Judaism

Judaism is the culture, religion and philosophy of the Jewish people. It developed over thousands of years from the religion of the ancient Hebrew tribes. Although they only represent about 0.2…

Outsiders tend to think of Orthodox Judaism as a monolith -- a singular, rigid movement based on a set of unquestioned beliefs. This is a misconception, however. More a heading than a movement, the…

Judaism is one of the oldest's surviving religions in the world. It began about 3,000 years ago and has had direct influence on other so-called Abrahamic religions, such as Islam and Christianity, as…

Judaism uses many symbolic items in the practice of worship. Numbers, colors and various symbols remind the Jews of their heritage and relationship with God. The blue and white braid appears on the…

The Jewish people have centuries of tradition that define their religion. Many people who are not born into a Jewish family decide to convert to Judaism as adults. Whether you plan to marry a person…

Conversion to Judaism is not merely a religious change; it involves acceptance of the faith, becoming a member of the Jewish people and embracing their culture and history. It is a lengthy process,…

When people think of Judaism, they often picture a young man at a bar mitzvah or a young woman or bat mitzvah, a man wearing a yarmulke in the synagogue reading from the scrolls of the Torah or a…

Conservative Judaism is an American invention, falling between Reform and Orthodox Judaism in level of observance. In the 1990s, Conservative Judaism began to find its footing in Israel -- mostly…

Just as there are different branches of Christianity or Islam, there are also differing branches of Judaism. Among these are Reform Judaism and Orthodox Judaism. While these two branches have…

A bat (or bar for a boy) mitzvah is a religious ceremony in which Jewish boys and girls assume the responsibility of faithfully observing the commandments of the Torah. The ceremony typically starts…

Becoming Jewish is a life-changing event, and the process must be completed with total sincerity. You'll need to abandon the religious beliefs you've previously held, and most of what you've been…

Whether you were raised Jewish and want to learn more about your heritage or you're just curious about the Jewish culture, there's nothing wrong with doing a little research and enriching yourself.…

The birth of a child is an event that's celebrated by religions around the world. In Central America, Mayan priests give thanks for a newborn by passing him north, east, south and west over a fire. In…

Jewish communities the world over provide "chinuch," Jewish religious instruction, for children. Judaism views chinuch as a halachic (Jewish law) obligation whereby parents must guide and instruct…

Judaism is one of the world's oldest religions. Teaching the fundamentals of Judaism to children can begin to provide young people with an objective view of the religion, and through the power of…

There are four major movements within Judaism and each has its own conversion requirements for new believers to fulfill. The four major movements are Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist and…

Conservative Judaism was founded in response to the Reform Movement, which many Jews viewed as straying too far from traditional Jewish principles. While not as strict or conservative as Orthodox…

Judaism, a religion whose founding is widely attributed to one man in the region of Mesopotamia, has grown to have millions of followers worldwide. It has sparked the formation of other traditions,…

Hinduism and Christianity are two of the largest religions in the world, and both influence many people in many different ways. Even though the differences between the two religions are as vast as the…

A black-and-white habit is an iconic costume for Catholic nuns. But the style and color of a habit changes with the convent. For example, women just beginning in the convent are called novices and the…

The Roman Catholic Church is the largest Christian denomination in the world, tracing its lineage back to Peter, a friend and disciple of Jesus who established the church in Rome. There are more than…

Catholicism has been one of the world's dominant religions for nearly 2,000 years; as of 2011 more than 1 billion people worldwide considered themselves to be Catholics. Father Divine, on the other…

The right of people to talk to God has always been an important value in Judaism; it is said that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob instituted the tradition of praying three times a day. After the Second…

Judaism, the oldest Western religion, began around 2000 B.C. The Jewish people believe in one all-knowing God who created the world and they live by the Ten Commandments, the Mitzvoth and the…

With thousands of names to choose from, a Jewish convert may find it difficult to pick a Hebraic name. Choosing a Jewish name does not involve replacing the convert's birth name. Used for ceremonial…

Judaism is one of the oldest known religions of the world and is one of the biggest monotheistic (only one god) religions. There are approximately more than 13 million Jews in the world, with the…

The Orthodox Judaism faith originated between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The belief system branches off from the original beliefs held in Moses' time and have a variety of differences.…

Though the Holy Bible is said to be a semi-historical account of the history of the Jewish people in the Middle East and surrounding territories, the Jewish faith does not use the New Testament. The…

Being a member of the Jewish faith, Judaism, means embracing some basic religious beliefs in common with others in this broad-based religion, but Judaism does not have the dogmatic requirements found…

Christianity has divided into numerous denominations over the centuries. In 1054, the religion experienced a division known as the "Great Schism." This resulted in the formation of the Catholic and…

