What you'll learn
This revision guide covers all testable content for Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings in AQA GCSE Religious Studies. You'll master key concepts including the nature of God, the covenant relationship, the role of the Messiah, and beliefs about life after death. These notes follow the specification precisely, with exam-style questions and mark scheme guidance to maximise your grade.
Key terms and definitions
Monotheism — The belief in one God, a foundational principle of Judaism expressed in the Shema prayer.
Shekhinah — The divine presence of God on Earth; God dwelling among or within the Jewish people.
Covenant — A binding agreement between God and the Jewish people, establishing mutual responsibilities and promises.
Pikuach Nefesh — The principle that preserving human life overrides almost all other religious commandments.
Messiah — The anointed one; a future leader from King David's line who will bring peace and rebuild the Temple.
Torah — The first five books of the Tenakh (Jewish Bible), containing God's laws and teachings given to Moses.
Mitzvot — Commandments or good deeds; the 613 laws given by God in the Torah.
Sheol — The ancient Jewish concept of the underworld where all souls went after death.
Core concepts
The nature of God
Judaism teaches strict monotheism. The Shema prayer declares: "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4). This statement is central to Jewish identity and is recited daily by observant Jews.
God as one:
- Judaism rejects the Christian Trinity and any division of God
- God is indivisible and unique
- This belief distinguishes Judaism from polytheistic religions
- The oneness of God implies absolute unity and sovereignty
God as creator:
- Genesis 1 describes God creating the universe in six days
- God created everything ex nihilo (out of nothing)
- Creation demonstrates God's power and authority
- Humans are created b'tzelem Elohim (in God's image), giving them special dignity and responsibility
God as lawgiver:
- God gave the Torah to Moses at Mount Sinai
- The mitzvot (613 commandments) provide a framework for living
- Following God's laws brings Jews closer to God
- The law covers moral, ritual, and civil matters
God as judge:
- God judges human actions and holds people accountable
- Justice is a key attribute of God
- God rewards righteousness and punishes wrongdoing
- This judgment occurs both in life and after death
The Shekhinah:
- Represents God's presence dwelling on Earth
- Present in the Tabernacle and Temple in ancient times
- Reform Jews may interpret Shekhinah as God's presence in acts of justice and kindness
- Orthodox Jews may view it more literally as God's glory manifesting physically
The covenant at Sinai and the 613 mitzvot
The covenant at Mount Sinai established the relationship between God and the Jewish people. This followed earlier covenants with Abraham and Noah.
Key aspects of the Sinai covenant:
- God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt (Exodus)
- At Mount Sinai, God offered the Torah to the Jewish people
- The people accepted, saying "We will do and we will obey"
- This created a binding, eternal agreement
The 613 mitzvot:
- 248 positive commandments (things to do)
- 365 negative commandments (things not to do)
- Cover all aspects of life: worship, ethics, diet, relationships, business
- Examples include keeping Shabbat, kosher laws, honouring parents
Importance for Jews today:
- Orthodox Jews attempt to follow all applicable mitzvot
- Reform Jews may view mitzvot as ethical guidelines rather than binding laws
- Following mitzvot sanctifies daily life and demonstrates commitment to God
- The covenant makes Jews God's "treasured possession" (Exodus 19:5)
Pikuach Nefesh:
- Saving a human life takes precedence over almost all other mitzvot
- Only three prohibitions cannot be broken: idolatry, murder, and sexual immorality
- Doctors may work on Shabbat to save lives
- Demonstrates the supreme value Judaism places on human life
The Messiah and messianic age
Jewish messianic beliefs differ significantly from Christian teachings. Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Orthodox Jewish beliefs about the Messiah:
- A future human leader descended from King David
- Will rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem
- Will gather all Jews back to Israel
- Will usher in an era of world peace
- Will be a political and spiritual leader, not divine
- Belief in the Messiah is one of Maimonides' 13 Principles of Faith
The messianic age:
- A future time of universal peace and knowledge of God
- Isaiah 2:4 describes nations beating "swords into ploughshares"
- No more war, suffering, or injustice
- All people will acknowledge the one true God
- The dead may be resurrected (Orthodox belief)
Reform Jewish perspectives:
- Many Reform Jews reject the idea of a personal Messiah
- Instead, they believe in a messianic age brought about by human effort
- Focus on tikkun olam (repairing the world) through social justice
- Emphasise collective human responsibility rather than waiting for a leader
Why Jews don't accept Jesus:
- The messianic prophecies were not fulfilled during Jesus's lifetime
- The Temple was not rebuilt; peace did not come
- Jesus was not a political leader from David's line in the expected way
- Jews reject the concept of God taking human form
Life after death
Jewish beliefs about the afterlife are less defined than in Christianity or Islam, with diversity between and within movements.
