Judaism & the Nature of God (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

God as One, Creator

The nature of God in Judaism

• The Jewish religion is based on the principle that there is only one indivisible, all-powerful, all-knowing and all-present God, who is fair and just, the creator of the universe and mankind

• According to Judaism, God has many qualities

  • One — According to Jewish teachings, God does not have multiple parts; God is one

  • Omnipotent — God is all-powerful

  • Omnibenevolent — God is all-loving

  • Omniscient — God is all-knowing

  • Omnipresent — God is everywhere at all times

  • Transcendent — God is not limited in ways that humans are; he is beyond the constraints of time and space

  • Immanent — God is present in the world and sustains it

  • Eternal — God has always and will always exist; he is without beginning and without end

  • The creator — God made everything in the universe

  • The lawgiver — God created humans to live in a certain way, and he gave them many spiritual and ethical rules or laws

    • There are 613 of these laws in the Torah

  • The judge — God will judge everyone and punish those who disobey his laws

  • Merciful — God shows compassion

• Views about the nature of God within Judaism are similar to the views of the other Abrahamic religions, Islam and Christianity

God as One, the Creator in Judaism

• Judaism is a strictly monotheistic religion, meaning that Jews believe there is only one God

  • This belief is expressed in the Shema, one of the most important Jewish prayers:

• Jews believe that God is indivisible, meaning that he cannot be divided into different persons or forms

  • This belief separates Judaism from religions such as Christianity, which believe in the Trinity (the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit)

• Because God is one:

  • Jews direct all worship, prayer and obedience only to him

  • God is seen as the source of all life and power

  • There are no images or statues of God in Jewish worship as this would break the Second Commandment (Exodus 20:4)

• The belief in one God unites Jews around the world, forming part of their shared identity

• God is also seen as the sole Creator within Judaism

• Jews believe God is the Creator of the universe and everything within it:

• God created the world from nothing (ex nihilo) and sustains it at every moment

• The creation story in Genesis 1–2 shows God’s power, order and purpose

• God’s role as Creator means:

  • The world is holy and purposeful, not random

  • Humans are made in God’s image (tzelem Elohim), so every life has value and dignity

  • Jews have a duty to care for the world (stewardship) and to protect creation

• Shabbat (the Sabbath) reminds Jews of God’s creation because God rested on the seventh day, and Jews also rest to remember and honour this

God as lawgiver and judge

What is God’s role as lawgiver and judge?

• Jews believe that God revealed moral and religious laws so that humans can live in a relationship with God and with others

  • By obeying these laws, Jews believe they are fulfilling God’s will and reinforcing their covenant relationship with God

• God revealed to Moses the duties that Jews should keep, including the Ten Commandments

  • Through the following of these laws, Jews are fulfilling what God wants and forming a relationship with him

• The Ten Commandments provide Jewish people with a guide of what they should and should not be doing

• The Torah also contains 613 laws called the mitzvot

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

• Following God’s laws is particularly important because he will judge everyone based on how they have or have not followed the laws

  • God judges people on their beliefs and their actions, especially at Rosh Hashanah and after death

The nature and significance of Shekhinah

What is Shekhinah?

• The word “Shekhinah” comes from the Hebrew language, meaning “to dwell” or “to settle”

• In Jewish theology, it refers to the divine presence of God dwelling among humanity or God’s immanence in the world and that God is not just transcendence

• Shekhinah is associated with holy places and moments, including the Tabernacle, the Temple, prayer and study

• Some Jewish teachings describe the Shekhinah in nurturing or feminine terms, a way of expressing closeness and care

• It is also linked to the  community because God is believed to be present when Jews gather

Why is Shekhinah significant within Judaism?

• Shekhinah is significant to Jews for many reasons

  • It strengthens relationships between God and his people, making God close and involved in daily life

  • Worship and community become important because studying the Torah and praying invite God’s presence

  • There is a connection to the covenant because God travels with and supports the Jewish people, even in exile

  • Shekinah encourages moral behaviour because people must act justly and with kindness if God is present

  • It also helps explain the holiness of the Land of Israel and the importance of the Temple