Judaism is an ancient religion which, though always claiming a relatively small number of adherents, has an enormous influence. Judaism is a major source for Christianity and Islam. It is a…

Converting to Judaism is a serious, life-changing decision. People of all ages, races, and religions convert to Judaism. People convert to Judaism because they want to live a Jewish lifestyle and to…

Different Jewish ethnic groups observe varying customs regarding the acceptability of eating soft matzahs during Passover. Some Jewish individuals who observe the laws of Passover, which obligate Jews…

Judaism has various customs have arisen that directly relate to the Jewish view of death. These traditions stem from the view that a body is holy because it contained the essence of the individual,…

On the surface, matzah and sacramental bread appear to be much the same. Both are unleavened loaves made from simple ingredients, and both are part of religious practices. However, matzah is specific…

Students of Jewish history can gain insights into today's Jewish world by learning about the personalities that shaped Judaism through the ages. Historical and religious figures guided the Children of…

Judaism and Catholicism are different religions with different traditions, customs, beliefs and ceremonies. However, these two religions have many similarities in that both claim to worship the same…

Confirmations and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs are both Jewish rites of passage, but the ceremonies differ in a number of respects. Each observance demands that a young Jewish individual learn about her Jewish…

Converting to Judaism should be done with the utmost of sanctity and respect for the Jewish religion and its people. According to the Jewish Federations of North America, some individuals convert to…

During the New Testament period, several types of Jews influenced social, political and religious culture, and even the subsequent formation of Christianity. While Judaism was united in some of its…

Teaching Judaism to children of other religions opens up a new and intriguing world for them and helps them gain a greater understanding of Jewish friends, relatives and teachers. The Jewish religion…

Many observant Jews wear knitted and crocheted hats as part of their religious obligation to keep a covering on their head. Among Orthodox Jews and some Jews who affiliate with other Jewish…

Judaism is the oldest faith of the western world. Its core beliefs are described in its holy texts, including the Five Books of Moses (also known as the Torah), the Hebrew Bible (the Tanakh, which…

Thanks to the Internet, it's easy to look up any type of information. From census records, to marriage certificates and military records, information about it can be obtained online. If you are…

The shofar is a traditional Hebraic instrument that's still used by Jews and Christians alike. The shofar, traditionally a ram's horn, is blown like a trumpet. The reasons for blowing a shofar are…

Matzah is an unleavened bread. This means it has nothing in it, such as yeast or baking powder, that could cause it to rise like other breads. Matzah used in the Judaic tradition known as the Passover…

The term "high Sabbath" causes debate because it relies on interpretations from two religions. The major concept and concern arises from its use in the New Testament's Gospel of John 19:31. In most…

Judaism celebrates the entry into adulthood through with the ceremony bar mitzvah for boys, and bat mitzvah for girls. While this is a traditional religious ceremony, it often adopts more modern…

In the Jewish religion, baby naming ceremonies serve both as a way to introduce a newborn to the community and to initiate the newborn into Judaism's rites of passage. The ceremony for boy…

Orthodox Judaism adheres strictly to the laws of the Torah. When converting to any religion, you must undergo some life-changing decisions, however, becoming an Orthodox Jew will require some major…

Whether you're planning a casual chat with a Jewish child or have been asked to help one learn about the faith, start by matching the child's age with his or her ability to master esoteric…

So you want to become Jewish? Well, you're not alone. While there are about 5.6 million Jews in America (representing roughly 1.5 percent of the population), more than 200,000 of them are converts.…

Judaism and depression asks a dual question about religion and medicine. Depression can weaken the link between man and God, disturbing his ability to feel his faith. Judaism is not only about the…

The history of Judaism dates back thousands of years as chronicled in the Old Testament of the Bible. The actual state of Israel, which is the only Jewish country in the world, dates back only to…

Bat Mitzvahs are the female version of the "Bar Mitzvah." They are essentially the "coming of age" celebration of young women in Judaism. Bat Mitzvahs are celebrated when a Jewish girl turns twelve…

Judaism follows very strict guidelines based on the Torah and other religious texts. One of the regulations in these texts prohibits followers from defacing or deforming their bodies via tattoos,…

Many people think of men in black suits and hats and women in long black skirts when they hear the term "Orthodox Judaism." In fact, Orthodox Judaism is a general term that refers to many traditions,…

Many people are interested in learning more about the Jewish faith and visiting synagogues without feeling the need to convert to Judaism. However, many others feel attracted to Jewish observance and…

Orthodox or Observant Judaism is a religion of action and discipline. But because it is so disciplined, it is also very hard to convert to such a lifestyle. It's a tough process, but here are some…