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.
The unpromised land: Exile experience cannot be severed from modern Jewish history - opinion
It is crucial not to sever modern Jewish history from the interim, desert experience of the past two thousand years.
Tisha B'av, connection to Jerusalem, proves Jews are not 'settler-colonialists' - opinion
From exclusion to examination: Women gain access to rabbinic path
Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US
Parshat Matot-Masei: Our stops along the way
Prayer can be an oasis along the way. Prayer can also parallel the journeys we take in life.
Parashat Matot-Masei: The gravitas of gratitude
Moses, the father of the nation, paved a path for generations to come: Nothing justifies an act of ingratitude. Ingratitude is never warranted in any situation.
Beyond the Headlines: Achieving moral clarity in a confused world - opinion
A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.
Israel’s challenge: Embracing the world’s high expectations as a strength - opinion
At some level, even our harshest critics expect more from us. They hold us to standards they would never dream of applying to themselves or their allies.
Art and Torah: How can we dance out the darkness in our lives?
We danced out of Egypt toward revelation at Mount Sinai, out of Haman’s decree toward the rebuilding of the Second Temple, out of gas chambers to the State of Israel.
Parashat Pinchas: Every Jew is torn between hope and history
Moses does not stand alone on Nevo – we stand with him. Together, we gaze toward a future we build but may never fully enter. Together with him, many Jews look toward a land they may never cross.
Parashat Pinchas: Zealotry: The impetus to do the right thing
The story of Pinchas reminds us that even someone who once acted boldly in zeal can also become a leader of peace and understanding.
Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US
See Shabbat times for your area.
Gil Troy's award-winning essay confronts ‘Silent Boycott’ against Jewish voices in publishing
This win for Troy followed his 2017 Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary win for “Excellence in Single Commentary.”
UK should recognize Judaism as ethnicity as well as religion, Board of Deputies says
The BoD's new commision on antisemitism, released on Tuesday, explores barriers Jews face in the workplace, the arts, education and even in the health service.
Ptil Tekhelet Educational Center: Israel's newest, bluest cultural venue
“The main takeaway from The Tekhelet Educational Center is the deep appreciation for a beautiful mitzvah.”
