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Judaism

 

 

 

 

 

Judaism


 
 

Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaďsmos, derived from the HebrewHebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jew...
 ?????, Yehudah, "JudahJudah

Judah is the name of several Biblical and historical figures....
"; in Hebrew: ????????, Yahedut, the distinctive characteristics of the Judean eáqnov) is the religionReligion Overview

Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unsee...
 of the JewJew

Jews are followers of Judaism or, more generally, members of the Jewish people , an ethno-religious group descended from th...
ish people. In 2007, the world Jewish populationJewish population

Jewish population refers to the number of Jews in the world, something that is difficult to calculate, given the constant de...
 was estimated at 13.2 million people—41% of whom lived in IsraelIsrael

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Se...
.

Judaism is a monotheisticMonotheism

In theology, monotheism is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God....
 religion based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible

Hebrew Bible is a term that refers to the common portions of the Jewish and Christian biblical canons....
, as further explored and explained in the TalmudFacts About Talmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
 and other texts. Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still being practiced today. Jewish history and the principles and ethics of Judaism have influenced other religions, such as ChristianityChristianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New...
, IslamIslam

Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the Qur'an, which adherents believe was sent by God through Muhammad....
 and the Bahá'í FaithBahá'í Faith

The Bah' Faith is a religion founded by Bah'u'llh in 19th century Persia....
.

In modern Judaism, central authority is not vested in any single person or body, but in sacred texts, traditionsHalakha

Halakha is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law as we...
, and learned Rabbis who interpret those texts and laws.






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Timeline

587 BC   Jerusalem falls to the Babylonians, ending the Kingdom of Judah. The conquerors destroy the Jewish Temple of Jerusalem and exile the land's remaining inhabitants.

51   In the Epistle to the Galatians, Paul supports the separation of Christianity and Judaism.

70   Roman general and future Roman Emperor, Titus, destroys the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, leaving erect only the famous Western Wall. Rome stations troops in Jerusalem and abolishes the Jewish high priesthood and Sanhedrin. This becomes known as the Fall of Jerusalem, a conclusive event in the First Jewish-Roman War. Following this event, the Jewish religious leadership moves from Jerusalem to Jamnia (present day Yavne), and the destruction is mourned annually as the Jewish fast of Tisha B'Av.

155   Rome states that while it will not be recognized as an official religion, Judaism must be tolerated.

740   The Khazars, a nation of the Black Sea steppe, though not ethnically Jewish, voluntarily convert to Judaism

838   The Khazars convert to Judaism. (approximate date)

1994   A lone terrorist kills Ari Halberstam on an attack on 14 Jewish students on the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.






Encyclopedia



Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaďsmos, derived from the HebrewHebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jew...
 ?????, Yehudah, "JudahJudah

Judah is the name of several Biblical and historical figures....
"; in Hebrew: ????????, Yahedut, the distinctive characteristics of the Judean eáqnov) is the religionReligion Overview

Religion is a system of social coherence based on a common group of beliefs or attitudes concerning an object, person, unsee...
 of the JewJew

Jews are followers of Judaism or, more generally, members of the Jewish people , an ethno-religious group descended from th...
ish people. In 2007, the world Jewish populationJewish population

Jewish population refers to the number of Jews in the world, something that is difficult to calculate, given the constant de...
 was estimated at 13.2 million people—41% of whom lived in IsraelIsrael

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Se...
.

Judaism is a monotheisticMonotheism

In theology, monotheism is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God....
 religion based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible

Hebrew Bible is a term that refers to the common portions of the Jewish and Christian biblical canons....
, as further explored and explained in the TalmudFacts About Talmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
 and other texts. Judaism is among the oldest religious traditions still being practiced today. Jewish history and the principles and ethics of Judaism have influenced other religions, such as ChristianityChristianity

Christianity is a monotheistic religion centered on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New...
, IslamIslam

Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the Qur'an, which adherents believe was sent by God through Muhammad....
 and the Bahá'í FaithBahá'í Faith

The Bah' Faith is a religion founded by Bah'u'llh in 19th century Persia....
.

In modern Judaism, central authority is not vested in any single person or body, but in sacred texts, traditionsHalakha

Halakha is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law as we...
, and learned Rabbis who interpret those texts and laws. According to Jewish tradition, Judaism begins with the CovenantCovenant (biblical)

Covenant, meaning a solemn contract, is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith as it is used in t...
 between GodNames of God in Judaism

In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title....
 and AbrahamAbraham

Abraham is regarded as the founding patriarch of the Israelites whom God chose to bless, and to make into a blessing for a...
 (ca. 2000 BCE), the patriarchPatriarchs (Bible)

The Patriarchs, known as the Avot in Hebrew, are Abraham, his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob....
 and progenitor of the Jewish people. Throughout the ages, Judaism has adhered to a number of religious principlesJewish principles of faith

There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities....
, the most important of which is the belief in a single, omniscientOmniscience

Omniscience is the capacity to know everything, or at least everything that can be known about a character/s including thoug...
, omnipotentOmnipotence

Omnipotence is power with no limits or inexhaustible, in other words, unlimited power....
, benevolentBenevolence

Sorry, no overview for this topic
, transcendentTranscendence (religion)

In religion, transcendence is a condition or state of being that surpasses, and is independent of, physical existence....
 GodNames of God in Judaism

In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title....
, who created the universeCreation according to Genesis

Creation according to Genesis refers to the description of the creation of the heavens and the earth by God, as described in...
 and continues to govern it. According to Jewish tradition, the God who created the world established a covenantCovenant (biblical)

Covenant, meaning a solemn contract, is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith as it is used in t...
 with the IsraeliteIsraelite

An Israelite is a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, descended from the twelve sons of the Biblical patriarch Jaco...
s and their descendants, and revealed his laws and commandments613 mitzvot

613 mitzvot or 613 Commandments are a list of commandments from God in the Torah....
 to MosesMoses

Moses or Moshe is a legendary Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian....
 on Mount SinaiBiblical Mount Sinai

Biblical Mount Sinai refers to the place where, according to the Hebrew Bible God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses....
 in the form of both the WrittenTorah

Torah is a Hebrew word meaning "teaching," "instruction," or "law"....
 and Oral TorahOral Torah

The Oral Torah, according to Rabbinic Judaism, is Jewish Law that was recorded in the Mishnah and Talmud....
. Judaism has traditionally valued Torah studyTorah study

Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which...
 and the observance of the commandments recorded in the Torah and as expounded in the TalmudTalmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
.

