“You support the falling and heal the sick
You free prisoners
And keep faith with those that sleep in the dust …
Who can perform such mighty deeds?”
The Jewish faith also tells us that G-d is transcendant, which means that he is beyond both space and time and therefore does not intervene in the affairs of humans. This is also shown in the Amidah as it states that:
“ You O Lord, are the endless power
that renews life beyond death;”
The fact that G-d is called an endless power could be interpreted to means that not only does his power have no end, another Jewish belief about G-d (his omnipotentcy), but also that he exists forever and after forever. Jews would also say that G-d is also omniscient, or all knowing, this is demonstrated in an ancient Jewish saying which tells us that:
“By knowing Himself He knows all things.”
G-d is not only thought of as powerful and all knowing but also as a creator, of all things, this is written in the Talmud, Berachot 60b where it tells us that:
“My G-d the soul you have placed in me is pure;
you it was who created it, you formed it,
you blew it into me, you guard it within me,
you will take it from me, and return it to me,
in time-to-be.”
His creative properties are also shown at the very beginning of the Shema in which it says that:
“In the beginning, G-d created heaven and earth.”
One of the most important parts of G-d’s nature, for the Jews is the fact that he cares for them as they are not only part of his creation, but also his chosen people who he led out of Egypt through the Red Sea and to the land of Canaan, the promised land. This is backed up in the Shema where it describes how G-d helped the Israelites escape from Egypt and it says that G-d sent a strong easterly wind which pushed back the sea until there was a dry channel in which the Israelites could cross was made. This shows caring as if G-d did not care about their safety he wouldn’t have pushed back the waters to let them pass through and escape the Egyptians.
G-d is also believed to be merciful and forgiving to all who ask it of him this is revealed in the prayer known as the ‘Days of Awe’
“On the first day of the year it is written, and on the Day of Atonement the decree is sealed … who shall live and who shall die … who shall perish by fire and who by water, who by the sword, who by wild beasts … But penitence, Prayer and Charity avert the severe decree.”
Penitence, or forgiveness, means that the subject does not only have to say that their repent their sins, but also they have to mean it and be humble before G-d, this also links in with Jews not being able to say G-d’s name, ‘Jehovah’, and some orthodox Jews also refuse to say or even write the word ‘God’ because it may be desecrated or used incorrectly at a later date, this is the reason I have written G-d for this essay.
