GCSE Religious Studies: Judaism – Rites of Passage, the Messiah and Pikuach Nefesh

Courses that include Judaism ask about family life and ceremonies as well as core beliefs (for example, the rituals, the Messiah, the Shekhinah and pikuach nefesh in AQA's Judaism section). This material covers that ground and deliberately leaves out the Shema, Shabbat, the synagogue, kashrut, the festivals and the covenants, which another material in this category already deals with.

The first part follows a Jewish life from beginning to end. You learn what happens at a brit milah and why it is the sign of the covenant with Abraham, how girls are named, and what pidyon ha-ben is. You compare bar mitzvah and bat mitzvah, including how Orthodox and Reform communities differ in what girls do. The wedding is explained through its symbols: the chuppah, the ketubah, the seven blessings and the breaking of the glass. Mourning is followed through its stages, from burial within a day to shiva, sheloshim, the Kaddish and yahrzeit, with the reasons behind each custom.

The second part turns to beliefs. You learn what Jews believe about the Messiah, why Orthodox Jews expect a descendant of King David while many Reform Jews speak of a messianic age brought about by human effort, and why Jews do not accept Jesus as the Messiah. You meet the Shekhinah, God's presence among people, and why it can be experienced in prayer and study after the destruction of the Temple.

Finally you study pikuach nefesh: why saving a life overrides almost every other commandment, the three things that may never be done even to save a life, and how the principle fits into the wider system of the 613 mitzvot, divided into duties towards God and duties towards other people.

The material offers a quiz with explanations for every answer, flashcards for the Hebrew terms, a printable written sheet of explain-and-evaluate tasks with reference answers, and an oral practice exam in which the examiner asks one question at a time and gives brief feedback at the end.

Orthodox and Reform practice are described accurately and neutrally. Use the material to learn the ceremonies and beliefs, then to practise explaining their significance and weighing statements about them.

  • Describe brit milah, the naming of girls and pidyon ha-ben, and explain their meaning
  • Compare bar and bat mitzvah in Orthodox and Reform communities
  • Explain the symbols of the Jewish wedding ceremony
  • Describe Jewish mourning rituals and explain the reasons behind them
  • Explain different Jewish beliefs about the Messiah and the Shekhinah
  • Explain pikuach nefesh and its limits, and the two kinds of mitzvot

Practice material written by Zestly, based on the DfE GCSE religious studies subject content for Judaism and, for example, AQA GCSE Religious Studies A (8062), Judaism: beliefs (the Messiah, Shekhinah, pikuach nefesh) and practices (rituals).

Sample question

Why do Jews not accept Jesus as the Messiah?

See the answer

Because the tasks expected of the Messiah, such as bringing an age of peace, rebuilding the Temple and gathering the Jewish people to Israel, have not been fulfilled.

In Jewish belief the Messiah will be a human descendant of King David who brings a messianic age of peace, rebuilds the Temple and gathers the exiles. Since the world has not been transformed in this way, Jews believe the Messiah has not yet come (Orthodox) or that the messianic age is still to be worked for (Reform).

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