Judaism is considered one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions and one of the most influential on the Western world, especially in regards to its effect on Christianity. Judaism was founded by the prophet Abraham in the Middle East over 3500 years ago, and is largely thought to have been an offshoot of the polytheism practiced at the time. This would eventually be reduced to a single God who, according to Judaic faith, chose Abraham’s descendants as his people.
Belief in one God, otherwise known as monotheism, is core and defining component of Judaism. From the start, Jews worshiped the singular deity known as YHWH, pronounced Yahweh. This would later become one of the most important features of the faith and set it apart in a polytheistic world. This God is portrayed as a loving yet stern figure, who incorporates both justice and mercy and is believed to have created the entirety of the universe and its inhabitants.
In addition to monotheism, key doctrines of Judaism include the belief that God created the world and its people. This included the giving of the Ten Commandments, first to Moses on Mt. Sinai and later to the Israelites, which alongside the Torah (Hebrew scriptures) are accepted as the foundation of the Jewish faith and a way of living. The Jews are ‘The Chosen People’ of God, and were given the task of carrying out his will. This, in part, explains why Judaism puts such emphasis on ethical behaviour and adhering to laws, both in the bible and outside of it.
Furthermore, Jewish faith dictates that only through strong and thorough devotion to the same supreme being, can any true blessing be attained. When human life and nature are cornered to the will of God, everything that happens has a divine purpose.
The promises in the bible from God focus on justice and peace. He promised the Jews their own promised land, a holy place for the Jews who observe his laws. His justice is often promised to be available to those who accidentally ignored his laws. In Judaism, there are always repercussions for actions, but not always punishment. The Bible promotes mercy and understanding as well as penance to undo the consequences of sins.
The Jews are promised to be always by God’s side, but also suffer periodically. The nation of Israel has gone through various struggles over the centuries regarding wars, dissents, and displacement which have been said to be purification of the people. This period of suffering is known as the ‘Golah’, or exile.
Judaism believes in a spiritual afterlife, known as Olam Haba, with souls being taken off to a peaceful place known as the Garden of Eden. This concept is not clearly defined in the bible, and interpretations as to what happens remain speculative.
Belief in Angels
Jews believe in angels, spiritual beings that have a role in leading humanity. They are mentioned several times in the bible, and the concept of heavenly messengers is an everlasting one in Judaism. Angels are fundamentally messengers from God and believed to have powerful abilities and roles from helping people in need to doing the bidding of God.
According to Jewish tradition, angels are given specific tasks that they must carry out. God may also assign angels to protect certain individuals or encourage them to do good deeds. It is believed that angel is not tangible or visible, however some people believe that they interact with the physical world in some way and can extend God’s power.
Messiah in Judaism
Judaism firmly believes in a messiah, an individual of divine origin who will one day come to restore justice, mercy, and peace in the world. This messiah is also known as the “Anointed One” and is expected to be a descendant of King David with the power and authority to establish the Kingdom of God on Earth by bringing together Jews from all over the world.
The Jewish concept of a messiah is far from definitive, and expectations and opinions vary from Jew to Jew. Some view him as a future king to bring justice and peace to the world; others see him as a spiritual leader to better the global society and still others believe that he will be a superhuman who will conquer evil and save humanity. Regardless, Judaism affirms that the messiah is on his way as promised by various biblical verses.
Justice of Jews in Religion
The Jewish tradition emphasizes the importance of justice and seeks to give Jews a means to defend themselves. The bible states that humans must act on their beliefs, values and principles and not allow themselves to be oppressed. This made its way into the Talmud, the codified body of Jewish law, with the creation of courts to handle disputes and the responsibility of local leaders to take care of their people. Through this, Judaism seeks to provide a system of justice for all Jews.
In addition, Jewish faith holds strong the importance of charity and helping those in need. This value is most clearly demonstrated in the 8th day of the Passover festival known as the Shnat Ishmael (“the year of Ishmael”) which instructs Jews to provide for their needy neighbours. Several Judaic passages have attached divine rewards to these acts of charity. Good deeds and kindness towards those in need are viewed as an imperative of any true leader, thus reinforcing the idea of communal responsibilities towards the ill and school.
Concept of Messianic Age in Judaism
The Messianic age is a period in which justice and peace flourish throughout the world due to the arrival and actions of the Messianic figure. This age is described in various biblical books and is said to bring about healing for the entire world, for all living creatures; humans and animals alike. In the Messiah’s time, his reign will extend from Jerusalem and will spread out to all countries, eliminating hatred and oppression.
The Messianic age brings with it ideas of the coming of a perfect world where disease and suffering are a thing of the past, against a backdrop of harmony. Warfare is said to cease to exist, and biblical promises of the restoration of lost families will come to fruition.
The concept of the Messianic age is one of the longest ongoing themes throughout the bible and its various forms of Judaic literature. It is seen by some Jews as part of the ultimate goal set by God, providing hope that one day his promises of justice and peace will come into being.
Free Will Belief in Judaism
Judaism strongly emphasizes the idea that humans have free will and are ultimately responsible for their own actions. In Judaism, God created the world and all its creatures and endowed them with the power to make decisions for themselves. As such, humans must accept responsibility for their decision-making processes and understand the consequences of their choices.
The consequences of human choices and actions often serve as reminders of God’s ultimate will. This idea is seen to run parallel to God’s covenant with his people: if they obey and use their free will for good, then God will provide reward, and if they disobey or sin, then God will provide punishment or correction.
This emphasis on free will and decision-making is integrated into the regular practice of Judaic life and literature, constantly reinforcing the importance of responsibility and accountability. Acknowledging humans’ free will is a cornerstone of the Jewish faith, serving as a reminder to all of us of our ability to choose, and the consequences we may face based on those choices.
Miracles and Divine Intervention
Judaism’s view of miracles is mixed; some believe that miracles are found in nature whereas others view the miraculous as a form of divine intervention into mundane daily life. Miracles are often seen as evidence of divine will, which can come from God directly or delivered through prophets and messengers.
The Jewish belief in miracles is closely coupled with their belief in prophecy and revelation from God, with miracles often seen as a way for God to demonstrate his power and strengthen faith. This concept is reinforced in the bible, with many stories of miracles occurring.
The belief in miracles is also closely related to belief in messianism and free will; those who believe in free will and divine intervention believe that miracles are possible, but that their occurrence depends on the conditions of human action. Jewish traditions also state that one should accept miracles as they come and recognize their occurrence as a sign of God’s power.
Resurrection in Judaism
In Jewish thought, resurrection of the dead is closely linked to a Messianic age and ultimate redemption. Thus, many believe that the general resurrection of the dead is a sign of the Messianic age and will be the final act in the unfolding of God’s plan for the world.
The bible does not speak explicitly about resurrection until recently, but belief in both the resurrection of the dead and the coming of the messiah have been prominent in Jewish history. According to some interpretations, resurrection is closely linked to the divine judgement that occurs after death, with first the wicked and then the righteous being brought back to life.
In contemporary Judaism, belief in resurrection remains strong and is often seen as a proof of the power of God. Belief in resurrection is seen as particularly important as it is related to a belief of life after death, allowing us to cope with our mortality.