Religious doctrine and principles of faith



Judaism is a monotheisticMonotheism

In theology, monotheism is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God....
 religion based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew BibleHebrew Bible

Hebrew Bible is a term that refers to the common portions of the Jewish and Christian biblical canons....
, as further explored and explained in the TalmudTalmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
 and other texts. According to Jewish tradition, Judaism begins with the CovenantCovenant (biblical)

Covenant, meaning a solemn contract, is the customary word used to translate the Hebrew word berith as it is used in t...
 between GodNames of God in Judaism

In Judaism, the name of God is more than a distinguishing title....
 and AbrahamAbraham

Abraham is regarded as the founding patriarch of the Israelites whom God chose to bless, and to make into a blessing for a...
.

While Judaism has seldom, if ever, been in practice, it has always been fiercely monotheisticMonotheism

In theology, monotheism is the belief in the existence of one deity or God, or in the oneness of God....
 in theologyTheology

Theology is reasoned discourse concerning religion, spirituality and God....
 - although the Tanakh records significant periods of apostasy among many Israelites from Judaism's beliefs.

Historically, Judaism has considered belief in the divine revelation and acceptance of the Written and Oral TorahTorah

Torah is a Hebrew word meaning "teaching," "instruction," or "law"....
 as its fundamental core belief, but Judaism does not have a centralized authority dictating religious dogma. This gave rise to many different formulations as to the specific theological beliefs inherent in the Torah and TalmudTalmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
. While some rabbiRabbi

Rabbi in Judaism, means "teacher", or more literally "great one"....
s have at times agreed upon a firm formulation, others have disagreed, many criticizing any such attempt as minimizing acceptance of the entire Torah. Notably, in the Talmud some principles of faith (e.g., the Divine origin of the Torah) are considered important enough that rejection of them can put one in the category of "apikoros".

Over the centuries, a number of formulations of Jewish principles of faith have appeared, and though they differ with respect to certain details, they demonstrate a commonality of core ideology. Of these formulations, the one most widely considered authoritative is MaimonidesMaimonides

Maimonides was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain and Egypt during the Middle Ages....
' thirteen principles of faithJewish principles of faith

There are a number of basic Jewish principles of faith that were formulated by medieval rabbinic authorities....
.

These principles were controversial when first proposed, evoking criticism by Hasdai CrescasHasdai Crescas

Hasdai ben Abraham Crescas was a Jewish philosopher and a renowned halakhist. ...
 and Joseph AlboJoseph Albo

Joseph Albo was a rabbi who lived in Spain during the fifteenth century, known chiefly as the author of the work on the Jewi...
. Maimonides thirteen principles were ignored by much of the Jewish community for the next few centuries. Over time two poetic restatements of these principles ("Ani Ma'aminAni Ma'amin

Ani Ma'amin is a prosaic rendition of Maimonides' thirteen-point version of the Jewish principles of faith....
" and "YigdalYigdal

Yigdal is a Jewish hymn which in various rituals shares with Adon 'Olam the place of honor at the opening of the morning and...
") became canonized in the Jewish prayer book, and eventually became widely held.

Joseph Albo and the RaavadAbraham ben David

You may be looking for Abraham ibn Daud, a twelfth century Spanish-Jewish philosopher and historian....
 have criticized Maimonides' list as containing too many items that, while true, were not fundamentals of the faith, and thus placed too many Jews in the category of "heretic", rather than those who were simply in error. Many others criticized any such formulation as minimizing acceptance of the entire Torah (see above). As noted however, neither Maimonides nor his contemporaries viewed these principles as encompassing all of Jewish belief, but rather as the core theological underpinnings of the acceptance of Judaism. Along these lines, the ancient historian JosephusJosephus

Josephus , who became known, in his capacity as a Roman citizen, as Flavius Josephus, was a 1st century Jewish histori...
 emphasized practices and observances rather than religious beliefs, associating apostasyFacts About Apostasy

Apostasy is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of one's religion, especially if the motive is de...
 with a failure to observe Jewish law and maintaining that the requirements for conversion to Judaism included circumcisionCircumcision

Circumcision is the removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis....
 and adherence to traditional customs.

Today most Orthodox authorities hold that Maimonides' 13 principles of faith are obligatory, and that Jews who do not fully accept each one of them are potentially heretical.

Jewish religious texts


Rabbinic literature


Judaism has at all times valued Torah studyFacts About Torah study

Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which...
, as well as other religious texts. The following is a basic, structured list of the central works of Jewish practice and thought. For more detail, see Rabbinic literatureRabbinic literature

Rabbinic literature, in the broadest sense, can mean the entire spectrum of Judaism's rabbinic writing/s throughout history....
.

