Judaism is one of the first religions to be
established. Jews focus on the teaching that there is only one God. The Almighty
Father is God. This is one of the oldest religions which is still existing
today. Judaism has a very formal set of beliefs that one must hold to be a Jew.
Jews share a core of monotheism principles (Belief in One God), and that he is
the powerful and all Knowing, and that at the end God will send down a messiah
to redeem the Jews. The everyday belief in the Jews is concentrated in their
written scriptures. The Tanakh and the Talud are the main Holy books. The
Tanakh contains the Torah (five books of Moses), the prophets and the
Ketuvium(writings). This religion’s oral law is contained in the Mishnah,
Tosefta, classical Midrashim, and the two Talmuds.
The three main branches of Judaism are
Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Judaism. However there are also
Ultra-orthodox, Reconstructionist and Humanist Jews. Orthodox Jews adhere to
strict laws but live in modern society. Ultra-orthodox choose to live
separately from modern society while the Conservatives believe that Jewish Law
should adapt to social changes. Reform Jews retain the ethics and culture of
Judaism and believe that the Torah was written by the humans and did not come
from God. They do not adhere to Jewish Law. Reconstructionist Jews do not
believe in a personified deity but may believe in Jewish Law because of its
cultural value. Humanist Jews wish to revive the secular roots of Judaism,
celebrating Jewish culture and identity.
More
than 14 million Jews throughout the world follow this religion. It is the
ancient tradition of a relatively small community of people called Hebrews, or
Israelites.
Abraham is the founding father. At the age thirteen, children are responsible
for their actions. Sanhedrin, the chief court of law in the Jewish tradition
consisted of 71 rabbis.
