This article was last updated on the 13th of July, 2015 by Patrick Carpen.
Judaism: An Introduction
The Jewish place of worship is called a “Synagogue”.
Judaism is a religion practiced by a minority of people across the globe. Humans who practice the religion of Judaism are called “Jews”. The Jewish Holy Book is called the “Torah”. A Jewish priest or holy man is called a “Rabbi”. The country most densely populated with Jews is Israel. As with any religion, there are Jews who take their religion seriously, and those who merely go by the name.
Judaism: Its Origin
According to the narratives of the Jewish Holy Book, the Torah, Judaism is the world’s first and oldest religion. The book of Genesis in the Torah details the creation of the world, God’s plan for mankind and man’s fall from grace. Judaism, the religion, therefore, started with God’s interaction with the very first man and woman, Adam and Eve, after they were put out of the Garden of Eden because of sin. From time to time, God would send prophets with revelations and codes of conduct to the people of the earth. Those who maintained a relationship with the God of the Torah were called “Jews” and those who turned aside to other religions were called “pagans”.
Judaism: The Founding Father
God, the creator of the universe, is considered by Jews as the author and true Founder of the Jewish faith. Nevertheless, humans played a deciding role in the turn of events that led to Judaism as we know it today. Jacob, the son of Isaac, was the man chosen by God to be the father of the “Jewish” race, as it is written “Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated”. God preordained that Jacob would receive a special blessing from his father Isaac. This happened while Isaac was about to die. The blessing came in the form of spoken words which carried divine power and allowed the hearer to receive the favor of God. Jacob’s name was then changed to “Israel”, as it is written “your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel”. Jacob, therefore, may be considered the founding father of both the nation of Israel and the Jewish religion.
Judaism: God’s Promises
Although the first Jews who had a direct contact with God were Adam and Eve, as people spread across the earth, the Jewish religion was restricted to a special “chosen people”. These chosen people sprang from Jacob’s offspring, their wives and children. According the Jewish scripture, God chose the Jews to bless them and put them above all people on earth, as it is written “you shall be the head and not the tail”. God also promised that He will always dwell among the Jewish people, as it is written “if I forget Israel, let My teeth cling to the roof of my mouth”, “a mother may forget the child of her womb, but I will not forget you Israel” and “even though a man may not take back a woman who went away with another man, I will take you back Israel, My people whom I have chosen”. God also promised the Jewish King David that his lineage will be continued through his offspring on the face of the earth forever.
Judaism: The Messiah
The Jewish Holy Book, the Torah, speaks of a Messiah who is to come from God to do wonders among the Jewish people and “save His people from their sins”. Upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, many Jews believed that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Many Jews on the other hand rejected the idea. Thus Judaism continues to be practiced to this day and the Jewish people are still on the lookout for the promised Messiah. From time to time in history, many Jews have accepted Jesus and converted from Judaism to Christianity.
