judaism short essay

Judaism, an introduction

Judaism is a monotheistic religion that emerged with the Israelites in the Eastern Mediterranean (Southern Levant) within the context of the Mesopotamian river valley civilizations . The Israelites were but one nomadic tribe from the area, so named because they considered themselves to be the descendants of Jacob, who changed his name to Israel.

The Levant (underlying map © Google)

Judaism stems from a collection of stories that explain the origins of the “children of Israel” and the laws that their deity commanded of them. The stories explain how the Israelites came to settle, construct a Temple for their one God, and eventually establish a monarchy—as divinely instructed—in the ancient Land of Israel. Over centuries, the Israelites’ literature, history, and laws were compiled and edited into a series of texts, now often referred to as the Hebrew Bible (or Tanakh ). Although the Hebrew Bible was compiled by the end of the first (or possibly second) century C.E., many of the stories it contains may be much older. The Hebrew Bible contains three major sections: the Torah (Five Books of Moses) the Prophets, and the Writings.

Hebrew Bible, Italy, 13th century, decorated opening to the Book of Isaiah, Harley 5711, f.1r. ( The British Library )

An oral tradition emerged alongside the written Bible. Sometimes called the “Oral Torah,” the Mishnah is a minimalistic set of debates attributed to the great religious scholars, or Rabbis, transcribed and published in the second century C.E. The Rabbis’ intellectual descendants recorded and expounded upon the Mishnah in a series of writings called the Gemara and later generations compiled the Mishnah and Gemara into the Talmud.

Relief depicting a triumphal procession into Rome with loot from the temple, including the menorah, panel in the passageway, Arch of Titus , Rome, c. 81 C.E., marble, 6’–7” high (photo: Jebulon , CC0 1.0)

While the Hebrew Bible is Judaism’s most sacred text, many of the laws it delineates concern the practice of Temple sacrifice and priestly behavior. But when the Roman Emperor Titus sacked Jerusalem in response to a revolt of the Israelites in 70 C.E., his armies demolished the Temple of Jerusalem and brought the spoils back to Rome (an event recorded in a relief on the Arch of Titus in Rome, see image above). The loss of the Temple resulted in the end of ritual sacrifice and the priesthood; Judaism became a religion based on the interpretive discussions and practices that were eventually compiled into the Talmud. Sometimes, Judaism is referred to as “rabbinic Judaism,” since centuries of rabbinic interpretation, rather than the Bible, informs Jewish practice.

Judaism and time

Jewish law, called Halakhah , having been interpreted and re-interpreted over millennia, has changed over time. Even so, religious Judaism operates cyclically, and the linear way that modern historians view history does not correspond to this worldview. As historian Yosef Yerushalmi explained, the Rabbis “seem to play with time as though with an accordion, expanding and collapsing it at will.”[1] Major holidays, such as the weekly Sabbath or the annual Jewish New Year, provide a rhythm in order to structure a distinction between the sacred and the mundane. Other festivals rehearse ancient events, connecting modern Jews to the ancient Israelites. For instance, they mark the reception of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, the exodus from Egypt , the fall harvests, and the Maccabee victory over the Hellenistic Persian kingdom.

Isidor Kaufmann, Friday Evening , c. 1920, oil on canvas, 72.7 × 91.1 cm ( The Jewish Museum , New York)

A collection of essays about Jewish cultures around the world opens with the phrase, “culture is the practice of everyday life.”[2] Judaism is a way of life that honors the cycle of days, weeks, months, years, and lives.  Shabbat, the Sabbath, serves as the ultimate reminder of the Jewish cycle of time. Based on the idea that on the seventh day of Creation God rested, Shabbat is a marker of sacred time. Religious Jews refrain from all types of work on the Sabbath, and spend the day with their families and communities, praying, listening as a portion of the Torah is chanted (readings are determined by a fixed schedule), and eating luxurious meals. A great twentieth-century rabbi, Abraham Joshua Heschel, described the Sabbath as “a cathedral in time.”

The debate continues

Despite the authority of the rabbinic voice in the Talmud, Judaism is non-hierarchical. There is not—nor has there ever been—a single authority; the religion is embodied by a collection of learned voices, which often disagree. We tend to conceive of Judaism as an ancient religion—based out of the Levant where God gave the Israelites the Torah. But an essential piece of the religious tradition was the fact that rabbinical scholars continued to debate, discuss, and re-conceive ancient laws.

Torah Case, Iraq, 19th–early 20th century, silver overlaid on wood, with coral set cresting ( The Jewish Museum , London)

Ancient tribal divisions, as well as later sectarian movements, including early Christianity , set a precedent for Jewish cultural diversity. But the religion is unified under the umbrella of the library of sacred texts, beginning with the Hebrew Bible, through the Talmud, and on to various ritual prayer books and mystical tracts. Judaism the religion, however, is distinct from the Jewish people. While it is clear that not all Jews practice Judaism, all those who practice Judaism consider themselves Jews. In other words, there are Jews without Judaism, but there can be no Judaism without Jews.

While the library and calendar unite Jews across the world, there are deep cultural and political divides. Jewish foods, music, literature, language, and interpretive practices vary immensely depending on a community’s ancestry. American Judaism, for example, is divided into movements, or denominations, much like American Christianity. These denominations have committees of rabbis who vote to determine the philosophy and types of observance their communities will uphold. But internal disputes are not only a standard feature of the denominations, they are part of the longstanding tradition of Jewish debate.

[1] Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory (New York: Schocken Books, 1989).

[2] David Biale, Cultures of the Jews: A New History (Schocken, 2002).

Bibliography

Anatomy of a Talmudic page (BBC)

David Biale, ed. Cultures of the Jews: A New History ( New York: Schocken, 2006).

Nicholas De Lange, An Introduction to Judaism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).

John Efron, et al. The Jews: A History (Upper Saddle River NJ: Prentice Hall, 2008).

Abraham Joshua Heschel,  The Sabbath (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1951).

Barry W. Holtz, ed. Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts (New York: Simon and Shuster, 1984).

Robert Seltzer,  Jewish People, Jewish Thought  (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 1980).

Yosef Hayim Yerushalmi, Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory (New York:Schocken Books, 1989).

Opening up the Hebrew Manuscript Collection at The British Museum

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Brief summary of jewish history.

Question: How did Judaism start?

Answer: The following is a brief overview of the history of Judaism:

ABRAHAM : FATHER OF MONOTHEISM :

Abraham was born in 1812 BCE in the city of Ur in Ancient Mesopotamia. According to Jewish tradition, he spent the first 40 years of his life questioning the polytheistic ideas of the surrounding culture, eventually coming to the conclusion that all of existence comes from a single source – a primal infinite Being that we call God. Once he was confident in the truth of his theory, he began to publicize his ideas through writing, teaching and public debates, and eventually built a movement of tens of thousands of people committed to a belief in one Creator and the philosophical principles which are an outgrowth of that belief. G-d then appears to Abraham for the first time and tells him that his biological descendants will eventually grow into a nation which will live by the philosophical principles that he had developed and will be given the Land of Canaan as a national homeland (Genesis 12:1).

