What is the definition of Judaism?
Judaism (the Jewish Religion) is the beliefs and practices of the Jewish people, as given by G‑d and recorded in the Torah and subsequent sacred writings.
What are the basic Jewish beliefs?
G‑d willfully brings all things into being, crafts each one with purpose and meaning, and continues to direct the world. All humans are responsible for their moral decisions. The Jewish people were appointed to keep a special set of laws and given the Land of Israel. Eventually, through our good deeds, the world will enter into an era of wisdom and peace for all peoples.
Read: What Are Jewish Values?
How Did Judaism Begin?
Abraham, the father of Judaism, introduced Monotheism to the world, and G‑d promised to give his descendants the land of Israel. Those descendants became enslaved by the pharaohs of Egypt until G‑d sent Moses—and many miracles—to free them. They journeyed out of Egypt towards the promised land, stopping at Mount Sinai, where G‑d made a covenant with them. The Israelites accepted the Torah (all its requirements and prohibitions) and became the Jewish people—G‑d’s nation.
Where does the term Judaism come from?
There are three names for the descendants of Abraham: Hebrews, Israelites, and Jews. The Torah refers to Abraham as a Hebrew. His grandson, Jacob, was given the second name Israel. Of Jacob’s 12 sons, Judah had the role of leadership. At one point, he was the dominant tribe among those living in Israel, and the entire nation became known as Jews, and their creed as Judaism.
Read: Who Are the Jews?
What are the sacred texts of Judaism?
The most sacred texts of Judaism are the Torah—the Five Books of Moses, Prophets, Writings, Mishnah, Talmud and Midrash. The unfolding of Torah continues to this day, with works from every generation that have been accepted by Jews as part of the Divine teaching.
What do Jews do?
Jewish people observe G‑d’s laws as outlined in the Torah and Oral Tradition, including: Giving charity regularly, observing the kosher dietary laws, immersing in the mikvah, putting mezuzah scrolls on the doorposts, daily prayer (during which men wrap tefillin), and Shabbat—a weekly day of rest. Marriage and procreation are considered sacred acts, and children attend Jewish classes from a young age to study the Torah and its application.
Read: What Do Jews Do?
What are the Jewish holidays?
The major Jewish holidays are Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah, and Purim.
What is the language of Judaism?
The sacred texts of the Jews are written almost entirely in Hebrew, with some Aramaic sections (Aramaic was the language of the Jews during their exiles in Babylonia). Yiddish, Ladino, and Judeo-Arabic are also valued as uniquely Jewish languages.
Which places are sacred to Judaism?
Israel is the holy land of the Jews. Its sacred cities are Jerusalem and Hebron Within Jerusalem, the most sacred spot is the site of the ancient Temple, laid waste by the Romans. All that remains standing of that Temple today is one of its retaining walls, the Western Wall, where Jews flock to pray.
Who is Judaism for?
Judaism contains wisdom and ethics for all people. The vast majority of its mitzvahs and practices are specifically for Jews, and non-Jews are under no obligation to keep these. They are, however, enjoined to live in accordance with the Seven Noahide Laws, which set the groundwork for a moral and just society.
Are there different kinds of Jews?
There are as many kinds of Jews as there are individuals. Originally, there were 12 tribes, but today, almost all Jews are of the tribes of Judah, Levi or Benjamin. Jews are also sometimes grouped ethnically: those originating from central and eastern Europe are called Ashkenazim, while the descendants of the exiles from Spain are called Sephardim. Often, all Jews from Arab lands are called Sephardim.
Grouping by level of practice, affiliation, or ideology is much more difficult, and often artificial and unhelpful.
How many Jews are there in the world?
The Jewish population took a major hit during the Holocaust when 6 million Jews were brutally murdered. Most estimates put the world Jewish population today at around 16 million. What are the major Jewish population centers?
- More than 7 million Jews live in Israel and 6 million in the U.S.
- Both France and Canada have around 400,000, the UK has around 300,000.
- Australia, Germany, Argentina, and Russia, each have between 1 and 200,000.
Start a Discussion