According to Jewish monotheism, there is only one God – incomparable and indivisible. The Jews emphasize the absolute oneness of God, the Creator of the whole universe. According to Religion: Judaism the Jewish daily prayer, the Shema, is taken from Deuteronomy 6:4, which says: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” While Christians believe in a trinity, Jews oppose this idea and insist that the separation of God violates monotheism. In Judaism, God is seen as transcendent yet personal to each individual. According to the Torah, God is “the authority, the power, the totality of being, the foundation of being”. Consequently, God is supreme and should be given all reverence as “the only God”. Jews believe that belief in the existence of the Creator is the Origin of all things. According to the Torah, God is perceived as the Creator of all creation: “And God formed Hashem out of dust from the earth, and blew into his nostrils the soul of life”. Thus, God is one, and everything on earth belongs to Him as the sole Creator.
Judaism believes in salvation from God which is bestowed collectively instead of individually. Jews perceive salvation from the Old Testament when God had a unique relationship with the Israelites. Judaism believes in salvation collectively and nationally from the biblical scripture, “when I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant,” meaning God will save them and restore their glory as a nation. Hence, Jews believe God will save them in the same manner as a collective people of God.
Jews believe in salvation through observing the Torah, good deeds, and repentance. Judaism stresses that having a good relationship with God leads to salvation in “olam ha-bah“ and can be achieved through the “study of Torah along with prayer, repentance, and good deeds”. A life of devotion involves following the rule of the Torah. According to Judaism, being good and following God’s rules leads to the atonement of sins and salvation. Jews believe in salvation through repentance as a medium for healing. Since God created man with desires and impulses, he provided repentance as a means of redemption, making them pure before God.
Patheos. “Afterlife and Salvation.”
Bibliography
BBC. “Religion: Judaism.” BBC, 2023. Web.
BBC. “The Almighty – God and Authority in Judaism – GCSE Religious Studies Revision – Edexcel.” BBC Bitesize, 2021. Web.
Gronbacher, Gregory E. “Our Source – God/Divinity – a Jewish Theology, Pt. III.” Open Table Judaism, Web.
Maimonides. “The Thirteen Principles of Jewish Faith.” Chabad,. Web.
Patheos. “Afterlife and Salvation.” Patheos, 2023. Web.
Sedaca, David. “Salvation as Interpreted by Judaism.” Chosen People Ministries, Web.