Religion

Judaism

Judaism centres on the covenant between God and the Jewish people, expressed in the Torah and in a weekly and yearly cycle of observance.

OriginAncient Israelite religion in the Levant; Rabbinic Judaism develops after 70 CE

FollowersAbout 14 million (Pew Research Center, 2015)

ScriptureTanakh (Hebrew Bible), Mishnah and Talmud

At a glance

Core beliefs

One GodMonotheism is central to Jewish belief.

CovenantA special relationship with God, expressed through commandments.

TorahTeaching and law given by God, studied and lived.

ShabbatA weekly day of rest from sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday.

Key terms

TorahTeaching and law, the first five books of the Bible.

ShabbatThe weekly day of rest.

MitzvahA commandment, or a good deed.

SynagogueA place of prayer and study.

Branches include Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism. This is a short overview. Each tradition has many branches and practices; for depth, read its primary texts and speak with practitioners.

Follower estimates: Pew Research Center, The Future of World Religions (2015). Figures change over time.