The Importance Of Religion In Judaism

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In Judaism there is a direct link between their Jewish beliefs, sacred writings, texts and teachings, and their practices. The link between Shabbat, the Jewish practice, reflects their main beliefs that are derived from their sacred writings and teachings. The laws that they follow during Shabbat reflect their relationship with God and the Torah and how from their teachings they live life following specific guidelines. Their beliefs, sacred texts and teachings reflect the way they behave of a day to day basis as they set out the rules and laws they must follow.
The Jewish beliefs are formed from their sacred writings and teachings. The Tenach is the Jewish bible and is made up of three section, the Torah, Neviim and the Ketuvim. The Torah is the first section of the Tenach, it is made up of the first five books which were written by Moses. As referred to in the text book Living Judaism written by Cavan Wood ‘The Torah contains the 613 Mitzvot (rules) that were given to Moses, the first ten being what are now called the Ten Commandments”. The Neviim is the second section and includes the books written by the prophets. The third and final section is the Ketuvim which consists of other writings. Different branches of Judaism have different perspectives on these sacred texts and the beliefs of the Jewish religion and follow the laws of Judaism differently. The Orthodox branch of Judaism is the strictest and most extreme branch of Judaism. The Jewish people that are Orthodox take the Torah literally therefore, strictly follow all laws and believe that the Torah is eternal and unchanging. The Conservative branch of Judaism is in the middle of the religious spectrum and they believe that God allows for different applications of the truth...

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...wish religion, evil exists due to disobedience of God. This is related to the Torah as Adam and Eve were the first people to disobey God. As referred to in the text book Jewish Faith and Practice written by Brian Knapp and Lisa Magloff ‘Jewish scriptures teach that one day the world will be a perfect place, but that God will not bring this about unless we first work for it….it is up to every person to bring out the perfect world’.
There is an evident link between Jewish beliefs, practices and sacred texts and teaching. It is shown through their behaviour and the way they worship. They follow what the prophets said therefore it changes their behaviour and the way they live. The branch of Judaism they are in and their belief in the sacred texts is also reflected in the way they celebrate Shabbat and to what extent they follow the rules throughout this weekly practice.

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