Traditional Orthodox beliefs:
- The soul is immortal and survives bodily death
- Sheol was the early biblical concept of a shadowy underworld
- Later development of Gan Eden (Garden of Eden/paradise) and Gehinnom (purgatory/hell)
- Gehinnom is usually seen as temporary purification, not eternal punishment
- Belief in physical resurrection of the dead in the messianic age
- The body and soul will reunite for judgment
Reform Jewish beliefs:
- Greater diversity of views, including agnosticism about afterlife
- Many focus on creating heaven on Earth through ethical living
- Some accept spiritual immortality but reject bodily resurrection
- Emphasis on this life rather than the next
- Legacy through children, good deeds, and memory
Olam Ha-Ba (the World to Come):
- Can refer to the afterlife or the messianic age
- The righteous of all nations have a share in the World to Come
- Good deeds in this life determine one's fate
- Study of Torah and observance of mitzvot are meritorious
Mourning practices showing these beliefs:
- Sitting shiva (seven days of mourning) honours the deceased
- Reciting Kaddish prayer elevates the soul
- Yahrzeit (anniversary of death) keeps memory alive
- Burial preferred over cremation by Orthodox Jews (body needed for resurrection)
The sanctity of human life
Judaism teaches that human life is sacred because humans are created in God's image (Genesis 1:27).
Key principles:
- Every human life has infinite value
- Murder is strictly forbidden (one of the Ten Commandments)
- Pikuach Nefesh makes saving life the highest priority
- Suicide is generally forbidden as life belongs to God
Implications for medical ethics:
- Most Jews accept medical treatment, even on Shabbat
- Orthodox Judaism generally opposes euthanasia
- Passive euthanasia (withdrawing treatment) may be permitted in terminal cases
- Reform Jews may take more liberal views on end-of-life decisions
- Organ donation is often encouraged as it saves lives
Abortion:
- Judaism generally permits abortion when the mother's life is at risk
- The foetus is not considered a full person until birth (Orthodox view)
- Reform Jews may permit abortion for serious foetal abnormality or maternal wellbeing
- Each case should be considered individually with rabbinic guidance
Free will and moral responsibility
Judaism emphasises human free will and moral choice.
Free will:
- Humans can choose between good and evil
- This choice is genuine and not predetermined
- Free will makes moral responsibility possible
- God does not force humans to obey
The yetzer hara and yetzer hatov:
- Yetzer hara: the evil inclination within humans
- Yetzer hatov: the good inclination
- Humans must struggle against the yetzer hara
- Following Torah and mitzvot helps strengthen the yetzer hatov
Repentance (Teshuvah):
- Sincere repentance can repair the relationship with God
- Requires recognition of sin, remorse, confession, and resolution not to repeat
- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is dedicated to repentance
- God is merciful and accepts genuine repentance
Worked examples
Example 1: 2-mark question
Which one of the following best expresses the Jewish belief in one God? A. The Lord's Prayer B. The Shema C. The Amidah D. The Torah
Answer: B — The Shema
Mark scheme guidance: 1 mark for the correct answer. The Shema ("Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is One") is the central declaration of monotheism.
Example 2: 4-mark question
Explain two reasons why the covenant at Sinai is important for Jews today.
