1)To examine the concept of covenant.

2) To explore the meaning, importance and significance of some of the covenants in the Jewish scriptures.

The Meaning and Understanding of Covenant

Please write keywords in the back of your books, with a

sentence to explain what they mean.

Noachide code

Blasphemy

Talmud

Covenant

Have you ever made a pact with somebody?

Have you seen a film where two tribes make a treaty?

What do people do in such situations?

Do they make a symbolic action, sign something or drink a toast to the agreement?

What happens when one of them breaks the deal?

Wedding Covenant At a wedding a covenant or agreement is made

by making promises or vows.

Marriage certificate

What happens when the covenant or agreement is broken?

When one of the people involved in a marriage covenant break the vows or promises, for example cheat. The marriage covenant is broken.

As a result of the covenant being broken the process of legally undoing the covenant begins. Divorce happen where the marriage is declared null and void

Home-School Agreement

We aim:

to help students achieve their full potential within a school based on Christian beliefs and values;

to prepare students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

To achieve these aims, we encourage students to:

work hard; join in; respect and value each other; explore Christian beliefs and values; contribute to the community.

Home-School Agreement

Is the home school a agreement (covenant) a one way agreement?

Or does the school expect something from you as pupils as well?

Home-School Agreement

Conduct

School agrees to:

be firm and fair, rewarding good behaviour and applying sanctions for poor behaviour;

maintain good discipline throughout the school.

Home-School Agreement

Students agree to: o respect the right of

teachers to teach;

o respect the right of other students to learn;

o wear the correct school uniform.

Conduct

‘Covenant’ is defined as a promise, testament or agreement. Sometimes the word contract is used. The concept of the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people does have elements of a contract but it also involves feelings such as trust, loyalty and love (‘hesed’)

It is important to remember that the key to all covenants in Jewish scripture is the fact that G-d takes the lead and starts the agreement.

Jewish concept of ‘covenant’.

The Covenant G-d made with Adam The Jewish scriptures

begin with creation. Jewish people believe that the covenant story starts with the creation of humankind.

The covenant G-d makes with Adam can be found in Genesis 1-3.

G-d gives instructions as to what people were to do and what they were not to do.

This is the first account of a covenant or agreement between G-d and man.

The Covenant G-d made with AdamThey were instructed to be obedient to G-d.

Not to eat from the tree of Knowledge.

Mount Ararat

For centuries people have searched for the remains of Noah’s ark on Mount Ararat in turkey. Recently Mount Sabalan in Iran has been suggested as the final resting place of the Ark.

The Covenant G-d made with Noah

The Covenant G-d made with Noah

The covenant G-d makes with Noah can be found in Genesis 9. Here after destroying almost all life on earth in the flood.

G-d sates, Genesis 9:11, Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth

The Covenant G-d made with Noah After G-d says this He

then gives a sign of the covenant.

G-d then says, Genesis 9:12-13. This is the sign that I set for the covenant between Me and you, and every living creature with you, for all ages to come. I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall serve as a sign of the covenant between Me and the earth

The Covenant G-d made with Noah

At the time of making the covenant with Noah, God gave commands that had to be obeyed. These are known as the Noachide code. Judaism teaches that any religion that keeps all the laws of the Noachide code is a acceptable way for non-Jews to serve G-d

Noachide Code

I. Do not worship images or idols.

II. Do not commit blasphemy .

III.Do not commit murder.IV. Do not steal.V. Do not commit

adultery .VI.Do not eat the limb of a

live animal. (This is taken to mean that all cruelty to animals is forbidden.

VII.Set up a legal system to promote justice.

The Talmud

• The Pharisees had passed on to the people certain regulations handed down by former generations and not recorded in the Laws of Moses.

• It was feared that these old traditions would be lost. As a consequence Rabbi Judah (the patriarch) undertook to collect and edit a study edition of these in order that the learning would not vanish.

• The Talmud or Oral Law is made up of the Mishnah (the first writing down of the oral tradition, about 200 CE), and the Gemara (a commentary on the Mishnah).

The seven Mitzvot (commandments) of the Noachide code can be found in the Talmud

1) Write a contract between G-d and Adam or Noah.2) What are the

consequences for breaking the covenant?

3) Use Genesis 9v11-13 for help

How did God’s covenant with the Jewish people affect how they live and what they believe?

‘If people make a promises to G-d then they should be punished if the break them .’

1)What do you think? – (Half a page or more)

2)How might a Jewish person respond? – (Half a page or more)

3)What do you think was the point of G-d giving Noah the 7 commandments? – (Half a page or more)

4)You must answer all 3 questions