Discuss The Importance Of The Covenant For Jewish People

Discuss the Importance of the Covenant for Jewish People
It was in Haraan around 200BCE when God made a covenant with Abraham. Abraham was around 75 when God proclaimed to him; “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s land that I will show you. And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” (Gen 12:1-5)
This covenant with Abraham is the cornerstone of Jewish religion as it reflects on the intimate relationship between God and the people of Israel that lies at the core of Jewish religion. The Covental relationship is important as by recalling God’s great acts the Israelites are able to discover a God who is interested in their welfare and who gives them an identity by intervening in their fate.
Through this covenant, God revealed to Abraham that Israel was God’s chosen people, and God’s call of Abraham and Israel is further identified in the Exodus and the giving of the 10 commandments, or the Torah, a fundamental measure of faithfulness of the Covenant and all of ethical and moral teachings of Judaism, to Moses on Mt Sinai.In order for Abraham to receive his great nation that God had promised him, he travelled with his half-sister and wife Sarah, to Canaan where he received God’s promise to him.It was through Abraham’s son Isaac, that God renewed his promise with Abraham. In Genesis 22, God tests Abraham’s covenant with him by asking him to sacrifice Isaac in order for him to show his obedience towards God’s call. As Abraham prepares to offer up his son, an angel intervenes and stops the act from happening.
In Genesis 22:15-18, the Angel responds to Abraham’s obedience by renewing his promised land. He would be as numerous as the stars of the sky and thousands of the seashore and he would possess the land promised to him. The key stipulation of God’s covenant with Abraham was that every male should be circumcised. And so, as tradition follows, on the 8th day of Isaac being born, he was circumcised by a Mohel, an observant Jew educated in surgical proceedings .This 1st commandment to circumcise is given in Genesis 17:10-14 and is specific to Jewish people as it signifies God’s covenant with Abraham.
The theme of the covenant begins with the Patriarchs, the forefathers of Judaism and further continues through God’s covenant with Moses. The covenant made with Moses on Mt Sinai was an extension and reaffirmation of the one made with Abraham. The significance of this covenant is that it shows how the people of Israel come to be the chosen ones, and highlights God’s care for the Israelites in granting them freedom. God remains faithful regardless of whether people are observant to the covenant or not. It is in Exodus 3:8 where God led Moses to free the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt by offering them a land “flowing with milk and honey.”
Exodus 19:5-6 rules out the Torah, and demonstrates an expected response from the Jewish people to the requirements of the Covenant. These 10 commandments are symbolic of the 613 mitzvot, which outline the requirements that the observant Jew must follow in order to be faithful to the Covenant. It dictates everyday living for Jews and determines the clothes they wear, foods they eat and the rituals they must follow, and underpins all halakhic requirements that govern day-to-day life of Jewish people.
It is in all forms of Judaism – The Orthodox, Progressive and Conservative, that a convental relationship that is expressed in a deep affection for and concern of the state of Israel that the covenant lies. What the Covenant involves is a relationship with God and the Hebrews, where people are required to live accordingly with the law prescribed by God, and in return, they will be assured of God’s eternal blessing and protection.

Ever since the 18th century, the pressing for Jewish emancipation has been on great demand. Assimilation would be the only way in which Jewish people could become more independent and it was a risk they were willing to take. As the process of Jewish assimilation emerged, with it also erupted the 3 major strands of modern variant of Judaism. Today these are known as the Orthodox Judaism, Progressive Judaism and Conservative Judaism.

Above all, the Orthodox Jews are those who keep a strict observance of the mitzvoth, or the commandments. These traditionalists accept the authority of the code of Jewish law and reject any modern adjustments. These literal Jews believe that the entire Torah, was given to Moses by God at Mt Sinai. Off Orthodox Judaism branches the 2 strands of Ultra-Orthodoxy and Modern Orthodox.

Ultra- Orthodox are Hasidic Jews, meaning they reject much of the modern world. It is through their style of dress, in long black coats, round black hats, beards and side locks they are still able to mourn over the destruction of the 2nd temple in 70 A.D. These Ultra-Orthodox Jews devote and live out their only purpose in life to studying and worshipping the Torah.

Modern Orthodox Jews, on the other hand are more realistic in a sense that they balance requirements of living in a modern society, whir remaining observant and faithful to the Torah. These Jews allow themselves to become involved in many aspects of the modern community life, while still living to the dietary, ethical and ritual requirements of their tradition.

It was through the German and North American movement of Jewish faith and life that the Progressive, or Reform branch of Judaism emerged. The aim of these Jews is to renew and strength Judaism and make it relevant in the modern world. They adapt the Torah to modern society by allowing it to be changed and interpreted in the 21st century.

These Jews, who are inspired by the freedom of the enlightenment, carry out their religious services in the vernacular, or local Jewish language, rather than in Hebrew. A distinct and rather historical feature of the Progressive movement is that amen are allowed to have a strong participation in many aspects of their services. Women may become rabbi's and sit with men in worship. This is not seen in any other modern strands of Judaism. These Jews also allow for English language to play a major role in their ceremonies.

A major belief of this branch is that the Torah is not binding in a literal sense as it was written and divinely inspired by human beings. Progressive Jews reject strict halakhic observance by eating foods based on personal preference, allowing for cremation and transplants of the dead and celebrating a Jewish child's coming of age in the Bar and Bat Mitzvah.