FROM FAMILY TO NATION : 500 years:

THE WOMB OF EGYPT AND THE COVENANT AT MOUNT SINAI

Abraham passes on his philosophical system to his son, Isaac, who in turn passes it on to his son Jacob (also called Israel – see Genesis 35:10), who then hands it over to his twelve sons (the families founded by these twelve individuals eventually grew into the twelve tribes of Israel). A famine occurs in the Land of Canaan in 1522 BCE , forcing Israel and his 70 member family down to Egypt (Genesis 46:8), where after 210 years (94 of them as slaves), they grow into a People of approximately 3 million, retaining their separate philosophical, cultural and linguistic identity as Hebrews. They are led out of Egypt by Moses the Prophet in 1312 BCE , and about 50 days later, find themselves awestruck at the foot of Mt Sinai, where God reveals Himself to the Nation as a whole, and proclaims the 10 Commandments. God seals a covenant with the Israelites, whereby they commit themselves (and their descendants) to follow the path of life which God will reveal for them (a path that would incorporate the philosophical system developed by Abraham). Moses then ascends Mt Sinai alone, and God teaches him all the details of that path. The enormous body of legal and moral principles revealed to Moses form the content of what is called “TORAH” – the term incorporating the Five Books of Moses as well as the Oral tradition found in the Mishna and Talmud (36 volumes).

A NATIONAL HOMELAND : 1200 YEARS

In 1272 BCE , after 40 years of traveling in the Sinai Desert, the Israelite Army, led by Joshua, conquers the Land of Canaan and inaugurates a period of over 1200 years of National experience in the Land of Israel, focused around the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem which existed for approximately 800 of those years (combining the 1st and 2nd Temple periods).

EXILE AND RETURN :

In 70 CE the Roman army destroys the Second Temple (the first was destroyed by the Babylonians about 500 years earlier) and from this point onwards, the majority of Jews live in various communities outside the Land of Israel. For the next 1900 years, the Jews in exile pray 3 times daily to be able to return to their homeland and in 1948 the dream is realized with a majority vote in the United Nations to allow the re-establishment of a Jewish State in the Land of Israel.

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Its historic role

Its present role, future prospects.

The role of Judaism in Western culture and civilization

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Judaism has played a significant role in the development of Western culture because of its unique relationship with Christianity , the dominant religious force in the West. Although the Christian church drew from other sources as well, its retention of the sacred Scriptures of the synagogue (the Old Testament ) as an integral part of its Bible —a decision sharply debated in the 2nd century ce —was crucial. Not only was the development of its ideas and doctrines deeply influenced, but it also received an ethical dynamism that constantly overcame an inclination to withdraw into world-denying isolation.

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It was, however, not only Judaism’s heritage but its persistence that touched Western civilization. The continuing existence of the Jews, even as a pariah people, was both a challenge and a warning. Their liberation from the shackles of discrimination , segregation, and rejection at the beginning of the modern era was understood by many to be the touchstone of all human liberty . Until the final ghettoization of the Jew—it is well to remember that the term ghetto belongs in the first instance to Jewish history—at the end of the Middle Ages and the beginning of the Renaissance , intellectual contact between Judaism and Christianity, and thus between Judaism and Western culture, continued. St. Jerome translated the Hebrew Bible into Latin with the aid of Jewish scholars; the exegetical work of the scholars of the monastery of St. Victor in the 12th century borrowed heavily from Jewish scholars; and the biblical commentary of Rashi (Solomon ben Isaac of Troyes) was an important source for Martin Luther (1483–1546). Jewish thinkers helped to bring the remarkable intellectual achievements of the Islamic world to Christian Europe and added their own contributions as well. Even heresies within the church, on occasion, were said to have been inspired by or modeled after Judaism.

In the modern world, while the influence of Jews has increased in almost every realm of cultural life, the impact of Judaism itself has diminished. The reason for this is not difficult to find. The Gentile leaders who extended emancipation to the Jews at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th were eager to grant political equality, but they also insisted that certain reforms of Judaism be accepted. With the transformation of Judaism into an ecclesiastical institution, largely on the model of German Protestant churches, its ideas and structures took on the cast of its environment in a way quite unlike what had ensued in its earlier confrontations with various philosophical systems. Indeed, for some, Judaism and 19th-century European thought were not merely congruent but identical. Thus, while numerous contributors to diverse aspects of Western culture and civilization are to be found among Jews of the 20th and 21st centuries—scientists, politicians, statesmen, scholars, musicians, artists—their activities cannot, except in specific instances, be considered as deriving from Judaism as it has been sketched above.

The two central events of 20th-century Jewish history were the Holocaust and the establishment of the State of Israel . The former was the great tragedy of the Jewish people, while the latter was the light of a rebirth, which promised political, cultural, and economic independence. The rest of the world has been forced to reconsider and reorient its relationship with Judaism and the Jewish people because of these two events. At the same time, the centres of Jewish life have moved almost exclusively to Israel and North America . The virtual absence of official anti-Semitism in North America allowed Jews to flourish in pursuits previously the preserve of Gentiles. Along with these developments, theological considerations and practical realities, such as interfaith marriage, have made Jewish religious culture a point of interest for many non-Jews.

In the early 21st century, Jewish religious life continued to fragment along ideological lines, but that very fragmentation animated both moral imagination and ritual life. While ultra-Orthodox Judaism grew more insular, and some varieties of Liberal Judaism moved ritual practice even farther away from traditional observance, a vital centre emerged, running from Reform Judaism to modern Orthodoxy . This centre sought to understand Judaism within a broader context of interaction with other cultures while leaving unaffected the essentials of belief and practice. Predicting the future of Judaism is not an easy or enviable task, but there is reason to hope that the world will continue to draw upon the religious and cultural traditions of Judaism, both past and present.

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3 (page 31) p. 31 How did Judaism develop?

• Published: August 2014
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It is interesting that a people subjected to so much harassment, persecution, denial, and exile managed to produce a culture of great vitality. ‘How did Judaism develop?’ examines the stories of eight men and two women that illustrate some aspect of spiritual, intellectual, or social value in Jewish life. The Talmud is the heart of Judaism. After the Bible, it is the book most studied by Jews, but it is not known who put it together and edited it. Every generation has its Stamaim, the anonymous scholars and humble practitioners who actually shape and implement the inspirations of the ‘named ones’ who came before them.

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A Summary of Judaism

Abner & Roslyn Goldstine Dean’s Chair Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies Vice President, American Jewish University

Rabbi Dr Bradley Shavit Artson ( www.bradartson.com ) has long been a passionate advocate for social justice, human dignity, diversity and inclusion. He wrote a book on Jewish teachings on war, peace and nuclear annihilation in the late 80s, became a leading voice advocating for GLBT marriage and ordination in the 90s, and has published and spoken widely on environmental ethics, special needs inclusion, racial and economic justice, cultural and religious dialogue and cooperation, and working for a just and secure peace for Israel and the Middle East. He is particularly interested in theology, ethics, and the integration of science and religion. He supervises the Miller Introduction to Judaism Program and mentors Camp Ramah in California in Ojai and Ramah of Northern California in the Bay Area. He is also dean of the Zacharias Frankel College in Potsdam, Germany, ordaining Conservative rabbis for Europe. A frequent contributor for the Huffington Post and for the Times of Israel, and a public figure Facebook page with over 60,000 likes, he is the author of 12 books and over 250 articles, most recently Renewing the Process of Creation: A Jewish Integration of Science and Spirit. Married to Elana Artson, they are the proud parents of twins, Jacob and Shira.   Learn more infomation about Rabbi Artson .

