Judaism: Key facts

Judaism: Introduction

Judaism: Key facts

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Information: This section contains a brief summary of the history and key teachings of Judaism. A version of this article was originally published on the website www.faithnet.org.uk.

Judaism is the name given to the religion of Jewish people. To be Jewish is to belong to a group of people who continue to uphold the traditions of the Israelites.

The Father of all Jews was Abraham. He was called by G-d to leave his homeland, and go to the land of Canaan. He is also the father of Isaac, who became the father of Jacob. Jacob's name was changed to Israel (meaning 'he struggles with G-d').

Jews do not write the name of G-d in full because it is considered disrespectful to utter it unnecessarily. In fact, writing it this way makes it unpronounceable, and should make people think about their use of it.

Jews believe the Israelites were chosen by G-d to be G-d's special representatives on earth. In Genesis 12:1-2 we read that G-d told Abraham that, 'Through you all people will be blessed'. The Nation of Israel was intended by G-d to show the rest of the world how G-d wants people to live, as expressed in the Law of God.

The Ten Commandments are found in the Torah. The Torah comprises of the Law of Moses, which are the first five books of the Old Testament. The first five books of the Old Testament are also called the Pentateuch. The Talmud is a collection of Rabbinical teachings based on an interpretation of the the Torah's meaning. The Torah and the Talmud are the chief sources of social and religious guidance for Jews. For all Jews, right and wrong is first and foremost decided by G-d's laws.

The Torah is the Word of God, and is hand written on scrolls. Whenever Jews read the Torah in the synagogue they refuse to touch the parchmanent with their finger, but instead use a special pointer called a Yad.

The Torah contains 613 commandments, which Jews believe G-d has instructed them to keep.

As part of what it means to be a Jew, most boys are circumcised when they are eight days old. This was something G-d told Abraham to do as a physical sign that a person is Jewish. It also marks the entry of Jews into the covenant (promise), made between G-d and Abraham.

An important part of ancient Jewish worship, was the idea of sacrifice. There used to be a temple in Jerusalem where sacrifices were performed, but this was first destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BCE, and then again by the Romans in 70CE. After the first temple was destroyed, and Jews were taken into exile in Babylon, they had to find new ways of practising their faith without a temple or sacrificial system. It was at this time that Synagogues began. These have now replaced the temple, and as such no sacrifices are performed by Jews anymore.

Some Jews believe that the Messiah will come once sacrifices begin to be performed in a (rebuilt) temple in Jerusalem. There are also Christians who believe Jesus will return, once the Jews have their homeland and the temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem. Of course, a major obstacle to this occurring is that the Islamic mosque Al-Aqsa Mosque now stands where many believe the temple once stood.

The history of the Jews has been littered with persecution and being driven from (what they consider to be) their homeland. After Jacob died they were taken into slavery in Egypt, where Moses led them to freedom in the Exodus. After a period a nomadic existence, they settled in Israel, which is believed to be the Promised Land given to them by G-d. In 586BCE they were driven from the Land by the Babylonians, and have never really fully occupied it since.

The worst form of persecution came during the Second World War, when 6 million Jews were put to death as part of Adolf Hitler's final solution to annihilate the Jewish race and build a new Germany. Many Jews have struggled to understand why G-d allowed them to endure such suffering, especially as they are said to be G-d's Chosen People. Some Jews argue that if a Jew converts to another faith, they are in effect doing the work of Hitler.

Despite what others say, Jews believe G-d always promised them the land of Israel. However, through conquests and ultimately the spread of Islam, they can no longer claim exclusive ownership of it. In 1948 the State of Israel was officially recognised by the United Nations, and Jews began to return to their 'homeland'. This has not been easy for many Muslims to accept, as Jerusalem has religious significance for them as well. Tensions between Jews and Muslims remain today and are still the cause of much political unrest.