Judaism & the Covenant (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

The meaning & significance of the Abrahamic Covenant

What is a covenant?

• A covenant is an agreement between two or more people

  • It can be thought of as a deal in which both sides have responsibilities or duties that must be upheld if the covenant is to be considered binding

• In religion, a covenant is a commitment of love, and it creates a relationship that is different from that of a contract

• Covenants in Judaism can only be established and sealed by an oath

  • The oath is so important in a covenant that the word "oath" is sometimes used instead of the word covenant

• The covenant with God is described as "an everlasting covenant" (Brit Olam)

  • It is the belief that God will never break his covenant with the Jewish people

• The covenant means that Jews believe they have a special relationship with God and a relationship with each other

  • This relationship with God contributes to the Jewish identity and encourages them to examine who they are in relation to God

  • It means that everyone in the community is a member of the covenant and important to God, and therefore, all Jews should be important to each other

• The covenant also helps Jews to focus on their obligation to live as tradition teaches and the way God wants people to live: generously, compassionately and with concern for justice and the welfare of others

What is the covenant of circumcision with Abraham?

• For Jews, Abraham is known as the founder or first patriarch of Judaism, and Jewish people try hard to follow his example

• Abraham was the Jewish prophet who received the first covenant from God and took God’s message to the people

• It was through Abraham that the idea of the Promised Land, a homeland for Jewish people, was created

• There are three main parts of the covenant between God and Abraham

  • God called Abraham and his family to the new land of Canaan, often referred to as the Promised Land

  • God promised Abraham that he would make a great nation for him

  • God promised to bless Abraham and his family

• The story of God giving Abraham the covenant is important in Judaism 

  • Abraham was born in the city of Ur (located in the country now called Iraq) at a time when worshipping idols was common

  • The Book of Genesis explains how God spoke to Abraham in a vision

• God instructed Abraham to leave his home and travel to Canaan, the Promised Land, which is now known as Israel

• God asked Abraham to follow his rules and be a good example to others

• In return, God promised to give Abraham and his wife, Sarah, the child they both longed for and to name their descendants as his chosen people

• Abraham agreed that he and his descendants would obey and worship God and lead by example

• As part of the covenant, God commanded that the covenant be sealed through Abraham’s circumcision

• Abraham kept this covenant, and his wife, Sarah, gave birth to their son, Isaac

• God chose Isaac to inherit the covenant directly from his father, and Isaac handed it on to his own son, Jacob

• Therefore, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are known as Israel’s patriarchs

• As a sign of this continuing covenant, Jewish people perform the rite of circumcision of male babies eight days after they are born, in a ceremony called Brit Milah

What are the mitzvot?

The Torah as a revelation from God

• The Torah is believed to be the Word of God directly revealed to Moses by God on Mount Sinai

• Moses is regarded as the greatest prophet in Judaism

  • Jews believe that he also made an important covenant with God

  • It is believed that Moses is the only person to have ever witnessed God face-to-face

  • Moses delivered the words of God and received miracles sent by God

  • Jews believe that God acted through Moses

• The Torah contains God’s laws, teachings and instructions for life

  • For most Jews, these are viewed as divine and perfect

• The significance of the Torah means that it is central to Jewish life

  • It guides moral decisions, religious practices and daily behaviour

  • It is the source of the 613 mitzvot (commandments)

  • It is studied regularly in yeshivot (Jewish schools) and synagogues

• The Torah is also the foundation of worship within Judaism

  • It is read publicly in synagogue services, especially on Shabbat and festivals

  • It is treated with great respect, handwritten on scrolls, kept in the Ark and never touched directly

• The Torah is also responsible for uniting the Jewish Community

  • Shared beliefs and values from the Torah connect Jews worldwide

  • This is celebrated during Simchat Torah, when the annual reading cycle ends and begins again

What are the mitzvot?

