Jewish Beliefs & Teachings: Sanctity of Life & the Mitzvot (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies A: Judaism): Flashcards
Exam code: 1RA0
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- FrontSanctity of Life
Define pikuach nefesh.
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Cards in this collection (31)
Define pikuach nefesh.
Pikuach nefesh is the principle that saving a human life is more important than any mitzvot or religious consideration.
Why do Jews believe that life is sacred?
Jews believe life is sacred because it is a gift from God, the creator of all life, and God made humans in his image (Genesis 1:27).
True or False?
The Torah teaches that humans may decide when a life should end.
False.
The Torah teaches that only God, as the creator, should decide when life begins or ends.
One of the Ten Commandments is "You shall not _______" (Exodus 20:13).
One of the Ten Commandments is "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13).
What may a doctor do on the Sabbath because of pikuach nefesh?
A doctor may break the Sabbath laws to save a person’s life.
Which Torah teaching supports the principle of pikuach nefesh?
The Torah teaches: "Do not do anything that endangers your neighbour’s life" (Leviticus 19:16).
The Talmud teaches that a person should live by the law, "and not that he shall ___ by them" (Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 85b).
The Talmud teaches that a person should live by the law, "and not that he shall die by them" (Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 85b).
True or False?
Jews may eat food that is not kosher if they need it to survive.
True.
Because of pikuach nefesh, preserving life comes before the food laws in a case of life or death.
Give one example from the Talmud Yoma of breaking the Sabbath laws to save a life.
Examples from the Talmud Yoma include:
rescuing a child who is drowning
breaking apart a collapsed wall to save a child
breaking down a door that is closing on a child
putting out a fire that threatens a person’s life
Why do many Jews choose a career such as health worker or fire officer?
Because of pikuach nefesh, many Jews aim to have a career that helps in saving life, whether human or animal.
True or False?
All Jews reject abortion, even when the mother’s life is at risk.
False.
Because of pikuach nefesh, some Jews say that abortion should be allowed if the mother’s life is at risk.
Why do Orthodox Jews not allow artificial contraception?
Orthodox Jews do not allow artificial contraception because of the sacred nature of the male seed.
Because of pikuach nefesh, some Jews allow the use of _________ to prevent the transmission of life-threatening diseases such as HIV.
Because of pikuach nefesh, some Jews allow the use of condoms to prevent the transmission of life-threatening diseases such as HIV.
Why do some Orthodox Jews not permit organ donation?
Some Orthodox Jews do not permit organ donation because a mitzvah prohibits any disturbance of a dead body.
True or False?
Orthodox Jews often take a stricter view of pikuach nefesh than other Jews.
True.
Orthodox Jews often take a stricter view, although these decisions are often personal, and each Jew makes them by their own interpretation.
Define mitzvot.
The mitzvot are the rules that God wished the Jewish people to observe as their part of keeping the Mosaic Covenant.
Moses received ___ mitzvot from God on Mount Sinai.
Moses received 613 mitzvot from God on Mount Sinai.
What is the Oral Torah?
The Oral Torah is the explanation of the mitzvot that God gave to Moses, which priests, judges and rabbis passed on and later wrote down in the Talmud.
Define Halakhah.
The Halakhah is the Jewish law that comes from the written and oral Torah together.
True or False?
The Halakhah can never adapt to modern ideas and inventions.
False.
While the mitzvot do not change, the Halakhah can adapt to modern ideas, such as whether driving a car counts as "work" on the Sabbath.
Who compiled the Mishneh Torah?
The Jewish rabbi Maimonides compiled the Mishneh Torah in the twelfth century.
What does free will mean for Jews in relation to the mitzvot?
Free will means Jews are free to keep the mitzvot or to ignore them, acting in moral or immoral ways.
Because Jews choose to keep the mitzvot of their own free will, God can ______ them for their actions if they fail to do so.
Because Jews choose to keep the mitzvot of their own free will, God can judge them for their actions if they fail to do so.
What does the word mitzvah mean?
Mitzvah means "commandment", but it also links to the word "connection".
True or False?
For Jews, keeping the mitzvot is simply obeying a list of rules.
False.
Keeping the mitzvot has a deeper spiritual meaning: it is a way to communicate with God through their actions and to show respect for God.
How do the mitzvot express a relationship between God and humans?
By giving the mitzvot, God reaches out to humans; by keeping them, humans reach back to God.
Define chukim.
Chukim are mitzvot that have no stated reason, such as the law on keeping kosher.
True or False?
Jews keep chukim because they make society fairer.
False.
Jews see chukim as a test of faith from God; they keep them only to demonstrate their faith and build a relationship with God.
The Talmud says that "The mitzvot were given for the purpose of __________ people".
The Talmud says that "The mitzvot were given for the purpose of refining people".
Why do Orthodox Jews see the mitzvot as key to their faith?
Orthodox Jews see the mitzvot as key because they cover every aspect of Jewish life, so they must consider them in every action they take.
How might Liberal and Reform Jews view the mitzvot?
Liberal and Reform Jews do not believe the rules came directly to Moses from God, so they may interpret them less literally and keep some but not others.
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