One of the ironies of modern Judaism is that so many of us consider the sermon to be the high point of the Shabbat service.  In fact, a sermon in the vernacular is a relatively recent addition to the service, and our tradition, as a whole, generally minimizes the significance of preaching. 

The Torah prefers to teach through the concrete examples of peoples' lives, or through the presentation of rules that make for a sacred and compassionate society. This week’s Torah portion is no exception to that general premise. Here, in very clear terms, the Torah presents a concise description of biblical and rabbinic Judaism:

Heed the Lord your God diligently, doing what is right in His sight, giving ear to His commandments and keeping all his laws.

The central focus of Judaism--from the liberation of our ancestors from Egyptian slavery to the present moment--has been the translation of Jewish values into acts of sacred obedience.  As the Mishnah insists, "it is not the explanation that is essential, but the deed itself." Religions which focus primarily on matters of faith or true belief ultimately provide neither standards of behavior nor ingrained belief.  Only those creeds which are hardened on the forge of actual living, which are refined in the bellows of daily practice are able to provide guidance and comfort in moments of crisis or despair.  The greatness of Judaism testifies that  true religiosity is demonstrated through godly behavior, rather than in an acquiescence to approved beliefs. The rabbis of antiquity recognized a special kind of love between God and the Jewish People in the very fact of our having been commanded. 

According to the Mekhilta, it is through providing the mitzvot that God "bestowed greatness upon them."  High standards are only demanded from people or issues who matter in one's life.   The Mekhilta continues by explaining just what those standards are: "The voice of the Lord" means the Ten Commandments. "What is right in His sight" refers to praiseworthy conduct which are apparent to all humanity.  "Give ear to His commandments" refers to decrees that accord to reason, and "all his laws" refers to those practices which have no reason but are simply performed because the tradition requires it. How striking, the wide range of Jewish responsibility!  We are accustomed to think of Judaism in terms of specific rituals--lighting Shabbat candles, or keeping the dietary laws of kashrut, but the rabbis here explain that those decent practices which all humanity insists on--not murdering, fair business practices, not stealing--these too are a part of the fabric of Jewish living.   Just because a deed or an insight is not unique to Jews does not mean it is not essential to Judaism. Yet, at the same time, those deeds which cannot be explained simply according to logic may be among the most essential.  Civilizations cultivate and signify belonging through practices that are largely arbitrary.  Why wear a tie around the neck?  Why smear bright colored paint only on the lips?  These practices demonstrate belonging and associated values--their justification has little to do with reason and everything to do with community. 

So too, says Rashi (11th Century France),  with those commandments in the Torah that appear to have no basis in reason.  The commandment not to mix linen and wool in the same garment, to refrain from pork, and other such rules provide Jews with a common identity and a set of symbols which can remind us of the lofty values and moral impulse underlying all of Jewish practice. 

Those inexplicable practices are the very foundation of Jewish civilization, the ongoing training grounds for Jewish belonging. Judaism--a network of sacred deeds--provides a path to holiness and goodness through the tangible acts of moral and ritual living.  By cultivating the practice of mitzvot, the Jew learns to identify with a glorious and ancient history, to exemplify and caring and a rigorous morality, and to demonstrate reverence and obedience to the God who liberates slaves and who has chosen us in love. That same God calls to us now.  Will you do  something about it?

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The Cambridge History of Judaism

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Three published volumes cover the history of Judaism from the Persian period up to the third century, and a fourth is in preparation on the late Roman-Rabbinic period. Taken together, The Cambridge History of Judaism provides the fullest and most authoritative account of its subject and will endure as an important scholarly resource.

• General Editors: W. D. Davies , L. Finkelstein
• Advisory Boards: Elias J. Bickerman , A. M. Momigliano , Matthew Black , Gershom Scholem , Gerson Cohen , Morton Smith , F. M. Cross , Ephraim E. Urbach

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8 results in The Cambridge History of Judaism

• Volume 5, Jews in the Medieval Islamic World, The Islamic World
• Edited by Phillip I. Lieberman
• Published online: 21 August 2021 Print publication: 02 September 2021
• Get access Buy a print copy Check if you have access via personal or institutional login Log in Register
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• View description Volume 5 examines the history of Judaism in the Islamic World from the rise of Islam in the early sixth century to the expulsion of Jews from Spain at the end of the fifteenth. This period witnessed radical transformations both within the Jewish community itself and in the broader contexts in which the Jews found themselves. The rise of Islam had a decisive influence on Jews and Judaism as the conditions of daily life and elite culture shifted throughout the Islamicate world. Islamic conquest and expansion affected the shape of the Jewish community as the center of gravity shifted west to the North African communities, and long-distance trading opportunities led to the establishment of trading diasporas and flourishing communities as far east as India. By the end of our period, many of the communities on the 'other' side of the Mediterranean had come into their own—while many of the Jewish communities in the Islamicate world had retreated from their high-water mark.

• Volume 6, The Middle Ages: The Christian World, The Christian World
• Edited by Robert Chazan
• Published online: 01 October 2018 Print publication: 11 October 2018
• View description Volume 6 examines the history of Judaism during the second half of the Middle Ages. Through the first half of the Middle Ages, the Jewish communities of western Christendom lagged well behind those of eastern Christendom and the even more impressive Jewries of the Islamic world. As Western Christendom began its remarkable surge forward in the eleventh century, this progress had an impact on the Jewish minority as well. The older Jewries of southern Europe grew and became more productive in every sense. Even more strikingly, a new set of Jewries were created across northern Europe, when this undeveloped area was strengthened demographically, economically, militarily, and culturally. From the smallest and weakest of the world's Jewish centers in the year 1000, the Jewish communities of western Christendom emerged - despite considerable obstacles - as the world's dominant Jewish center by the end of the Middle Ages. This demographic, economic, cultural, and spiritual dominance was maintained down into modernity.

• Volume 7, The Early Modern World, 1500–1815
• Edited by Jonathan Karp , Adam Sutcliffe
• Published online: 10 November 2017 Print publication: 16 November 2017
• View description This seventh volume of The Cambridge History of Judaism provides an authoritative and detailed overview of early modern Jewish history, from 1500 to 1815. The essays, written by an international team of scholars, situate the Jewish experience in relation to the multiple political, intellectual and cultural currents of the period. They also explore and problematize the 'modernization' of world Jewry over this period from a global perspective, covering Jews in the Islamic world and in the Americas, as well as in Europe, with many chapters straddling the conventional lines of division between Sephardic, Ashkenazic, and Mizrahi history. The most up-to-date, comprehensive, and authoritative work in this field currently available, this volume will serve as an essential reference tool and ideal point of entry for advanced students and scholars of early modern Jewish history.

