Judaism

Judaism is an ancient monotheistic religion and an ethnoreligious group.

This means it combines a shared faith with a shared cultural and ethnic identity. Many religious Jews view their life as a way to observe a Mosaic covenant. This covenant is a sacred agreement believed to exist between God and the Jewish people. Judaism is considered one of the earliest monotheistic religions in human history. It has deeply influenced other major Abrahamic religions, such as Christianity and Islam.

The religion is built upon a complex body of texts and traditions. The core of these writings is the Hebrew Bible, also called the Tanakh. This name is an acronym for its three main sections: the Torah, the Nevi'im, and the Ketuvim. The Torah refers to the first five books of Moses and also means "teaching." The Nevi'im consists of historical narratives and prophetic writings. The Ketuvim includes diverse works like poetry, prose, and philosophy, such as the Psalms.

Beyond the written word, Judaism includes the Oral Torah. This tradition consists of teachings that were originally passed down by speech. To prevent these details from being lost, they were eventually written down. The Mishnah is a key part of this, compiled by Judah ha-Nasi around 200 CE. The Talmud is a larger compilation that combines the Mishnah with the Gemara. The Gemara contains rabbinic commentaries and analysis. Two major versions exist: the Jerusalem Talmud and the Babylonian Talmud.

Jewish law is known as Halakha, which means "the Way." This legal system guides many aspects of daily life and religious practice. Historically, rabbinical courts called batei din enforced these laws. Today, while these courts still exist, Jewish practice is mostly voluntary. Authority is not held by a single leader. Instead, it rests in the sacred texts and the scholars who interpret them. These scholars, or rabbis, provide guidance on theological and legal matters.

History shows that Judaism has many different branches today. These movements often differ in their approach to Halakha and rabbinic authority. Orthodox Judaism is the most traditional branch. Followers believe the Torah and Halakha are divine, eternal, and unalterable. Conservative Judaism is more liberal but often maintains a traditionalist interpretation. Reform Judaism is even more liberal. In Reform Judaism, Halakha is often viewed as a set of general guidelines rather than strict obligations.

The history of the Jewish people includes many significant eras. According to the Hebrew Bible, the United Kingdom of Israel was ruled by kings like David and Solomon. Their capital was Jerusalem. Later, the nation split into the Kingdom of Israel in the north and the Kingdom of Judah in the south.

The northern kingdom was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire around 720 BCE. The southern kingdom of Judah was conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire in 586–87 BCE. This led to the Babylonian captivity, which was the first Jewish diaspora.

In the modern era, the Jewish population is estimated at 14.8 million people as of 2025.

People identify as Jewish through birth or through conversion. Religious observance can vary widely from very strict to non-existent. The term "Judaism" itself has a long history. It comes from the Latinized Greek word "Ioudaismos." In ancient times, it meant forming part of a specific cultural entity. This identity was often defined in contrast to Hellenistic culture. Today, Judaism remains a vital part of global culture and history.