• Jewish people believe they have a special responsibility to follow God’s laws or commandments (called mitzvot in Hebrew), because of the covenants they have made with him

• Maimonides, an influential rabbi, compiled a list of the 613 mitzvot

  • He wanted to provide a summary of Jewish law

• This list is in the Sefer Madda or Book of Knowledge, which is found within the Mishneh Torah

  • The Sefer Madda explains that the foundation of everything is God, and therefore, moral principles should also originate from God

• The Torah contains 613 laws, and these are the mitzvot

  • There are 248 positive mitzvot, which explain what Jews should do. These rules are known as mitzvot aseh

  • There are 365 negative mitzvot, which explain what Jews should not do. These rules are known as mitzvot ta’aseh

• Alternatively, the mitzvot can be divided according to their purpose

• Ritual mitzvot explain what Jews should or should not do to avoid offending God and cover areas such as worship and festivals

  • These mitzvot form a personal covenant between a Jewish person and God

  • The first four of the Ten Commandments are the most important of the ritual mitzvot

• Moral mitzvot explain how Jews should act when dealing with other people

  • They help Jews to live as a community in a way that God finds acceptable

  • The Ten Commandments are important mitzvot as they are the basis for moral behaviour

  • Some laws are judgments from God, for example, "you shall not steal"

  • These are known as mishpatim

• There are also six constant mitzvot. These are rules or laws that should always be in the minds of Jews

• There are also other mitzvot within the Talmud

• The mitzvot attempt to prevent the bond between humans and God from being damaged

What is the difference between Orthodox and Reform Jewish beliefs?

• Orthodox Jews uphold every area of the mitzvot because they believe all Jewish laws are important and should be followed 

• They believe this because:

  • The Torah is the word of God and should be taken literally

  • God’s law must be obeyed, as he is the creator of all life

  • Some laws cannot be obeyed as they refer to the Temple, which no longer exists

  • God will judge them on how well they follow his law, and Jews will be rewarded or punished accordingly

• Reform Jews believe that the ritual side of Judaism can seem a bit outdated and that many of the rules are not compatible with modern life, so they focus on rules that seem more relevant

• They believe this because:

  • Things change over time, and we live in the modern world, so religious rules should be adapted

  • Mitzvot are a good guide to living, but no one can keep to them all

  • Some of the rules are symbolic and should not be taken literally

Why are the Mitzvot important?

• They form the basis of the Halakhah, which is the code of conduct for Jewish life

• How Jewish people conduct their lives will impact what happens after death

• Jews believe that, by following the mitzvot, they will live a good life, meaning that they will be closer to God

• Some Jews believe this will also help them to be judged well in the afterlife and achieve a place in Gan Eden

The importance of the Ten Commandments

What is the Covenant at Sinai?

• Jews believe that:

  • After Moses had led the Israelites (children of Israel) out of Egypt, he took them through the desert, and then he disappeared up a mountain (Mount Sinai)

  • This is when God revealed to Moses the 613 commandments that Jews are expected to follow, including the Ten Commandments

  • God spoke to Moses through a burning bush

  • Many Jews (mainly Orthodox Jews) also believe that Moses was given the oral Torah, which was passed down by word of mouth to help people interpret the written Torah

• Moses was given the Ten Commandments to teach the children of Israel about the most important rules to live by

• Moses formed a covenant with God that, as God’s chosen people, the Israelites would keep the commandments

Why are the Ten Commandments important within Judaism?

• The Ten Commandments are significant within Jewish belief and practice for many reasons

  • They were given by God to Moses and form the foundation of the agreement (covenant) between God and the Jewish people

  • They are part of the Torah and include both religious duties (e.g. worship only God) and moral duties (e.g. respect your parents and do not steal)

  • By following the commandments, Jews demonstrate obedience and loyalty to God as the lawgiver

  • They help Jews understand how to live a holy and ethical life, shaping both personal and community values

  • The principles underpin the wider system of commandments (613 mitzvot) followed in Judaism

  • Keeping the commandments maintains the covenant and shows respect for God’s authority

  • They have shaped legal and moral ideas in Jewish communities and beyond, emphasising justice and responsibility