JEWISH BELIEFS IMPORTANT JEWISH TEACHINGS AND BELIEFS The

JEWISH BELIEFS

IMPORTANT JEWISH TEACHINGS AND BELIEFS The Shema (“listen/hear”) § “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One. Blessed be his name, whose glorious kingdom is for ever and ever. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. " (Deut 6: 4 -9) § Shows that God is absolute, the only § Shows that community in faith is important § Shows that a whole body/mind/soul approach to worship is essential

THE COVENANT Covenant = alliance/agreement between God and the people § God will make the Jews a special people and the people will trust in God

MAIMONIDES' THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES [RABBI MOSHE BEN MAIMON (1135 - 1204)] 1. I beli eve with perfect fait h that God is the Creator and R ule r o f a ll thi ngs. He alone has made, d oes make, and will make all thi ngs. I beli eve with perfect fait h that God is One. There is no uni ty t hat is i n any way l ike His. He alone is our God He was, He is, a nd He wi ll be. 2. I beli eve with perfect fait h that God does not have a bo dy. Physi ca l concep ts do not apply to Him. There is nothing whatsoe ver t hat resembles Him at all. 3. I beli eve with perfect fait h that God is first and last. 4. I beli eve with perfect fait h that it is only proper to pray to G od. One may not pray to anyone or anything else. 5. I beli eve with perfect fait h that all the words of the pro phet s ar e t rue. 6. I beli eve with perfect fait h that the prophecy of Moses is ab sol ute ly t rue. He was the chief of all prophets, both before and after Him.

MAIMONIDES' THIRTEEN PRINCIPLES 7. I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that we now have is that which was given to Moses. 8. I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed, and that there will never be another given by God. 9. I believe with perfect faith that God knows all of man's deeds and thoughts. It is thus written (Psalm 33: 15), "He has moulded every heart together, He understands what each one does. ” 10. I believe with perfect faith that God rewards those who keep His commandments, and punishes those who transgress Him. 11. I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah. However long it takes, I will await His coming every day. 12. I believe with perfect faith that the dead will be brought back to life when God wills it to happen. ”

The Unity of God’s concern for humanity The partnership of God and humanity The concern that one person should show for another The belief in a world to come or in the Messiah or in a Messianic Age The covenant, an agreement between God and the people of Israel expressed through God’s laws for the proper use of the universe