Mini-Lesson

Developments in Religious Thought: Judaism

Component 03 · Option — study ONE religion

This is the Component 03 option in Judaism: an overview of Jewish religious thought — its sources of authority, its understanding of the one God and the covenant, the self and afterlife, its moral principles, and the challenges it faces.

Component 03 · optional route (Judaism). For OCR H573 you study just ONE religion in depth for Component 03. Work through this lesson only if Judaism is your chosen option; another student may study Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism or Hinduism instead.

Work through each screen, weigh the range of scholarly views, answer the questions as you go and collect ⭐ stars. Press Start when you are ready.

Sources of authority

Jewish thought is grounded in sacred text and tradition:

The Tenakh — the Hebrew Bible (Torah, Nevi'im/Prophets, Ketuvim/Writings).
The Torah is central — the teaching and law understood to be given to Moses at Sinai.
The oral Torah, gathered in the Talmud (Mishnah and Gemara) and developed by the rabbis, guides how the law (halakhah) is applied.

Quick check

The Torah

?Within Judaism, what is the Torah?

Ultimate reality

One God and the covenant

Judaism is strongly monotheistic. The Shema declares: 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.'

God is the one Creator, lawgiver and redeemer.
Central is the covenant (brit) — the special relationship between God and the people of Israel, from Abraham through Moses.
The covenant brings both privilege and responsibility: to live faithfully by God commandments.

Quick check

The Shema

?What does the Shema affirm?

Self and afterlife

The self and the afterlife

Judaism places strong emphasis on this life and on faithful living now.

Beliefs about the afterlife are less defined than in some other faiths; ideas include olam ha-ba (the world to come) and resurrection.
The focus is on doing God will in the present world through good deeds and obedience to the covenant.

Sort it

Belief or practice?

Tap an item, then whether it is mainly a belief or a practice.

💭 Belief

🕎 Practice

Moral principles

Jewish ethics is rooted in living out the covenant:

The mitzvot — the commandments (traditionally 613), including the Ten Commandments — shape daily life.
Tikkun olam — 'repairing the world' — expresses a calling to justice and compassion.
Tzedakah (righteous giving) and the pursuit of justice are central duties.

Quick check

Mitzvot

?What are the mitzvot in Judaism?

Identity and challenges

Identity and modern challenges

Expression of identity: Jewish life is marked by Shabbat (the Sabbath), festivals such as Passover and Yom Kippur, dietary laws (kashrut) and the synagogue. Movements include Orthodox, Reform and Conservative Judaism.

Challenges to Jewish thought today:

The Holocaust (Shoah) raises acute questions about God and suffering.
Secularism and assimilation in modern society.
Debates over tradition, reform and diversity of practice.

Match it

Key terms

Tap a term, then its meaning.

Term

Means

Quick check

A modern challenge

?Which is a major challenge for Jewish thought in the modern period?

Recap

The big ideas to take into the exam

Sources of authority: the Tenakh, the central Torah given to Moses, and the Talmud/rabbinic tradition

Ultimate reality: one God (the Shema) and the covenant (brit) with Israel

Self and afterlife: a strong focus on this life; less defined afterlife (olam ha-ba, resurrection)

Moral principles: the mitzvot, tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah

Identity and challenges: Shabbat, festivals, kashrut; the Holocaust, secularism and reform

This is the Judaism option for Component 03. Press Finish for your score.

🏆

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⭐⭐⭐

You have surveyed key developments in Jewish thought for Component 03. ✡️

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