that God provided sufficient resources

on the planet to feed and provide for all species.

Jews believe that the inequality of resources in the world is because of how humans have used their free will.

Influence of belief (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews will help to provide resources for others who have too little. They do this to help fulfil God’s plan for the world he

created.

God as lawgiver

What do Jews believe?

Jews believe that God gave them free will. God wanted to help the Jews to choose to do the right thing with their free will

so he gave them commandments (mitzvot).

God expects Jews to follow the commandments.

The commandments help Jews to know how God wants them to live.

The Ten Commandments are part of the 613 commandments God gave to Moses.

The commandments forms the Halakhah which is the accepted code of conduct for Jewish life.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In Exodus God gave Moses the 10 Commandments like ‘Do not kill’ and ‘Keep the Sabbath day holy.’

Influence of belief (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

By obeying the mitzvot Jews believe that they are doing what God requires of them and fulfilling his will on earth.

Jews believe that the mitzvot help them to have a good relationship with God as they know how he wants them to live.

God as judge

What do Jews believe?

Jews believe that God not only gave them laws to follow, but also judges them for how well they follow these laws. They

believe that God judges everyone – whether they are Jew or not – based on their actions, behaviour and beliefs.

Jews believe that God is a fair and just judge.

God is merciful and loving. He wants people to be treated fairly based on how they choose to live.

Jews believe there are two main times when God judges them: during the festival of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year)

and after death.

Influence of belief (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews will celebrate Rosh Hashanah by reflecting on their behaviour over the year and to say sorry for anything they have

done wrong. They also pray for goodness and happiness for themselves and their families.

The divine presence (Shekhinah)

What do Jews believe?

Jews believe that God is present on earth and this is what the word Shekhinah means.

When the Jews had escaped from slavery in Egypt they carried a Tabernacle with them. This was like a tent so that it could

be moved easily as they travelled through the desert to Canaan. The Jews believe that the Tabernacle contained the

presence of God.

In the Torah God is also sometimes described as a cloud or a pillar of fire. This was a symbol of God’s presence among his

people.

Some Jews believe that Shekhinah refers to the female qualities of God.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

God appeared as a burning bush when he spoke to Moses.

When God gave Moses the 10 Commandments he appeared as a dense cloud.

Influence of belief (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Shekhinah can help Jews understand suffering, as it means God is alongside them.

Covenant

They settled in Haran on the way to Canaan.

What was the covenant God made with Abraham?

The word covenant means agreement. In the Torah God made covenants with Noah, Abraham and Moses.

The covenants God made with Abraham and Moses were binding for Abraham and Moses as well as the people they represented

and God

The covenants of the Torah were often broken by humans.

Jews believe that God has never broken a covenant and never will. He always keeps his side of the covenant.

God made three covenants with Abraham:

1. God tells Abraham and Sarah to go to the land that he will show him. This was Canaan – this covenant is important because

Abraham was the first human to start worshiping the one true God. It is also important because God promised land to

Abraham and his descendents.

2. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac – this shows that Abraham has complete faith in God.

3. God asks Abraham and his people to circumcise all boys – this is important because circumcision became a physical sign of the

covenant with God.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In Genesis God said he would make Abraham a great nation.

In Genesis God told the Jews that they needed to seal the covenant with all boys being circumcised.

Influence of belief: (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews believe that Israel is the land God promised to Abraham.

Jews today believe that the covenants are still important for them.

They believe that God’s blessings are passed on from Abraham through his descendants, right up to the present-day

Jews.

Jews today believe that God still cares for them and that they remain special people

The 10 Commandments

What was the covenant God made with Moses?

The 10 Commandments form the basis of the covenant between God and the Jews.

The terms of the covenant were that God would be the God of the Jews and would protect them from harm, provided they obeyed

his laws in return.

This is why Jews believe that they are God’s chosen people.

The 10 Commandments gave the Jews important guidelines on how to create a society where people had basic rights and were able

to live in peace with each other.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In the Book of Exodus it explains the story of the Escape from Egypt

In the Book of Exodus there are the 10 Commandments.

Influence of belief: (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews remember the escape from Egypt every year in the festival of the Passover.

Jews believe that God is a lawgiver and so try to follow the commandments.

The commandments form the basis of Halakhah which is the accepted code of conduct for Jewish life.

Jews today believe that the covenants are still important for them.

Messiah

Messiah means ‘the anointed one’; a leader of the Jews who is expected to live on earth at some time in the future.

Messianic Age means a future time of global peace when everyone will want to become closer to God, possibly through the

intervention of the Messiah.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In the Book of Micah it talks about a time when people

will never know war again.

Saul was anointed by Samuel to show that he was chosen

by God to be king.

Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Jews DO

NOT believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

This is because they think Jesus did not fulfil the

expectations that Jews have for their Messiah, especially

in his observance of the Torah law and because Jews do

not believe he established the Messianic Age.

The belief in the coming of the Messiah has helped

Jews when they have been suffering e.g during the

Holocause in World War II.

The Sanctity of Life:

Life on earth

What does sanctity of life mean?