  • TanakhTanakh

    Tanakh [????] , is an acronym that identifies the Hebrew Bible....
     and commentaries
    • MesorahMasoretic Text

      The Masoretic Text is the Hebrew text of the Tanakh approved for general use in Judaism....
    • TargumTargum

      A targum is an Aramaic translation of the Hebrew Bible written or compiled in the Land of Israel or in Babylonia from the ...
    • Jewish Biblical exegesis (also see MidrashMidrash

      Midrash is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text....
       below)
  • Works of the Talmudic Era (classic rabbinic literature)
    • MishnahMishnah

      The Mishnah is a major source of rabbinic Judaism's religious texts....
       and commentaries
    • ToseftaTosefta

      The Tosefta is a secondary compilation of the Jewish oral law from the period of the Mishnah. ...
       and the minor tractates
    • TalmudTalmud

      The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
      :
      • The Babylonian Talmud and commentaries
      • Jerusalem TalmudJerusalem Talmud

        The Jerusalem Talmud or Talmud Yerushalmi, often the Yerushalmi for short, and also known as the Pale...
         and commentaries
  • Midrashic literatureMidrash

    Midrash is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text....
    :
    • Halakhic MidrashMidrash halakha

      Midrash halakha was the ancient rabbinic Jewish method of verifying the traditionally received laws by identifying their sou...
    • Aggadic MidrashMidrash

      Midrash is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text....
  • HalakhicHalakha

    Halakha is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law as we...
     literature
    • Major Codes of Jewish Law and Custom
      • Mishneh TorahMishneh Torah

        ## De'ot: general proper behavior## Talmud Torah: see Torah study...
         and commentaries
      • TurArba'ah Turim

        Arba'ah Turim, sometimes abbreviated as Tur, is an important work of Jewish law, composed by Rabbi Yaakov ben Ashe...
         and commentaries
      • Shulchan AruchShulchan Aruch

        The Shulchan Aruch is a codex, or written catalogue, of halacha, composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century....
         and commentaries
    • ResponsaResponsa

      Responsa comprise the body of written decisions and rulings given by Poskim and Rabbis in response to questions addressed t...
       literature
  • Jewish Thought and Ethics
    • Jewish philosophyJewish philosophy

      Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology....
    • KabbalahKabbalah

      Kabbalah literally means a "receiving", in the sense of a "received tradition"....
    • HasidicHasidic Judaism

      Hasidic Judaism is a Haredi Jewish religious movement....
       works
    • Jewish ethicsJewish ethics

      Jewish ethics stands at the intersection of Judaism and the Western philosophical tradition of ethics....
       and the Mussar MovementMussar movement

      Mussar movement refers to an Jewish ethics educational and cultural movement that developed in 19th century Orthodox Eastern...
  • SiddurSiddur

    The siddur is the prayerbook used by Jews over the world, containing a set order of daily prayers....
     and Jewish liturgyJewish services

    Jewish services are the communal prayer recitations which form part of the observance of Judaism....
  • PiyyutPiyyut

    A piyyut is a Jewish liturgical poem, usually designated to be sung, chanted, or recited during religious services....
    (Classical Jewish poetry)

Jewish legal literature

The basis of Jewish law and tradition ("halakha") is the TorahTorah

Torah is a Hebrew word meaning "teaching," "instruction," or "law"....
 (also known as the PentateuchPentateuch

Pentateuch is a Greek word that is derived from two words: penta meaning "five", and teukhos which means "implement...
 or the Five Books of Moses). According to rabbinic tradition there are 613 commandments613 mitzvot

613 mitzvot or 613 Commandments are a list of commandments from God in the Torah....
 in the Torah. Some of these laws are directed only to men or to women, some only to the ancient priestly groups, the KohanimKohen Summary

A kohen, is assumed to be a direct male descendant of the Biblical Aaron, brother of Moses....
 and LeviyimLevite

In the Jewish tradition, a Levite is a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi....
 (members of the tribe of LeviLevi

Levi or Levy was the founder of the Levite tribe of ancient Israel....
), some only to farmers within the land of IsraelIsrael

Israel , officially the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia on the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Se...
. Many laws were only applicable when the Temple in JerusalemTemple in Jerusalem

The Temple in Jerusalem or the Holy Temple was built in ancient Jerusalem in the 10th century BCE and was subsequentl...
 existed, and fewer than 300 of these commandments are still applicable today.

While there have been Jewish groups whose beliefs were claimed to be based on the written text of the Torah alone (e.g., the SadduceesSadducees

The sect of the Sadducees - which may have originated as a political party - was founded in the 2nd century BC and ceased to...
, and the KaraitesKaraite Judaism

Karaite Judaism or Karaism is a Jewish denomination characterized by the sole reliance on the Tanakh as scripture, and...
), most Jews believed in what they call the oral lawOral law

An oral law is a code of conduct in use in a given culture, religion or other regroupement, by which a body of rules of huma...
. These oral traditions were transmitted by the PhariseePharisees

The Pharisees were, depending on the time, a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews that flo...
 sect of ancient Judaism, and were later recorded in written form and expanded upon by the rabbis.

Rabbinic Judaism has always held that the books of the Torah (called the written law) have always been transmitted in parallel with an oral tradition. To justify this viewpoint, Jews point to the text of the Torah, where many words are left undefined, and many procedures mentioned without explanation or instructions; this, they argue, means that the reader is assumed to be familiar with the details from other, i.e., oral, sources. This parallel set of material was originally transmitted orally, and came to be known as "the oral lawOral law

An oral law is a code of conduct in use in a given culture, religion or other regroupement, by which a body of rules of huma...
".

