Judaism

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world, having originated in the Middle East more than 3,000 years ago with patriarch Abraham.

As the first Abrahamic religion, Judaism has played a major role in shaping the history of the world, having greatly influenced the development of Christianity and Islam, despite having always had a relatively small amount of adherents by comparison.

The religion itself is built off of the "written Torah" of the Bible, known in Judaism as the Tanach, and the "oral Torah" of the Mishna, Talmud and other great works of leading rabbis throughout history.

Judaism itself has no single leading figure, and is divided into multiple streams, such as the ultra-Orthodox (haredi), Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. Further differences also exist along the lines of historic Diasporic communities, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry.

Today, the largest concentration of adherents of Judaism can be found in Israel, with the US having the second-largest.

Bill Aron, photographer of Jewish countercultures, gets his due in a sweeping retrospective

A trained sociologist and street photographer, Aron took iconic photos of his fellow members of the New York Havurah in its 1970s heyday.

FEBRUARY 9, 2026|ByANDREW SILOW-CARROLL/JTA

Bill Aron, whose early projects included a series on Jews living on New York's Lower East Side, discusses a new exhibit of his work at the Center for Jewish History in Manhattan, Feb. 4, 2026.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Jerusalem Orthodox churches don’t represent all Christians - opinion

Evangelical Catholics reject claims that Christian Zionism is harmful and believe in the Jewish people’s covenant with god.

FEBRUARY 8, 2026|ByPADDY MONAGHAN

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers a speech to members of the New York State Nurses Association union, next to U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), during a picket outside Mount Sinai West in New York City, U.S., January 20, 2026.

New York’s Jews are rightfully wary of Mamdani’s interfaith outreach. He should listen - editorial

Declining to sponsor the event was not a rejection of interfaith dialogue. It was an acknowledgment that dialogue alone is not enough.

FEBRUARY 8, 2026|ByJPOST EDITORIAL

THE ALMOND TREE has been watching over the Land of Israel for longer than we can fathom.

Hiking in the Holy Land: The almond tree, Israel's ancient clock

Spring has not arrived, yet blossoming almonds in Israel signify the arrival of Tu Bishvat, the new year for trees, a time when some seasonal quality has shifted.

FEBRUARY 8, 2026|BySUSANNAH SCHILD

Light unto the nations: Rivkah Lambert Adler and teaching Torah outward

The concept of illuminating the nations of the world was always envisioned as one of prophetic destiny rather than real obligation. Author Rivkah Lambert Adler confronts this very notion.

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByYONATAN VERSTANDIG

A SEPHARDI Torah scroll is rolled to reveal the first paragra ph of the ‘Shema’ prayer.

Building bridges through music: Hanna Yaffe’s life of faith and dialogue

Singer and storyteller Hanna Yaffe blends Orthodox faith, music, and interfaith dialogue to build bridges across cultures and beliefs.

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByBATSHEVA SHULMAN

Hanna Yaffe sings and plays guitar.

Israel is awaiting potential Iranian attacks as uncertainty rises - opinion

Citizens of Israel are adapting their daily routines while preparing for the possibility of Iranian missile attacks.

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByDEBORAH DANINO HARKHAM

Donald Trump over a backdrop of an Iranian flag. (Illustrative)

Pax Silica: Israel’s chance to become a must-have ally - opinion

Pax Silica offers Israel a path from protected ally of the US to indispensable partner on the global stage.

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByAGAM RAFAELI-FARHADIAN

International representatives at the US-Led Pax Silica Summit.

Dnipro chief rabbi: Joy in being Jewish restored post-Soviet Dnipro Jewry

When Kaminetsky arrived in the Closed City in 1990, the years of pogroms, Nazi conquest, and Soviet oppression had reduced almost fifty synagogues to one small house of worship.

FEBRUARY 1, 2026ByMICHAEL STARR

Dnipro, Ukraine in January 2026.

From exile to ecstacy? Israel’s enduring resilience in the face of crisis - opinion

Life for the Jewish people, and virtually anyone who comes within our circle, is unpredictable.

JANUARY 31, 2026BySTEWART WEISS

‘CHILDREN OF Jacob Sell Their Brother Joseph,’ by Konstantin Flavitsky, 1855.

After October 7, this haredi woman refuses to stand apart from Israeli society

Born into the heart of haredi Jerusalem, Sari Kroizer has built a religious and Israeli identity that refuses to stand apart.

JANUARY 31, 2026ByYONATAN VERSTANDIG

Sari Kroizer.

Jerusalem highlights: January 30-February 5

What's new to do in Israel's capital?

JANUARY 30, 2026ByHAGAY HACOHEN

Ginat Rice in Jerusalem.

What honoring our parents teaches us about faith, logic, and Judaism

The mitzvah of honoring one's parents is not a narrow religious demand but a foundational moral duty.

JANUARY 30, 2026ByMOSHE TARAGIN

RED HEIFER

Grapevine, January 30, 2026: Closing a circle

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

JANUARY 30, 2026ByGREER FAY CASHMAN

Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar with Indian Ambassador J.P. Singh.