• Volume 8, The Modern World, 1815–2000
• Edited by Mitchell B. Hart , Tony Michels
• Published online: 21 September 2017 Print publication: 28 September 2017
• View description The eighth and final volume of The Cambridge History of Judaism covers the period from roughly 1815–2000. Exploring the breadth and depth of Jewish societies and their manifold engagements with aspects of the modern world, it offers overviews of modern Jewish history, as well as more focused essays on political, social, economic, intellectual and cultural developments. The first part presents a series of interlocking surveys that address the history of diverse areas of Jewish settlement. The second part is organized around the emancipation. Here, chapter themes are grouped around the challenges posed by and to this elemental feature of Jewish life in the modern period. The third part adopts a thematic approach organized around the category 'culture', with the goal of casting a wide net in terms of perspectives, concepts and topics. The final part then focuses on the twentieth century, offering readers a sense of the dynamic nature of Judaism and Jewish identities and affiliations.

• Volume 4, The Late Roman-Rabbinic Period
• Edited by Steven T. Katz
• Published online: 28 March 2008 Print publication: 22 June 2006
• View description This fourth volume of The Cambridge History of Judaism covers the period from 70 CE to 640 CE (the rise of Islam). It deals with the major historical, political and cultural developments in Jewish history and the history of Judaism in this crucial era during which Judaism took on its classical shape. It provides discussion and analysis of all the essential subjects pertinent to an understanding of this period, and is especially strong in its coverage of the growth and development of rabbinic Judaism and of the major classical rabbinic sources such as the Mishnah, Jerusalem Talmud, Babylonian Talmud and various Midrashic collections. In addition, it surveys the early encounter of Judaism and Christianity from both the Jewish and Christian sides and describes the rise of Jewish mystical literature, the liturgical literature of the developing synagogue, the nature of magical practices in classical Judaism and Jewish Folklore.

• Volume 3, The Early Roman Period
• Edited by William Horbury , W. D. Davies , John Sturdy
• Published online: 28 March 2008 Print publication: 09 December 1999
• View description This volume covers the history of Judaism in the Roman period. Political history is treated from Pompey to Vespasian, but many chapters on Jewish life and thought go beyond the period of the Flavian emperors to present themes and evidence of importance for Judaism up to the 3rd century CE. The approach has concentrated on the study of institutions and schools of thought through consideration of archaeological finds and inscriptions. Jewish-Gentile relations, temple and synagogue, groups and schools of thought - Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Baptist sects, the 'fourth philosophy' and similar groups, Samaritans and the Christian movement - are examined. An unusual feature of the volume is its historical treatment of Christianity within the context of ancient Judaism. The Qumran texts, Philo and Josephus receive attention as does Jewish society in Judaea and Galilee.

• Volume 2, The Hellenistic Age
• Edited by W. D. Davies , Louis Finkelstein
• Published online: 28 March 2008 Print publication: 22 March 1990
• View description This is the second of four volumes covering the history of Judaism from the Persian period, roughly 539–322 BCE, to the Tannaitic period, which culminated in the codification of the Mishnah around 250 CE. It deals with the encounter of Judaism with the Hellenistic culture spread throughout the Mediterranean world and beyond by Alexander the Great and his successors. The volume describes both the rejection and adoption of Hellenism by Judaism. Religiously the rejection provoked new developments and politically the Maccabaean Revolt, which resulted in the creation of the independent Hasmonean state, 142–63 BCE. Culturally, the adoption of Hellenistic forms by Judaism led to a significant Jewish-Greek and Hebrew and Aramaic literature. At the same time, the tensions in the religious, intellectual, social and political life of Jews spawned apocalyptic thought and literature. In the light of the interpenetration of Judaism and Hellenism in this period the volume questions some established dichotomies.

• Volume 1, Introduction: The Persian Period
• Published online: 28 March 2008 Print publication: 16 February 1984
• View description The first three volumes of The Cambridge History of Judaism cover the history of the Jews from the Exile in 587 BCE to the early Roman period extending into the third century CE. A comprehensive examination is made of all the relevant literary and archeological sources, and special attention is given to the interaction of Iranian, Semitic, Hellenistic and Roman cultures. The contributors include both Jewish and Gentile scholars from many countries, and this History thus helps to deliver the study of Jewish history and Christian origins from geographical and religious limitations, and contributes to a deeper understanding and a broader tolerance. This first volume opens with three introductory chapters to the work as a whole dealing with the geographical background, the chronology and the numismatic history of Judaism. The remainder of this volume concentrates on the Persian period, the two and a half centuries following the Babylonian Exile.

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Home — Essay Samples — Religion — Judaism — Judaism: History, Beliefs, and Religious Practices

Judaism: History, Beliefs, and Religious Practices

• Categories: Judaism

About this sample

Words: 675 |

Published: Dec 3, 2020

Words: 675 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Works Cited:

• Chaplin, M. (1985). 'Labour history on the high seas.' Journal of American History, 72(3), 573-577.
• Green, J. (2011). Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement and the Bombing that Divided Gilded Age America. Anchor.
• Labor Movement. (2015). In G. Riggs (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Social Welfare History in North America. Sage Publications.
• Remembering the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911. (2016). National Parks Service.
• Riggs, G. (2015). Labor Movement. In International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition) (pp. 702-707). Elsevier.
• Riggs, G. (2015). Working Conditions in Factories. In International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition) (pp. 1484-1487). Elsevier.
• Spalding, H. (2008). The labor movement and political change. The Forum, 6(1), 97-117.
• Streeck, W. (2014). Buying time: The delayed crisis of democratic capitalism. Verso Books.
• Zinn, H. (2015). A people's history of the United States. Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
• Zweig, M. (2019). The Working-Class Majority: America's Best Kept Secret. Cornell University Press.

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• On Conservative Judaism
• Community Learning
• Courses and Curricula

Conservative Judaism Today and Tomorrow By Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen

JTS is proud to present Conservative Judaism Today and Tomorrow , a collection of short essays by Chancellor Arnold M. Eisen—seventh chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary and one of the world’s foremost authorities on American Judaism—that explore essential matters of Jewish belief, practice, community, and identity from a Conservative perspective.

“Our hope is that the essays will assist the reader in deciding where to stand on essential matters of Jewish belief and practice, and will help teachers charged with transmitting Jewish learning truthfully and passionately to perform that important task.” —Arnold M. Eisen, Chancellor, JTS

Costs and How to Order

• Hard copy: The collection is available in a beautifully designed print copy for $5; bulk pricing is available for communities.  Order here .
• E-book:  An Amazon e-book version is also available for $1.99. (Amazon’s Kindle eBooks can be read on any smartphone or tablet using a free Kindle app).  Order here.
• Spanish edition: Translations of the book and discussion questions are available as free PDFs. Download now. La traducción del libro y las preguntas de discusión está disponible gratis en formato PDF. Descarge ahora.

Short Videos and Curricular Resources

These materials are designed to be used in conjunction with the essays in the book.

Welcome and Introduction Learn more about Chancellor Eisen

Discuss ion Questions

Discussion Questions for Congregational Leadership

Address at the 2014 Rabbinical Assembly Convention

Discussion Questions

Peoplehood and Israel

Text Study by Rabbi Daniel S. Nevins

Tefillah and Synagogue

Jews and others.

Denominations in Judaism

Looking back, looking forward.

