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G-D (42)

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G-d: A way to avoid writing a name of The Creator, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name. See The Name of G-d; The Nature of G-d.
G-d: A way to avoid writing a name of The Creator, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name. See The Name of G-d; The Nature of G-d.
Image of G-d: Humanity was created in the image of G-d, which means we have the ability to reason and discern; however, G-d has no physical form or image. See The Nature of G-d.
Name of G-d: Judaism has a wide variety of names for the Creator; however, these names are not casually written down because of the risk that someone might destroy the writing, an act of disrespect for G-d and His Name.

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Human Nature: Discusses the Jewish understanding of human nature, what it means to be created in the image of G-d, free will, and the good and evil in all of us.
The Name of G-d: Learn about several of the more important names of G-d in Jewish tradition, and learn the rules regarding writing and pronouncing these names. Learn why we write 'G-d' that way.
The Nature of G-d: Discusses fundamental Jewish beliefs about the nature of G-d and His relationship with the universe and with humanity.

All Hits (42):

10 Commandments: Judaism teaches that G-d gave the Jews 613 commandments, not merely ten. The biblical passage known to most people as the "Ten Commandments" is known to Jews as the Aseret ha-Dibrot, the Ten Declarations, and is considered to be ten categories of commandments rather than ten individual commandments.
613 Commandments: Judaism teaches that G-d gave the Jews 613 commandments, which are binding on Jews but not on non-Jews. Taryag is the numeral 613 in Hebrew numbering. See also Halakhah: Jewish Law.
Adoshem: A substitute for writing or saying a name of G-d.
Avinu Malkeinu (ah-VEE-noo mahl-KAY-noo): Lit.: Our Father, Our King. A penetential prayer sung repeatedly during services from Rosh Hashanah through the Days of Awe to Yom Kippur, asking G-d to forgive us and fulfull our needs in His role as our Father and our King. See Rosh Hashanah through the Days of Awe to Yom Kippur
Beliefs: Judaism has no dogma, no formal set of beliefs that one must hold to be a Jew. In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, although there is certainly a place for belief within Judaism. See What Do Jews Believe?; The Nature of G-d; Human Nature; Kabbalah; Olam Ha-Ba: The Afterlife.
Burnt Offering: A type of sacrifice that represented complete submission to G-d's will. It was completely consumed by fire on the altar. In Hebrew, it was called an olah.
Chillul Ha-Shem (khil-LOOL hah SHEM): Lit. profanation of the Name. Causing G-d or Judaism to come into disrespect, or causing a person to violate a commandment. See The Name of G-d.
Chukkim (khook-EEM): Jewish religious laws for which no reason is given in the Torah. Some believe that they are meant to show our obedience to G-d.
Commandments: Judaism teaches that G-d gave the Jews 613 commandments, which are binding on Jews but not on non-Jews. See Halakhah: Jewish Law; A List of the 613 Mitzvot; Aseret ha-Dibrot: The "Ten Commandments".
Conversion: Judaism does not seek out converts, and actively discourages converts (because a person does not need to be a Jew to be righteous in G-d's eyes), but conversion to Judaism is possible. See also Who is a Jew?; Jewish Attitudes Towards Non-Jews.
Dahyenu (dahy-AY-noo): Lit. It would have been enough for us. A popular song sung joyously during the Passover seder, after the telling of the story of the exodus from Egypt, listing the many miracles that G-d performed for us and repeating that any any one of them would have been enough for us, how much more grateful we are that He performed all of them. See Pesach Music.
Ein Sof (ayn sohf): Lit. without end. In Jewish mysticism, the true essence of G-d, which is so transcendent that it cannot be described and cannot interact directly with the universe.
Elokaynu: A substitute for a name of G-d. See The Name of G-d.
G-d: A way to avoid writing a name of The Creator, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name. See The Name of G-d; The Nature of G-d.
Hallel: Lit. praise G-d. Psalms 113-118, in praise of G-d, which are recited on certain holidays. See Jewish Liturgy.
Ha-Shem (hah SHEM): Lit. The Name. The Name of G-d, which is not pronounced. The phrase "ha-Shem" is often used as a substitute for G-d's Name.
Hosea: Hosea was one of the 55 prophets of the Bible. He is best known in Judaism for Hosea 14:3, "Take words with you and return to G-D ... instead of bulls, we will pay our lips," from which Judaism interpreted that prayer (our words) is an acceptable alternative to sacrifice (bulls) now that the Temple is no longer available.
Human Nature: Humanity is in the image of G-d, in that we have the ability to think, reason and understand. Humanity was created with a dual nature: an impulse to do what is right an a selfish (evil) impulse. Free will is the ability to choose which impulse to follow.
Image of G-d: Humanity was created in the image of G-d, which means we have the ability to reason and discern; however, G-d has no physical form or image. See The Nature of G-d.
