Judaism: History, Core Beliefs, and Sacred Traditions

Judaism is one of the oldest Abrahamic faiths, serving as both an ethnic religion and a spiritual framework for approximately 14.8 million people worldwide. Rooted in the first millennium BCE, it is characterized by a profound commitment to monotheism and a complex system of law, ethics, and tradition that has evolved over thousands of years.

At its heart, Judaism is defined by a covenant—a sacred agreement—between God and the people. This relationship is guided by sacred texts and a rich history of interpretation that allows the faith to remain relevant across different eras and global diasporas.

Key Facts

Classification: Monotheistic Abrahamic ethnic religion.
Founders: Traditionally attributed to Abraham and Moses.
Primary Scripture: The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh).
Global Population: Approximately 14.8 million adherents (c. 2025), making up about 0.2% of the world's population.
Core Languages: Biblical Hebrew and Biblical Aramaic.
Central Hub: Israel, with significant minority populations worldwide.

The Foundations of Faith and Theology

A painting of Moses decorates the Dura-Europos synagogue dating from 244 CE

Judaism is strictly monotheistic, asserting that there is only one eternal God who is the Creator of all beings. One of the most influential summaries of these beliefs is the 13 principles of faith formulated by Maimonides, a preeminent Jewish philosopher.

These principles emphasize that God has no physical body, is the only entity worthy of worship, and communicates with humanity through prophecy. Maimonides identified Moses as the greatest of the prophets and asserted that the Torah is the authentic, unchangeable word of God. The theology also encompasses the belief in a coming Messiah, the resurrection of the dead, and a final judgment where God rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.

Sacred Texts and Legal Frameworks

A man holds up a Sephardi-style torah at the Western Wall, Jerusalem

The intellectual and spiritual life of Judaism is centered on a hierarchy of texts, ranging from divine revelation to human interpretation.

The Tanakh

The Tanakh is the Hebrew Bible, an acronym representing its three main divisions:

Torah: The "Instruction" or "Teaching," comprising the first five books.
Nevi'im: The "Prophets."
Ketuvim: The "Writings."

The Talmud and Midrash

Because the written law is often concise, Judaism relies on the Talmud, a vast collection of rabbinic discussions and legal interpretations. This includes the Mishnah (the primary legal code) and the Gemara (commentaries on the Mishnah). Complementing this is Midrash, a method of textual interpretation used to uncover deeper meanings or fill gaps in the biblical narrative.

Aleppo Codex, a Tanakh produced in Tiberias in the 10th century

Halakha: The Path of Law

Halakha refers to the collective body of Jewish religious laws. These are codified in works such as Maimonides's Mishneh Torah and Rabbi Joseph Karo's Shulchan Aruch. Halakha governs everything from dietary restrictions to civil disputes and ritual purity.

Historical Evolution

Global percentage of adherents by religion. Jews make up about 0.2% of the world's population.[135]

The history of Judaism is a journey from a tribal covenant to a global faith. It began with the traditional figures of Abraham and Moses in Mesopotamia and the Levant, eventually evolving into the Iron Age kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Kingdoms of Israel and Judah map 900 BCE.

Following the Babylonian captivity and the subsequent return to Jerusalem, the Second Temple became the center of Jewish life. However, after the destruction of the Temple, Judaism transitioned from a temple-based sacrificial system to Rabbinic Judaism, where prayer, study, and the synagogue became the primary modes of worship.

The Western Wall in Jerusalem is a remnant of the wall encircling the Second Temple. The Temple Mount is the holiest site in Judaism.

Jewish Identity and Religious Movements

Hasids at front of Belz Great Synagogue, Jerusalem

Jewish identity is multifaceted, often blending religious practice with ethnic and cultural heritage. Over time, several distinct movements have emerged to address the tension between tradition and modernity:

Orthodox Judaism: Maintains a strict adherence to traditional Halakha.
Conservative Judaism: Views the Torah as divine but acknowledges that it evolves over time.
Reform Judaism: Emphasizes the ethical dimensions of the faith over strict ritual law.
Reconstructionist/Renewal: Views Judaism as an evolving civilization.

