Introduction

Judaism is currently the seventh largest religion, with over 13.4 million adherents worldwide. Their sacred text is called the Tanakh, and it acts as both a compendium of Jewish history and a guide for daily life. According to the Tanakh, Judaism began when a covenant was declared between the Jewish God and a man named Abraham. Judaism was later codified when God revealed laws and commandments to a man named Moses, who led Abraham's heirs to establish the nation of Israel. Scattered and persecuted for centuries, Jews have since built synagogues in almost every part of the world.

Judaic Beliefs

• Yahweh: The creator and sustainer of the universe, Yahweh is incorporeal, eternal, omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, just and merciful, holy and perfect.
• Messiah: A great prophet will eventually come to the Jews to end evil in the world, rebuild the Temple, restore the ten lost tribes of Israel, and establish an age of worldwide peace.
• Scripture: The Tanakh comprises prophecies as well as history. Originally written in Old Hebrew, most modern versions derive from the Masoretic texts compiled somewhere around 600 CE.
• Teachings: The Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) describe a series of ceremonies, sacrifices, and a diet that Jews still practice (as best they are able) to the present day.
• Prophets: The Books of the Prophets contain the messages of many men whom Yahweh appointed to speak on his behalf.
• Writings: The Tanakh also includes a wide range of books that document the lives of Jewish kings and events occurring during their rule. Other writings are religious songs or poetry.

Timeline of Judaism

• Abraham was estimated to have been born around the 21st century BCE.⁵These dates are approximations deemed accurate by many Jewish and Christian scholars. He was known for making a covenant with God, and is generally considered the patriarch of Judaism.⁶Christians and Muslims frequently trace their faith lineage back to Abraham as well.
• Sometime after Abraham’s death, the Israelites were taken captive by the Egyptians and enslaved there.
• Moses, born around the 16th century BCE, was raised as an Egyptian prince until age forty. He was then exiled when he killed a man. At about age eighty, God called Moses to lead the descendants of Israel from Egyptian bondage. After spending forty years as nomads, they settled in Canaan and established the nation and religion of Israel.
• Following Moses's death, judges and kings held secular power in Israel. Prophets that were called by God functioned alongside a hereditary priesthood to oversee religious life. Records of both are contained in the Tanakh.
• The nation was eventually divided: The Northern Kingdom (Israel or Ephraim) was conquered and ten of the Israelite tribes vanished from history. The Southern Kingdom was comprised of the two remaining Israelite tribes, Judah and Benjamin, but it became known simply as Judah. This kingdom was also eventually conquered, and most inhabitants were exiled to Babylon. Returning seventy years later, Judah existed as a semi-independent kingdom until the Roman Empire scattered the people during the late 1st century CE. These events were the greatest contributors to the dispersion of the Jewish people.
• The state of Israel was founded in 1948 CE as a homeland for Jews, and many flocked to the new nation from all parts of the world.

Judaic Practices

• The Ten Commandments form the basis of Judaism. They provide a basic moral code, forbidding polytheism, lying, stealing, adultery, murder, and other such acts.
• The Kashrut is a set of dietary regulations specific to Judaism. According to the Kashrut, certain animals may not be eaten at all. Food animals that are permitted must be killed in accordance with specific rules, and certain parts of the permitted animals may not be eaten. Meat may not be eaten with dairy. Even pots and plates that physically contact meat may not be used alongside those that contact dairy products.
• Observant Jews wear traditional clothing (some only during services, others at all times) including the skullcap, prayer shawl, and the frontlet.¹²The frontlets are sometimes called phylacteries
• Jews use the Hebrew lunar calendar for rituals and celebrations. The Hebrew calendar begins with the creation of the Earth—as well as Jewish scholars were able to determine it. Years are designated Anno Mundi. The year 2012 CE equates to the Jewish year AM 5772.