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.

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Religious women break barriers in new IDF combat soldier unit

The unit will be drafted next Tuesday in the Combat Intelligence Corps, and soldiers will have spiritual and halachic guidance throughout their service.

Dangerous escalation: The assault on Judaism penetrates US Congress

Perhaps there, measures can be taken to ensure that the Assault on Judaism – a proxy for an Assault on Americanism – will be kept away from the US Congress.

20/11/2024

Hulu’s ‘The Honorable Shyne’ documents the Jewish rapper’s beef with Diddy, new life as politician

A new doc sheds light on Shyne and where he’s been, including the former rapper’s response to the sex-trafficking scandal from his mentor Sean “Diddy” Combs.

By STEPHEN SILVER/JTA
20/11/2024
 MICHAEL AND his wife, Ruth Gan Kagan (couple at R on couch), with their children and grandchildren.

Michael Kagan: Israel's playwright, documentarian, poet, scientist, and more

Michael Kagan played a role in transforming the state through his varied ventures as a scientist, entrepreneur, poet, documentarian, playwright, teacher, and more.

A historic opportunity for the chief rabbis

The continued erosion of trust in the rabbinate risks polarizing and marginalizing Judaism within Israeli society even further. The new chief rabbis have a historic opportunity to reverse this trend.

18/11/2024

Assisted dying – mercy or murder?

There is a way to respect the sanctity of life of those with a terminal diagnosis while withholding or removing impediments to a peaceful death.

By JONATHAN LIEBERMAN
18/11/2024
Micah Halpern

I am a proud Jew, I will not shy away

There is an umbilical cord connecting the communities. When Israel aches, so too does Diaspora Jewry.

‘Goldman Case’: A true story of French Jewish radical whose murder trial still cloaked in mystery

The movie recently made its US debut in New York City and Los Angeles and is now opening in theaters across the country.

By SHIRA LI BARTOV/JTA
16/11/2024
  An illustrative image of two chairs.

A meeting of minds and hearts: What lessons righteous figures learn from each other

Each person saw the value in the other person’s path, and adopted elements of the other’s ethos.

By LEVI COOPER
15/11/2024
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