Acknowledgments: Core resources by Rabbi Nelly Altenburger

A Taste of What’s Inside

“The commitment that 21st-century Jews make to the life of mitzvah is decidedly countercultural. We moderns are raised to prize autonomy, resist authority, and jealously guard options. The very notion of commandment—let alone commandment from God—seems antithetical to personal freedom, an affront to self that many contemporary Americans approach warily . . . 

A great many Conservative Jews resolutely take the ‘leap of action’ to mitzvah despite cultural directions to the contrary . . . More than duty alone inspires Jews to make sacrifices on behalf of Israel or the Jewish education of their children. More than abstract obligation drives them to devote hours beyond number to service of synagogues, schools, Federations, or other causes. Belief in the Revelation at Sinai is also not what motivates most Jews, most of the time, to undertake these and other responsibilities. 

We do such things—and take on many of the mitzvot we perform—because we are grateful for the life that Torah makes possible, thankful that we have resources that we can share, pleased that we have the chance to give back to our community, loyal to the ways of parents or grandparents, in love with the life that Judaism makes possible . . . Some Jews act in obedience to God. Some heed conscience. Others believe that God speaks to them through conscience—or in the voice of the community . . . 

That is why commandment is not an adequate translation of mitzvah, any more than good deed captures the matter. Mitzvah means so much more than either of these. It is, like Torah itself, a pattern, an ennobling source of wholeness, a way.”

To learn more about bringing Conservative Judaism Today and Tomorrow to your community, contact [email protected].

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Erika Dreifus

Writer and resource maven, main navigation, search site, where to read (and publish) writing on jewish themes.

Home » Resources » Jewish Writing » Where to Read (and Publish) Writing on Jewish Themes

Links last checked: May 2024 .

Of course, it’s always possible to find Jewish-themed stories, poems, and essays published in a variety of “secular” or mainstream media. For more tips on that, please click here ; for some important caveats post-October 7, 2023 , click here.

But many magazines, journals, and websites specifically welcome and/or promote “Jewish” writing. (I also include here several Israel-based English-language publications, which are by no means limited to such writing, but encompass it.) This page provides you with links to some examples, representing a range of theological, political, and other orientations. As with every resource list, please be sure to familiarize yourself well with each offering to ensure that it’s a place where you feel you (and your work) belong.

Also: Listings appear here for informational purposes only; please do not interpret inclusion as an endorsement/recommendation.

Those of you who are familiar with my Practicing Writing blog and newsletter know that I tend to list only to publications/opportunities that will pay writers for their work. But in this case, because the pool is relatively small, I’m also including nonpaying publications. Similarly, although I normally share only those calls/outlets that don’t charge reading/submission fees, some of the venues listed below may be fee-charging.

As always, I welcome any “success stories” that may result for you from these tips.

(Important: In most cases, I have linked to the outlet’s main page. If you’re specifically seeking submission guidelines, look for tabs such as “Submissions” or “Write For Us”; sometimes, this information is tucked beneath a broader tab such as “About Us” or “Contact.”)

• 929 (for Tanakh-related work; contact Jeremy Benstein for guidelines)
• Amethyst Review (“new writing engaging with the sacred”)
• arc (from the Israel Association of Writers in English)
• CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly
• The Deronda Review
• Gashmius (“towards a progressive neo-Hasidism”)
• Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine
• Harvard Divinity Bulletin
• Halah (“an online magazine dedicated to showcasing Israeli literature in English”)
• The Ilanot Review
• Iron Words: Israel War Stories
• Jewish Action
• Jewish Disability Inclusion News
• JewishFiction.net
• Jewish Literary Journal
• Jewish Review of Books
• Jewish Women’s Archive
• Jewish Women of Words
• The Jewish Writing Project
• Kaleidoscope
• Lilith (“independent, Jewish & frankly feminist”)
• Moment (NB: Most Moment fiction appears to be published via this annual contest .)
• Paper Brigade (Jewish Book Council print journal)
• PB Daily (Jewish Book Council blog)
• Pensive (“a global journal of spirituality and the arts”)
• Tel Aviv Review of Books
• Tiferet (“an interfaith publication and community at the nexus of literature and spirituality”)
• Vita Poetica (“an arts and faith collective”)
• Voices Israel (anthology)
• Yad Mizrah (“devoted to promoting and celebrating Mizrahi and Sephardic literary culture and work”)
• Writing on the Wall
• Zineist (“the Zionist zine”)

NB: Although they may not necessarily publish poetry, fiction, or memoir, the American Jewish Press Association’s member publications also offer potential for Jewish writing and writers. Strategic Googling (“Jewish newspapers”) can also yield additional possibilities.

144 Judaism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best judaism topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ interesting topics to write about judaism, 📌 simple & easy judaism essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on judaism, ❓ research questions about judaism.

