What is the purpose of life according to Judaism?

Answer 1

The reason for our existence, according to Judaism, is to help God in the completion of creation. This is accomplish by working to bring good into the world.

Answer:

Judaism teaches that:

1. God exists, and is the Creator.

This tells us that the world is not purposeless or chaotic. Life is the result of a deliberate, purposeful, intelligent and kind Creator; not a melancholy chaos or a string of fortuitous accidents. God is at the center of reality and the center of our world-outlook and thoughts.

2. God is eternal.

This includes the belief that God's ways are also eternal. God is not capricious, forgetful or fickle. Investing in a relationship with God is the only thing that will bear eternal benefits.

3. Prayer is to be directed to God.

This teaches us that no person, government or institution is to be accorded blind trust. We pray directly to God, three times a day; and we recount our shortcomings, ask for our needs, and acknowledge our successes with happy thanks.

4. The importance of the Torah cannot be overstated. Jews are keeping mitzvot (commands), saying blessings, praying, learning Torah and doing acts of kindness and charity all the time. The Torah is the single greatest thing that a Jew has; given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism.

5. There will be no other Torah.

We Jews have been around for 3800 years. New fads, manifestos, beliefs or lifestyles which rear their heads are met by the Jew with a calm, seasoned eye and the proverbial grain of salt. The Torah doesn't change; and every new thing can be measured against the Torah's standards.

6. God knows the thoughts and deeds of all. He has given us free-will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20), and we're tested as to how we use it.

7. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.

These two beliefs provide a vast incentive towards righteousness and, when needed, repentance.

They also form part of the basis of our belief in the afterlife, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler.

God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4); and all outstanding accounts are settled after this life.

Answer 2

According to the teachings of Judaism, it's our job to help God complete creation, primarily by bringing good and justice into the world.

Answer:

According to the tradition of Judaism, the purpose of life is to serve God, to keep the Torah, to avoid sin; and to pass the myriad tests which are sent our way, by properly using our free will (Deuteronomy 31:15-20).

Answer 3

The philosophy of Judaism is that this world is a purposeful creation by God, in which all people are tested concerning their use of free-will. We possess a soul which lives on after the body dies and is held responsible for the person's actions. Anyone who is worthy, Jewish or not, can merit reward in the afterlife.

Also:

1. God exists, and is the Creator.

This tells us that the world is not chaotic or the result of chance. Life is the work of a deliberate, purposeful, intelligent and kind Creator; not a melancholy chaos or a string of fortuitous accidents. God is at the center of reality and the center of our world-outlook and thoughts.

2. God is eternal.

This includes the belief that God's ways are also eternal. God is not capricious, forgetful or fickle. Investing in a relationship with God is the only thing that will bear eternal benefits.

3. Prayer is to be directed to God.

This teaches us that no person, government or institution is to be accorded blind trust. We pray directly to God, three times a day; and we recount our shortcomings, ask for our needs, and acknowledge our successes with happy thanks.

4. The importance of the Torah cannot be overstated. Jews are keeping mitzvot (commands), saying blessings, praying, learning Torah and doing acts of kindness and charity all the time. The Torah is the single greatest thing that a Jew has; given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism.

5. There will be no other Torah.

We Jews have been around for 3800 years. New fads, manifestos, beliefs or lifestyles which rear their heads are met by the Jew with a calm, seasoned eye and the proverbial grain of salt. The Torah doesn't change; and every new thing can be measured against the Torah's standards.

6. God knows the thoughts and deeds of all. He has given us free-will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20), and we're tested as to how we use it.

7. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.

These two beliefs provide a vast incentive towards righteousness and, when needed, repentance.

They also form part of the basis of our belief in the afterlife, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler.

God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4); and all outstanding accounts are settled after this life.

Answer 4

Judaism teaches trust, hope and optimism.

1) Every human being is as important as the entire universe (Mishna, Sanhedrin 4:5).

2) Our actions, thoughts and speech create ripples that spread throughout eternity.

3) Everything is a test.

4) The only temporal thing that you really own is time; and not much of that either. Every moment is golden.

5) To be Jewish, almost by definition, is to be happy, content, and optimistic.

6) Our soul (yes, humans possess a soul) - yearns for God; and this emotion won't be assuaged with food, money or pleasures.

7) The truth is much more interesting than fiction. The Torah will not only reveal its own secrets to those who study it; it will also reveal the secrets of history, and the inner workings of men's minds.

Answer 5

The philosophy of Judaism is that this world is a purposeful creation by God, in which all people are tested concerning their use of free-will. We possess a soul which lives on after the body dies and is held responsible for the person's actions. Anyone who is worthy, Jewish or not, can merit reward in the afterlife.