Beyond these, there are diverse traditions such as Sephardic (Spanish/North African) and Mizrahi (Middle Eastern) Judaism, as well as the Beta Israel (Ethiopian) community.

Two Haredi Jewish couples at a bus stop in Jerusalem

Observances and Life Cycle

Jewish life is marked by a rhythmic cycle of holidays and rituals. The Shabbat (Sabbath) is the most central observance, a day of rest from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.

Two braided Shabbat challot placed under an embroidered challah cover at the start of the Shabbat meal

Major Holidays

High Holy Days: Including Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, focusing on judgment and forgiveness.
Pilgrimage Festivals: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot.
Other Festivals: Hanukkah (the Festival of Lights) and Purim.

Ritual and Daily Life

Daily practice often includes the use of tefillin (phylacteries) and tallit (prayer shawls). Dietary laws, known as kashrut, dictate which foods are permissible (kosher). Life-cycle events, such as the Bar Mitzvah for boys, mark the transition into religious adulthood.

Two boys wearing tallit at a bar mitzvah. The torah is visible in the foreground.

Summary of Jewish Traditions

The following table provides a quick reference to the core components of the faith.

Core Components of Judaism
Category	Key Elements	Purpose/Meaning
Scripture	Tanakh (Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim)	Divine revelation and history
Oral Law	Talmud, Midrash	Interpretation and legal application
Legal Code	Halakha	Guidelines for daily ethical and ritual living
Worship Space	Synagogue	Community prayer and study
Key Figures	Abraham, Moses, Maimonides	Foundational leadership and philosophy

Frequently Asked Questions

A Yemenite Jew at morning prayers, wearing a kippah skullcap, prayer shawl and tefillin

An Israeli female soldier prays at the Western Wall

Jewish boys wearing tzitzit and kippot play soccer in Jerusalem

Men wearing tallitot pray at the Western Wall

A haggadah used by the Jewish community of Cairo in Arabic

Jews in Mumbai break the Yom Kippur fast with roti and samosas

Jewish personnel of the US Navy light candles on Hanukkah

The Sarajevo Synagogue in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

18th-century circumcision chair Museum of Jewish Art and History

Le Get (The Divorce) by Moshe Rynecki, c. 1930

The Bereavement (Yahrtzeit) Hasidic tish, Bnei Brak, Israel

Jewish students with their teacher in Samarkand, Uzbekistan c. 1910.

A Yemeni sofer writing a torah in the 1930s

1889 siddur published in Hebrew and Marathi for use by the Bene Israel community

The 12th-century Synagogue of Santa María la Blanca in Toledo, Spain, was converted to a church shortly after anti-Jewish pogroms in 1391

The bimah of the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, Egypt

What is the difference between the Torah and the Tanakh?

The Torah refers specifically to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (the Five Books of Moses). The Tanakh is the entire Hebrew Bible, which includes the Torah, the Nevi'im (Prophets), and the Ketuvim (Writings).

What is the role of a Rabbi?

A rabbi is a professional clergy member and teacher who provides spiritual leadership, interprets Jewish law, and leads the congregation in prayer and study.

What does "Kosher" mean?

Kosher refers to food that is prepared according to the dietary laws of kashrut, which include prohibitions against certain animals (like pigs) and the requirement that meat and dairy not be consumed together.

What is the significance of the Western Wall?

The Western Wall is a remnant of the wall that once encircled the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is considered the holiest site where Jews can pray, as it is closest to the Temple Mount.

How is the Sabbath (Shabbat) observed?

Shabbat is a day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening. It typically involves lighting candles, sharing a festive meal with braided challah bread, attending synagogue services, and abstaining from work.