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June 2022

Q1.1: Which one of the following is a word used by Jews to describe the nature of God?

Put a tick () in the box next to the correct answer. A Limited B Many C Merciful D Unjust

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority. Answer: C: Merciful

Q1.2: Give two Jewish beliefs about the sanctity of human life.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority. considered for marking. The sanctity of human life means that humans have especial value / ‘God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life’ (Genesis 2:7) / human life has a higher status than animal life / humans are made in the image of God, ‘God created mankind in his own image’(Genesis 1:27) / all humans have equal dignity / human life is precious because it is God-given / life is sacred / human life is planned and sustained by God / ‘Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you’ (Jeremiah 1:5) / Pikuach Nefesh is a principle in Judaism that puts the preservation of human life above almost every other religious consideration / breaking Sabbath law is permitted if it saves human life, etc.

Q1.3: Explain two ways in which beliefs about life after death influence Jews today.

Answer:

individuals, communities and societies. To be a ‘detailed explanation’ the ‘influence’ of the way must be included. • Some Jews believe that the wicked will be punished in the afterlife so it matters how Jews lead their life on earth / ‘Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, others to reproaches, to everlasting abhorrence.’ (Daniel 12:2) / Jews will follow the 613 mitzvot / Judaism wouldn’t have so many rules about how to live an ethical life if God did not expect them to follow them / key moral principles such as justice, healing the world, charity and kindness to others are expected from Jews / the choices they make will always have consequences / they will want to act in a way to please God so that God will judge them favourably on the Day of Judgement. • For some Jews, the 613 mitzvot, Ten Commandments, chesed (human kindness and love) and using freewill for good are not necessarily linked to belief in life after death but are just considered the right thing to do / so belief in the afterlife should not affect how Jews live their lives. • After death many Jews believe that all but the truly righteous souls descend to a place of purification called Sheol for twelve months where they experience the harm they have done, reflect on opportunities that they have missed and can show remorse / after Sheol, all but the most wicked go on to Gan Eden / this can be seen as a second chance so the current life is not • Many Jewish people today do not focus on life after death, but rather focus on this life to get it right now / this is because of being pragmatic - no one knows what happens after death, so just focus on this life, eg follow mitzvot / if there is an afterlife, then it will be taken care of / Judaism teaches that what is important is how a person lives their life and what happens after death should be left to God. Good deeds should be done for their own sake / ‘Be not like servants who serve their master for the sake of receiving a reward’. (Ethics of the Fathers 1:3). • According to Talmud Berakhot 57b, Gehinnom (Hell) is sixty times hotter than earthly fire so should be avoided by living good lives / after Sheol (place of purification) all but the most wicked go on to Gan Eden a heavenly realm where souls reside after physical death to be reunited with their ancestors, but how they live their lives affects this decision / Judaism is clear that there is a world to come (Olam Ha-Ba) / and that the righteous of all nations will have a share in it so it is important to be classed among the righteous, etc.

Q1.4: Explain two Jewish beliefs about God as Law-Giver.

Refer to sacred writings or another source of Jewish belief and teaching in your answer.

Answer:

beliefs, practices and sources of authority. Relevant and accurate reference to sacred writing or another source of Jewish belief and teaching – 1 mark • Basic Jewish belief that God gave the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai / Torah means law, believed by some Jews to be the Word of God / Torah the source of 613 mitzvot that form the basis of Halakhah / obeying God’s laws is fulfilling God’s will on earth / 613 mizvot provide the basis of God’s relationship with his people which is the purpose of God being a Law-Giver / Jews believe that all aspects of their lives are ruled by God / If Jews followed these rules, God would protect them from harm as outlined in the covenant. • God gives laws to guide the Jews to live a life that is pleasing to him / Jews are expected to follow God’s laws (mitzvot) to show their obedience to him / through following the laws Jews are showing they are God’s chosen people / how an individual can become a Mensch (a person of integrity) / acts of loving kindness (gemilut chasadim). • God as Law-Giver wanted to give Torah to the world but nations refused after learning of the restrictions, when God approached the Jews, they replied, “we will do and we will listen.” • God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai / inscribed on two tablets of stone / given after the escape from slavery in Egypt / first four commandments between man and God, rest are how humans should treat each other / Jews believe all are of equal importance. • In providing the Ten Commandments and the other mitzvot, Jews believe that God has set the basis of his relationship with his people, that is the purpose of God being the Law-Giver / the mitzvot are seen as points of guidance to help Jewish people use their free will correctly / Jews believe that they have free will to follow the mitzvot / by following the mitzvot, they will live a good life, meaning that they will be closer to God, God will forgive those who ask if they break the law,

Sources of authority might include:

Exodus 19:8 ‘Do everything the Lord has said.’ Exodus 20 ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ Exodus 20:4 ‘You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.’ Exodus 20:7 ‘You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.’ Exodus 20:8 ‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy’ Exodus 20:12 ‘Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.’ Exodus 20:13 ‘You shall not murder.’ Exodus 20:14 ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ Exodus 20:15 ‘You shall not steal.’ Exodus 20:16 ‘You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.’ Exodus 20:17 ‘You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.’ Exodus 24:7 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the Lord has said; we will obey.” Accept any recognised mitzvot quoted from the Torah.

Q1.5: ‘For Jews, the most important mitzvot are those between man and man.’

Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Jewish teaching • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion.

[SPaG 3 marks]

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Answer:

In your answer you should: • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view [SPaG 3 marks] understanding of relevant evidence and information. References to religion applied to the issue. relevant evidence and information. Clear reference to religion. evidence and information. evidence and arguments must be credited.

Arguments in support

• The mitzvot between man and man are important for civilised society / how a Jew treats other people is very important / man is made in the image of God so to mistreat a human is not obeying the sanctity of life / this is why there are mitzvot in relation to how to treat other people (the latter six of the Ten Commandments) / Jews need to demonstrate their ethical beliefs in how they deal with others / ‘Better to be poor than a liar.’ (Proverbs 19:22) • There are mitzvot about how a Jew must treat different groups within society / including women / children / the elderly / the poor / the oppressed / the persecuted / those outcast from society / people of other faiths / criminals / Jews believe it pleases God if they obey mitzvot between man • Living the faith is most important in Judaism / faith does not operate in a vacuum / it would be impossible to show a relationship with God if worship was kept purely to the synagogue / Jews needs to show their devotion to God by the way in which they participate in their community / stand up against injustice / work for social justice / care for the planet / and live their life / ‘Love your neighbour as yourself; I am your God’ (Leviticus 19:18) teaches how people treat others is part of a Jew's relationship with God, etc.

Arguments in support of other views

• The mitzvot between man and God are the foundations of the faith / the Shema is the most important belief in Judaism / Jews are commanded to love their God with all their heart, soul and might / one cannot be Jewish without a relationship with God / obeying positive mitzvot strengthens bond with God / gives Jewish people their identity. • Six constant mitzvot that some Jews believe should always be in their minds / know there is a God / do not believe in other gods / know that God is one / love God / fear God / do not be misled by personal desires. • The practices of Judaism are all focused on a Jew’s relationship with God / for instance prayer and synagogue worship / first four of the Ten Commandments govern a Jew’s relationship with God / only worship one God / do not make images of him / do not misuse his name, etc. • The Shabbat is all about prayer and deepening the connection between Jews and God / remember and observe the Sabbath / festivals commemorate times when God showed his love for the Jewish people. • A Jew has a covenant relationship with God / this means that Jews are obliged to keep God’s laws / and to try to bring holiness to every aspect of life / by following the mitzvot Jews are showing their respect for God / their life is an act of worship, etc.