How to Understand Judaism

Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world and many of the ideas in the Christian and Muslim religions come from Judaism. Jesus was Jewish and was a rabbi during his life time. It is amazing how similar these three religions have been yet in the context of history and still today there is racism and hatred that still exists.

In Judaism, people believe in the existance on one god. There are three main sects of Judaism: Othodxy, Conservative and Reform. Reform Jewish people incorporate many modern American ideals into Judaism such as an organ playing in the background and the sanctioning of mixed marriages without conversion.

Conservative Jews are in the middle of the spectrum. Conservatives believe in going to temple to pray often and observance of the holidays and customs of Jewish law such as keeping kosher. A person who keeps kosher cannot eat meat and milk products at the same meal and cannot eat a variety of seafood and some meats.

Finally, orthodox Jews pray every day, observe all holidays and live their lives fully according to Jewish law.

Jewish people believe in the Ten Commandments which people are to live their lives by. These ten laws were written on stone tablets by Moses when the Jewish people came out of the dessert after spending 200 years under slavery under the Pharoh of Egypt. This commemeration is marked by the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Other Jewish holidays include Purim which is similar to the American holiday of Holloween. On Purim people remember how the Jewish people were saved from being executed in the Middle East in ancient times. Another important Holiday is Israeli Independence day. Independence of Israel was achieved by a short war against its Arab enemies who attacked Israel. Finally, on one day during the year Jewish people mourn the death of the 6 million Jews who died during the Holocuast.

Judaism has a variety of customs and traditions. Most people pray and go to temple on Friday and Saturday mornings. A special sabbath dinner is held Friday night. Wine or grape juice is served along with Hallah which is a type of bread. Blessings are said over these two items and prayer is recited, thanking god for the food.