• Related Link: The afterlife
  

Also:
1. God exists, and is the Creator.
This tells us that the world is not chaotic or the result of chance. Life is the work of a deliberate, purposeful, intelligent and kind Creator; not a melancholy chaos or a string of fortuitous accidents. God is at the center of reality and the center of our world-outlook and thoughts.

• Link: Creation
  

2. God is eternal.
This includes the belief that God's ways are also eternal. God is not capricious, forgetful or fickle. Investing in a relationship with God is the only thing that will bear eternal benefits.

• Link: Belief in God
  

3. Prayer is to be directed to God.
This teaches us that no person, government or institution is to be accorded blind trust. We pray directly to God, three times a day; and we recount our shortcomings, ask for our needs, and acknowledge our successes with happy thanks.
4. The importance of the Torah cannot be overstated. Jews are keeping mitzvot (commands), saying blessings, praying, learning Torah and doing acts of kindness and charity all the time. The Torah is the single greatest thing that a Jew has; given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism.
5. There will be no other Torah.
We Jews have been around for 3800 years. New fads, manifestos, beliefs or lifestyles which rear their heads are met by the Jew with a calm, seasoned eye and the proverbial grain of salt. The Torah doesn't change; and every new thing can be measured against the Torah's standards.
6. God knows the thoughts and deeds of all. He has given us free-will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20), and we're tested as to how we use it.
7. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
These two beliefs provide a vast incentive towards righteousness and, when needed, repentance.
They also form part of the basis of our belief in the afterlife, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler.
God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4); and all outstanding accounts are settled after this life. See also the other Related Link.

Link: Some benefits of Judaism

Answer 6

The philosophy of Judaism is that this world is a purposeful creation by God, in which all people are tested concerning their use of free-will. We possess a soul which lives on after the body dies and is held responsible for the person's actions. Anyone who is worthy, Jewish or not, can merit reward in the afterlife.Related Link: The afterlife
Also:
1. God exists, and is the Creator.
This tells us that the world is not chaotic or the result of chance. Life is the work of a deliberate, purposeful, intelligent and kind Creator; not a melancholy chaos or a string of fortuitous accidents. God is at the center of reality and the center of our world-outlook and thoughts.

Link: Creation
2. God is eternal.
This includes the belief that God's ways are also eternal. God is not capricious, forgetful or fickle. Investing in a relationship with God is the only thing that will bear eternal benefits.Link: Belief in God
3. Prayer is to be directed to God.
This teaches us that no person, government or institution is to be accorded blind trust. We pray directly to God, three times a day; and we recount our shortcomings, ask for our needs, and acknowledge our successes with happy thanks.
4. The importance of the Torah cannot be overstated. Jews are keeping mitzvot (commands), saying blessings, praying, learning Torah and doing acts of kindness and charity all the time. The Torah is the single greatest thing that a Jew has; given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism.
5. There will be no other Torah.
We Jews have been around for 3800 years. New fads, manifestos, beliefs or lifestyles which rear their heads are met by the Jew with a calm, seasoned eye and the proverbial grain of salt. The Torah doesn't change; and every new thing can be measured against the Torah's standards.
6. God knows the thoughts and deeds of all. He has given us free-will (Deuteronomy 30:15-20), and we're tested as to how we use it.
7. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
These two beliefs provide a vast incentive towards righteousness and, when needed, repentance.
They also form part of the basis of our belief in the afterlife, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler.
God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4); and all outstanding accounts are settled after this life.See also the other Related Link.

Link: Some benefits of Judaism

Answer 7

The purpose of life according to the teachings of Judaism is to help HaShem (The Creator) in completing the creation of the world by making the world a better place.

Answer 8

Judaism is more about practice and belief, but Jewish mysticism does offer answers. Orthodox Jews accept "the yoke of Torah," that is, the obligation to be bound by the 613 commandments found in the Torah, as understood through the lens of the rabbinic tradition. Adhering to these commandments is everything. The mystical tradition in Kaballah explains that God created man to be a partner in repairing the world, that is, in completing the work of creation. Each time a person performs a mitzvah, that is, fulfills a commandment, it brings the universe closer to God's intended perfection.

Answer 9

The Bible has very little to say about why God chose to create life, it merely asserts that God did so. On the whole, the Jewish tradition focuses on how to live, not why we are here. There are bits and pieces in the text that give us hints. For example, Genesis 1:26 where God says "let us make man in our image." Perhaps this allows us to infer by asking first "for what purpose do we create things" and then work backward to infer why God created. The most intense effort along these lines come from Kaballah, Jewish mysticism, where there is an elaborate creation story in which God created mankind to serve as partners in the work of finishing the creation of the world. As such, every time a person fulfills one of God's commandments, that person brings the entire world one step closer to perfection, and any time any person breaks one of God's commandments, that person is hindering the completion of God's plan. This story may be considered an elaborate parable, which is to say, a story intended to teach something, not the actual history of creation.