What are the fundamental things that makes a Jew a Jew ? The word Jew

The word Jew can be used in two ways. It can mean someone who is Jewish because they were born a Jew, but it also means someone who follows the Jewish religion. This second meaning is the one we will use during the course.

(a) Beliefs about G-d

Jews believe that there is only one G-d. Judaism is a monotheistic religion (mono = one, theistic = about G-d). When Jews prey to G-d they call 'him' Adonai, which means Lord. Jews use this name of G-d with great respect and would never use it carelessly. Jews also believe that G-d is eternal. That he is always present, that he knows everything and that he cares about the world that he has made. This idea of care means that Jews believe that G-d can be experienced through all of the world.

The Jews have a legal religion, there are a set of rules that a Jew must follow called the mitzvot, the most famous of these are the 10 commandments. These rules tell the devout Jew both what they can do and what they cannot. The faith of the Jew is summed up by the prayer that they will say each day called the Shema

"Hear, O Israel ! The Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one !
And you shall love the Lord our G-d with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your might."

(b) Beliefs about the relationship between G-d and the Jews

The Jews believe that everybody can have a relationship with G-d but that the Jews have a special relationship because of the covenant that G-d made with Abraham. This story can be read in the Torah, or the Jewish scripture, in the book of Genesis. (Genesis 17 & Exodus 12.43 - 13.2) The covenant is an agreement with G-d and like most agreements there are two sides to the bargain:

• that the nation of Israel must remember G-d at all times, serve Him and keep all of the laws
• G-d will remain faithful to the nation of Israel, will continue to be that nation's G-d and will treat the members of that nation as special.

(c) Beliefs about the action of G-d in History

Because of this covenant relationship the Jews believe that G-d has directed the fate of the Jewish nation and that all the things that have happened to the people are the will of G-d acting in history. Perhaps the most famous example of G-d acting is the story of the escape of the Jewish nation from slavery in Egypt and the crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus chapter 14). This is the story that will be recounted each year during the Passover.

The history of the Jews is related in the Torah Reading this gives the story of the Jewish nation from the Creation (Genesis 1) through the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-50), the escape from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 14), The giving of the Ten commandments (Exodus 19:1-20), The laws of the people (Leviticus 19), The story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), The exile in Babylon (Isaiah). All of this the Jews believe that G-d has directed and continues to direct.

(d) The relationship between G-d and non-jews

Whilst the Jews do believe that they are the 'chosen' people they do not seek conversions to Judaism. This is partly because of the relationship between G-d and all of humanity who keep the7 Noachide Laws. G-d made a covenant with ALL of humanity as well, in the 7 noachide Laws:

(1) Do not murder.
(2) Do not steal.
(3) Do not worship false gods.
(4) Do not be sexually immoral.
(5) Do not eat the limb of an animal before it is killed.
(6) Do not curse G-d.
(7) Set up courts and bring offenders to justice.

ALL people are obligated to observe these according to Judaism, and a non-Jew who keeps these seven has as much of a place in the 'World to Come' as a Jew who keeps 613 (which is why Judaism doesn't encourage/insist on conversion [although it does allow it and those who convert according to halacha are 100% Jewish (and include some of the greatest Rabbis of this generation and previous generations)] - simply because it's easier for a non-Jew to get to heaven by observing 7 mitzvots than by doing 613.

Notes: When bible references are given they will be given in the form Book Chapter : Verse
e.g. : Genesis 24 : 12 - 45 - means the book of Genesis chapter 24, verses 12 to 45

Important words

• Covenant - A binding agreement made between G-d and the people and Israel
• Shema - The Jewish prayer which states the belief that there is only one G-d
• Torah - The Jewish book of the law of G-d. Christians call the Torah the Old Testament.