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Beliefs



Sacred Narratives

Jewish sacred narratives are reflected in the biblical framework of creation, revelation, and redemption in which God's relationship with Israel is played out in a cosmic drama.

Ultimate Reality and Divine Beings

While Jewish thinkers have traditionally associated ultimate reality with a theistic image of God, there has been an ongoing, vigorous debate about the nature of God and the Divine-human relationship.

Human Nature and the Purpose of Existence

For Jews, human nature is rooted in the divine image and therefore has infinite value. Consequently, the purpose of existence is to relate to the divine and human "other."

Suffering and the Problem of Evil

In wrestling with suffering and evil throughout history, Jewish thinkers have expressed a tension between "theodicy," justifying God's relationship to evil, and "antitheodicy," protesting God's involvement with human suffering.

Afterlife and Salvation

Jewish attitudes toward afterlife and salvation reflect a variety of perspectives on what happens to body and soul after death based on various biblical, rabbinic, medieval folklore, and theological sources.

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