Common Beliefs in Judaism

What follows is an attempt to present central teachings, beliefs, and practices of a major world religion. Few outside a religion are likely to express its essence adequately and therefore completely to do it justice.

Judaism, to which both Christianity and Islam trace its roots, is the foundation for the religious affiliation of more than half the people alive today. This is astounding, given that only about 16 million people identify themselves as Jewish, which comes to roughly 0.2% of the world’s population of 8 billion.

To identify yourself as Jewish may mean several things: (1) You are ethnically, familiarly, or culturally Jewish and subscribe to traditional Jewish beliefs and religious practices; (2) you are ethnically, familiarly, or culturally Jewish but have no religious beliefs, (3) you are ethnically, familiarly, or culturally Jewish but now subscribe to the beliefs and practices of another religion. According to a recent Pew study, about 5% of those raised Jewish report being Christian. Because Judaism makes little or no attempt to convert others, it has relatively few converts. A person is customarily deemed Jewish if his or her mother was Jewish.

Three principal branches of Judaism exist today, although some scholars include Reconstructionist Judaism as a fourth branch. The first branch is Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Judaism, although some in the latter group would prefer to be called traditionally or strictly Orthodox. Hasidic Judaism, a mystically inclined subgroup within Haredi Judaism, is closely linked with Eastern Europe. Haredi Jews closely adhere to traditional Jewish law, reject contemporary secular culture, and tend to be reclusive.

Those who are Orthodox but not Haredi are less conservative and more open to the surrounding society and culture. Many Orthodox Jews, especially in Israel, wear black clothes and hats, and for reasons they trace to a verse in the biblical book of Isaiah, have curls running along the sides of their faces.

Reform Judaism, known also as progressive Judaism, is the second of the three main branches. It emerged in the nineteenth century in reaction to Orthodox Judaism and by comparison is distinctly more liberal. Those within this tradition are less concerned with ceremonial ritual and individual piety than with ethical conduct and the quest for new knowledge. Reform Jews stress religious freedom of the individual and are relatively lax about such matters as eating only kosher food. Reconstructionist Judaism is a recent invention, and more liberal than Reform Judaism and emphasizes Jewish ethnicity, culture, and tradition more than belief in God and Jewish theology.

The third branch, Conservative Judaism, also emerged in the nineteenth century. It was an attempt to strike a balance between Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Members of Conservative Jewish congregations adhere more to traditional Jewish beliefs and practices than those within Reform Judaism but less than those within Orthodox Judaism. Adherents to Conservative Judaism appear to be decreasing, while those to Reform Judaism tend modestly to be increasing.

Jews who believe the Bible conveys the nature of God generally accept the Torah, its first five books, as scripture. Sometimes, however, the term is used to refer to the entire Old Testament, more formally referred to as the Tanahk, an acronym designating Torah, Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

Many Jews revere the Talmud, consisting of the Mishnah, authoritative rabbinic writings on many subjects assembled in the second century A.D.), and the Gemara, analyses, elaborations, and commentaries on the Mishnah. Observant Jews attempt to follow the Halakha, practical applications of 613 mitzvot (commandments, plural of mitzvah), and they honor attend to Midrash, which are interpretations and expositions of the Tanahk. A popular and accessible guide to Jewish practices is the Mishneh Torah, compiled in the twelfth century by the eminent Jewish philosopher and physician Maimonides.

Jews observe many holy days and festivals. Pesach (Passover), for example, commemorates the biblical story of the Exodus, kids survived, etc. escape from Egytian slavery