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by emelea velasquez on March 29th, 2005

emelea velasquez

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What are the basic beliefs of Judaism?

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  • by kanjalid on April 1st, 2005

    kanjalid

    The Jewish People believe there is one God who created and rules the world. This God is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (in all places at all times). God is also just and merciful.

    Judaism is an ethical religion. When the Israelites accepted the Ten Commandments from God at Mount Sinai, they committed themselves to following a code of law which regulates both how they worship and how they treat other people.

    -The Ten Commandments-

    I am the Lord your God
    You shall not recognize the gods of others in My presence
    You shall not take the Name of the Lord your God in vain
    Remember the day of shabbat to keep it holy
    Honor your father and your mother
    You shall not murder
    You shall not commit adultery
    You shall not steal
    Do not give false testimony against your neighbor
    You shall not covet your fellow's possessions
    It is believed that each person is created in the image of one God. Therefore, all people are created equal. Furthermore, our likeness to God is in our intellectual ability to understand. Judaism believes that people have freewill and are responsible for the choices made.

    Judaism believes the Land of Israel was part of the covenant made between God and the Jewish People at Mount Sinai. Since the time of Abraham, there has been a continual Jewish presence in the Land of Israel.

    Jews believe the Messiah (Mashiach) will be a person (not a god), from the family of King David, who will lead the world to unity and peace. Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah.

    *Rambam's thirteen principles of faith is the most widely-accepted list of Jewish beliefs:
    1. G-d exists.
    2. G-d is one and unique.
    3. G-d is incorporeal.
    4. G-d is eternal.
    5. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone.
    6. The words of the prophets are true.
    7. Moses was the greatest prophet, and his prophecies are true.
    8. The Torah was given to Moses.
    9. There will be no other Torah.
    10. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
    11. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked.
    12. The Messiah will come.
    13. The dead will be resurrected.

    The following famous story from the Talmud best summarizes the essence of Judaism. A non-Jew asked Rabbi Hillel to teach him all about the Torah while standing on one foot. Rabbi Hillel said: "What is hateful to you, don't do unto your neighbor. The rest is commentary. Now, go and study."

    http://judaism.about.com/library/3_intro/level1/bl_beliefs.htm

    *Note on the spelling of God (G-d) in Rambam's thirteen principles of faith: Because the name of God is so holy, in Hebrew there are several ways to say God's without profaning the name itself, which is not to be said aloud. Ha'shem or Adonai are examples of words used to refer to God. Out of respect to Orthodox and very pious, or devout Jews, the word God is frequently spelled in English as G-d.

    http://www.dlux.net/~holocaustart/under%20wings%20bacground.htm

    Comments

    • this help a lot.. thank you

      MaryMary

      by MaryMary on May 1st, 2005

    • Interesting, Hillel quoted Jesus (Matthew 7:12). As far as the Messiah not being God, ever read Matthew 22:41-45?

      Joshua Zambrano

      by Joshua Zambrano on March 17th, 2006

    • More like the both paraphrased Leviticus 19:18.

      TShilo12

      by TShilo12 on May 12th, 2008

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