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Judaism Judaism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, originating in the Middle East over 3,500 years ago. It is based on the belief in one God and the teachings found in the Torah, which includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. Jews follow a moral code that includes the 613 mitzvot (commandments) and uphold traditions such as observing the Sabbath and celebrating holidays like Passover and Yom Kippur. Judaism emphasizes ethical conduct, community, and the ongoing interpretation of sacred texts through rabbinic teachings, including the Talmud. It has profoundly influenced Western religious and ethical thought and remains a global faith practiced by approximately 15 million people today. Tanakh online |
Summary of Major Points and Cosmology of Judaism
1. Monotheism (Belief in One God):
At the heart of Judaism is the belief in a single, all-powerful, and eternal God. This concept is central to Jewish theology and is enshrined in the Shema ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one"), a key prayer recited daily by observant Jews. God is seen as the creator of the universe, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Unlike many other ancient religions that were polytheistic, Judaism's commitment to monotheism has profoundly shaped its religious and cultural identity.
2. The Covenant (Brit):
Judaism emphasizes the covenant (Brit) between God and the Jewish people. This covenant, established through figures like Abraham and Moses, binds the Jewish people to God in a special relationship. In return for their faithfulness to God's commandments, the Jewish people are chosen as God’s representatives on Earth, tasked with upholding ethical monotheism and serving as a light to other nations. The Torah is considered the guiding document of this covenant, detailing both the laws and history of the Jewish people.
3. The Torah and the Commandments:
The Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), is the foundational text of Judaism. It contains the 613 mitzvot (commandments) that guide Jewish life, covering every aspect of religious, ethical, and social conduct. Among these commandments are the Ten Commandments, which form the ethical backbone of Jewish law. The Torah is also read aloud in synagogues during religious services, and it plays a central role in Jewish education and practice.
4. Ethical Living and Justice:
Judaism places a strong emphasis on ethical behavior, with a particular focus on justice (tzedek), kindness, and community responsibility. The commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" reflects the importance of treating others with respect and compassion. The pursuit of justice, as emphasized in Deuteronomy 16:20, is seen as a religious obligation, and Jews are called to act justly and care for the vulnerable, including widows, orphans, and strangers.
5. The Role of the Prophets:
The Nevi'im (Prophets) are an integral part of the Hebrew Bible. Figures like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos served as moral and spiritual leaders, reminding the Jewish people of their covenant with God and calling them to repentance. The prophetic tradition emphasizes justice, the care of the poor, and faithfulness to God, even in the face of adversity. The prophets also offered visions of a future age of peace and righteousness, when the Jewish people would be restored to their land and God’s rule would be established over all nations.
6. The Messiah and Eschatology:
Judaism holds to the belief in the eventual coming of a Messiah (Moshiach), a future Jewish king from the line of David who will gather the Jewish people, restore the Kingdom of Israel, and usher in an era of peace, justice, and the worship of one God. Unlike Christianity, Judaism does not see the Messiah as a divine figure, but as a human leader chosen by God. Jewish eschatology also includes the belief in the resurrection of the dead and a future judgment, where God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.
7. Life After Death:
Judaism's views on the afterlife have evolved over time, but it generally holds that there is a continued existence after death. While the Torah does not explicitly discuss the afterlife, later Jewish writings, including the Talmud, reflect a belief in Olam Ha-Ba (the World to Come), a spiritual afterlife where souls experience reward or punishment based on their earthly lives. There is also a belief in the eventual resurrection of the dead during the Messianic age, when the righteous will live again.
8. Jewish Worship and Practices:
Jewish worship is centered around prayer, study of the Torah, and observance of the mitzvot. Shabbat (the Sabbath) is the most important day of the week, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. On Shabbat, Jews refrain from work, attend synagogue services, and focus on rest, prayer, and family. Jewish holidays such as Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot also play a significant role in Jewish life, marking important moments in Jewish history and the relationship between the Jewish people and God.
9. Jewish Community and Identity:
Judaism is both a religion and a people, with a strong sense of community. The synagogue serves as both a place of worship and a center for Jewish communal life. Jewish law, or Halakha, governs not only religious rituals but also aspects of daily living, including diet (through kosher laws), marriage, and social conduct. The Jewish people are bound together by their shared history, culture, and faith, even across diverse ethnic backgrounds and geographic locations.