By the time of Rabbi Judah haNasiJudah haNasi

Rabbi Judah haNasi, was a key leader of the Jewish community of Judea toward the end of the 2nd century CE, during its occup...
 (200 CE), after the destruction of Jerusalem, much of this material was edited together into the MishnahMishnah

The Mishnah is a major source of rabbinic Judaism's religious texts....
. Over the next four centuries this law underwent discussion and debate in both of the world's major Jewish communities (in Israel and BabyloniaHistory of the Jews in Iraq

Iraqi Jews constitute one of the world's oldest, and historically most important, Jewish communities....
), and the commentaries on the Mishnah from each of these communities eventually came to be edited together into compilations known as the two TalmudFacts About Talmud

The Talmud is a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs and history....
s. These have been expounded by commentaries of various Torah scholars during the ages.

Halakha, the rabbinic Jewish way of life, then, is based on a combined reading of the Torah, and the oral tradition - the Mishnah, the halakhic MidrashMidrash Overview

Midrash is a Hebrew word referring to a method of exegesis of a Biblical text....
, the Talmud and its commentaries. The Halakha has developed slowly, through a precedent-based system. The literature of questions to rabbis, and their considered answers, is referred to as responsaResponsa Summary

Responsa comprise the body of written decisions and rulings given by Poskim and Rabbis in response to questions addressed t...
 (in HebrewHebrew language

Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jew...
, Sheelot U-Teshuvot.) Over time, as practices develop, codes of Jewish law are written that are based on the responsa; the most important code, the Shulchan AruchShulchan Aruch

The Shulchan Aruch is a codex, or written catalogue, of halacha, composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century....
, largely determines Orthodox religious practice today.

Jewish philosophy


Jewish philosophy refers to the conjunction between serious study of philosophy and Jewish theology. Major Jewish philosophers include Solomon ibn GabirolFacts About Solomon ibn Gabirol

Solomon ibn Gabirol, also Solomon ben Judah was an Iberian Jewish poet and philosopher....
, Saadia GaonSaadia Gaon

Saadia Ben Joseph Gaon, also known by his Arabic name ???? ??? ???? ??????? Said ibn Yusuf al-Fayyumi, was a prominen...
, MaimonidesMaimonides

Maimonides was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain and Egypt during the Middle Ages....
, and GersonidesGersonides Overview

Levi ben Gershon , better known as Gersonides or the Ralbag , was a famous rabbi, philosopher, mathematician, as...
. Major changes occurred in response to the EnlightenmentAge of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment refers to either the eighteenth century in European philosophy, or the longer period including the ...
 (late 1700s to early 1800s) leading to the post-Enlightenment Jewish philosophers. Modern Jewish philosophy consists of both Orthodox and non-Orthodox oriented philosophy. Notable among Orthodox Jewish philosophers are Eliyahu Eliezer DesslerEliyahu Eliezer Dessler

Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler was an influential Orthodox Jewish rabbi, Talmudic scholar, and Jewish philosopher of the 20th centu...
, Joseph B. Soloveitchik, and Yitzchok HutnerYitzchok Hutner

Yitzchok Hutner was an Orthodox rabbi born in Warsaw, Poland, to a family with both Ger Hasidim and non-Hasidic Lithuanian J...
. Well-known non-Orthodox Jewish philosophers include Martin BuberMartin Buber

Martin Buber was an Austrian-Jewish philosopher, translator, and educator, whose work centered around theistic ideals of re...
, Franz RosenzweigFranz Rosenzweig

Franz Rosenzweig was one of the most influential modern Jewish religious thinkers....
, Mordecai KaplanMordecai Kaplan

Rabbi Mordecai Menahem Kaplan founded Reconstructionist Judaism....
, Abraham Joshua HeschelAbraham Joshua Heschel

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel was considered by many to be one of the most significant Jewish theologians of the 20th centur...
, and Emmanuel LévinasEmmanuel Lévinas

Emmanuel Lvinas was a French philosopher born in Kaunas, Lithuania in a Jewish family....
.

Related Topics
  • Torah databaseTorah database

    A Torah database is an electronic collection of classic Jewish texts in electronic form, the kinds of texts which especially...
    s (electronic versions of the Traditional Jewish Bookshelf)
  • List of Jewish prayers and blessingsList of Jewish prayers and blessings

    Listed below are some Hebrew prayers and blessings that are part of Judaism that are recited by many Jews....


Jewish identity


Distinction between Jews and Judaism

According to Daniel Boyarin, the underlying distinction between religion and ethnicity is foreign to Judaism itself, and is one form of the dualism between spirit and flesh that has its origin in Platonic philosophyPlato

Plato , whose real name is believed to have been Aristocles, was an immensely influential ancient Greek philosopher, ...
 and that permeated Hellenistic JudaismHellenistic Judaism Overview

Hellenistic Judaism was a movement which existed in the Jewish diaspora before the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD, that sought ...
. Consequently, in his view, Judaism does not fit easily into conventional Western categories, such as religion, ethnicity, or culture. Boyarin suggests that this in part reflects the fact that most of Judaism's 4,000-year history predates the rise of Western culture and occurred outside the West. During this time, Jews have experienced slavery, anarchic and theocratic self-government, conquest, occupation, and exile; in the Diasporas, they have been in contact with and have been influenced by ancient Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, and Hellenic cultures, as well as modern movements such as the Enlightenment (see HaskalahHaskalah

Haskalah, the Jewish Enlightenment, was a movement among European Jews in the late 18th century that advocated adoptin...
) and the rise of nationalism, which would bear fruit in the form of a Jewish state in the Levant. They also saw an elite convert to Judaism (the Khazars), only to disappear as the centers of power in the lands once occupied by that elite fell to the people of Rus and then the Mongols. Thus, Boyarin has argued that "Jewishness disrupts the very categories of identity, because it is not national, not genealogical, not religious, but all of these, in dialectical tension."