• Judaism Essay: Summary of Judaism, Its Origin and History The construction of the first great temple by Solomon made the Jews to focus the worship of God in the temple.
• Zoroastrianism and Judaism Comparison He was one of the first to tell people about hell and heaven, this world’s dark and light beginnings, and the Day of Judgment.
• Judaism, Islam and Christianity: Differences and Similarities Christians also believe in holy trinity, that is, the three personalities of God- the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit.
• Judaism and Taoism: Comparison and Contrast In accordance with the tradition of Judaism, the ‘will’ of God shapes the behavior of humans and was disclosed to Moses and the people of Israel at Mount Saini.
• Status of Women in Judaism To deeply understand the pertinent issues regarding the role of women in Judaism, it is critical to examine the underlying historical connotations that have played vital roles in enforcing the present state of affairs in […]
• ”The History of God” by Karen Armstrong: An Overview of the History of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism “The History of God” by Karen Armstrong is a comprehensive overview of the history of the development of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
• Judaism and Christianity: The Key Misconceptions The remainder of the primary beliefs includes the divine origin of the Torah, its immutability, God’s omniscience and providence, reward and punishment, the appearance of the Messiah, and the resurrection of the dead.
• Christianity and Judaism Doctrines Although the Jewish people believe in the commandments, their views on what God gave Moses and the extent of including modern religious concepts in their practices varies; hence the current splitting of the early Jewish […]
• Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam The three religions believe that, God’s communication to His people is made through prophets as illustrated in the holy books for the three religions, with Christianity, Judaism, and Islam believing in holy bible, Torah and […]
• The central beliefs of Judaism The history of Jewish community shows that, Judaism began in the Middle East and later spread to other parts of the world.
• Judaism’ Religion: History and Concept Therefore, the daily practice of the laws in the Torah is crucial to the Jewish religion. On the other hand, the Talmud is a compilation of the Mishnah and the Gemara.
• Judaism; The Covenant Between God and Israel However, the New Covenant with the new life in salvation has got its benefits which include perpetual peace, love and joy.”To know God in the present is to experience the life of the age to […]
• Comparing Judaism and Islam Most common to the practices and traditions of the two religions is the “aspects of ritual purity, the practice of fasting, and the presence of dietary laws”.
• Zoroastrianism Beliefs in Judaism and Christianity Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religious and spiritual teachings in the world which are based on the idea of dualism of two opposite forces of the Good and the Evil and on the concept […]
• History of Judaism Religion Judaism was the first religion to introduce monotheism and the existence of a Supreme God. Bottom-line is that they believe in the existence of a strong being.
• Second Temple Judaism: Scriptures and Stories The period in which Judaism flourished since the return of the Babylonian exiles and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem under Persian auspices is known as Second Temple Judaism.
• The Rise of Christianity Compared to Hellenistic Judaism The link between Christianity and Judaism can be traced back to the second temple of Judaism before the two split in the early years of the Christian movement.
• Miriam and Other Women in Judaism When the pharaoh’s chariots and horse riders went into the sea, God drowned all of them, but Israel was able to step on the dry land.
• The Vision of Messiah in Judaism It is believed that the Judaism of the Second Temple era is the Judaism of the scribes, as opposed to the early Judaism of priests and prophets.
• Rabbinic Judaism Overview Judaism preaches the adequacy of the human mind to the image of God, the consequence of which is the belief in the immortality of the human soul.
• Sacred Tales of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam In addition, all prophets carry the same message, since a miracle is intended to show people the power of the Lord and help them find faith in him. Although some details, such as the amount […]
• Islam and Judaism in Quran Sura 5 “The Table” It allows comparing and contrasting Islam and old Jewish traditions.”The Table” provides the reader with a detailed description of the two religions and highlights the major differences between them in different periods of their existence.
• The Role of the Rabbi in Judaism At the beginning of the 19th century, “the necessity and value of a well-rounded, general education has been recognized”, and the role of the rabbi was substantially revised.
• Judaism in the Middle East In the Middle East, Judaism is synonymous with the state of Israel. The distribution is explained by the unending conflict over between the Palestinians and the Jews over the former Palestine land.
• Judaism: Historical Context and Ffundamental Principles From then came the Exodus, the receipt of the Torah, fulfilling of the Covenant, the conquering of the promised land, Judges, the kingdom and its split in two, the exile in Babylon and the Jews […]
• Judaism as a Monotheistic Religion Judaism is an ethical monotheistic religion and the relation of Abraham to this definition will be explained. This paper has discussed why Judaism is a monotheistic religion and also explained the misconceptions.
• Roman Civilization, Christianity, and Judaism The growth and success of Christianity came from the conversion and patronage of Constantine. The early Christians of Rome were received with contempt and suspicion.
• Judaism: Religious Beliefs Evolution Judaism is the religious beliefs and the way of life of the Jews, that started as the faith of the early Hebrews.
• Judaism, Christianity and Islam as a Single System Starting with the main feature, which is the base for all three religions, which are discussed and that adds to the idea that they are a system, is that Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are monotheistic […]
• Christianity and Judaism Comparison Many of the actions of his life are traced back to Old Testament prophecies such as in John 6: 4, 11-14 in which Jesus performs the miracle of multiplying the loaves on the eve of […]
• Wisdom in Judaism and Confucianism Judaism is a religion based on the relationship between God and man and to the Jewish wisdom means having insightful knowledge of the relationship between oneself and God.
• Judaism Religion Through the History According to the book of Exodus in the Old Testament, Moses successfully led the Jewish people from the cruel hands of Pharaoh and was to lead them to the Promised Land. Christianity is an evangelistic […]
• World Religions: Judaism, Shintoism, and Islam Judaism is the religion of the Jews who believe that the world and all the things in it were created by a single divine God to fulfill certain divine meaning and purposes.
• Features of Judaism and Relation to the Christianity In the beginning, this belief in the divinity and messiah-hood of Jesus was all that separated the Jews from the Christians.
• Judaism as an American Religion This is in terms of the social changes and the different perceptions that people are developing in a world that is changing on a day to day basis.
• Judaism in Canaan History God is conceived of as immortal and eternal, the creator of the universe, and the resource of morality. In the Jewish faith the exodus which is the emigration of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, […]
• Judaism: What Makes Someone Jewish? According to traditional Jewish belief, the God who created the world established a covenant with the Israelites and revealed His laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai in the form of Torah and the […]
