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Edexcel A-level Religious Studies (9RS0) · Study of Religion: Judaism (Paper 4E Option)
Mini-Lesson

Study of Religion: Judaism

This overview covers core Jewish beliefs, sources of authority and practices: monotheism, the covenant, the Torah, and the commandments (mitzvot).

Judaism spans Orthodox and Reform (and other) movements that share the same foundations. Answer the questions and collect ⭐.

Monotheism

One God: the Shema

Judaism is strictly monotheistic. The Shema declares: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). God is the creator, lawgiver and judge, who is one and beyond image.

Check

The Shema

1The Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4) declares that:
Covenant

The covenant

Central to Judaism is the covenant — a binding relationship between God and the Jewish people.

  • The covenant with Abraham (Genesis) marked out a people, with circumcision as its sign.
  • The covenant at Sinai, through Moses, gave the Torah and its commandments.
Check

The covenant

2At Mount Sinai, the covenant with Moses gave the Jewish people:
Torah & Tanakh

Torah, Tanakh and oral law

  • The Torah (the first five books) is the heart of scripture.
  • The Tanakh is the whole Hebrew Bible: Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings).
  • The oral Torah, later written down in the Mishnah and Talmud, interprets and applies the commandments.
Check

The Tanakh

3The Tanakh is made up of the Torah, the Nevi’im and the:
Practice

Mitzvot, practice and the Messiah

Jewish life is shaped by the mitzvot — the commandments (traditionally counted as 613 in the Torah). Practices include Shabbat (the Sabbath, from Friday evening to Saturday nightfall), kashrut (kosher food laws) and prayer in the synagogue. Many Jews await a future Messiah; belief and observance differ between Orthodox and Reform movements.

Sort it

Belief, covenant or practice?

Sort each item into the correct category.

🕎 Belief

🤝 Covenant / history

🍽️ Practice

Match

Term to meaning

Match each term to its meaning.

Statement
Answer
Recap

The big ideas to know

Monotheism: One God; the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Covenant: Abraham (Genesis) and Moses at Sinai (the Torah)

Scripture: Torah; the Tanakh (Torah, Nevi’im, Ketuvim); oral Torah (Mishnah, Talmud)

Practice: The 613 mitzvot; Shabbat; kashrut; Orthodox and Reform movements

Connect each belief to the covenant and to practice. Press Finish.

🏆

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