Judaism is a major religion
Date founded: 2,000 BC
Place founded: Southern Mesopotamia Valley
Founder: Abraham (Moses, the founder of "The Law")
Adherents: 16 million (heritage not faith)
Main location: Israel and the USA (7.7 million in Israel and ~7 million in the USA)
Major sects and denominations: Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox.
Sacred text: Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), comprising the Torah (Law, 5 books of Moses), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings) also the Talmud.
Religious professionals: Rabbi (Teacher)
House of worship: Synagogue on Saturday
Type of theism: Strict monotheism
Ultimate reality: A single, omnipotent, and eternal God who is both transcendent (beyond the universe) and immanent (present within it). God is the creator, sustainer, and source of all existence, often described as a personal being with will and consciousness who enters into a covenant with humanity.
Human nature: Human nature is a complex duality, created in God's image but born neutral with both a good inclination (yetzer tov) and an evil or selfish inclination (yetzer ra). Humans possess Free Will to choose between these impulses, with the capacity to do either.
Purpose of life: To serve God, follow the commandments (mitzvot), and elevate the material world by embodying holiness, justice, and compassion.
How to live: Sanctifying daily existence through action, known as mitzvot (commandments), which include ethical behavior, study, and ritual observance. Key pillars involve resting on Shabbat, practicing charity (tzedakah), engaging in lifelong learning, and repairing the world (tikkun olam).
Afterlife: Soft on soul's journey and spiritual reward.
Symbol: Star of David
Major holidays: Passover (Spring), Rosh Hashanah (Fall), Yom Kippur (Fall), Sukkot (Feast of Booths-Fall), and Hanukkah (Dec).
From the start, Judaism promised a Messiah (an Anointed one, in Greek a Christ). Most of the Jews rejected Jesus as their Bible predicted. (See Is 52 and 53)
Judaism started in 2,000 BC as a monotheistic religion by Abraham. Abraham was called by God and entered into a covenant with God. ) Genesis 12, 15, 17). Abraham was followed by his son, Isaac, and his grandson, Jacob. (Genesis 17-27 ) The Torah (law) was given to Moses, Moses led the Exodus from Egypt. (Exodus -Deuteronomy) Joshua established the Kingdom of Israel. (Joshua ) Jews had Temple worship in Jerusalem. The First Temple (Solomon’s Temple), which initiated the Babylonian Captivity. (1 Kings, Chronicles) A second temple was built (Ezra-Nehemiah) . Herod expanded the Second Temple, which was the temple at the time of Jesus Christ. But following the Roman destruction of the Temple and dispersion of the Jews in 70 CE, worship now evolved into Rabbinic Judaism, focusing on study, prayer, and worship at a synagogue. Major events in the 1940s were the Holocaust (1939-1945, Ezekiel 37) and the 1948 establishment of the State of Israel (Isaiah 66:8). After the establishment of the State of Israel, Arab nations started wars to kill off the Jews and the nation of Israel, but each war failed. While the holocaust ended, antisemitism did not and continues to this day.
God's Chosen People: What does that mean and not mean? The Bible's picture is that God went to the opharage of nations and selected one. He did not pick them because they were better or superior; he just picked one to be His. God then set them apart (to make holy), so that, unlike all the other Middle Eastern tribes that are now extinct, they would remain unique and distinct. Where are the Samaritan, Edomite, Moabite, and Ammonite, Hittite, Phoenicia nations today? Gone. Sadly, some think being selected means that Jews think they are "better" than others, but that is not the truth (there may be people who act this way). God set the Jews apart, so they would not assimilate into other nations. God gave them unique clothing, foods, holidays, and worship rites. This made them different in the non-Jewish land they lived in, and for this, they were persecuted and often killed. The Jewish people are noted for surviving and thriving for thousands of years, maintaining a distinct identity despite widespread dispersion.
Judaism has historically contributed significantly to Western culture and ethics and is the foundation of other monotheistic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This small tribe greatly changed the world, as its prophet had foretold long ago. The Messianic promises foretold of the birth, life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (his Greek name). Jesus the Messiah (Christ) in Hebrew is Yeshua HaMashiach (ישוע המשיח). Yeshua is the Hebrew name for Jesus, meaning "salvation" or "the Lord saves," while HaMashiach translates to "the Messiah" or "the Anointed One".
