AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
The relationship between free will and the 613 mitzvot.
Full specification wording
Judaism - 3.1.6.1 Beliefs and teachings: The relationship between free will and the 613 mitzvot.
Judaism teaches that God granted humanity free will, meaning individuals have the genuine ability to choose between good and evil.
- Point 14 of 15
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Judaism teaches that God granted humanity free will, meaning individuals have the genuine ability to choose between good and evil. This freedom is essential for moral responsibility. The 613 mitzvot, the commandments found in the Torah, provide the divine framework for living a holy life. The relationship between the two is fundamental: without free will, following the mitzvot would be meaningless, as humans would simply act like programmed robots. By actively choosing to obey the mitzvot, such as observing Shabbat or giving tzedakah, Jews demonstrate their love for God and take responsibility for their actions. Free will makes the observance of the 613 mitzvot a conscious, meritorious act that actively strengthens the Jewish covenant with God.
What earns the marks
- Free will is the belief that God gives humans the ability to make their own moral choices between right and wrong.
- The 613 mitzvot are the rules and commandments given by God in the Torah to guide Jewish life.
- Following the mitzvot is only meaningful because humans have the free will to choose whether to obey or disobey them.
- Choosing to follow the mitzvot brings Jews closer to God and fulfils their side of the covenant.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming that Jews are forced by God to follow the 613 mitzvot.
Put it right: Emphasise that God provides the mitzvot as guidance, but humans must use their free will to choose to follow them.
Confusing the 613 mitzvot with the Ten Commandments.
Put it right: State that the Ten Commandments are a subset of the wider 613 mitzvot found throughout the Torah.
Stating that free will means Jews can make up their own rules.
Put it right: Clarify that free will is the choice to obey or disobey God's established laws (the mitzvot), not the freedom to invent new ones.
Exam tips
- Explain that the existence of the Yetzer Ha-Tov (good inclination) and Yetzer Ha-Ra (evil inclination) highlights the constant exercise of free will in following the mitzvot.
- Use the concept of the covenant to explain why choosing to follow the mitzvot is so important for the Jewish community.
Try the lesson
The start of the Judaism - 3.1.6.1 Beliefs and teachings: The relationship between free will and the 613 mitzvot. lesson, made from teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
In Judaism, what is the relationship between human free will and the 613 mitzvot?
Listen
Judaism teaches that God granted humanity free will, meaning individuals have the genuine ability to choose between good and evil. This freedom is essential for moral responsibility. The 613 mitzvot, the commandments found in the Torah, provide the divine framework for living a holy life. The relationship between the two is fundamental: without free will, following the mitzvot would be meaningless, as humans would simply act like programmed robots. By actively choosing to obey the mitzvot, such as observing Shabbat or giving tzedakah, Jews demonstrate their love for God and take responsibility for their actions. Free will makes the observance of the 613 mitzvot a conscious, meritorious act that actively strengthens the Jewish covenant with God. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Free will is the belief that God gives humans the ability to make their own moral choices between right and wrong. The 613 mitzvot are the rules and commandments given by God in the Torah to guide Jewish life. Following the mitzvot is only meaningful because humans have the free will to choose whether to obey or disobey them. Choosing to follow the mitzvot brings Jews closer to God and fulfils their side of the covenant. A common slip: Claiming that Jews are forced by God to follow the 613 mitzvot. Instead, Emphasise that God provides the mitzvot as guidance, but humans must use their free will to choose to follow them. Exam tip: Explain that the existence of the Yetzer Ha-Tov (good inclination) and Yetzer Ha-Ra (evil inclination) highlights the constant exercise of free will in following the mitzvot.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Free will
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Mitzvot
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Covenant
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Moral responsibility
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Free will
- The belief that God gives humans the ability to make their own moral choices between right and wrong.
- Mitzvot
- The rules and commandments given by God in the Torah to guide Jewish life.
- Covenant
- The relationship with God that is actively strengthened when Jews consciously choose to obey the mitzvot.
- Moral responsibility
- Taking responsibility for one's actions, which is essential and made possible by the freedom to choose between good and evil.
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