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.

Between miracle and memory: The evolution of Miriam in art over the years

Whether in medieval ‘Haggadot’ or the lithographs of Bezalel, artists trace Miriam as she emerges, tambourine in hand, to lead the aftermath of the Exodus.

APRIL 8, 2026|ByNERIA BARR

BYZANTINE MOSAIC, Abbey of the Dormition, Jerusalem (c. early medieval) – Miriam, tambourine in hand.

‘SEPARATIONS/DOME,’ Batsheva Ensemble. ‘The work began from a feeling, an everyday sensation of vulnerability.’ – Bosmat Nossan

The body continues: In war, dance becomes a way to survive

In their new works for the Batsheva Ensemble, choreographers Bosmat Nossan and Roni Chadash echo the rhythm of Miriam as a practice of necessity.

APRIL 8, 2026|ByORI J. LENKINSKI

Engraving: The Song of Miriam (1880), by William Blake Richmond.

Before the song: On Passover, Miriam leads with rhythm when the path is unclear

Miriam leads not through words or commands but through rhythm, movement, and shared presence. Her tambourine becomes a structure that others can enter.

APRIL 7, 2026|ByNERIA BARR

IT IS no accident that Song of Songs is read every Passover. The book is saturated with an explosive, summoning, and impossible to resist spring – an explosion of energy and new life

Passover and Song of Songs: What spring teaches us about freedom

HIKING THE HOLYLAND: Israel's hiking trails are quieter than they used to be. And yet – spring does not wait.

APRIL 7, 2026|BySUSANNAH SCHILD

Mordecai Kaplan's Reconstructionism: A vision of American Judaism that struggles to grow - review

Mordecai Kaplan’s dream of a Jewish civilization built on choice and fulfillment faces the reality of modern challenges in sustaining community and commitment.

APRIL 7, 2026ByANDREW SILOW-CARROLL/JTA

A Torah held aloft at a reconstructionist synagogue.

The hidden well: Exploring Miriam's leadership as a source of hope in war's shadow

Within a world of harsh decrees and cruelty, Miriam creates a human partnership that crosses boundaries for the sake of saving life.

APRIL 7, 2026ByRABBA AMIRIT ROSEN

TAMBOURINE PLAYERS from the ‘Golden Haggadah’ (c. 1320), reflecting a medieval vision of Miriam and the women’s song after the crossing of the sea, The British Library, London

A voice of praise: Why this Haggadah puts Miriam at the center of the Exodus

An exploration of the unique visual depiction of Miriam’s song in the medieval ‘Haggadah’ from The Israel Museum, Jerusalem’s collection.

APRIL 7, 2026ByANNA NIZZA-CAPLAN

THE YAHUDA HAGGADAH, Southern Western Germany, ca. 1470-80, handwritten on parchment; brown ink, and gold and silver leaf

Passover candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Passover candle lighting times for your area.

APRIL 7, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

High Court raises Western Wall visitor cap to 100, keeps broader wartime prayer policy under review

The petition comes a day after the High Court intervened in the dispute over anti-war protests, criticizing the Home Front Command’s framework and later ordering the state to allow demonstrations.

APRIL 5, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN

A view of the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem's Old City, where the traditional Priestly Blessing (Birkat Cohanim) is held during the Passover holiday under attendance restrictions due to the ongoing war, April 5, 2026.

Zohran Mamdani: What side of the Muslim world are you on? - opinion

In contrast to global Muslim leaders who are speaking out against the Iranian regime, there has been a striking silence from some who claim to speak on behalf of the Muslim world, namely, Mamdani.

APRIL 4, 2026ByMARC SCHNEIER

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference at New York's LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, US, March 23, 2026

Post-Passover recipes to try: Bagels, veggie soup, chicken, and almond cookies

Cozy post-Passover recipes you’ll love: homemade bagels, veggie soup, crispy chicken, and almond cookies to enjoy with loved ones.

APRIL 4, 2026ByHENNY SHOR

Chinese almonds

Voices Israel anthology 2025: Celebrating English poetry shaped by war, love, and memory

War, love and memory intertwine in Voices Israel’s 2025 anthology, a powerful collection of global poetry shaped by Oct. 7 and beyond.

APRIL 4, 2026ByNEVILLE TELLER

Typewriter.

Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Shabbat candle lighting times for your area.

APRIL 3, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

In the shadow of the Holocaust, survivors kept Passover alive in 1946 - opinion

The first post-Holocaust Passover brought survivors together to reclaim dignity, remember loss, and celebrate survival.

APRIL 2, 2026ByMICHAEL FREUND

Dachau (seen 2020): The stench, the skeletal figures, the degradation.