• Religions: Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam In the Bhagavad Gita, three yogas, or paths to liberation, are outlined: jnana yoga, which liberates one via knowledge; karma yoga, which liberates one via actions; and bhakti yoga, which liberates one via devotion.
• Judaism as the Oldest Monotheistic Religion Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world. According to Hannabuss, whereas Judaism is connected with the rabbis of the second century, many historians believe that Hillel, a Pharisee, was the real founder.
• Religious Rituals in Judaism and Buddhism This whole process causes the religious follower to learn that the sacred or the spiritual is a vital part of the human world.
• Moses Comparison in Christianity, Judaism and Islam The study is aimed at comparing the way in which the figure of Moses is represented in all three religions, with the further analysis of the three interpretations and the discussion of the study implications […]
• Judaism, Its Religious Beliefs and Prosecution According to the monotheistic religion of the Jews, there is one God in the world Whose Law is to be observed by humanity. In our days, Judaism is considered to be one of the strongest […]
• Judaism: Characteristics of Religion Characteristics Religion Judaism Sources Origin of All Things God is a single creator of the world. That is why, God is discussed as the “cause of all existent things” in the world (Fisher, 2014, p. 278). There is the Creation Story, according to which the world was created during six days, and God decided to […]
• The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam book by Karen Armstrong, is one of the most attractive, readable, and concise books on the emergence of fundamentalism in the three faiths.
• Religious Comparisons: Judaism, Christianity and Islam The three “Abrahamic religions” are some of the largest and oldest religious groups in the history of mankind. However, although Christianity is a monotheist religion, God is considered to exist in form of “the Holy […]
• Hinduism and Judaism’ Religions: Practices and Rituals Practices and rituals signify the activities that the followers of a religion are required to engage in. Practices and rituals are the physical manifestations of the activities of religion.
• The Inclusion of Islam, Christianity and Judaism in Politics Christians have changed their belief about the government, and they now want to be involved in the mainstream politics of the countries to help refine the politics that is practiced.
• Religious Communities Respond to Contemporary Issues; Judaism and Christianity Over the years, the human societies have changed dramatically; from the way they dress, talk and believe. Presbyterians and Methodists have not resolved on where they stand, but there seem to be some division between […]
• Faith and the Future: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Jews can gloat and say that they are the chosen people but this is not a wise decision to make because they will be threatened on all side and in fact since two thousand years […]
• Christianity, Islam, and Judaism Perspectives on God One of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith is its focus on the holy trinity which is composed of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit each aspect, while separate, […]
• Agnon: Judaism through Metaphors At the start of the story “Agunot”, Agnon employs the styles of symbolism and metaphor that act as a foundation of the ensuing plot.
• Compare and Contrast Mordecai Kaplan’s Judaism as a Civilization and Abraham Joshua Heschel’s the Sabbath Mordecai Kaplan’s Judaism as a Civilization focuses on the reconstruction of the American-Jewish life that would help the Jewish to change their traditional way of life through incorporations of the modern way of life, philosophy, […]
• The History of Judaism and Hinduism This essay aims at providing a brief history of Judaism as well as Hinduism in an attempt to provide a better understanding of the similarities and differences of the two religions from their places of […]
• Abrahamic Religions: Islam and Judaism According to the Islam religion, the testimony of faith is considered the most important among the five pillars because of the profession.
• Christianity Versus Judaism It is also notable that most of the differences between the two regions are based from the fact that Christianity incorporates the New Testament as part of the holy scriptures of God.
• The Similarities Between Christianity and Judaism Rituals
• Subordination of Women to Men in Islam Judaism and Christianity
• The Substantial and Vital Distinction Between Judaism and Christianity
• The Influence of Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism on the Areas Surrounding Arabia
• Understanding the Relation Between Judaism and Christianity
• Understanding Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism
• The Concept of Personhood (Being a Good Person) in Relation to Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• The Israeli Palestinian Conflict Between Islam and Judaism
• The Relationship Between Judaism and Christianity
• The History and Importance of Sabbath in the Judaism Religion
• The Changes That Came with the Reforms of Judaism in the 19th Century
• The Ways Judaism Gives Depth and Meaning to the Life of the Jewish Community
• The Kingdom of God Genuinely Means – Bible, Christianity, Judaism
• The Holocaust and Its Impact Upon Jews and Judaism in the Twentieth Century
• The Past Present and Ideal Future of Conservative Judaism
• The Importance of Symbols, Artifacts, and Architecture in the Religion of Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism
• The Spreading of Belief and Religion: Judaism
• The Treatment of Christian, Judaism, and Islam Women
• The Concept of Blood Atonement Behind Judaism and Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints
• The Close Relations Between Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• The Significance of The Enlightenment and Modern Judaism
• Women in Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam
• The Development of Ideals of Homosexuality in the Four Major Modern Branches of Judaism
• Three Western Religions and Their View on Women: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• The Function of the Messiah in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• The Development and Struggles of Judaism Throughout History
• The Holocaust: Anti Judaism Vs. Modern Antisemitism
• Women’s Role Relevant to Western Religious Traditions Such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• The Similarities and Differences Between Judaism, Christianity and Islam
• The Impact of Judaism on the Jews and Judaism in the 20th Century
• The Principles of the Jewish Religion and the Judaism as the Main Concept
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• The Creation in the Sacred Texts of Christianity, Judaism and Islam
• The Intertestamental Period: The Jewish Backgrounds and Interactions of Early Christianity with Judaism
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• The Beliefs in the Religions of Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism
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• Why Did Christianity During Its Rise Appeal to the Romans More Rather Than Judaism?
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• How Might Traditional Views Toward Women in Judaism?
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• What Are the Basic Beliefs and Practices of Judaism, Christianity?
• How Economics Helped Shape American Judaism?
• How Important Were the Views on Money in Ancient Judaism in Opposition to Rome?
• How Does Judaism Achieve Peace and Inter-Faith Understanding?
• What Are Theological Questions Relevant to the Study of Judaism Raised by the Holocaust?
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• Christianity Research Topics Topics: 470
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130 Judaism Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on judaism, 👍 good judaism research topics & essay examples, ✍️ judaism essay topics for college, 🎓 most interesting judaism research titles, 💡 simple judaism essay ideas, ❓ research questions about judaism.