10. The Chosen People:
A central theme in Jewish theology is the concept of the Chosen People. The Jewish people are chosen by God to follow His commandments and to serve as an example of ethical monotheism to the world. This idea is not seen as a privilege, but as a responsibility to live in accordance with God’s laws and to demonstrate righteousness in the world. Jews see themselves as part of a larger story, stretching from the covenant with Abraham to the modern day, and ultimately to the fulfillment of the Messianic age.
1. Monotheism (Belief in One God):
At the heart of Judaism is the belief in a single, all-powerful, and eternal God. This concept is central to Jewish theology and is enshrined in the Shema ("Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one"), a key prayer recited daily by observant Jews. God is seen as the creator of the universe, omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Unlike many other ancient religions that were polytheistic, Judaism's commitment to monotheism has profoundly shaped its religious and cultural identity.
2. The Covenant (Brit):
Judaism emphasizes the covenant (Brit) between God and the Jewish people. This covenant, established through figures like Abraham and Moses, binds the Jewish people to God in a special relationship. In return for their faithfulness to God's commandments, the Jewish people are chosen as God’s representatives on Earth, tasked with upholding ethical monotheism and serving as a light to other nations. The Torah is considered the guiding document of this covenant, detailing both the laws and history of the Jewish people.
3. The Torah and the Commandments:
The Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), is the foundational text of Judaism. It contains the 613 mitzvot (commandments) that guide Jewish life, covering every aspect of religious, ethical, and social conduct. Among these commandments are the Ten Commandments, which form the ethical backbone of Jewish law. The Torah is also read aloud in synagogues during religious services, and it plays a central role in Jewish education and practice.
4. Ethical Living and Justice:
Judaism places a strong emphasis on ethical behavior, with a particular focus on justice (tzedek), kindness, and community responsibility. The commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" reflects the importance of treating others with respect and compassion. The pursuit of justice, as emphasized in Deuteronomy 16:20, is seen as a religious obligation, and Jews are called to act justly and care for the vulnerable, including widows, orphans, and strangers.
5. The Role of the Prophets:
The Nevi'im (Prophets) are an integral part of the Hebrew Bible. Figures like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Amos served as moral and spiritual leaders, reminding the Jewish people of their covenant with God and calling them to repentance. The prophetic tradition emphasizes justice, the care of the poor, and faithfulness to God, even in the face of adversity. The prophets also offered visions of a future age of peace and righteousness, when the Jewish people would be restored to their land and God’s rule would be established over all nations.
6. The Messiah and Eschatology:
Judaism holds to the belief in the eventual coming of a Messiah (Moshiach), a future Jewish king from the line of David who will gather the Jewish people, restore the Kingdom of Israel, and usher in an era of peace, justice, and the worship of one God. Unlike Christianity, Judaism does not see the Messiah as a divine figure, but as a human leader chosen by God. Jewish eschatology also includes the belief in the resurrection of the dead and a future judgment, where God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked.
7. Life After Death:
Judaism's views on the afterlife have evolved over time, but it generally holds that there is a continued existence after death. While the Torah does not explicitly discuss the afterlife, later Jewish writings, including the Talmud, reflect a belief in Olam Ha-Ba (the World to Come), a spiritual afterlife where souls experience reward or punishment based on their earthly lives. There is also a belief in the eventual resurrection of the dead during the Messianic age, when the righteous will live again.
8. Jewish Worship and Practices:
Jewish worship is centered around prayer, study of the Torah, and observance of the mitzvot. Shabbat (the Sabbath) is the most important day of the week, observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening. On Shabbat, Jews refrain from work, attend synagogue services, and focus on rest, prayer, and family. Jewish holidays such as Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkot also play a significant role in Jewish life, marking important moments in Jewish history and the relationship between the Jewish people and God.
