Question

To explore Judaism. Please consider the following aspects:

Describe the Absolute/the Holy/Ultimate Reality (God) in Jewish belief! What names are used for God?

Who is considered to be a Jew? Characterize important groups and their role in Jewish communities.

What is the significance of the land Israel and the Temple?

Please introduce the language and texts sacred to believing Jews.

Explain the importance of the oral and the written Torah

Answer 1

* The Absolute/the Holy/ Ultimate Reality (God) exists and is only one. God is the creator of everything in this universe. God is incorporeal, hence, it is forbidden to worship God in any physical image of his creation. God is neither male nor female. God is omnipresent, omnipotent,and eternal. God is just and merciful, and there is nobody as holy and perfect as God.

The most important and the most common name of God in Judaism is the Tetragrammaton, the four letter word of God YHWH, which means "I am who I am". The other names of God are: "Hashem"(the name), "Adonai" (Lord), Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh(I will be what I will be), El, Elohim, Shaddai, Tzevoat.

* An individual who has undergone conversion according to the law of the Jewish law (Halachah), or is born from a jewish mother is a Jew. Thus, the identity of Jewish is related to both religion and ethinicity. The important Jewish groups and their role in Jewish communities are:

• Haredi(most orthodox or conservative): They are said to follow Judaism in its most orthodox form and try to preserve their identity in the most conservative manner.
• Dati ( religious): This group of Jews follow Judaism as a religion but they are not very conservative about the traditions and values, orthodox in following Judaism as the "Haredi". They believe and follow the basic tenants of their religion.
• Masorti (traditional): This group believes the traditional values of the Judaism but do not have very strong opinion regarding them. They socialize with others who are non-jews, are liberal in their views but not exteremly liberal, and are neither conservative regarding their beliefs and values.
• Hiloni (secular); This group of Jews have secular attitude towards their religion. They view that religion should be separated from public life. They have strong liberal views as opposed to other Jewish groups.

* The land of Israel is central to Judaism, as this land was given to them by God as the promised land after their Exodus from Egypt under the guidance of Moses. The Temple is the most holy place for any Jew across the world, hence, Jerusalem were the Temple mount is situated is revered by every Jew.

* The languages spoken by Jews are Hebrew, Aramaic, Yiddish, and Ladino. Hebrew is the primary Jewish liturgy, and is the language of the Israel. Aramaic later replaced Hebrew, and is a spoken language of Palestinian Israelites. Yiddish and Ladino are hybrids of Judeo-Spanish languages.

The sacred texts of Jews include Tanakh, that has all the books of Old Testament of the Bible, but with slight difference in their order. Torah the first five books of Tanakh or the five book or Moses or the Pentateuch. Talmud, the written rabbinical interpretation of the Torah. Midrash which is a book of rabbinical sermons. Responsa the sacred text that contains interpretation of Jewish laws.

* Oral Torah also called the Talmud is the written interpretation of the first five books of Tanakh by the Rabbis. It is used for the purpose of teaching the laws given by God through Moses to the Jewish people.

The written Torah which is also called the five books of Moses or the Pentateuch, has the guidelines and laws from God directly handed to Moses.