Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings | OCR GCSE Religious Studies (J625)
Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings
- 128 questions
- 10 subtopics
- Group 1 papers
- Group 1 papers
Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings is examined in Component Group 1, the Judaism beliefs and teachings & practices paper (J625/03), if Judaism is one of the two religions studied.
It covers G-d as One, Creator, Law-Giver, Judge and Eternal, G-d's characteristics and the problem of suffering in Judaism, Shekinah, the divine presence of G-d, the Covenant at Sinai and the role of Moses, the Messiah and the Messianic Age, the Promised Land and the Covenant with Abraham, mitzvot, free will and Divine Providence, ethical and ritual Mitzvot, the sanctity of life and Pikuach Nefesh and Jewish beliefs about the soul and life after death.
Sample questions from Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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G-d as One, Creator, Law-Giver, Judge and Eternal
What does Genesis 1:1–2 teach about creation?
Show the answer
Genesis 1:1 states that in the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty, with the spirit of G-d hovering over the waters. -
G-d's characteristics and the problem of suffering in Judaism
What does it mean that G-d is beyond time and space?
Show the answer
G-d is not part of the physical universe and is not limited by it. Human language can only partly describe G-d. -
Shekinah, the divine presence of G-d
What do Exodus 40:35 and Numbers 9:16 describe at the Tabernacle?
Show the answer
Exodus 40:35 says the cloud and G-d's glory filled the Tabernacle, so Moses could not enter. Numbers 9:16 says the cloud covered it by day and looked like fire by night. -
The Covenant at Sinai and the role of Moses
Explain what Jews mean by calling themselves the chosen people.
Show the answer
The Jewish people were chosen to receive the Torah and to live by it. Chosenness means extra responsibility, not superiority over others. -
The Messiah and the Messianic Age
How is Elijah remembered at the Pesach Seder?
Show the answer
A cup of wine is poured for Elijah, and the door is opened to welcome him. Families express the hope that the Messiah will come soon. -
The Promised Land and the Covenant with Abraham
Why is Abraham important in Judaism?
Show the answer
Abraham is the first patriarch and the father of the Jewish people. Abraham recognised that there is only one G-d and left idol worship behind. -
Mitzvot, free will and Divine Providence
What is Divine Providence?
Show the answer
Divine Providence is G-d's care for and guidance of the world and every person in it. Jews believe nothing lies outside G-d's knowledge and concern. -
Ethical and ritual Mitzvot
Explain the difference between ethical and ritual mitzvot.
Show the answer
Ethical mitzvot usually have reasons people can understand, such as the ban on stealing. Many ritual mitzvot, such as the food laws, are kept simply because G-d commanded them.
The 10 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| G-d as One, Creator, Law-Giver, Judge and Eternal | The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4–9, Genesis 1 on creation and on human beings, the judgements made at Rosh Hashanah, the Last Day, and Orthodox and Reform views of G-d's judgement. | 12 |
| G-d's characteristics and the problem of suffering in Judaism | G-d as all-powerful, all-good, all-knowing and everywhere, beyond time and space, Orthodox and Liberal views of intervention, Job and G-d's answer to him, Jonah, and two Jewish responses to suffering. | 13 |
| Shekinah, the divine presence of G-d | The link with mishkan, the pillar of cloud and fire in Exodus 13, the glory on Sinai and at the Tabernacle, the Talmud on Shekinah in exile, the feminine and the Sefirot, and the prophets. | 13 |
| The Covenant at Sinai and the role of Moses | Exodus 19:5–6 and 24:7, the chosen people, the Hebrew name for the Ten Commandments and how they are divided, Moshe Rabbenu, and what Sinai means to Orthodox and Reform Jews today. | 13 |
| The Messiah and the Messianic Age | Qualities expected of the Messiah, Elijah and his place at the Seder, Ezekiel 37, Micah 4 and Isaiah 11 on the age to come, Shabbetai Zevi, and Orthodox and Reform hopes. | 13 |
| The Promised Land and the Covenant with Abraham | G-d's promise in Genesis 12 and its later development, what Abraham's descendants owed in return, the test of Genesis 22, Isaiah 51:3, Jerusalem in Micah, the founding of modern Israel, and Jewish attitudes to it. | 13 |
| Mitzvot, free will and Divine Providence | How many mitzvot the Torah holds, positive and negative commandments, Job 42:2 and Jonah on Providence, Deuteronomy 30:19, the yetzer hatov and yetzer hara, and Pikuach Nefesh with its three exceptions. | 13 |
| Ethical and ritual Mitzvot | Mitzvot bein adam laMakom and bein adam lechavero, Hillel's summary of the whole Torah, why Yom Kippur cannot atone for wrongs to others, Numbers 15:37–41, and why lists of the 613 differ. | 13 |
| The sanctity of life and Pikuach Nefesh | Genesis 1:27 and Exodus 20:13, the Mishnah on saving one life, Leviticus 19:16, saving life on Shabbat and fast days, the treatment of animals, and whether the principle extends to relieving suffering. | 12 |
| Jewish beliefs about the soul and life after death | Soul and body in Genesis 2:7, resurrection and Daniel 12:2–3, Sheol, Gan Eden and Gehenna, how long souls stay in Gehenna, and why Jews focus more on this life than the next. | 13 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR GCSE Religious Studies Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,800 questions with their answers.