• The Positive and Negative Aspects of Judaism
• Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Comparative Analysis
• Judaism and Buddhism: Similarities and Differences
• Christianity, Islam and Judaism Similarities
• Comparing of Judaism and Taoism
• The Role of Women in Judaism
• Afterlife in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Theological Challenges Between Judaism and Christianity Judaism originated from the covenantal relationship between the Jews and God. Christianity emerged from Judaism, and both faiths believe that God is the creator of the universe.
• Hinduism Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: Comparison This paper compares Hinduism on the one part, and Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on the other part based on the existent points commonality in the Abrahamic religions.
• Historical Origin of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam The world’s three major religions grew from the same historical rootstock. This paper will focus on the historical heritage of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Comparison of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam The principles and stories of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism demonstrate that these religions have many common features that should unite people.
• Comparing Judaism and Islam Two major religions in the world captured the imagination of many. It is Judaism and Islam, both springing up from the same region – Palestine.
• Judaism and Christianity Comparison Judaism and Christianity grew at the same time, they had the same conditions, which predetermine some common features. But they have a different understanding of the world.
• Second Temple Judaism: Contradictions and Unity The Second Temple Period of the Jewish history is characterized by three major crises the Jewish people struggled.
• Judaism, Its Tradition and Artifacts Talking about Judaism, practicing Jews mean the Jewish tradition. This paper is dedicated to learning some principles of the Jewish tradition and its artifacts.
• Moses Mendelssohn and Saul Ascher on Judaism Regardless of Mendelssohn’s attempts to build the bridge between Christianity and Judaism, attacks against the latter were a common subject of religious thinking.
• Abrahamic Religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the origins and similarities of the three Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• Sabbat: The Most Valuable Day of the Week in Judaism Sabbat is the most valuable day of the week in Judaism. This day provides individuals with the opportunity to rethink what happened.
• Cultural Similarities and Differences Between Islam and Judaism The paper states that such faiths as Islam and Judaism contain many contradicting factors: from symbolic to gender and sexual equality.
• Bar Mitzvah: The Ritual of Judaism Bar mitzvah is a ritual in Judaism which determines coming of age. This ritual has a special meaning for Jewish people, as it denotes religious upbringing in adolescents.
• Pharisees and Sadducees in Judaism Pharisees and Sadducees believed in the oral law, which has fully maintained most of the changes before or after life exist as people were wicked.
• Conversion of Klemperer to Judaism Klemperer’s diary is one of the most important accounts of German life during the Nazi period. It provides a vivid account of daily life in Nazi Germany.
• “Chosenness” in Judaism Religion In the religion of Judaism, there is a concept of “chosenness” – the belief that Jewish people are chosen to be the only nation worthy of being in a covenant with God.
• Researching of Religion: Judaism One of the advantages of Judaism is the concept of linear time, which rejects the idea of cyclical time and emphasizes the irreversible nature of time.
• Islam, Christianity, and Judaism – Similar or Not? The question of the relationship between Islam, Christianity, and Judaism is one of the most sensitive aspects of interreligious relations in modern society.
• Judaism and Christianity: History and Population A dedicated analysis is needed to determine why Christianity currently has billions of adherents while Judaism remains the religion of just one nation.
• Abraham in the Old Testament and Early Judaism From the biblical story of Abraham, we can glean a lot from his character. Abraham is considered the father of faith because he trusted God to move to a place he never knew about.
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam The Abrahamic religions are the most popular in the world. Judaism, Christianity and Islam are the three most famous of them.
• Egyptian Religion, Judaism, and Taoism: Comparative Analysis The review of the history of the Egyptian religion, Taoism, and Judaism showed that they still have some common elements despite being different in their origins and intentions.
• Women’s Rights from Islamic and Judaism Perspectives The Islamic and Judaism perspectives on women’s rights are often used as a tool to deny women equal rights and perpetuate gender discrimination.
• Sacred Time or Sacred Place in Judaism In terms of role and influence, Sacred time is a more significant factor in determining the importance of Judaism and the impacts of its core tenets on people’s lives.
• Judaism in Introducing “World Religions: a Christian Engagement” Like other religions, some aspects of Judaism are different from their original. Followers of this religion are not centered only in Israel but are spread worldwide.
• Interfaith Project: Conservative Judaism Interview The religion of Judaism envelopes several branches that are distinct from each other, focusing on traditional, orthodox, reformative, and other elements of this belief system.
• Christianity vs. Judaism: A Medieval Conflict This paper aims to compare the history, concepts, and influence of Christianity and Judaism and discuss the Medieval conflict that appeared between them.
• The Sources and Causes of Suffering in Judaism Different religions have a distinct way of perceiving the sources and causes of suffering. In Judaism, the view of sorrow is that it is merely a characteristic of physical existence.
• Zionism: The Evolution of Judaism In this paper I will give a definition of Zionism, a brief history of the Jewish people and explain the two stages that the Jews had to go through before they returned to Israel.
• Comparing Islam, Christianity, and Judaism Religions This research paper will compare and contrast Christianity, Islam, and Judaism in terms of origination, foundation, beliefs, rituals, and major prophets.
• Judaism’s Impact on Jewish Art and Early Christianity Judaism is the most ancient monotheistic religious observance, it is viewed as a way of life as well as the religion of Jews.
• Critical Analysis of Judaism From an Interview With a Jew This paper contains a critical analysis of Judaism as established from an interview with a Jew at the at the Beth-el temple in Birmingham Alabama.
• Religions: Zoroastrianism and Judaism The religion Zoroastrianism has been named after the Prophet Zoroaster. He brought religion in the region and is analogous to Mazdaism.
• Judaism, Christianity, Islam as World Religions Judaism, Christianity, and Islam can be called world religions, which is contrary to specific national religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism have an international character.
• Sabbath in the Judaism Culture This paper answers the questions related to the Sabbath, such as when does it begin and end, the role of food on the Sabbath, prohibited activities in the Sabbath, and others.
• Judaism and Christianity as Revelational Religions The characteristic of Judaism and Christianity as revelational religions is attributed to the German writer and translator Saul Ascher.
• Judaism in Steinheim’s and Luzzatto’s Perceptions Regardless of focusing on different aspects of religion, both Luzzatto and Steinheim shared some similarities in their perception of Judaism.
• Judaism and Christianity: Revelational or Worshipful? Ascher suggests that Judaism and Christianity may be regarded as revealed religions. Formstecher thinks that Christianity and Judaism can be viewed as forms of spiritual worship.
• Judaism and the Roots of Western Religion
• Sex and Religion According to Judaism
• The Conservative Movement and Judaism
• Christianity and Judaism Development Influenced by Zoroastrianism
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam Religions Overview
• Women, Judaism and Anti-Semitism
• Comparing Islam and Judaism’s Views on Euthanasia
• The Abrahamic Religions and Judaism
• The Holocaust and Its Impact Upon Jews and Judaism in the Twentieth Century
• Sigmund Freud and Judaism
• Religious Specialists and Ritualism of Judaism
• Jewish Interfaith Marriages and Its Possible Impact on Judaism
• Judaism and Ancient Egyptian Religion
• Israel and Palestine Conflict Between Judaism and Islam
• Jehovah’s Witness, Mormonism, Judaism, and Islam
• Judaism: Its Identity and Position in Society
• Holocaust: Judaism and Eastern European Jews
• Judaism Life Cycle Outline
• Comparing Judaism and Chinese Religions
• Judaism: Myths and Misconceptions
• Israel’s Prophets and Preserving Judaism During Exile
• Judaism and the Treatment of Women
• God and Abortion From the Judaism Point of View
• The Funeral and Mourning Rituals of Judaism
• Religious Terms for Judaism, Mormonism, and Catholicism
• Sanctity and Stewardship: Judaism, Hinduism and the Catechism of Ecological Preservation
• Contemporary Catholicism and Judaism
• Judaism, Religion, and Traditionndigenous Religion
• Pre Spanish Inquisition Catholicism and Judaism
• Orthodox Judaism and Religious Beliefs
• Resolving the Conflict Between Science and Religion: The Reform of Judaism and Science
• Judaism, Christianity, and Islam: The Three Oldest Religions Are Based on Faith and Commitment
• Positive Psychology and Judaism
• Continuity Between Judaism and Christianity
• Ancient Polytheistic Religion Compared to Judaism
• Conservative Judaism: Inception, History, and Way of Life
• Judaism: History, Development, and Strains
• Comparing Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
• The Core Ethical Teachings of Judaism
• Exodus and the Relationship Between Christianity and Judaism
• Judaism: Historical Development, Rituals, and Issues
• Ancient Near Eastern Influence on Judaism
• The Principle Teachings About Peace in Judaism and Christianity
• Ritual and Religious Understanding of Food in Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity
• The Common Myths About Kabbalah, a School of Thought in Judaism
• Judaism, Christianity, and Ious Tradition Terms
• The Changes That Came With the Reforms of Judaism in the 19th Century
• Judaism and Important Theological Themes
• Jewish Emancipation and Reform Judaism
• Impossible Syncretization: Confucianism and Judaism
• The Place and Time of Origin of Judaism
• Judaism and the Biblical Passage From the Hebrew Bible
• Judaism, Christianity, Religious Misinterpretation, and Environmental Problems
• Sigmund Freud’s Theories and the Influence of Judaism
• Judaism: Three Main Types of Jewish People
• The Past Present and Ideal Future of Conservative Judaism
• Judaism and Western Civilization
• Interrelationships Between Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
• Ideal Behavior Between Daoism and Judaism
• Conservative Orthodox and Conservative Judaism
• What Theological Questions Relevant to the Study of Judaism Are Raised by the Holocaust?
• What Are the Core Ideas of Judaism?
• How Did Jesus Fit In to the World of Judaism in the Early First Century?
• What Is the Relation Between Judaism and Christianity?
• What Are the Place and Time of Origin of Judaism?
• What Are the Origins of Apocalypticism in Judaism and Christianity?
• What Is the the Basis for Proper Gender Relations Among Jews and in Judaism?
• What Are the Five Main Beliefs of Judaism?
• What Is the Connection Between the Abrahamic Religions and Judaism?
• Is the Arab Israeli Conflict Truely Conflict Between Islam and Judaism?
• What Is Judaism View on Women and Their Rights?
• What Are the Substaintial and Vital Differences Between Judaism and Buddhism?
• What Are the History, Faith, Philosophy and Way of Existence of Judaism?
• What Are the Attitudes Toward Judaism in Pagan and Christian Antiquity?
• What Are the Origins of Organized Charity in Rabbinic Judaism?
• What Is the Relationship Between Christian Origins and Hellenistic Judaism?
• What Are the Ways Judaism Gives Depth and Meaning to the Life?
• What Are the Patterns of Daily Prayer in Second Temple Period Judaism?
• What Are the Principle Teachings About Peace in Judaism and Christianity?
• Why Judaism Is Considered To Be the First Monotheistic Religion?
• What Is Special About the Funeral and Mourning Rituals of Judaism?
• What Are the Jewish Backgrounds and Interactions of Early Christianity With Judaism?
• How Has Judaism Influenced World History?
• How Did Judaism Spread Throughout the World?
• What Are the Four Central Teachings of Judaism?

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StudyCorgi . "130 Judaism Essay Topics." March 1, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/judaism-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2022. "130 Judaism Essay Topics." March 1, 2022. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/judaism-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Judaism were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on June 24, 2024 .