What is Judaism?
Judaism is considered the world’s ancient monotheistic religion that dates back to 4000 years that originated from Yehudah who is of Anglo Latin origin. The people who follow Judaism are known as Jewish. It is a collective religion that is composed of three main religions, that is, Abrahamism, Monotheism and ethnic religion. These three religions together influenced the collective religion, culture, civilization and legal tradition of the Jewish people that are often referred to as Israelites.
The believer of Judaism believes in one god who according to the beliefs has been revealed through the ancient prophets. Religious jews consider the religion of Judaism through the expression of the Mosaic covenant that the god has established himself through the children of Israel.
It holds in itself a large number of texts, theologies, practices and a large number of organisations. The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh has been encompassed into large texts and the compilation is known as Torah. The Midrash and the Talmud are the representation of the supplemental oral tradition. Judaism is the tenth-largest religion in the world with 17.4 million adherents worldwide. This article, thus, deals with Judaism, its faith, types and answering the question “who follows Judaism”.
Development of Judaism
The most interesting feature of Judaism is that they were monotheists as they believed in one god. In ancient history, it was very unusual because most of the religions were polytheist as they worshipped and believed in multiple gods. This has drawn a number of historians to study the religion and the religious beliefs of the jews. From the beginning of the 11th century till the end of the 6th century the people followed Judaism who lived in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. In the late 930 BCE, the two kingdoms split their ways. Thus in late antiquity, that is from the 11th to the 6th century BCE, Rabbinic Judaism developed.
As the Assyrian Empire and then the Babylonian Empire conquered the Jewish lands in the late 8th century and 6th century BCE respectively, this has majorly influenced the existence and thoughts of the Jewish. In the time of both the conquests, a large number of Jewish were forced to leave their homeland. When the Babylonian Emperor conquered the Jewish kingdom, that influenced the religious beliefs and thoughts of many Jewish and thus the period is also referred to as Babylonian exile.
Post the conquest of the Babylonian empire by the Persian ruler, named Cyrus the Great, he allowed the Jews to return to their homeland in 539 BCE. It was during this time that the Temple of Solomon was again rebuilt and was destroyed by the Babylonian emperor during the time of the conquest. The rebuilding of the temple was a mark of the celebration of the return of the Jews back to their homeland. This period is often referred to by historians as the second temple period. During this time most of the writings that incorporate history and religious thinking were developed that later became one of the major parts of the Torah. With the writings, Jewish beliefs in monotheism became more defined.
In Torah, the origin of the beliefs of Judaism is mentioned in detail. According to the writings in the holy book, the god has first revealed himself to a man named Abraham who was of Hebrew origin. He was then known as the founder of Judaism. It is believed by the Jews that God has made a special meeting with Abraham where he and his descendants were the chosen ones to bring goodwill to the nation. After Abraham, his son Issac and his grandson Jacob took the legacy forward and also had an equal influence in Jewish history. As Jacob took the name Israel, his descenders were famously referred to as Israelites.
Prophet Moses, after almost 1000 years after Abraham, took the initiative to get the Israelites out of Egypt who were there for more than 100 years as slaves in Egypt. Moses at Mt. Sinai was the one to whom the god has revealed his law as a Ten Commandment as mentioned in the scriptures.
Faith of Judaism
The faith of Judaism is based on the existence of only one God. The JEWs believe that there is only one God who has called for an agreement with them. God communicates to the people who are the actual believers through prophets and rewards for good deeds of people and at the same time also punishes for the evil. Most of the Jews, except a few of the groups, believe that their messiah has not come and he is yet to arrive in the near future. Synagogues are the holy place where all the Jews pray to their God. Their spiritual leaders are referred to as Rabbis. The symbol of Judaism is the famous six-pointed star of David. Today there are about 14 million Jews most of whom live in Israel and the United states. If one's mother is Jews then the person is considered Jewish.
Types of Judaism
There are several sections of Judaism that have been divided into these five major sects that are discussed below:-
Orthodox Judaism: Orthodox Judaism typically refers to the practices of the orthodox Jews who observe and practice the old rituals and law of Jewish beliefs strictly. For instance, orthodox Judaism believed that money handling, working or driving should not be practised by Shabbat. Judaism sought to consist of many groups and subgroups under this sect. This kind of Judaism was established in the Middle East during the 18th century where they practice different beliefs and rules that also fall under ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Hasidic Jews always emphasise direct communication with God through prayers and worship that results in many mystical experiences. From the Hasidic movement, the well known Orthodox Jewish was Chabad.
Reform Judaism: Reform Judaism is a more liberal form of Judaism as compared to orthodox Judaism that advocates for the following of ethical Judaism over the strict observance of the old rituals and laws of Jewish beliefs. Under reform Judaism, the Jews promote progressive ideas and adaptation. Most of the Jews who are living in the United States follow reform Judaism.
Conservative Judaism: This type of Judaism falls between orthodox Judaism and Reform Judaism. Under this Judaism, the Jews believe in adopting some of the modernised outlooks to the practice of their religion while sticking to the conservative Jews honour of the traditions.
Reconstructionist Judaism: In the year 1922, when the Society for the Advancement of Judaism was founded by Mordecai Kaplan, Reconstructionist Judaism was introduced. The Jews under this group truly believe that religion is under constant evolution and is a civilization religion in itself.
Humanistic Judaism: In the year 1963, the humanistic Judaism was founded by Rabbi Sherwin Wine. Jewish history and culture are celebrated by humanistic Judaism without much emphasis given on God.
