What is Judaism's human-God relationship?

Answer 1

In Jewish tradition and practice, God is close by. He hears prayer and is intimately aware of the goings-on in this world. He provided prophecy during the Prophetic era, and intervened openly in the course of history in such events as the Splitting of the Reed Sea and the Giving of the Torah.

Our relationship with God and the Torah is embodied and defined by the Covenant with God.

There are three covenants: two which God made with Abraham (Genesis ch.15 and Genesis ch.17), and one with Abraham's Israelite descendants in the time of Moses after the Exodus.

1) In Genesis ch.15, the Covenant Between the Parts.

2) In Genesis ch.17, the covenant of circumcision.

3) The covenant between God and the Israelite nation (see Exodus ch.19 and ch.24) was made in the time of Moses, with Moses serving as the messenger.

This covenant is one of obedience, to listen to God's voice (Exodus 19:5), which includes obeying the entire Torah (24:12). God, for His part, promised to treasure the Israelites (Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 26:16-19). The covenant was manifested through God's giving the Ten Commandments (Exodus ch.19-20), and was finalized (on our part) through the sacrifices described in Exodus ch.24.