In contrast to this point of view, practices such as Humanistic JudaismHumanistic Judaism

Humanistic Judaism is a movement within Judaism that emphasizes Jewish culture and history, rather than belief in a supernat...
 reject the religious aspects of Judaism, while retaining certain cultural traditions. Jewish law also recognizes convertsConversion to Judaism Summary

Conversion to Judaism is the religious conversion of a previously non-Jewish person to the Jewish religion....
 who are not ethnically Jewish.

What makes a person Jewish?


According to traditional Jewish Law, a Jew is anyone born of a Jewish mother or converted to JudaismConversion to Judaism

Conversion to Judaism is the religious conversion of a previously non-Jewish person to the Jewish religion....
 in accord with Jewish Law. American Reform JudaismReform Judaism

Reform Judaism can refer to the largest denomination of Judaism in America and its sibling movements in other countries, a...
 and British Liberal JudaismLiberal Judaism

Liberal Judaism is a term used by some communities worldwide for what is otherwise also known as Reform Judaism or ...
 accept the child of one Jewish parent (father or mother) as Jewish if the parents raise the child with a Jewish identity. All mainstream forms of Judaism today are open to sincere converts. The conversion process is evaluated by an authority, and the convert is examined on his sincerity and knowledge.

Traditional Judaism maintains that a Jew, whether by birth or conversion, is a Jew forever. Thus a Jew who claims to be an atheist or converts to another religion is still considered by traditional Judaism to be Jewish. However, the Reform movement maintains that a Jew who has converted to another religion is no longer a Jew, and the Israeli Government has also taken that stance after Supreme Court cases and statutes.

The question of what determines Jewish identity in the State of Israel was given new impetus when, in the 1950s, David Ben-GurionDavid Ben-Gurion

David Ben-Gurion was the first and third Prime Minister of Israel....
 requested opinions on mihu Yehudi ("who is a Jew") from Jewish religious authorities and intellectuals worldwide in order to settle citizenship questions. This is far from settled, and occasionally resurfaces in Israeli politicsPolitics of Israel

||-||}Politics of Israel takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the P...
.

Jewish demographics


The total number of Jews worldwide is difficult to assess because the definition of "who is a Jew" is problematic as not all Jews identify themselves as Jewish, and some who identify as Jewish are not considered so by other Jews. According to the Jewish Year Book (1901), the global Jewish population in 1900 was around 11 million. The latest available data is from the World Jewish Population Survey of 2002 and the Jewish Year Calendar (2005). In 2002, according to the Jewish Population Survey, there were 13.3 million Jews around the world. The Jewish Year Calendar cites 14.6 million. Jewish population growth is currently near zero percent, with 0.3% growth from 2000 to 2001. Intermarriage and the declining birthrate have influenced Jewish population figures, although conversion to Judaism may help to offset this slightly.

It has been noted by some writers that the apparent prominence of Jews is disproportionate to the size of their population. One example, Mark TwainMark Twain

Samuel Langhorne Clemens, better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American humorist, novelist, writer, and lec...
 comments:

Jewish denominations

In the late Middle AgesMiddle Ages

The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three "ages": the clas...
, when EuropeEurope

Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth....
 and western AsiaAsia

Asia is the largest and most populous continent or region, depending on the definition....
 were divided into ChristianChristian

A Christian is a follower of Jesus of Nazareth, referred to as Christ....
 and IslamIslam

Islam is a monotheistic religion based upon the Qur'an, which adherents believe was sent by God through Muhammad....
ic countries, the JewJew

Jews are followers of Judaism or, more generally, members of the Jewish people , an ethno-religious group descended from th...
ish people also found themselves divided into two main groups. Jews in CentralCentral Europe Summary

Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe....
 and Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Eastern Europe is the eastern region of Europe variably defined....
, namely in GermanyGermany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in central Europe....
 and PolandPoland

Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country located in Central Europe....
, were called Ashkenazi. Sephardic Jews can trace their tradition back to the MediterraneanMediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin refers to the lands around and surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea....
 countries, particularly SpainSpain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a European parliamentary monarchy....
 and PortugalPortugal

Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic is located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula, and is the w...
 under Muslim rule. When they were expelled in 1492, they settled in North AfricaFacts About North Africa

North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent....
, the eastern Mediterranean, the Far EastFar East

Far East is an inexact term often used for East Asia, South Asia and Southeast Asia combined, sometimes including also t...
, and northern EuropeFacts About Northern Europe

Northern Europe is the northern part of the European continent....
. The two traditions differ in a number of ritual and cultural details, but their theology and basic Jewish practice are the same.

Over the past two centuries the Ashkenazi Jewish community has divided into a number of Jewish denominationsJewish denominations

Many Jewish denominations exist within the religion of Judaism; the Jewish community is divided into a number of religious d...
; each has a different understanding of what principles of belief a Jew should hold, (although belief plays a lesser role than practice and observance in Judaism) and how one should live as a Jew. To some degree, these doctrinal differences have created schisms between the Jewish denominationsSchisms among the Jews

Schisms among the Jews are cultural as well as religious....
. Nonetheless, there is some level of Jewish unity. For example, it would not be unusual for a Conservative Jew to attend either an Orthodox or Reform synagogue. The article on Relationships between Jewish religious movementsRelationships between Jewish religious movements

This article discusses the relationship between the various denominations of Judaism....
 discusses how different Jewish denominations view each other. Many non-Ashkenazi Jews, especially in the United States, are members of congregations affiliated with the various movements, although they may not specifically identify themselves as members of that denomination. They frequently do so out of convenience, and are likely to describe their religious practice as "traditional" or "observant", as opposed to "Orthodox" or "Conservative".

