Judaism is the faith and way of life of the Jewish people. Jews believe in one God, Creator of the world, who made a covenant (brit) with Abraham and gave the Torah ("teaching") to Moses at Mount Sinai. The Jewish Bible is the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible): Torah, Nevi'im (Prophets), Ketuvim (Writings). About 15 to 16 million Jews live worldwide; about 271,000 in England and Wales (Census 2021).
The Shema: "Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God, the LORD is one." (Deuteronomy 6:4, JPS 1917) — said every morning and evening.
Hillel's summary: what is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour; that is the whole Torah, the rest is commentary: go and learn (paraphrased; Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a).
What Jews BELIEVE
| # | Belief | Hebrew | In a line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | One God | שְׁמַע · אֶחָד | God is one, has no body or image; the Name is not spoken (said as Adonai or HaShem). |
| 2 | Torah | תּוֹרָה | Written Torah (Five Books of Moses) and Oral Torah (Mishnah, Talmud), from which comes halakhah, Jewish law. |
| 3 | Covenant | בְּרִית | God's bond with Abraham and with Israel at Sinai: chosen for responsibility. All people are bound by the 7 Noahide laws. |
| 4 | Prophets | נְבִיאִים | God spoke through prophets; Moses was the greatest. Prophets called for justice: "let justice well up as waters" (Amos 5:24). |
| 5 | Mitzvot | מִצְוֹת | 613 commandments (248 do, 365 do not). "Love thy neighbour as thyself" (Leviticus 19:18). Saving life comes first. |
| 6 | Hope | מָשִׁיחַ | The Messiah, a descendant of David, will bring peace; the resurrection of the dead; the world to come. |
Maimonides' 13 Principles (12th century): God exists, is one, has no body, is eternal, alone is worshipped; God speaks through prophets; Moses is the greatest prophet; the Torah is from God and will not be replaced; God knows our deeds, rewards and punishes; the Messiah will come; the dead will live again.
How Jewish life is LIVED
| # | Practice | Hebrew | In a line |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shabbat | שַׁבָּת | Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall: candles, Kiddush, challah, rest, synagogue, Havdalah. No creative work (39 categories). |
| 2 | Prayer | תְּפִלָּה | Three times a day (Shacharit, Minchah, Ma'ariv); the Amidah; a minyan of 10; siddur; kippah, tallit, tefillin. |
| 3 | Tzedakah and chesed | צְדָקָה · חֶסֶד | Giving as justice (traditionally a tenth); kindness: visiting the sick, welcoming guests, comforting mourners. |
| 4 | Festivals | מוֹעֲדִים | Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur (fast); Sukkot, Pesach (seder, matzah), Shavuot; Hanukkah (lights), Purim (Esther). |
| 5 | Life and home | בַּיִת | Mezuzah on the doorpost; kosher food (no pork or shellfish, meat and milk apart); brit milah, bar/bat mitzvah (13/12), chuppah, shiva. |
Good to know
- Movements: Orthodox (including Haredi), Masorti (Conservative), Reform and Liberal (Progressive). They share the essentials and differ on how Jewish law is applied and on the roles of men and women in worship. Many Jews are secular or cultural Jews.
- Places and people: the synagogue (shul) has an ark holding the Torah scrolls, an eternal light and a bimah. A rabbi is a teacher, not a priest.
- Words to use: say Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, not "Old Testament"; Jews write G-d out of reverence; Shabbat shalom means "a peaceful Sabbath".
- Christians and Muslims will recognise much here: one God, the prophets, daily prayer, giving, fasting and festivals. Jesus was a Jew who quoted the Shema; the Qur'an honours Moses and the Torah. Each faith describes itself in its own words.
Talk about it
- Why do you think the Shema begins with "Hear" rather than "Believe"?
- Shabbat stops all creative work for a day each week. What would be hardest to stop, and what might you gain?
- Maimonides' highest form of giving is helping someone become independent. Why might that be better than a gift?
whoisallah.org.uk · Hebrew Bible quotations from The Holy Scriptures: A New Translation (Jewish Publication Society, 1917), public domain · rabbinic sources paraphrased with references