Jews believe that all life is holy because it was created and

loved by God. This means human life should not be misused

or abused.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

Jews believe in the sanctity of life because God breathed

life into Adam and into the whole of creation in Genesis 2.

In Genesis 1 it says that God made humans in his image.

In the Talmud it says that anyone who saves a life, saves the

whole world.

Influence of belief : (how does this affect Jewish beliefs,

attitude, behaviour, actions?)

Jews believe that any action that ends a life is wrong. This

means that murder, euthanasia (helping a terminally ill

person end their life), abortion and the death penalty are

wrong.

Jews believe they should help to preserve human life not

end it.

Orthodox Jews would believe that this means people

should be kept alive whatever the cost. Life support

machines should never be turned off.

Progressive Jews would think that it is ok to remove life

support if the person is being kept alive artificially. This is

because the person should be allowed to die naturally.

Pikuach Nefesh (Saving a Life)

What does it mean?

In the Torah there are 613 mitzvot (commandments)

that Jews are expected to follow.

However, Jews are allowed to break a mitzvah

(commandment) if it means saving a life.

Jews believe this because they believe that all humans

were made in the image of God.

Influence of belief : (how does this affect Jewish

beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

For example, the Torah says Jews should not do any

work on the Sabbath, but Jews are allowed to work if it

means saving a life. A doctor can answer emergency

calls.

Another example is in the Torah it says that when Jews

die their body needs to be complete. This could mean

Jews should not donate organs. Some Jews, however,

would think it is an honour, to donate organs even

though they break the laws about burying the body

whole, because they are saving a life.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In the Talmud it says that anyone who saves a life,

saves the whole world.

Free Will and Mitzvot

What do Jews believe about free will and mitzvot?

Different Jewish beliefs about free will and mitzvot:

Jews believe that following the mitzvot will help them to get closer to God.

There are 248 positive mitzvot and 365 negative mitzvot. Breaking the mitzvot will damage the relationship between God and humans.

Influence of belief : (How does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude,

behaviour, actions?)

Jews will:

- Observe Shabbat each week.

- Pray to God – the shema shows that they are worshipping one God

only, this is one of the 10 Commandments.

- Jews will think about how they treat others. They will follow the

key moral principles:

1. Justice - Try to bring about what is right and fair, according to the

law or making up for wrong doing that has been committed.

2. Healing the world – being involved in God’s work to sustain the

world; it can involve work to increase social justice or to preserve

the environment. This means they support charities for the poor

like World Jewish Relief or charities that protect the environment.

3. Kindness to others – positive, caring actions that should be

shown to all living things.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In the Torah it says “Love your fellow as yourself.”

It also says “You shall love him as yourself.”

The 10 Commandments can be found in the book

of Exodus in the Torah.

Life After Death

What do Jews believe about the afterlife?

There is little teaching about life after death in Jewish holy books; beliefs have developed over centuries, leading to

differences between Jews.

Some Jews believe that life after death will be a physical life - this means the body and the soul will be in heaven.

Some Jews believe that life after death will be a spiritual life- this means that only the soul will go to heaven because only

the soul is immortal, this is called the immortality of the soul.

Heaven and Sheol:

Jews believe that good people will go to heaven and others will go to a place called Sheol. This is a place where the souls

will be cleansed.

Jews believe anyone who has followed their faith properly (lived according to Halakhah) will be judged good enough to go

to heaven.

There is no clear teaching about what heaven is like. But it is believed that heaven will be with God. Jews don’t know if

this will be a physical place or a spiritual place.

Judgement and resurrection:

Some Jews believe that because God is a law-giver and judge that they will be judged as soon as they die.

Some Jews believe they won’t be judged until the end of time when the Messiah comes on the Day of Judgement. They

believe that this is when God will decide who goes to heaven and who goes to hell.

No view:

Some Jews don’t believe in the resurrection but instead have no firm belief about what happens after death.

Sources of wisdom and authority (evidence):

In the Torah it says “and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.” This tells

Jews that just as God created humans from dust they will return to the creator and be judged.

In the Book of Daniel it says that Daniel looks forward to a time of resurrection at some point in the future.

Influence of belief : (how does this affect Jewish beliefs, attitude, behaviour, actions?)

One of the reasons for different opinions about the afterlife is that Jews believe the present is more important and they

should focus on living in a way that is pleasing to God.

A rabbi (teacher) in America used a story to explain why Jews should focus on the present instead of the afterlife. A rich

man thought he would get into heaven just because he was rich, but when he got to heaven he was told deeds are more

important.9

Jewish customs surrounding death

Jews believe death is part of God’s plan.

Judaism teaches Jews should not die alone, if possible.

The dying person’s family should visit and look after them.

It is considered an act of kindness to be with someone when they die and to close the dead person’s eyes

When Jews here the death of a loved one, they make a blessing to God – “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, the

True Judge.”

Intense mourning follows a person’s death, especially when waiting for their burial, and ten for 7 days after the burial, followed by 30

days of lesser mourning. Jews follow these customs to show respect to the dying person and to show that they accept that God has taken their loved one’s life.