What is Judaism?

Study Notes

Judaism teaches that there is only one God who created the world and expressed what He expects of people in the Ten Commandments and other laws.
God chose the Jews to have a special relationship with Him.

Judaism began about 4000 years ago with the Hebrew people who lived in the Middle East, specifically in the ancient region of Canaan (now Israel and the Palestinian territories).
The religion developed from the beliefs and practices of the Israelites.

Abraham, a Hebrew man, is considered the father of the Jewish faith because he taught that there is only one God.
Abraham and his wife were promised by God that their descendants would be as many as the stars and that they would live in the 'Promised Land'.

The Torah is a holy text of Judaism, made up of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).
It begins with the creation of the world and includes the laws of God, such as the Ten Commandments.
Jews believe God gave these laws to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Circumcision: a religious ceremony performed by a mohel eight days after a Jewish boy is born, where he is given a Hebrew name.
Bar Mitzvah: when a boy turns thirteen, he becomes responsible for fulfilling all the duties of a Jew and reads from the Torah scroll in the synagogue.
Bat Mitzvah: when a girl is twelve years old, she is considered "daughter of the commandment" and usually has a party with family and friends.

Rosh Hashanah: the start of the religious new year, marking the anniversary of the creation of the world, celebrated with festive gatherings.
Yom Kippur: the Day of Atonement, where Jewish people fast, pray, and atone for their sins, asking God for forgiveness.
Passover: celebrated in spring, marking the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt and the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses.
Hanukkah: an eight-day holiday that celebrates the triumph of the few over the many, the weak over the strong, and faith in one miracle-making God.