  • Orthodox JudaismOrthodox Judaism

    Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism which adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the la...
     holds that both the Written and Oral TorahOral Torah

    The Oral Torah, according to Rabbinic Judaism, is Jewish Law that was recorded in the Mishnah and Talmud....
     were divinely revealed to MosesMoses

    Moses or Moshe is a legendary Hebrew liberator, leader, lawgiver, prophet, and historian....
    , and that the laws within it are binding and unchanging. Orthodox Jews generally consider commentaries on the Shulchan AruchShulchan Aruch Overview

    The Shulchan Aruch is a codex, or written catalogue, of halacha, composed by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century....
    (a condensed codification of halakha that largely favored Sephardic traditions) such as the Moses Isserlis's HaMappah and the Mishnah BerurahMishnah Berurah

    Mishnah Berurah is a work of halakha by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, better known as The Chofetz Chaim....
    , to be the definitive codification of Jewish law, and assert a continuity between the Judaism of the Temple in JerusalemTemple in Jerusalem

    The Temple in Jerusalem or the Holy Temple was built in ancient Jerusalem in the 10th century BCE and was subsequentl...
    , pre-Enlightenment Rabbinic Judaism, and modern-day Orthodox Judaism. Most of Orthodox Judaism holds to one particular form of Jewish theology, based on Maimonides' 13 principles of Jewish faithMaimonides

    Maimonides was a Jewish rabbi, physician, and philosopher in Spain and Egypt during the Middle Ages....
    . Orthodox Judaism broadly (and informally) shades into two main styles, Modern Orthodox Judaism and Haredi Judaism. The philosophical distinction is generally around accommodation to modernity and weight placed on non-Jewish disciplines, though in practical terms the differences are often reflected in styles of dress and rigor in practice. According to most Orthodox Jews, Jewish people who do not keep the laws of ShabbatShabbat

    Shabbat , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism....
     and Yom TovJewish holiday

    A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of i...
     (the holidays), kashrutKashrut Summary

    Kashrut or Kashruth, Kashrus or "keeping kosher" is the name of the Jewish dietary laws....
    , and family purityNiddah

    Niddah, in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days unti...
     are considered non-religious. Any Jew who keeps at least those laws would be considered observant and religious.
    • Modern Orthodox JudaismModern Orthodox Judaism

      Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize traditional observance and values ...
       emphasizes strict observance of religious laws and commandments but with a broad, liberal approach to modernity and living in a non-Jewish or secular environment. Modern Orthodox women are gradually assuming a greater role in Jewish ritual practice, which is not acceptable in the Haredi community.
    • Haredi JudaismHaredi Judaism

      Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative f...
       (also known as "ultra-Orthodox Judaism," although some find this term offensive) is a very conservative form of Judaism. The Haredi world revolves around study, prayer and meticulous religious observance. Some Haredi Jews are more open to the modern world, perhaps most notably the LubavitchChabad

      Chabad may refer to:* Chabad-Lubavitch...
       Hasidim, but their acceptance of modernity is more a tool for enhancing Jewish faith than an end in itself.
      • Hasidic JudaismHasidic Judaism

        Hasidic Judaism is a Haredi Jewish religious movement....
         is a stream of Haredi Judaism based on the teachings of Rabbi Yisroel ben Eliezer (The Ba'al Shem Tov). Hasidic philosophyHasidic philosophy

        Hasidic Philosophy or Chassidic philosophy or Hasidism or Hassidism, or Chassidus or Chassidut...
         is rooted in the KabbalahKabbalah

        Kabbalah literally means a "receiving", in the sense of a "received tradition"....
        , and Hasidic Jews accept the Kabbalah as sacred scripture. They are distinguished both by a variety of special customs and practices including reliance on a RebbeFacts About Rebbe

        Rebbe which means master, teacher, or mentor is the pronunciation by Ashkenazic Jews of the Hebrew word "???"....
         or supreme religious leader, and a special dress code particular to each Hasidic group.


  • Conservative JudaismConservative Judaism

    Conservative Judaism, , is a modern denomination of Judaism that arose in United States in the early 1900's....
    , known as MasortiMasorti

    The Masorti movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in the State of Israel....
     Judaism outside of the United States and Canada, developed in Europe and the United States in the 1800s as Jews reacted to the changes brought about by the Enlightenment and Jewish emancipation. It is characterized by a comittment to following traditional Jewish laws and customs, including observance of ShabbatShabbat

    Shabbat , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism....
     and kashrutKashrut

    Kashrut or Kashruth, Kashrus or "keeping kosher" is the name of the Jewish dietary laws....
    , a deliberately non-fundamentalist teaching of Jewish principles of faith, a positive attitude toward modern culture, and an acceptance of both traditional rabbinic modes of study along with modern scholarship and critical text study when considering Jewish religious texts. Conservative Judaism teaches that Jewish law is not static, but has always developed in response to changing conditions. It holds that the Torah is a divine document written by prophets inspired by God, but rejects the Orthodox position that it was dictated by God to Moses. Similarly, Conservative Judaism holds that Judaism's Oral LawOral Torah

    The Oral Torah, according to Rabbinic Judaism, is Jewish Law that was recorded in the Mishnah and Talmud....
     is divine and normative, but rejects some Orthodox interpretations of the Oral Law. Accordingly, Conservative Judaism holds that both the Written and Oral Law may be interpreted by the rabbis to reflect modern sensibilities and suit modern conditions, although great caution should be exercised in doing so. There is no absolute uniformity within Conservative Judaism and the communities that retain more traditional practices are sometimes called ConservadoxConservadox Judaism

    Conservadox is the term sometimes used to describe Jews whose beliefs and practices place them on the religious continuum so...
    .