Conservative Jews fall halfway between the Orthodox and Progressive Jews. They believe Judaism should be constantly evolving to the times and needs of Jewish people. They value modern culture and scholarship alongside sacred exits and ritual observance. They are more traditional to Progressive Jews as they are conservative in matters of worship, but alike in that they accept and welcome Progressive beliefs.

Traditional Judaism is practiced among all men and women in the culture, however they still manage to embrace modernity. They became sympathetic to Western ways of thinking and are very similar to Progressive Jews in that their temples are very alike in character and they use organs in many of their ceremonies. Both of them also wear the kippah, worn during prayer as a sign of worship, and that the enlist language is incorporated into prayer. Recently, women have also been able to study in Rabbnical schools.

Conservative Jews are also very alike to Orthodox Jews as they have resembling synagogues, and they continue to keep with Jewish tradition where possible.

What is most noticeable in the Conservative branch of Judaism is that while reinterpretation of holy text is constantly evoking, they adapt and allow themselves to adjust to the contemporary needs of society.

Using examples analyse how the Bible demonstrates the principal beliefs of Christianity
The bible identifies key beliefs and determines the ethical, legal, ritual and spiritual foundations for all Christians. It is the word of God, and it is inspired by God. There are four key principle beliefs of Christianity that govern the way of life for the observant Christian.
The first of these beliefs is the divinity and humanity of Jesus Christ. This belief recognises that Jesus was fully divine and fully human. This raised speculations amongst the Roman emperors and disputes concerning that Jesus was co-equal but different, Jesus was created by god, and Jesus was both human and divine. These were debated at the Council of Nicea in 325CE and resulted in the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and the Nicene being developed. Jesus was truly the divine son of God whose life, death and resurrection hold important significance in the key Christian beliefs.
The second principal belief, the Death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ defines Jesus’ death and resurrection as evidence of an unconditional love of God. However, Jesus was viewed with suspicion. Arrested, questioned and crucified. In contrast the ascension of Jesus to heaven (Mk 1:6-19, Lk 24:1-12 and Jn 20:1-18) refers to Jesus journey to heaven after his resurrection. The gospels reveal that Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Christians believe that each follower of Christ will one day be completely human and transformed – body and soul – for all eternity, and share in the glorious life of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the heart and centre of all Christian beliefs and he was raised to a new life.
The Nature of God and the Trinity God explains the Christian belief that God is transcendent (beyond the world) and immanent (involved in the world). He has no gender and is not depicted in images or defined in words. God is 3 persons – The Trinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. The New Testament Writings suggest Trinity in commissioning of the apostles ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt 28:19). The Trinity is the mystery of the Christian faith. Mystery, meaning, we will never fully know or experience it.
Revelation is the communication of knowledge given by God from the divine to the humans. Christians believe that Revelation provides an opportunity of love and a free invitation to share in a union with God. Through this God revealed his will and law to people starting with creation, and ending with birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus and sending the Holy Spirit. God calls humans to respond in faith and action, and this reminds us Revelation is constantly taking place around us.
The final key principle belief of Christianity is Salvation. This salvation is held in the Christian belief that humans need to be ‘rescued’ from sin and suffering and be brought to the fullness of life in God. (Titus 3:5) is contained in the New Testament and refers to salvation as a forgiveness of sin, and (Mt 19:27-29) describes it as looking forward to a new life in heaven.
Salvation has three main components. The initial fruits of salvation explain that God’s full presence will be witnessed in heaven with him. Salvation is around us today, however will not be completely fulfilled until we are one with God in heaven. The second feature is that obstacles in our life may make it difficult to achieve salvation. It is only through the grace of God, faith and good works that humans can obtain salvation. The final stage in salvation is that through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection God offers his salvation to all. A perfect example of Salvation being attained is when God free the Hebrews from slavery in (Ex 14:1-15).
The bible is the model for Christian life and action, and plays a huge role in the everyday lives of its believers. In sacramental liturgy and worship the Bible is seen as most important and sacred, and from the Bible Christians may read from it during Mass, the Lord’s Supper and Eucharist. Most Christian beliefs are introduced in the bible, for example the scripture passages that Jesus is the wisdom of God ( 1 Cor 1:24), Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:34-35) and Christ will judge both the living and the dead (Rom 14:9). These passages teach about the nature of God and the ministry and teachings of Jesus.
The Bible is divided into the Old and New Testament. The Old Testament contains thirty nine books from the Jewish tradition, and is contained in the Christian sacred text as it recognises the Jewish heritage. The New contains twenty seven early Christian works and the four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The first three of these Matthew, Mark and Luke are known as the ‘synoptic gospels’ meaning they share many common characteristics and view Jesus in a similar light. They are central to the thought, morality and ethics of believers, helping them to achieve a better understanding on how to make decisions and how to act in certain situations.
It is through the principal beliefs of the bible and its many components that Christians hold their beliefs. Without the bible, a disjoint relationship would not be made with God and his hope for all would not be fully understood. The bible can be interpreted into nearly every aspect of our daily lives, reminding us to constantly remain faithful to the word that was inspired by God. The texts of the Bible are used in domestic rituals such as grace before meals at bedtime, and during blessings, and these are all in which we are able to keep the central and heart of Christian belief close to us.