Religions of the world
Judaism
An educational guide to Jewish history, sacred texts, beliefs, practices, movements and interfaith relationships, with links into the site’s extensive archive.
History, practiceand interpretation
A concise orientation
One tradition, many Jewish communities
Judaism is an Abrahamic religion and a diverse religious and cultural tradition with roots in the ancient Near East. Its history, texts and ethical ideas have significantly shaped Christianity and Islam as well as wider cultural and legal thought.
Jewish life cannot be reduced to a single set of practices. Communities differ in theology, interpretation, worship, observance and the relationship they draw between religion, ancestry, culture and peoplehood. This page organizes background material without treating one movement as the universal standard.
Use the introductory essays for a broad foundation, then follow the archive into texts, festivals, social questions, Jewish–Christian relations and historical antisemitism.
Foundations
Overview, practice and community
Start with history and central themes, then explore movements, calendars and communities whose identities combine Jewish culture with differing theological approaches.
Sacred literature
Texts are read through traditions of interpretation.
The Hebrew Bible, including the Torah, stands at the center of Jewish textual life. Jewish study also draws on extensive interpretive traditions. Readers should distinguish Jewish ordering and interpretation of these writings from Christian use of the term Old Testament.
The Hebrew Scriptures
An archive guide to languages, authorship, sources and claims about hidden codes.
Narratives in the Hebrew Scriptures
Discussion of creation, humanity, the flood and difficult accounts of conflict.
Multiple Torah interpretations
An essay showing how one passage may support more than one careful reading.
Reading with commentary and other students
A perspective on communal study and the role of interpretive conversation.
Ethics and public life
Jewish perspectives on contested questions
These website pages describe viewpoints found within Jewish communities. They should not be read as a single position held by all Jewish people.
Life and society
Religion and place
Judaism and Islam
Interfaith history
Jewish–Christian relations
The archive examines harmful historical claims, theological disagreements and efforts toward more constructive relations.
Historical questions
Modern interactions
Antisemitism today
Comparative perspectives
Historical record
Shoah and antisemitism
These pages address the Nazi Holocaust, institutional responsibility, denial and the long history of antisemitic persecution. The material is educational and may be distressing.
Responsibility and institutions
Denial and misinformation
Reading with care
Historical antisemitism has taken religious, racial, political and conspiratorial forms. Avoid treating Jewish communities as a single political body, and distinguish criticism of policies from hostility toward Jewish people.
Contributed archive
Essays and interpretive perspectives
These contributions represent their writers’ arguments and should be read as perspectives rather than universal Jewish teaching.
Festivals and religious life
Identity and interpretation
Pluralism and coexistence
Practice, law and science
Our approach
How to use this collection
A practical way to read broad religious material while respecting internal diversity and historical context.
Begin broadly
Read the overview before drawing conclusions from a page about one movement or controversy.
Check the scope
Notice whether an essay describes a text, denomination, historical period or individual interpretation.
Compare carefully
Similar words can carry different meanings in Jewish, Christian and Muslim settings.
Note the date
Archived reports preserve historical context but may not describe current law or community practice.
Reader questions
Frequently asked questions
Is Judaism only a religion?
Jewish identity may involve religion, ancestry, culture, community and peoplehood in different combinations. Individuals and movements define the relationship among these elements differently.
Do all Jewish people share the same beliefs?
No. Judaism includes multiple movements, communities and interpretive traditions, and individual levels of observance and belief vary widely.
Is the Hebrew Bible the same as the Christian Old Testament?
The collections overlap substantially, but arrangement, terminology, interpretive tradition and theological use differ. Context matters when comparing them.
What is the Sabbath?
Shabbat is the weekly period of rest and sacred time from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Forms of observance vary; see the Sabbath overview.
Why does this section discuss Christianity and Islam?
All three are Abrahamic traditions with interconnected histories and texts. Comparison can clarify both shared ideas and significant differences.
How should archived pages about antisemitism be read?
Read them as dated historical or policy records, avoid repeating false accusations as credible claims, and distinguish disagreement over ideas or policy from hostility toward Jewish people.
Where can I compare Judaism with other religions?
Visit the religion comparison section or return to the world religions menu.