Jewish

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Inter-faith Council Representatives:  Mr Alan Schwartz, MBE, Chairman, South Wales Jewish Representative Council, a_schwartz@sky.com  and Ms Diana Soffa
 

Jewish Faith and interfaith in Wales

The Jewish community which is mainly situated in Cardiff with a smaller community in Swansea and a very small community in Newport considers inter-faith work as a priority. This is has arisen since 2001 and is now quite involving. We give high priority to school visits (both orthodox and reform synagogues) as well as visits by adult groups from churches and council employee groups.

In addition, we try to involve ourselves in all committee work which calls for Jewish representation both inside the principality and outside on a national level. Although the Jewish community is declining in Wales as well as getting older, we consider the experience that we have had over 150 years in Wales, can be used as a guide for other communities
that have set up in more recent times.

The Jewish community is committed to maintaining good relationships with all other faith communities through common events and personal relationships. Thus although there is only one overall representative of the Jewish community in Wales, meetings of the Inter-faith Council consist of two representatives from the Orthodox and Reform communities in Cardiff. Both communities work together on inter-faith projects and alternate meetings held at the two synagogue venues for visitors.

For more information see the Inter-faith Wales Report.

About the Jewish Faith

Jewish people belong to a unique tradition of faith and practice that goes back 4,000 years in the Middle East. Ethnicity is as important as faith in identifying Jewish people. The roots of Judaism come from Abraham who brought his people to faith in one God. Moses - the greatest of the prophets - led his people to freedom from slavery in Egypt and received the law.

Over the centuries Jews have been dispersed to all parts of the earth. Jewish people suffered horrific persecution at the hands of Nazi Germany during World War II, in events which are now known as The Holocaust. The Zionist movement arose in the late 19th century with the aim of creating a Jewish state where Jews would be free from persecution. The calling of the Jewish nation is expressed as a divine-human agreement or covenant. This agreement was inaugurated by the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses, which became to Jews the basis of their life.

For Jews, actions are more important than beliefs. Judaism focuses on one’s relationship to G-d and to others. Rambam’s set of thirteen principles of faith, widely accepted by Jews, is the following:

  1. G-d* exists.
  2. G-d is one and unique.
  3. G-d is incorporeal.
  4. G-d is eternal.
  5. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and no other.
  6. The words of the prophets are true.
  7. Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
  8. The Written Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) and the Oral Torah (teachings in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses.
  9. There will be no other Torah.
  10. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of humankind.
  11. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked.
  12. The Messiah will come.
  13. The dead will be resurrected.

*Jews honour G-d by not writing out or saying the name of the Holy One.

For more information see the Inter-faith Wales Report.