Beliefs about G-d

Before the covenants, know what Jews believe about the G-d who makes them. The syllabus lists:

• G-d is one — the great declaration of Jewish faith, the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), begins 'Hear, O Israel: the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one'.
• G-d is merciful and just, the creator and sustainer of all things.
• G-d has no body, and is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.

Many Jews write 'G-d' rather than the full word, to avoid the possibility of erasing or destroying G-d's name. It is a mark of reverence, and worth doing in your exam answers if you wish.

The covenant with Abraham

The call and covenant of Abraham

Abraham is the first patriarch. He is called to leave his country for a land G-d will show him (Genesis 12:1–3), and G-d makes a covenant — a binding agreement — with him.

The syllabus is precise about its content:

• G-d promises land and offspring — descendants as numerous as the stars.
• Abraham must believe in the one G-d.
• The sign of the covenant is circumcision (Genesis 17).

Brit Milah

Brit Milah: the covenant kept today

The Abrahamic covenant is not history for Jews — it is renewed in every generation.

• Brit Milah ('covenant of circumcision') is performed on a Jewish baby boy on the eighth day.
• The mohel performs the circumcision; the sandek holds the baby.
• The child is given his Hebrew name at the ceremony.

Exam link: if a question asks how Jews show their covenant relationship with G-d, Brit Milah is the sharpest example — the sign is written on the body.

Abraham, Moses, or both?

Tap a card, then tap where it belongs.

Isaac, Jacob and the twelve tribes

The covenant passes down the family:

• Isaac, the promised son of Abraham and Sarah.
• Jacob, renamed Israel — from whom the people take their name, the children of Israel.
• Jacob's sons become the ancestors of the twelve tribes. Through Joseph, the family ends up in Egypt, where their descendants are later enslaved.

Judaism also honours the matriarchs — Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah — who are named in prayer in many communities.

The covenant with Moses

Moses and the Exodus

Moses is called by G-d at the burning bush (Exodus 3) to bring the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt.

• After the plagues, the Israelites are spared in the final plague and leave Egypt — the Exodus.
• Jews remember this every year at Pesach (Passover), with the Seder meal and the Haggadah.

Key idea: the Exodus is the story of G-d as liberator. Jewish teaching about justice for the stranger and the oppressed constantly points back to it: you were slaves in Egypt.

The Shema

The covenant of law at Sinai

At Mount Sinai G-d gives the commandments to Moses, who records the covenant. The syllabus describes this as the covenant of law:

• G-d promises protection in return for obedience.
• The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) are its heart — and are represented on two tablets in the synagogue.
• The Torah contains 613 mitzvot (commandments): positive mitzvot (things to do) and negative mitzvot (things not to do).

Key terms

Tap a term on the left, then its meaning on the right.

What "chosen people" means

The syllabus says the two covenants establish the Jewish relationship with G-d as 'the chosen people' and 'a complete way of life'.

Correct a common misunderstanding: Jews do not generally understand 'chosen' to mean superior or favoured. It means chosen for responsibility — chosen to keep the mitzvot and to be a light to others. Being chosen means being asked to do more, not to receive more.

Chosen people

The Torah as revelation and authority

For Jews the Torah (the five books of Moses) is:

• a revelation from G-d;
• a source of authority — the mitzvot;
• a source of moral principles — including the Ten Commandments and the Noahide laws, which Jewish tradition regards as binding on all humanity.

The Sefer Torah (Torah scroll) is treated with great reverence in the synagogue and read from the bimah.

Jewish traditions

How Jews differ today

An evaluation question might be: 'The covenant with Moses is more important than the covenant with Abraham.' Discuss.

• For Moses — the Sinai covenant gives the Torah and the mitzvot, which structure daily Jewish life.
• For Abraham — without it there is no people at all; and Brit Milah is still the sign of belonging.
• Different Jewish traditions read the obligation differently: Orthodox Jews hold that the Torah was given by G-d at Sinai and its mitzvot are binding as they stand; Reform and Liberal Jews emphasise ethical teaching and hold that practice may change with the times.

The big ideas to know

You have covered Cambridge 0490 topic J2.2 on the covenants. Press Finish to see your score.