Conclusion
Judaism is considered the world’s ancient monotheistic religion that dates back to 4000 years that originated from Yehudah who is of Anglo Latin origin. It is a collective religion that is composed of three main religions, that is, Abrahamism, Monotheism and ethnic religion. These three religions together influenced the collective religion, culture, civilization and legal tradition of the Jewish people that are often referred to as Israelites. The believer of Judaism believes in one god who according to the beliefs has been revealed through the ancient prophets. Judaism though is divided into many sects such as orthodox, reform, conservative, reconstructionist as well as humanists but many of the followers do not associate themself with any of the group and simply refer to themselves as Jewish.
FAQs on Judaism Develops and Development of Monotheism
1. What is Judaism and how is it related to the development of monotheism?
Judaism is the world's oldest monotheistic religion, originating in the Middle East over 3,500 years ago. It is foundational to the development of monotheism as it was the first major faith to be based on the principle of a single, all-powerful, and indivisible God (Yahweh). This belief marked a significant departure from the polytheistic religions common in the ancient world, establishing a new theological framework that would later influence other major religions.
2. Who is considered the founder of Judaism?
Abraham is traditionally considered the patriarch or founder of Judaism. According to the holy scriptures, God made a special covenant with Abraham, promising to make his descendants a great nation if they followed His laws. While figures like Moses, who received the Torah from God, were crucial in shaping the religion, Abraham is recognised as the first to embrace the concept of one God.
3. How did the concept of God in Judaism evolve from earlier beliefs to strict monotheism?
The evolution to strict monotheism in Judaism was a gradual process. Early Hebrew beliefs existed in a polytheistic world and may have initially been henotheistic—acknowledging the existence of other gods but worshipping only one primary God. Over time, through the teachings of prophets like Moses and the development of sacred texts, this evolved into radical monotheism. This new belief asserted that there is only one God in existence for all humanity, and all other gods are false idols.
4. What are the core beliefs of Judaism?
The core beliefs of Judaism are foundational to its identity and practices. The main tenets include:
- Monotheism: The belief in one, indivisible, and eternal God who is the creator of the universe.
- The Covenant: The belief in a sacred, eternal agreement between God and the Jewish people, starting with Abraham. This covenant involves God's promise of protection and the people's responsibility to follow His commandments.
- The Torah: The conviction that the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is the divinely inspired word of God, revealing His laws and the history of His relationship with the Jewish people.
5. What is the Torah and why is it central to Judaism?
The Torah is the most sacred text in Judaism, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). It is central to the faith because it contains the 613 commandments (mitzvot) that guide the ethical and religious life of the Jewish people. It is considered God's direct revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai and serves as the foundational charter for Judaism's laws, history, and the special relationship between God and His people.
6. How is the Jewish concept of a 'covenant' different from a simple promise?
A covenant in Judaism is far more than a simple promise; it is a two-way, binding agreement that defines a relationship. While a promise can be a one-sided declaration, the divine covenant involves mutual responsibilities. God promises to protect and bless the Jewish people, making them His chosen nation. In return, the Jewish people are obligated to uphold God's laws and commandments as laid out in the Torah. This mutual obligation makes the covenant an active, enduring partnership, not just a passive assurance.
7. What are some key practices and rituals in Judaism?
Judaism is rich with practices that sanctify daily life and commemorate historical events. Key rituals include:
- Shabbat (The Sabbath): A weekly day of rest and spiritual reflection, observed from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday.
- Kashrut (Dietary Laws): A set of religious laws that detail which foods are fit (kosher) for consumption and how they must be prepared.
- Bar and Bat Mitzvah: A coming-of-age ceremony for boys (at age 13) and girls (at age 12 or 13) when they become responsible for observing the commandments.
- Prayer: Daily prayers are recited, often in a synagogue, to communicate with God.
8. How did the concept of monotheism in Judaism influence other major world religions?
Judaism's development of monotheism profoundly influenced other major world religions, particularly Christianity and Islam, which are known as the Abrahamic faiths. It established the revolutionary idea of a single, personal, and transcendent God, which became a core tenet for these global religions. Concepts such as a divine law revealed through prophets and the importance of sacred texts also originated within this tradition. While different in their development, other faiths like Sikhism also advocate monotheism, and the ethical dualism of Zoroastrianism offered another early, influential perspective on divinity.
9. What are the most important symbols associated with Judaism?
While there are many symbols in Judaism, two of the most widely recognised are:
- The Star of David (Magen David): A six-pointed star that has become a powerful symbol of modern Jewish identity and the state of Israel. Its origins as a Jewish symbol are relatively recent, becoming widespread in the 19th century.
- The Menorah: An ancient seven-branched candelabrum that was used in the Temple in Jerusalem. It symbolises creation, wisdom, and the light of God. The nine-branched version (Hanukkiah) is used during the festival of Hanukkah.
10. Why did Judaism, despite being a major world religion, not spread as widely as Christianity or Islam?
The spread of Judaism remained largely contained due to several key factors. Primarily, Judaism is generally a non-proselytizing religion, meaning it does not actively seek to convert outsiders. Its identity is closely tied to ethnicity and lineage (matrilineal descent), making it more of a national faith than a universal one. Furthermore, centuries of diaspora (dispersion) and persecution limited the ability of Jewish communities to expand, often forcing them to focus on preservation rather than expansion. This contrasts with Christianity and Islam, which both had periods of intense missionary activity and universalizing messages aimed at all humanity.