Israel: 1) The land that G-d promised to Abraham and his descendants. 2) The northern kingdom that was home to the "ten lost tribes." 3) Alternate name for Jacob. 4) A country in the Middle East located in the ancient homeland that has a predominantly Jewish population and government. It was founded on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar 5708).
Kaddish (KAH-dish): Aramaic: holy. A prayer in Aramaic praising G-d, commonly associated with mourning practices. See also Jewish Liturgy. Full text of the Mourner's Kaddish is available.
Karaites (KAH-rah-ahyts): Lit. People of the Scripture. A sect of Judaism that, like the ancient Sadducees, does not accept the oral Torah, but relies solely on the written scriptures. By contrast, Rabbinical Judaism believes that G-d taught Moses an oral Torah at the same time that He gave the written one. The Karaites are now a very small sect, though they claim that at one time they attracted 40 percent of the Jewish population. See their website at Karaite Jews of America.
Kareit (kah-REHYT): The penalty of spiritual excision, imposed by G-d. Certain sins, such as failure to circumcise, are so severe that one who violates them has no place in the World to Come.
Kiddush Ha-Shem (ki-DOOSH hah SHEM): Lit. sanctification of The Name. Any deed that increases the respect accorded to G-d or Judaism, especially martyrdom. See The Name of G-d.
L-rd: A way of avoiding writing a name of G-d, to avoid the risk of the sin of erasing or defacing the Name. See The Name of G-d.
Mashiach (mah-SHEE-ahkh): Lit. anointed. A man who will be chosen by G-d to put an end to all evil in the world, rebuild the Temple, bring the exiles back to Israel and usher in the world to come. Generally translated as "messiah," but the Jewish concept is very different from the Christian one.
Messiah: Anglicization of the Hebrew, "mashiach" (anointed). A man who will be chosen by G-d to put an end to all evil in the world, rebuild the Temple, bring the exiles back to Israel and usher in the world to come. It is better to use the Hebrew term "mashiach" when speaking of the Jewish messiah, because the Jewish concept is very different from the Christian one.
Name of G-d: Judaism has a wide variety of names for the Creator; however, these names are not casually written down because of the risk that someone might destroy the writing, an act of disrespect for G-d and His Name.
Names: Jewish children are ordinarily given a formal Hebrew name to be used for religious purposes. See Naming a Child, Jewish Names. See also Name of G-d.
Navi (pl. Nevi'im) (nah-VEE; n'-vee-EEM): From niv sefatayim meaning "fruit of the lips." A prophet. A spokesman for G-d, chosen to convey a message or teaching. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to G-d. Also: A section of the Tanakh containing the writings of the prophets.
Olah (oh-LAH): Derived from a root meaning ascension. A burnt offering, a type of sacrifice that represented complete submission to G-d's will. It was completely consumed by fire on the altar.
Orthodox: One of the major movements of Judaism, believing that Jewish law comes from G-d and cannot be changed.
Promised Land: The land of Israel, which G-d promised to Abraham and his descendants.
Prophets (n'-vee-EEM): 1) A spokesman for G-d, chosen to convey a message or teaching. Prophets were role models of holiness, scholarship and closeness to G-d; 2) A section of Jewish scripture containing the writings of the Prophets.
Reform: One of the major movements of Judaism, believing that Jewish law was inspired by G-d and one can choose which laws to follow. See Movements of Judaism in the United States Today.
Rosh Hashanah (ROHSH hah shah-NAH; RUSH-uh SHAH-nuh): Lit. first of the year. The new year for the purpose of counting years. It is one of the holiest festivals of the year, renewing the crowning of G-d as king of time and space (melekh ha-olam) with celebration and blasts of the shofar (a ram's horn trumpet). Sabbatical (Shemittah) and Jubilee years begin at this time and are counted based on this date.
Sefirot (se-fee-ROHT): Lit. emanations. In Jewish mysticism, the emanations from G-d's essence that interact with the universe.
Shechinah (sh'-KHEE-nuh): The Divine Presence of G-d, generally represented as a feminine quality. See The Nature of G-d; Prophets and Prophecy.
Speech: For information about the power of speech and sins committed through speech, see Speech and Lashon Ha-Ra. For information about pronouncing the Name of G-d, see The Name of G-d.
Tenets: Judaism has no dogma, no formal set of beliefs that one must hold to be a Jew. In Judaism, actions are far more important than beliefs, although there is certainly a place for belief within Judaism. See What Do Jews Believe?; The Nature of G-d; Human Nature; Kabbalah, Olam Ha-Ba: The Afterlife.
Tikkun Olam (tee-COON oh-LAHM): Lit. repairing the universe. The central idea is that G-d intentionally left the universe incomplete and imperfect so that humanity could be a partner in creation by completing and repairing it. This concept is found in all branches of Judaism, though of course it is interpreted differently. I should really write a page about this one of these days.
Yetzer ha-Tov (YAY-tser ha-TOHV): Lit. good impulse. The moral conscience, which motivates us to follow G-d's law. See Human Nature.

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