AN OVERVIEW OF JUDAISM AS A RELIGION

        
                                     An Overview
Definition Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people.
Fact file 
 —Date of origin: Second millennium B.C.
 —Founder: Abraham was the first Jew, according to religious Jews —Holy book: Tanakh (The Old Testament) 
—Number of adherents: More than 16 million
Summary 
Judaism is the oldest known monotheistic religion still practiced in the world today. Some of its teachings form part of the basis for Christianity and Islam. The world stands upon three things, 
Torah (Knowledge, study, principles, ideas), 
Avodah (Worship, practice, religious experience),  
Gemilut chasadim (loving deeds which repair the world). 

Mishnah Avot
 
Summary of Practices 
Jews follow the ideals of truth, justice, humility, faithfulness, and loving-kindness. 
They are noted for their love of learning. Ever since their delivery from slavery in Egypt they have valued freedom. Many principles fundamental to Western democracy are based on the Hebrew scriptures.
 
Summary of Beliefs
 
      Monotheism 
There is one universal YAHWEH who created and rules the world.
                                      Revelation                          
 YAHWEH has revealed his will through his prophets, especially Abraham and Moses.
                                 The Choice of Israel 
YAHWEH  chose Israel as his own special followers. 

                                     Judaism’s Founders
The Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, known as the patriarchs, are both the physical and spiritual ancestors of Judaism. They founded Judaism, and their descendants are the Jewish people.
                                            Abraham 
YAHWEH  called Abram from the city of Haran in Mesopotamia and told him to go to Canaan. In Canaan, YAHWEH established his covenant with Abram and his wife Sarai and changed their names to Abraham and Sarah.
                                      Moses and the Torah 
After liberating the Israelites from Egypt, YAHWEH led his people Israel, the descendants of Abraham and Sarah, to Mount Sinai. Here he renewed the covenant, and gave Moses his Law. The Torah of Moses still remains the basis of Judaism.

                          Jewish Holy Book
A. Tanakh The Jewish scriptures are known as the Tanakh. They correspond to what non-Jews call the “Old Testament.” The Tanakh is composed of three groups of books:
 —the Torah 
 —the Nevíim (Prophets)
 —the Ketuvim (Writings). 

                                         The Torah 
The Torah, also known as the Pentateuch, consists of: 
Genesis 
Exodus
 Leviticus 
Numbers  
Deuteronomy. 
A non-Jew told the Jewish rabbi, Hillel, that he would become a Jew if he managed to teach him the whole of the Torah while he balanced on one leg. Hillel came up with this reply: “What is hateful to yourself, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is just commentary. Go and study it.” 

   The Nevi’im (the Prophets) 
The Nevíim comprise: 
Joshua
 Judges
 Samuel
 Kings 
Isaiah 
Jeremiah
 Ezekiel 
The twelve prophets 
 Hosea 
Joel 
Amos
 Obadiah
 Jonah 
Micah
 Nahum
 Habakkuk 
Zephaniah 
Haggai 
Zechariah 
 Malachi
                         The Ketuvim (the Writings) 
The Ketuvim comprise: 
Psalms
 Proverbs 
Job 
Song of Songs
 Ecclesiastes 
Ruth
 Esther
 Lamentations
 Daniel 
Ezra and Nehemiah 
Chronicles 
(In the Jewish Scriptures the books of Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah are each one book.)