What are the key beliefs of Judaism?

Answer 1

Judaism holds that the Torah is eternal, including its laws as well as its ethics and beliefs. The rabbis never distinguished between moral/ethical and ritual commandments. Rabbinical Judaism, whose main record of tradition is contained in the Talmud, takes a unified view of the halakhic system, according to which no greater importance in principle is place on any one mitzvah(Torah-commandment) over another.

Answer 2

Though it may have an associated culture and one or more associated languages, the traditional definition of Judaism is the observance of the Torah, which is why dictionaries define Judaism as "the religion of Moses." In this sense, the word "Torah" is meant in its wider meaning, which includes the Tanakh, the Talmud, and other classical Jewish texts.

The philosophy of Judaism is that this world is a purposeful creation by God, in which all people are tested concerning their use of free-will. We possess a soul which lives on after the body dies and is held responsible for the person's actions. Anyone who is worthy, Jewish or not, can merit reward in the afterlife.

Some examples of the commands:

Belief in God

Putting on Tefillin (phylacteries) in the morning

The sukkah-booth during Sukkot

Avoiding leavened products in Passover

Keeping kosher

Not eating on Yom Kippur

Not working on the Shabbat

Paying workers on time

Marital rights for one's wife

The Ten Commandments

Helping someone who is in danger

Counting the days of the Omer

Returning lost objects when feasible

Wearing the tzitzith-garment

Affixing a mezuzah to the door

Learning Torah

Marrying and having children

Educating one's children in Judaism

Giving tzedakah (charity)

Honoring one's parents

And many more.

The laws have various reasons. Some (such as the Passover) serve to reenact or remember events of our history.

Some (such as saying the Shema-prayer) serve to reiterate our belief in God.

Some of the laws (such as those of ritual purity and kosher food) serve to sanctify us.

Some (such as the laws of torts) serve to maintain an orderly and just society.

Some (such as the law against breaking a vow) serve to prevent bad character traits.

Some (such as the command to offer help) serve to engender good character traits.

And all of the commands serve to subjugate us to God's will (especially those commands for which no explanation is easily apparent).

Note that the Torah "as is" isn't exactly what Judaism observes. Rather, It's the Torah together with the details provided in the Talmud, which is the Oral Law that was handed down together with the laws of Moses. Otherwise, the verses of the Torah often lack enough detail to be fulfilled as is.

Answer 3

All the hundreds of mitzvoth (commands), principles and beliefs of the Torah.

Though it may have an associated culture and one or more associated languages, the traditional definition of Judaism is the observance of the Torah, which is why dictionaries define Judaism as "the religion of Moses." In this sense, the word "Torah" is meant in its wider meaning, which includes the Tanakh, the Talmud, and other classical Jewish texts.

The philosophy of Judaism is that this world is a purposeful creation by God, in which all people are tested concerning their use of free-will. We possess a soul which lives on after the body dies and is held responsible for the person's actions. Anyone who is worthy, Jewish or not, can merit reward in the afterlife.
For fuller detail, see:The basic beliefs of Judaism

The practices of Judaism

The principles of Judaism

The ethics of Judaism

How Judaism began

Answer 4

• Relative importance of Torah-Commands: Judaism holds that the Torah is eternal, including its laws, its ethics and its beliefs. The rabbis treated moral/ethical and ritual commandments with equal respect. Rabbinical Judaism, whose main record of tradition is contained in the Talmud, takes a unified view of the halakhic (Torah-law) system, according to which no greater intrinsic importance is place on any one mitzvah (Torah-commandment) over another.

Link: The Talmud

• How is the Torah interpreted? The legal methodology of Midrash Halakha, whereby the rabbis have ruled upon new questions basing themselves on Torah-verses and ancient precedents, is based on thirteen rules of scriptural interpretation (these can be found in the Hebrew prayerbook, right before the Baruch She'amar prayer in the morning service). As a consequence, halakha (law) derives from an ongoing process of Biblical exegesis that is tempered by previous accepted practice.

• The authority of Halakha: In Jewish tradition there is no independent source outside of the halakha (the laws of the Torah). Though many explanations may be given concerning each mitzva (command), at the fundamental level the laws of the Torah should be obeyed because they reflect the will of God (Talmud, Berakhot 33b).

Link: The Torah

• The scholarly approach to halakha begins, of course, with the words of the Torah itself, which contains (for example) prohibitions against killing, injuring, endangering, causing monetary or property damages, stealing, slandering, coveting, adultery, cruelty to animals, and interfering with nature's course. The Torah also includes the positive injunctions to love God, love the stranger, love your fellow as yourself, pursue justice, feed and clothe the needy, practice kindness, etc. Such Biblical principles led the Prophets and the rabbis to an overarching affirmation of the sanctity and dignity of human life, the respect for and kindness to all of God's creatures, and a general deference to natural law as a reflection of the Divine plan.

• Torah-ethics in practice: Orthodox ethicists rely on rabbinic legal precedent as the authoritative source for deciding controversial moral and ethical questions. For one example, when discussing organ transplants, Jewish ethicists do not refer to theological questions about the nature of the human soul, body or organs. Rather they turn to rabbinic codes and responsa that discuss, in a legal and medically practical vein, issues of endangering or preserving life. In such cases, Judaism is not as concerned with theology, as it is with the pragmatic questions of how to fulfill the laws of God, including areas of belief, morals and faith, as well as the day-to-day commands.

See also the other Related Links.

Link: Jewish ethics

Link: Jewish beliefs

Answer 5

All the hundreds of mitzvoth (commands), principles and beliefs of the Torah.

Though it may have an associated culture and one or more associated languages, the traditional definition of Judaism is the observance of the Torah, which is why dictionaries define Judaism as "the religion of Moses." In this sense, the word "Torah" is meant in its wider meaning, which includes the Tanakh, the Talmud, and other classical Jewish texts.
The philosophy of Judaism is that this world is a purposeful creation by God, in which all people are tested concerning their use of free-will. We possess a soul which lives on after the body dies and is held responsible for the person's actions. Anyone who is worthy, Jewish or not, can merit reward in the afterlife.
For fuller detail, see the Related Links.Link: The basic beliefs of Judaism

Link: The practices of Judaism

Link: The principles of Judaism

Link: The ethics of Judaism

Link: How Judaism began

Link: The texts of Judaism

Answer 6

go to this website.

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Jewish_principles_of_faith/id/1895656

Answer 7

The key principle of Judaism is to bring justice into the world.

Answer 8

That God exists and is one, and God gave the Torah and inspired the prophets.

Answer 9

Judaism is more centered on action than on belief, but this question has been asked frequently enough that, in the 12th century, Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (Maimonides) came up with this list of core beliefs:

1. God exists, and is the Creator

2. God is One and unique

3. God is not physical

4. God is eternal

5. Prayer is to be directed only to God

6. The words of the prophets are true

7. The prophecies of Moses are true; he was the greatest prophet

8. The Torah was given to Moses

9. There will be no other Torah

10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of all

11. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked

12. The Messiah will come

13. The dead will be resurrected