👣 What he gave up
His home, his family's land and his security. He left everything he knew.
Judaism: Origins and Their Impact on the Community » Abraham and the Covenant
What you'll learn this session
Study time: 30 minutes
Edexcel spec: Paper 2 Judaism (4RS1/2E), 1.1
- How the Torah explains where the Jewish faith began
- The key events in Abraham's life: the journey to Canaan, the covenant, his two sons and the test of faith
- Why Abraham is called the founder of Judaism
- How Orthodox and Progressive Jews read these stories, and why Abraham matters today
🔒 Unlock Full Course Content
Sign up to access the complete lesson and track your progress!
Unlock This CourseThe Torah and the start of the Jewish faith
Every faith has a story of how it began. For Jews, that story is told in the Torah, the first five books of the Jewish Bible. It begins with the creation of the world, but from the book of Genesis onwards it follows one family. It tells how the Almighty chose a family, then grew it into a people, and made agreements with them along the way. The Torah explains why Jews believe they have a special relationship with the Almighty and a special set of duties. Everything else in this topic starts from here.
The family begins with a man called Abram, later renamed Abraham. Jews often call him Avraham Avinu, which means "Abraham our father".
Key terms:
- Patriarch: a father figure and founding leader. Abraham, his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob are the three patriarchs of Judaism.
- Canaan: the land the Almighty promised to Abraham, where his family would live.
- Akedah: Hebrew for "the binding". It is the name for the story of Abraham being told to offer his son Isaac (Genesis 22).
- Hospitality: welcoming and caring for guests and strangers. In Hebrew this is hachnasat orchim.
The call and the journey to Canaan
Abram lived in Mesopotamia and his family moved north to a place called Haran. In Genesis 12 the Almighty speaks to him. He is told to leave his country, his people and his father's household and go to a land that will be shown to him. In return come three promises: that he will become a great nation, that he will be blessed, and that all the families of the earth will be blessed through him.
Abram was 75 years old. He did not know where he was going, and he went anyway. He travelled to Canaan with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot and their households, and built altars to worship the Almighty on the way. This act of trust is the first step in the story of Judaism.
⭐ What he was promised
Descendants, a land and a blessing that would reach every nation.
The covenant
Remember, a covenant is a solemn agreement between the Almighty and the Jewish people. The covenant with Abraham is the first one. It is set out in Genesis 15 and Genesis 17. It has three parts:
- Descendants: Abraham will have a huge family. In Genesis 15 he is told to look at the stars and count them, because his descendants will be as many.
- Land: the land of Canaan will belong to his descendants.
- Blessing: the Almighty will be their God, and Abraham's family will be a blessing to others.
In Genesis 17 the covenant is given a sign. Every male in Abraham's household is to be circumcised, and from then on baby boys are circumcised at eight days old. Abram's name is changed to Abraham, which the Torah explains as "father of many nations". Sarai becomes Sarah. Jews still keep this sign today. It has its own lesson, Brit Milah, Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah.
Abraham's two sons
Abraham and Sarah had no children, and the promise of descendants seemed impossible. Sarah gave her maidservant Hagar to Abraham, and Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. Abraham was 86. Years later, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah was old, Isaac was born. His name means "he will laugh", because Sarah had laughed when she heard she would have a child.
The Torah says the covenant continues through Isaac. Ishmael is not forgotten: the Almighty promises that he will also become a great nation. But Isaac is the next link in the chain that leads to the Jewish people, so the story goes from Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob.
The test of faith: the Akedah
In Genesis 22 the Almighty tests Abraham. He is told to take Isaac to a mountain in the land of Moriah and offer him there. Abraham sets out early the next morning. At the last moment an angel calls to him to stop. Abraham finds a ram caught in a bush and offers that instead. He has shown that he trusts the Almighty above everything, even the child he had waited so long for. The promises are then repeated.
Jews read this passage in the synagogue at Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The ram's horn, the shofar, which is blown on that day, is a reminder of the ram.
Abraham as the first to know one God
The Torah does not say how Abraham came to believe in one God, but later Jewish tradition fills the gap. In one rabbinic story, Abraham grew up in a home where idols were worshipped and smashed them, because he saw they could not be gods. This is why Jews see him as the first person to recognise one God, which is the heart of Judaism.
Two ways of reading the stories
📜 Orthodox Jews
Believe the Torah is the Almighty's own words, given to Moses. They believe these events happened as written. Abraham really was called, really made the covenant and really passed the test.
💡 Progressive Jews
Reform and Liberal Jews see the Torah as sacred and inspired, but shaped by human writers. The stories matter most for their meaning: trust, courage and commitment. Many ask moral questions about the Akedah and look at what it teaches today. All Jews read it as a test that the Almighty stopped before Isaac was harmed.
Why Abraham matters to Jews today
- The first patriarch: Jews trace their story back to him. In the Amidah, the central prayer, Jews call on "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob". Many Progressive prayer books also name the matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.
- A model of faith: he trusted the Almighty and left his home. Jews are encouraged to follow that trust.
- A model of hospitality: in Genesis 18 he runs to welcome three strangers and gives them food and shade. The rabbis (Jewish teachers) taught that welcoming guests is a great mitzvah (commandment).
- The covenant and the land: the promises made to him are the basis of the covenant Jews still live by and of the Jewish bond with the land of Israel.
Common mistakes
Avoid these slips
Saying Abraham was the first Jew who "invented" God. Jews believe the Almighty called him, so the covenant begins with the Almighty. Another mistake is to say the covenant passes through Ishmael: the Torah says it continues through Isaac. Last, students often describe the Akedah without saying why it matters. Say that it shows Abraham's faith, and that it is read at Rosh Hashanah.
Exam-style question
(a) Outline two events in the life of Abraham which show his faith. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why Abraham is important for Jews today. [6 marks]
(c) "The Akedah is the most important event in Abraham's life." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include reference to teachings, other points of view and your own opinion. [10 marks]
Model answer
(a) One event is the journey to Canaan. Abraham left his home when the Almighty told him to go to a land he did not know, which shows he trusted God (1) even though he had no idea where he was going (1). Another is the Akedah. Abraham was ready to offer his son Isaac when the Almighty tested him (1), which shows he put God before even the child he had waited for (1).
(b) Abraham is important because he is the first patriarch. Jews trace their history to him, and the Amidah prayer calls on the God of Abraham (1). He is the first to recognise one God, which is the heart of Judaism (1). The Almighty made the covenant with him, promising descendants, land and a blessing, and Jews still live by that agreement (1). Its sign, circumcision, is still kept today (1). He is also a model of faith and hospitality, so Jews try to copy his trust in the Almighty and his welcome to strangers (1). Finally, his story shows how the Jewish people began, which helps them understand who they are and what is expected of them (1).
(c) Plan. For: the Akedah shows total trust, and it is read at Rosh Hashanah each year, so it is remembered by the whole community. It also confirms the covenant through Isaac. Against: the call to Canaan began the whole story, and the covenant in Genesis 17 gave Judaism its sign and promises. Hospitality in Genesis 18 shows how Jews should treat others. Other views: Orthodox Jews may stress obedience in the test, while many Progressive Jews ask moral questions about the story and look to its meaning, and to the call and the covenant. All Jews agree the Almighty stopped the sacrifice. Possible conclusion: the covenant is the most important, because without it the Akedah would have no meaning, though the Akedah is the greatest test of the faith.
Exam tip
In the 10-mark question, always include a view from within Judaism that is different from the main one, such as Orthodox and Progressive readings of the stories, and finish with your own reasoned opinion.