Judaism
Judaism is among the world’s oldest monotheistic religions and the first of the three Abrahamic religions, which also include Christianity and Islam. Around 12 million people in the world believe in Judaism. They are mostly in the United States and Israel. The Torah, or Hebrew Bible, is the most important holy book of Judaism.
History of Judaism
The history of Judaism goes back to over 3500 years ago in the Middle East. Moses was the founder of Judaism, but the Jewish people believe that the religion started developing from the time of Abraham. According to Judaism, God chose Abraham to act as a father of the chosen people. God protected the Jewish people and passed a set of rules through Moses. Within the rules were the Ten Commandments. Thus, Judaism became a structured religion. After a series of victories, exiles, destruction, rebuilding, and revolutions, the 1930s and 1940s marked the Jewish Holocaust which was organized by Nazi Germans. In an attempt to end Judaism, six million Jews were killed throughout Europe. In 1948, the State of Israel was created. Jews are still embroiled in a struggle with Palestinians concerning ownership of the land.
Judaism Beliefs
According to Judaism, the Jews are the chosen people of God and must act as a good example for the rest of the world. Judaism believes in only one God, the creator of the universe. Jewish people have a covenant relationship with God, through which they must obey the laws set by God in order to receive the support and good deeds of God. Therefore, Judaism is considered a faith of action. Jews aim to follow the law as well as the spirit of the law. Therefore, they instill holiness to daily occurrences. Jews believe that that Jesus is a teacher and that followers of Christianity split from Judaism in order to revere Jesus as a Messiah. Jews define a Jew as a child of a Jewish mother. Some Jewish groups accept children of Jewish fathers as Jews, as well. Converting to Judaism is complicated.
Judaism Customs
In Judaism, a spiritual leader is a rabbi and the place of worship is a synagogue. Synagogues are also used study and community centers. Judaism promotes community and family life. The weekly holy day of Judaism is the Sabbath which lasts from Friday evening to Saturday evening. A Sabbath family meal is part of the religious custom. Observing the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments. Jews pray three times a day.
While praying or attending the synagogue or religious event, most Jews cover their heads. Orthodox Jewish men cover their heads at all times with a skullcap called a kippah or yarmulke, which symbolizes respect toward God. For liberal Jews covering the head is not mandatory. Orthodox Jewish men also wear tefillin on their heads and arms during morning prayers. Teffilin are black leather cubic coverings with religious texts. Other customs include male circumcision, which according to Judaism takes place when a baby is eight days old and tracks back to the covenant between God and Abraham.