JUDAISM

SACRED SCRIPTURES WORSHIP AND OBSERVANCES BELIEFS AND DOCTRINE SUBDIVISIONS

TANAKH - Tanakh, also known as the Hebrew Bible, is the collection of Jewish sacred scriptures. It
consists of three main sections: the Torah (the first five books of the Bible, also known as the
Pentateuch), the Nevi’im (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (the Writings). Together, these three sections
form the acronym “Tanakh.”

The Talmud Is a central text in Judaism, which contains discussions and commentary on Jewish law,
ethics, customs, history, and traditions. It is composed of the Mishnah, a collection of Jewish oral
traditions from the 2nd century CE, and the Gemara, which is a commentary on the Mishnah.

Shabbat: A weekly day of rest, starting on Friday evening and ending on Saturday night. It is a time for
rest, prayer, and spending time with family.

Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year in Judaism, and is a time for repentance and
atonement. It is observed through fasting, prayer, and reflection.

Passover commemorates the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt, and is observed
through a series of rituals and customs, including the Seder meal and the avoidance of leavened bread.

Hanukkah is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem
after the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks. It is celebrated by lighting the menorah, playing games,
and eating traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot.

Monotheism: The belief in one God is a central tenet of Judaism, and is expressed in the Shema prayer,
which begins with the words “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

Covenant: The covenant between God and the Jewish people is a fundamental part of Jewish belief, and
is based on God’s promise to Abraham to make his descendants a great nation and to give them the land
of Israel.

Messiah: Jews believe in the coming of the Messiah, who will usher in a time of peace, justice, and
harmony.The concept of the Messiah is based on biblical prophecies and is an important part of Jewish
eschatology.
Afterlife: The Jewish belief in the afterlife is based on the idea of the resurrection of the dead and the
concept of olam ha-ba (the world to come), which is a time of spiritual reward or punishment based on
one’s deeds in life.

Orthodox Judaism: Orthodox Jews believe in the divine origin of the Torah and follow a strict
interpretation of Jewish law (halakha). They typically have separate seating for men and women in
synagogue, and follow traditional practices regarding dress, food, and observance of the Sabbath.

Reform Judaism: Reform Judaism is a more liberal branch of Judaism that emphasizes individual
autonomy and the adaptation of Jewish practices to modern times. They reject strict adherence to
traditional Jewish law and seek to reinterpret Jewish teachings in light of contemporary values and
social norms.

Conservative Judaism: Conservative Jews seek to strike a balance between traditional Jewish practices
and modernity. They accept the divine origin of the Torah but allow for some flexibility in its
interpretation. Conservative Jews typically follow traditional practices regarding the Sabbath, kosher
dietary laws, and prayer, but are more flexible in matters of dress and social interaction.

Reconstructionist Judaism: Reconstructionist Jews view Judaism as an evolving civilization that can be
reshaped to meet the needs of contemporary society. They reject the idea of a divine origin of the Torah
and seek to reinterpret Jewish teachings in light of modern scholarship and humanist values.