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Founder: Moses
Religious Texts: The Talmud - includes the Torah, the Mishnah and the Gemara. The Torah is the books of Moses, or the first five books of our Bible. The Mishnah a collection of interpretations and applications of the Torah. The Gemara is a collection of Jewish literature illustrating the application of the law.
View of God: Monotheism
Name(s) of God: YHWH (Tetragrammaton), HaShem (The Name),
Teachings:
- Belief in one God.
- In Rabbinic Judaism, there is a strong emphasis in the keeping of the Mosaic law. Especially the kosher laws and the keeping of the special days.
- God will reward those who do good and punish those who do evil.
- Jews are "people of the book" and should hold to the inspiration of the Torah.
- Some Jews still await a messiah, while others do not.
- A Jew should keep honor the special Jewish days.
- The Sabbath - Begins with sunset on Friday and ends with sunset on Saturday. One is not supposed to work on this day.
- Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year. This occurs in September or October and the first month of the new year is known as Tishri. Rosh Hashanah is the first of ten days that are known as the Days of Awe. It is to celebrate the first days of creation.
- Yom Kippur - The tenth day of Tishri is known as the Day of Atonement. In biblical times, sacrifices were offered on this day. Today, Jews hold a lengthy service and make efforts to repent and humble themselves before God.
- Sukkoth - (Feast of Booths) A feast (that takes place 5 days after Yom Kippur) to commemorate Israel's wandering in the wilderness.
- Simchat Torah - The days of celebration of the Torah. The annual cycle of reading through the Torah is completed.
- Hanukkah - December festival commemorating the purification of the temple by the Maccabees.
- Purim - February or March festival celebrating the events in the book of Esther.
- Passover - A seven or eight day celebration commemorating the Exodus event. In particular, it celebrates God's passing over the firstborn children of Isreal.
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