The main purpose for God picking the Hebrew Nation out of all the tribes was to bring forth the Messiah.
Genesis 22:18: "And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me."
Luke 2:30-32 : Simeon declares of the infant Jesus: "I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!".
Yet, King David foretold that most of the Jews would reject the Messiah: Psalm 118:22 "The stone that the builders rejected, has now become the cornerstone."
Yet there was a remnant of Jews that made up the early Christian Church and took the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Roman world, which then went to the whole Earth.
Sadly, many Jews today are Jews by birth or culture, not by faith. But there is a remnant of Jews.
Hebrew Bible: comprising the Torah (Law 5 books of Moses), Nevi'im (the Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings [11 books] ):
The 11 Books of Ketuvim are in 3 groups:
Poetical/Wisdom Books: Psalms, Proverbs, and Job.
The Five Megillot (Scrolls): Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther.
Historical/Prophetic Books: Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah (often counted as one), and Chronicles I & II.
Is God done with the Jews and the Nation of Israel? Some say, "They had their chance and now God is done with them." Some believe in what is called "replacement theology", that the Church is now the Nation of Israel, and the promises in the Bible, not yet complete about the Jews, is now given to the Church. But, look at what the Bible says:
Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure.” (The Church is not Jerusalem)
Does that mean I have to agree with everything the Nation of Israel does? No. Sinners are the leaders of the Nation of Israel and the USA. Also, the people of Israel must be separated from the political Israel.
Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
This promise of blessing and cursing was given to Abraham, personally and specifically, not some future Church.
Romans 11:11–24 goes into detail on how and why non-Jews (Gentiles) are "grafted" into the spiritual family of God—symbolized by a cultivated olive tree (Israel)—after some natural branches (unbelieving Israelites) were broken off.
Revelation 7 & 14 tells of Jewish believers (or "witnesses") who will play a massive role in spreading the gospel during the Tribulation period. There is Ezekiel 38-39 Jewish war near the end. Zechariah 12:10 and Romans 11:26 tell of a Jewish revival near the end times. Jeremiah 30:7 Jews will suffer greatly near the end, but God will protect them. None of these promises are about the Church.
Both "Replacement theology" and much of "Dispensationalism" say the promise given by God to the Jews is now taken away and given to the Church, which is not found in the Bible. This makes confusion on what Bible passages apply to Israel or the Church, since they claim the Church is now Israel.
Messianic Jews:
There are many Messianic Jewish Fellowships and Messianic Synagogues, the earliest of which date to 33 AD (CE). Jews for Jesus is a very active and effective outreach ministry. Worldwide, there are over 1 million Messianic Jews. see https://jewsforjesus.org
Other Messianic Jewish Fellowships:
https://www.iamcs.org/congregations/
There are many more Messianic Synagogues.
Orthodox Jews:
Orthodox Judaism represents the traditional branch of Judaism, emerging in the 19th century to uphold strict adherence to the Written and Oral Torah (halakha) as divinely ordained. With over two million adherents worldwide, they emphasize strict 7th day Sabbath observance, kosher dietary laws, daily prayer, and modest dress. Hasidic Jews are mostly Orthodox. There many different movements adhering to common principles of Orthodox.
Halakha (literally "the way" or "walking") is the comprehensive body of Jewish religious law, regulating all aspects of daily life, including ritual, civil, and criminal matters.
Conservative Jews:
Conservative Judaism, or Masorti Judaism, is a movement that bridges traditional Jewish law (Halakha) with modern life, positioning itself between Reform and Orthodox Judaism. It views Jewish law as binding yet evolving, allowing for adaptation to contemporary circumstances while upholding core traditions like Shabbat, Kashrut, and the authority of the Torah.
Reform Jews:
Reform Judaism is a progressive, modern movement emphasizing the evolution of Jewish tradition, individual autonomy in practice, and a strong commitment to social justice (Tikkun Olam). Core beliefs focus on ethical mitzvot over ritual law, inclusivity for interfaith families and DEI programs.
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