Judaism: History and Core Beliefs Explained

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Origins — Abraham and the Covenant, Moses and the Exodus

Jewish tradition traces its origins to a covenant Abraham is said to have made with God around 2000 BCE. The faith's framework was later established through the tradition of Moses leading the enslaved Hebrew people out of Egypt (the Exodus) and receiving the Ten Commandments and the Law at Mount Sinai.

Core Scripture — the Torah and Talmud

The Torah refers to the Five Books of Moses (Genesis through Deuteronomy) and is Judaism's most authoritative scripture, corresponding to the opening books of the Christian Old Testament. The Talmud is a compilation of later rabbis' interpretations and discussions of Torah law, providing practical guidance for everyday Jewish religious life.

Monotheism and the Idea of the Covenant (Chosen People)

Judaism believes in one formless God and centers its faith on the covenant between God and the people of Israel. Under this covenant, the Jewish people are believed to have taken on a special responsibility to live by God's law — an idea understood among believers not as superiority, but as a duty to fulfill the law.

Shabbat (Sabbath) Customs

Shabbat runs from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. Following the account that God worked for six days and rested on the seventh at creation, Jews refrain from work during this time to focus on prayer and rest with family. There is a tradition of avoiding various activities classified as work during this period, such as turning on lights or driving.

Kosher (Kashrut) Dietary Laws

Kashrut is the set of Jewish dietary laws governing what may be eaten and how it must be prepared; food that meets these standards is called kosher ("fit" or "proper"). Key rules include permitting only meat from animals that chew their cud and have split hooves, prohibiting pork, and not cooking or eating meat and dairy together.

Major Branches — Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform

Orthodox Judaism strictly observes traditional law as literally written, Reform Judaism flexibly adapts legal interpretation to the times, and Conservative Judaism takes a middle position between the two. This differentiation became especially pronounced as Jewish communities in Europe and the United States underwent modernization from the 19th century onward.

Relationship to Christianity and Islam as Abrahamic Religions

Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are together classified as Abrahamic religions because they share Abraham as a common patriarch and monotheistic faith. Christianity adopted Jewish scripture as its Old Testament, and Islam also recognizes Abraham, Moses, and Jesus as prophets — the three religions are historically deeply interconnected, even as each developed in its own distinct direction.

Understanding Judaism Through Facts

Judaism is the oldest of the Abrahamic religions, having developed in deep connection with the history of the Jewish people. This page introduces Judaism's origins, scripture, core beliefs, everyday customs, and its relationship to other Abrahamic religions on a factual, objective basis — it is not intended to rank Judaism against other religions. This content is general educational information, not a substitute for religious authority, and explains doctrine as understood by its adherents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Jewish Tanakh the same book as the Christian Old Testament?

The content is largely the same, but Judaism calls it the Tanakh and organizes it into three parts: the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). The Christian Old Testament arranges and organizes these same texts in a different order and structure.

Do all Jewish people only eat kosher food?

No. How strictly kashrut is observed varies widely by denomination — Orthodox, Conservative, Reform — and by an individual's personal level of religious practice. Many secular Jews do not follow kosher rules at all.