The Foundation of Judaism - Essay Example

The second key element commandment is to learn Torah and to teach it to others. No doubt, Torah is a vital book in Judaism as it tells Jews about past events. For Jews, there is no “old testament,” as the New Testament is no part of Jewish scripture. With any sacred text, interpretations vary as Jews from traditional to modern. For instance, the concept of interest can vary amongst scholars on what interest is defined as. Is it considered to be interesting to charge money on money or make a profit through a product? This is again is a theological statement since Torah is a sacred text that is not considered as law or implemented as law. It is not an educational context text per se but is regarded highly in Judaism as a sacred and the only true test. Hence, it’s a theological statement and not a moral or a logical statement.

Another key component that is part of the 613 Commandments is being keen on prayers. For observant Jews, prayer is vital in their religion. Prayers should be done with the right intention, clarity, and observance. The law means that a Jew who is keen on his prayers will reach salvation in my opinion. The law means that Jews to acknowledge the bounties of God must be engaged in his remembrance. In the modern world, the concept of prayer is lost. Society is so modern that prayer is regarded as a light matter. An active prayer life, infrequent participation enable a person to grow spiritually. Again, it’s a theological statement since prayer is not regarded as a focal point in every religion. The concept of prayer is vague in the modern world and is considered a waste of time. However, time for prayer according to Judaism must be made as it harnesses individual growth. Lastly, prayer is a theological statement. Some may even argue that people should pray morally, even if they don’t believe in God.

The fourth key element of the 613 commandments is love and brotherhood. Love and brotherhood are important as kindness should be shown. Jewish law makes it compulsory for Jews to be kind to everyone people and animals, to Jews and gentiles. In my opinion, showing kindness means having love and affection for everyone and treating nature and people with proper respect. In the modern world, showing kindness can mean preserving nature and showing compassion to people. A prime example of this can be shown by the recent earthquake that occurred in Japan. This statement is more moral than theological since love and brotherhood is universal aspect. One can even argue that it is a humanitarian aspect as humans must aid each other in crisis and need.

The last key element that the strong emphasis on family. In essence in Judaism, one should honor their father and mother. One should also not swear and have respect and fear for their parents. From my perspective, the concept of family is critical and is lost in the modern age. The structure of the family is the foundation for the nurture and nature of the children and cannot be taken lightly. From a modern world, the concept of family is not as strong as it used to be in previous decades. As society progressed, more emphasis is based on the individual rather than family and nation. Instead of a joint family concept that is heavily dominant in the eastern culture, the western culture tends to emphasize little in the concept of family, which can be clearly shown through shocking divorce rates. The law is a mix of moral and theological statements. Judaism like Islam and Christianity tends to emphasize the caring of parents heavily. Moreover, this statement can be perceived as a moral one since children are obligated to take care of their parents, who put so much time, energy, and effort into raising their children. This symbiotic relationship that a parent shares with a child are vital for the continuation and the survival of humanity.