Model answer:
One reason the Sinai covenant is important is that it established the Jewish people's special relationship with God (1 mark). By accepting the Torah and mitzvot, Jews became God's "treasured possession," which gives them identity and purpose as a people (1 mark for development).
Another reason is that the covenant provided the 613 mitzvot that guide Jewish life today (1 mark). Orthodox Jews still attempt to follow these commandments in areas such as diet, worship, and ethics, which helps them live according to God's will (1 mark for development).
Mark scheme guidance: Award 1 mark for each correct reason. Award a second mark for each reason that is developed through explanation or example. Maximum 4 marks.
Example 3: 5-mark question
Explain two Jewish beliefs about life after death. Refer to sacred writings or another source of Jewish belief and teaching in your answer.
Model answer:
One belief is in the resurrection of the dead in the messianic age (1 mark). Orthodox Jews believe that when the Messiah comes, the bodies and souls of the deceased will be reunited for judgment (1 mark for development). This is why traditional Jews prefer burial to cremation, as the body is needed for resurrection (1 mark for further development).
Another belief is in Gan Eden and Gehinnom as destinations for souls after death (1 mark). Gan Eden is paradise for the righteous, while Gehinnom is a place of temporary purification for sins. The Talmud teaches about these places, though most Jews see Gehinnom as corrective rather than eternally punishing (1 mark for development).
Mark scheme guidance: Award 1 mark for each belief. Award further marks for development using explanation, example, or reference to sacred texts. Maximum 5 marks (including 1 mark for reference to sacred writing/source of authority).
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Confusing Jewish and Christian beliefs about the Messiah. Remember: Jews believe the Messiah is a future human leader, not divine, and has not yet come. Jesus is not accepted as the Messiah because messianic prophecies remain unfulfilled.
Treating all Jews as having identical beliefs. The specification requires understanding of both Orthodox and Reform perspectives. Always specify which movement you're discussing, especially on topics like mitzvot observance or life after death.
Writing about the Trinity. This is a Christian concept. Judaism teaches strict monotheism with an absolutely unified God. Don't apply Christian theological concepts to Judaism.
Vague references to "the Bible." Use the correct term: Torah (first five books) or Tenakh (Hebrew Bible). Be specific about which text you're referencing (e.g., "Genesis 1:27" rather than "the Bible says").
Forgetting to use sacred texts in 5-mark questions. You must include a reference to Torah, Tenakh, Talmud, or other Jewish sources to access full marks.
Only giving simple definitions in 4-mark or 5-mark questions. These require developed explanations with examples, reasoning, or elaboration. Two simple sentences will not achieve full marks.
Exam technique for "Judaism: Beliefs and Teachings"
Learn the question stems. 1-mark (multiple choice), 2-mark ("Give two..."), 4-mark ("Explain two..."), 5-mark ("Explain two... Refer to sacred writings..."), and 12-mark ("Evaluate...") questions all require different approaches.
In 4-mark and 5-mark questions, use the PEE structure: Point (identify the belief), Evidence (quote or reference), Explanation (develop with reasoning or example). Aim for two well-developed paragraphs.
For 5-mark questions, integrate your sacred text reference naturally. Don't just bolt it on at the end. For example: "Genesis 1:27 teaches that humans are made 'in the image of God,' which means..."
In 12-mark evaluation questions, present balanced arguments with Jewish perspectives. Include different viewpoints (Orthodox vs Reform), use religious reasoning, and reach a justified conclusion. Aim for 3-4 paragraphs supporting the statement, 3-4 paragraphs challenging it, then a conclusion.
Quick revision summary
Judaism teaches strict monotheism: there is one God who is creator, lawgiver, and judge. The covenant at Sinai established the relationship between God and the Jewish people through the 613 mitzvot. Jews believe in a future Messiah who will bring peace and rebuild the Temple. Beliefs about life after death vary, with Orthodox Jews accepting bodily resurrection and Reform Jews focusing on this life. Human life is sacred (b'tzelem Elohim), and pikuach Nefesh makes saving life paramount. Jews have free will to choose good over evil through following Torah.