Since its origin some 3,500 years ago, Judaism has been a faith of intense relationship and profound awe between God and humanity. Even though it has evolved over the centuries, many of its core beliefs about the divine remain unchanged. Although a strong affinity for monotheism is at the center of Jewish thought, Judaism’s approach to understanding God is quite dynamic and complex, placing an emphasis on the relationship between God and humanity.
In Jewish mystical thought, God is understood to be both utterly transcendent, embracing all of existence beyond human immediacy, and yet also intimately present in individual lives. The Hebrew Bible, from which Jews derive most of their doctrines, depicts God as both the creator and ultimate Lawgiver who determines divine law. At the same time, God is portrayed as a loving father who interacts with humanity and deeply desires a relationship with each person.
Traditional Jewish theology holds that God is omniscient and omnipotent, yet can also be appealed to supplication, repentance, and devotion. In this view, God’s transcendence includes qualities such as justice, mercy, righteousness, and faithfulness. In Jewish liturgy, God is commonly referred to as the “Rock of Israel,” the source of healing, and the protectorate of the downtrodden and oppressed.
Judaism is adamant about not creating a corporeal representation of God. Embodied in the Ten Commandments is God’s unequivocal statement that humans should not make and worship images or idols. As part of this commandment, Jews believe that God should not be given physical anthropomorphic aspects, as this would imply that God is limited by human form.
At the same time, traditional Jewish thought does not tend to focus on doctrine for its own sake. Instead, a great emphasis is given to both deepening religious practice and clarifying understanding of God through the lenses of everyday living and personal morality. Within this framework, the notion of God is developed and shaped over time, gradually changing and evolving as one experience life and engages in a process of personal religious development.
Jewish Scripture and God
The Hebrew Bible plays an integral role in Judaism’s understanding of God. Through its collection of narratives, laws, and teachings, the Bible provides a framework for understanding God’s nature. Although open to interpretation, this understanding moves beyond a simple definition of God as an all-powerful being, instead emphasizing the relationship between God and humanity.
The Bible reveals a broad view of God in which God is both mysterious and knowable, both beyond-human and still connected to humans. Many stories and passages in the Bible present God as interacting closely with humanity and communicating prophetically with individuals. This emphasis on relationship often manifests as God taking on a personal, fatherly role in which emotional and moral expectations are made clear.
God’s omnipotence is often in the background of these tales as a constant, unquestioned truth, yet it isn’t necessarily the central focus or the point of the stories. Rather, the relationship between God and humans is at the forefront, leading to an understanding of the divine as primarily relational.
Jewish Prayer and Devotion
Prayer is a central part of Jewish life, and its purpose is often to establish a sense of connection with God. Prayer serves to offer praise, supplication, and gratitude, and it also can be used as an opportunity to reflect on moral issues and deepen one’s understanding of the divine.
Prayer is conducted in both formal and informal settings. Traditional prayers, such as the Shema, are prayed communally in synagogues and at other gatherings, while private prayer often occurs at home and in other settings. Prayer can also take on more informal forms, such as conversations with God in moments of personal distress or joy.
Jewish devotion also includes study and practice of rabbinic teachings, acts of charity, adherence to the halakhic code of law, and simple acts of kindness on a daily basis. All of these acts are entwined in the practice of recognizing and responding to God’s presence in the world.
Jewish Ethics and Holidays
At a fundamental level, Jewish ethical practice is centered around the notion that one is performing the divine will in their everyday life. In Judaism, ethical action is not only a matter of inwardly reflecting and considering moral issues, but also of actively engaging with the situations and people around them. This includes acts such as responding to injustice, helping those in need, and showing compassion.
Jewish holidays are also an important means of engaging with God and building a relationship with the divine. Holidays such as Passover, Hanukkah, and Purim offer opportunities for prayer, reflection, and celebration, as well as reminders of God’s role in the world and in Jewish history. Additionally, these holidays can be examined for their underlying moral implications and for what the stories of each holiday can teach about connecting to God and responding to the divine.
Jewish Mysticism and Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism, known as Kabbalah, has also played an important role in the development of Judaism’s understanding of God. Kabbalah is based in scripture and in the teachings of the rabbis, but it delves even further into the spiritual aspects of Jewish life. It views the divine in terms of speaking and understanding the language of God, and of participating in the ongoing creation of the world.
The Kabbalistic view of God is centered around the concept of the sefirot, or divine attributes. These are both the transcendent attributes of God and the interior qualities of the divine that exist within each person. This view is highly interconnected, seeing the relationship between humanity and the divine reflected in the relationships between the sefirot.
In Kabbalah, the understanding of the divine is directly linked to personal spiritual cultivation and self-reflection. Kabbalah teaches that the revelation of the divine is a process of ascent, in which each person climbs toward a deeper level of understanding of the divine. It ultimately teaches that God is to be found in the depths of the self, and that there is a potential for spiritual communion between each individual and the divine.
Jewish Awe and Love
Ultimately, Jewish thought portrays a vision of God that is both awe-inspiring and yet still reachable. Within this vision, a deep, personal relationship with God is possible through prayer, study, and reflection. Additionally, the relationship between God and humanity is seen as one of love and care, reflected in the relationship between a parent and their child. As such, Judaism encourages its adherents to regard the divine not just as a distant concept, but as a living presence to be engaged in one’s life.
To this end, there is an emphasis on humility before the divine, but at the same time an understanding that God wishes for a relationship with each person to flourish. In this view, God is seen as a source of protection, comfort, and direction, as well as an all-encompassing force to be experienced, worshipped, and cherished.
Jewish Law and Responsibility
For the dedicated Jew, laws, regulations, common practices, and observance all help to bring Jews closer to the divine. How one acts in the presence of God can demonstrate faith and devotion, both of which are integral components of Judaism. Additionally, in Judaism, one’s responsibilities to God are seen as inseparable from one’s responsibilities to humanity as a whole.
In this vein, taking responsibility for one’s action and the action of others is seen as key in connecting to God. In many cases, this means both caring for oneself and caring for those around one, which includes both other humans and the environment. This type of responsible action is seen as part of an individual’s duty to God and is seen as an integral part of religious practice.
Jewish Life and Rituals
In Judaism, rituals and practices such as prayer, hospitality, charity, and the keeping of sacred days serve a dual purpose. On the one hand, they are vehicles for deepening understanding and engagement of the divine. On the other, they act as tangible reminders that God is ever-present in one’s life, comforted by the knowledge that the divine can always be accessed in times of need.
In Judaism, remembering and honoring God is integral to one’s faith. This includes both moments of solemn introspection and times of joyous celebration, all while bearing in mind the unique relationship between God and humanity. As such, Judaism provides an opportunity to deepen one’s understanding of the divine, build a spiritual relationship with the divine, and observe one’s moral and ethical responsibilities.