  • Reform JudaismReform Judaism

    Reform Judaism can refer to the largest denomination of Judaism in America and its sibling movements in other countries, a...
    , called LiberalLiberal Judaism

    Liberal Judaism is a term used by some communities worldwide for what is otherwise also known as Reform Judaism or ...
     or ProgressiveProgressive Judaism

    Progressive Judaism is an umbrella term for all strands of Judaism which do not view halakha as having normative status....
     in many countries, originally formed in GermanyGermany

    Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in central Europe....
     in response to the Enlightenment. (Note that in the United Kingdom, there are two distinct congregational unions, Reform and Liberal. The former is significantly more traditional than the latter, but both hold to similar theoretical positions.) Its defining characteristic with respect to the other movements is its rejection of the binding nature of Jewish ceremonial law as such and belief instead that individual Jews should exercise an informed autonomy about what to observe. Reform Judaism initially defined Judaism as a religion, rather than as a race or culture, rejected most of the ritual ceremonial laws of the TorahTorah

    Torah is a Hebrew word meaning "teaching," "instruction," or "law"....
     while observing moral laws, and emphasized the ethical call of the ProphetsNevi'im

    Nevi'im [??????] or Prophets is the second of the three major sections in the Tanakh , following Torah and preceding K...
    . Reform Judaism developed an egalitarian prayer service in the vernacular (along with HebrewHebrew language

    Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by more than seven million people in Israel and Jew...
     in many cases) and emphasized personal connection to Jewish tradition over specific forms of observance. Today, many Reform congregations encourage the study of Hebrew and traditional observances, while a smaller number continue to espouse the liberal ethos of the classical reformers of the nineteenth century.



  • Reconstructionist JudaismReconstructionist Judaism Overview

    Reconstructionist Judaism is a movement of Judaism with a very liberal set of beliefs:...
     started as a stream of philosophy by Mordechai Kaplan, a Conservative rabbi, and later became an independent movement emphasizing reinterpreting Judaism for modern times. Like Reform Judaism, Reconstructionist Judaism does not hold that Jewish law, as such, requires observance, but unlike Reform, Reconstructionist thought emphasizes the role of the community in deciding what observances to follow.


  • Jewish RenewalJewish Renewal Summary

    Jewish Renewal is a new religious movement derived mainly from Judaism that attempts to reinvigorate what it views as a mori...
    , a recent North American movement, was begun by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-ShalomiZalman Schachter-Shalomi

    Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, D.H.L., Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati; Brooklyn Chabad Ordination 1947....
    , a Hassidic rabbi, in the 1960s. Jewish Renewal focuses on spirtuality and social justice, but does not address issues of Jewish law. Men and women participate equally in prayer.


  • Humanistic JudaismHumanistic Judaism Summary

    Humanistic Judaism is a movement within Judaism that emphasizes Jewish culture and history, rather than belief in a supernat...
    . A small nontheistic movement that emphasizes Jewish culture and history as the sources of Jewish identity. Founded by Rabbi Sherwin WineSherwin Wine

    Sherwin T. Wine, is the founder of the Society for Humanistic Judaism....
    , it is centered in North America and Israel but also has affiliated groups in Europe and Latin America.

Jewish denominations in Israel

Even though all of these denominations exist in Israel, Israelis tend to classify Jewish identity in ways that are different than diasporaDiaspora

The term diaspora is used to refer to any people or ethnic population forced or induced to leave their traditional eth...
 Jewry. Most Jewish Israelis classify themselves as "secular" (hiloni), "traditional" (masorti), "religious" (dati) or HarediFacts About Haredi Judaism

Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative f...
. The term "secular" is more popular as a self-description among Israeli families of western (European) origin, whose Jewish identity may be a very powerful force in their lives, but who see it as largely independent of traditional religious belief and practice. This portion of the population largely ignores organized religious life, be it of the official Israeli rabbinate (Orthodox) or of the liberal movements common to diaspora Judaism (Reform, Conservative).

The term "traditional" (masorti) is most common as a self-description among Israeli families of "eastern" origin (i.e., the Middle East, Central Asia, and North Africa). This term, as commonly used, has nothing to do with the official MasortiMasorti

The Masorti movement is the name given to Conservative Judaism in the State of Israel....
 (Conservative) movement.

There is a great deal of ambiguity in the ways "secular" and "traditional" are used in Israel. They often overlap, and they cover an extremely wide range in terms of ideology and religious observance.

The term "Orthodox" is not popular in Israeli discourse, although the percentage of Jews who come under that category in Israel is far greater than in the diaspora. Various methods of measuring this percentage, each with its pros and cons, are the proportion of religiously observant KnessetKnesset

The Knesset is the legislature of Israel....
 members, the proportion of Jewish children enrolled in religious schools, and statistical studies on "identity."

What would be called "Orthodox" in the diaspora includes what is commonly called dati (religious) or haredi (ultra-Orthodox) in Israel. The former term includes what is called "Religious Zionism" or the "National Religious" community, as well as what has become known over the past decade or so as haredi-leumi, or "Hardal," which combines a largely haredi lifestyle with nationalist ideology.

Haredi applies to a populace that can be roughly divided into three separate groups along both ethnic and ideological lines: (1) "Lithuanian" (non-hasidic) haredim of Ashkenazic origin; (2) Hasidic haredim of Ashkenazic origin; and (3) Sephardic haredim. The third group is the largest, and has been the most politically active since the early 1990s.

Alternative Judaism

Other expressions of Jewish identityAlternative Judaism Overview

Alternative Judaism refers to a variety of groups whose members, while identifying as Jews in some fashion, nevertheless do ...
 fall outside of this conservative-liberal continuum.