9. Jewish Community and Identity:
Judaism is both a religion and a people, with a strong sense of community. The synagogue serves as both a place of worship and a center for Jewish communal life. Jewish law, or Halakha, governs not only religious rituals but also aspects of daily living, including diet (through kosher laws), marriage, and social conduct. The Jewish people are bound together by their shared history, culture, and faith, even across diverse ethnic backgrounds and geographic locations.
10. The Chosen People:
A central theme in Jewish theology is the concept of the Chosen People. The Jewish people are chosen by God to follow His commandments and to serve as an example of ethical monotheism to the world. This idea is not seen as a privilege, but as a responsibility to live in accordance with God’s laws and to demonstrate righteousness in the world. Jews see themselves as part of a larger story, stretching from the covenant with Abraham to the modern day, and ultimately to the fulfillment of the Messianic age.
Here are ten popular scriptures from Judaism, with full text and citations:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deuteronomy 6:4
This is the Shema, the central declaration of Jewish monotheism, emphasizing the belief in one God.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1
The opening verse of the Torah describes the creation of the universe by God, establishing the foundation of the Jewish understanding of the cosmos.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5
This commandment instructs Jews to love God wholeheartedly and is recited daily as part of the Shema prayer.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." Exodus 20:2
This is the preamble to the Ten Commandments, highlighting God's role as the liberator of the Jewish people from slavery.
"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13
One of the Ten Commandments, this scripture establishes the fundamental prohibition against taking another person’s life.
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18
A core principle of Jewish ethics, this verse emphasizes the importance of love and respect for others.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31
This verse concludes the creation story, signifying God's approval of the world He created and the inherent goodness of creation.
"Justice, justice shall you pursue." Deuteronomy 16:20
This commandment stresses the pursuit of justice as a central tenet of Jewish life and law.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
This well-known psalm offers comfort and trust in God's guidance and protection.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
This scripture provides reassurance of God's care and purpose for the Jewish people, even in times of exile and difficulty.
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." Deuteronomy 6:4
This is the Shema, the central declaration of Jewish monotheism, emphasizing the belief in one God.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Genesis 1:1
The opening verse of the Torah describes the creation of the universe by God, establishing the foundation of the Jewish understanding of the cosmos.
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." Deuteronomy 6:5
This commandment instructs Jews to love God wholeheartedly and is recited daily as part of the Shema prayer.
"I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery." Exodus 20:2
This is the preamble to the Ten Commandments, highlighting God's role as the liberator of the Jewish people from slavery.
"You shall not murder." Exodus 20:13
One of the Ten Commandments, this scripture establishes the fundamental prohibition against taking another person’s life.
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Leviticus 19:18
A core principle of Jewish ethics, this verse emphasizes the importance of love and respect for others.
"And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good." Genesis 1:31
This verse concludes the creation story, signifying God's approval of the world He created and the inherent goodness of creation.
"Justice, justice shall you pursue." Deuteronomy 16:20
This commandment stresses the pursuit of justice as a central tenet of Jewish life and law.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1
This well-known psalm offers comfort and trust in God's guidance and protection.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
This scripture provides reassurance of God's care and purpose for the Jewish people, even in times of exile and difficulty.
Rank Country Total Population Jewish Population % of Jews
1 Israel 9,364,000 7,427,000 79.3%
2 United States 331,002,651 7,460,600 2.3%
3 France 67,391,582 440,000 0.7%
4 Canada 38,005,238 398,000 1.0%
5 United Kingdom 67,886,011 312,000 0.5%
6 Argentina 45,195,774 171,000 0.4%
7 Russia 145,934,462 132,000 0.1%
8 Germany 83,783,942 125,000 0.1%
9 Australia 25,694,393 117,000 0.5%
10 Brazil 212,559,417 90,500 0.04%
1 Israel 9,364,000 7,427,000 79.3%
2 United States 331,002,651 7,460,600 2.3%
3 France 67,391,582 440,000 0.7%
4 Canada 38,005,238 398,000 1.0%
5 United Kingdom 67,886,011 312,000 0.5%
6 Argentina 45,195,774 171,000 0.4%
7 Russia 145,934,462 132,000 0.1%
8 Germany 83,783,942 125,000 0.1%
9 Australia 25,694,393 117,000 0.5%
10 Brazil 212,559,417 90,500 0.04%