S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

What is Judaism, and who or what is a Jew? Is Judaism simply a religion? Is it a cultural identity or just an ethnic group? Are Jews a clan of people or are they a nation? What do Jews believe, and...

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July 01 2013 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

What is Judaism, and what do Jews believe?

Q1: What is Judaism? 

Judaism is an ancient, monotheistic Abrahamic religion with over 4,000 years of history, focusing on a covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people. It emphasises ethical behaviour, study, and adherence to divine laws found in the Torah. It is both a faith and a cultural identity, with roughly 15 million adherents worldwide.

Some Core Beliefs

One God: Judaism believes in a single, eternal, and incorporeal creator who is the ultimate authority.

The Covenant (Berit): A special agreement between God and the Jewish people, initiated with Abraham and solidified with Moses at Mount Sinai.

The Torah and Law: Jews follow the laws laid out in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and in subsequent oral traditions (the Talmud).

Ethical Monotheism: A focus on acting ethically and bringing holiness into the world as a "chosen" example to others.

Some Practices and Traditions

Shabbat: A weekly day of rest from Friday sunset to Saturday night.

Worship: Occurs in synagogues, often led by a rabbi.

Holy Days: Includes Rosh Hashanah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Passover (commemorating the exodus from Egypt), and others.

Life Stages: Ceremonies such as circumcision, Bar/Bat Mitzvah (marking adulthood), and specific marriage customs.

Q2: What do Jews believe?

Jews believe in one, eternal, and incorporeal God who created the universe and holds a covenant with the Jewish people. The faith emphasises actions and the observance of God's laws (Torah), particularly the Ten Commandments, focusing on justice, mercy, and repairing the world (Tikkun Olam) rather than afterlife dogma.

Some Core Theological Beliefs

Absolute Monotheism: Jews believe in one, indivisible, and incorporeal God who created the universe. This is encapsulated in the Shema, the central prayer: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one".

The Covenant: A fundamental belief is the special agreement between God and the Jewish people, beginning with Abraham and renewed with Moses. Jews believe they were "chosen" not for superiority, but for the responsibility of following God's laws to be a "light unto the nations".

Torah and Law: Jews believe the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) was divinely revealed. It contains 613 commandments (mitzvot), including the Ten Commandments, which govern ethical and ritual life.

Prophecy: Moses is considered the greatest prophet, through whom the Written and Oral Torahs were delivered

Some Core Jewish Principles

Relationship with God: God is omniscient, aware of human deeds, rewarding the righteous and punishing the wicked.

Importance of Action: Judaism emphasises studying the Torah and performing mitzvot (commandments) over holding specific beliefs.

Holy Texts: The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Talmud (oral law) are central to understanding Jewish law and ethics.

Conclusion

Simply put, Judaism is the religion of a people. Therefore, a convert becomes part of the Jewish people and the Jewish religion. It is a monotheistic religion in the strictest sense and holds that God intervenes in human history, especially in relation to the Jews. Jewish worship involves several annual festivals and various customs. (See box, pages 230-1.) Although there are no creeds or dogmas accepted by all Jews, the confession of the oneness of God as expressed in the Shema, a prayer based on Deuteronomy 6:4 (JP), forms a central part of synagogue worship: "HEAR, O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE."

April 15 2026 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report