Unlike the above denominations, which were ideological reactions that resulted from the exposure of traditional rabbinic Judaism to the radical changes of modern times, Karaite JudaismKaraite Judaism

Karaite Judaism or Karaism is a Jewish denomination characterized by the sole reliance on the Tanakh as scripture, and...
 did not begin as a modern Jewish movement. The followers of Karaism believe they are the remnants of the non-Rabbinic Jewish sects of the Second TempleSecond Temple

The Second Temple was the reconstructed Temple in Jerusalem which stood between 515 BCE and 70 CE....
 period, such as the SadduceesSadducees

The sect of the Sadducees - which may have originated as a political party - was founded in the 2nd century BC and ceased to...
, though others contend they are a sect started in the 8th and 9th centuries. The Karaites (or "Scripturalists") accept only the Hebrew Bible and what they view as the Peshat: "Plain or Simple Meaning"; and do not accept non-biblical writings as authoritative. Some European Karaites do not see themselves as part of the Jewish community, while most do. It is interesting to note that the Nazis often did not associate Karaites with Jews, and therefore several Karaite communities were spared in WWII and exist to this day even in places such as LithuaniaLithuania

Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania , is a country in northern Europe....
 where Jewish communities were completely devastated. In other areas, such as GreeceGreece

GreeceGreece lies at the juncture of Europe, Asia, and Africa....
, the Nazis deemed Karaites as belonging to a greater Jewish tradition and abused them accordingly.

Another historical division among ethnic Jews are the SamaritanSamaritan

Samaritans "Shamerim Yisraelim" are both a religious and an ethnic group....
s, who maintain a distinct cultural and religious identity from mainstream Judaism, and are located entirely around Mount GerizimMount Gerizim Overview

Mount Gerizim is a mountain in the West Bank near Nablus which is sacred to the Samaritan sect....
 in the NablusNablus

Nablus; ) is a major city under Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and, with a population of over 100,000, is one of the...
/ShechemFacts About Shechem

Shechem is a name of geographical places....
 region of the West BankWest Bank

The West Bank , is a landlocked territory on the west bank of the Jordan River in the Middle East....
 and in HolonHolon

Holon is a city in Israel, on the central coastal strip, just south of Tel Aviv, and part of the metropolex known as Gush Da...
, near Tel AvivTel Aviv Summary

Tel Aviv is the second largest city in Israel and is located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea....
 in Israel.

Jewish observances


Religious clothing

A kippahKippah

A kippah is a thin, usually slightly-rounded cloth skullcap worn by observant Jews....
(Hebrew: ???????, plural kippot; YiddishYiddish language Overview

Yiddish is a nonterritorial Germanic language spoken throughout the world and written with the Hebrew alphabet....
: ????????, yarmulke) is a slightly-rounded brimless skullcap worn by many Jewish men while praying, eating, reciting blessings, or studying Jewish religious texts, and at all times by some Jewish men. In non-Orthodox communities, some women have also begun to wear kippot. Kippot range in size from a small round beanie that covers only the back of the head, to a large, snug cap that covers the whole crown.

TzitzitTzitzit

Tzitzit are fringes or tassels found on a tallit worn by observant Jews as part of practicing Judaism....
(Hebrew: ???????) are special knotted "fringes" or "tassels" found on the four corners of the tallitTallit

The tallit or tallet, also called talles, is a prayer shawl "cloak" that is worn during the morning Jewish...
(Hebrew: ???????) (Ashkenazi pronunciation: tallis), or prayer shawlShawl

A shawl is an extremely simple item of clothing, loosely worn over the shoulders, upper body and arms, sometimes also over t...
. The tallit is worn by Jewish men and some Jewish women during the prayer service. Customs vary regarding when a Jew begins wearing a tallit. In the Sephardi community, boys wear a tallit from bar mitzvah age. In some Ashkenazi communities it is customary to wear one only after marriage. A tallit katan (small tallit) is a fringed garment worn under the clothing throughout the day. In some Orthodox circles, the fringes are allowed to hang freely outside the clothing.

TefillinTefillin

Tefillin, also called phylacteries, are either of two boxes containing Biblical verses and black, leather straps attac...
 (Hebrew: ?????????), known in English as phylacteries (from the Greek word f??a?t?????, meaning fortress or protection), are two square leather boxes containing biblical verses, attached to the forehead and wound around the left arm by leather straps. They are worn during weekday morning prayer by observant Jewish men and some Jewish women.

A kittelKittel

A kittel is a white robe worn on special occasions by religious Jews....
(Yiddish: ????), a white knee-length overgarment, is worn by prayer leaders and some observant traditional Jews on the High Holidays. It is traditional for the head of the household to wear a kittel at the Passover seder, and some grooms wear one under the wedding canopy. Jewish males are buried in a tallit and sometimes also a kittel which are part of the tachrichim (burial garments).

Prayers


Traditionally, Jews recite prayers three times daily, with a fourth prayer added on ShabbatShabbat

Shabbat , is the weekly day of rest in Judaism....
 and holidaysJewish holiday Summary

A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of i...
. At the heart of each service is the AmidahAmidah

The Amidah, also called the Shemoneh Esrei, is the central prayer in the Jewish liturgy that observant Jews recite eac...
or Shemoneh Esrei. Another key prayer in many services is the declaration of faith, the Shema YisraelShema Yisrael

Shema Yisrael are the first two words of a section of the Torah that is used as a centerpiece of all morning and evening...
(or Shema). The Shema is the recitation of a verse from the Torah: Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad — "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God! The Lord is One!"

Most of the prayers in a tradit