The main beliefs of Judaism are:
Awareness of the existence of the soul, and free-will and responsibility.
Here are some of the most basic beliefs of Judaism, as codified by Maimonides:
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
They strongly believe in one God (monotheism). They believe in the scriptures of the Tanakh (Jewish Bible or Christian Old Testament). All the laws and stories they believe in are in the Jewish Bible. They also do not believe that Jesus is the foretold Messiah, but they do accept his role in the Jewish community as a "radical" rabbi.
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.
Here is a list of the most basic beliefs of Judaism, as collated by Maimonides:
1. God exists, and is the Creator.
This tells us that the world is not purposeless or chaotic. Life is the result of a deliberate, purposeful, intelligent and kind Creator; not a melancholy chaos or a string of fortuitous accidents.
2. God is One and unique.
This is the basis of all Western monotheistic belief, which was given to the world by Abraham and his descendants. This belief places God at the center of reality and of our world-outlook and thoughts.
3. God is not physical.
This includes the corollary that no person should be worshiped as God or as a god. Judaism has no god-kings, no demigods, no angel who flouts God's will, and no sports-idols, movie-idols etc.
4. God is eternal.
This includes the belief that God's ways are also eternal. God is not capricious, forgetful or fickle. Investing in a relationship with God is the only thing that will bear eternal benefits.
5. Prayer is to be directed only to God.
This also teaches us that no person, government or institution is to be accorded blind trust. We pray directly to God, three times a day; and we recount our shortcomings, ask for our needs, and acknowledge our successes with happy thanks.
6. The words of the prophets are true.
8. The Torah was given to Moses by God.
These two beliefs are the basis of our attitude towards the Torah: it is the center of our lives. Jews are keeping mitzvot (commands), saying blessings, praying, learning Torah and doing acts of kindness and charity all the time. The Torah is the single greatest thing that a Jew has; given to us to provide knowledge, guidance, inspiration, awe and reverence, advice, law, comfort, history and more. It is the basis of Judaism.
9. There will be no other Torah.
We Jews have been around for 3800 years. New fads, manifestos, beliefs or lifestyles which rear their heads are met by the Jew with a calm, seasoned eye and the proverbial grain of salt. The Torah doesn't change; and every new thing can be measured against the Torah's standards.
10. God knows the thoughts and deeds of all.
11. God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.
These two beliefs provide a vast incentive towards righteousness and, when needed, repentance.
They also form part of the basis of our belief in the afterlife, since this entire world wouldn't be enough to reward a Moses or punish a Hitler.
God is just (Deuteronomy 32:4); and all outstanding accounts are settled after this life.
12. The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will be resurrected.
Judaism is the only ancient religion which taught optimism; and a large part of that optimism was and is based upon the words of the prophets.
Israel. That's it.
Belief in One God Belief in the Torah Awareness of the existence of the soul and its responsibility to God
Belief in the Torah.
Belief in God and the Torah.
A belief in Judaism is a belief in only one G-d. It is based on the laws of the Torah (5 books of Moses), and a belief that the Messiah is yet to come.
HaShem, The Creator, is the centre of Judaism.
Belief in the One God, and keeping the laws of the Torah. See also:Beliefs of Judaism
Belief in the God-given Torah.
Different Jews will give different opinions on what the main principle of Judaism is.Here are some principles that usually get labeled "the main idea":belief in one Godloving othersrepairing the world (tikkun olam)social justicebeing holy
Judaism
If it's in the Torah, it's basic to Judaism.
Judaism was the only belief that abhorred idolatry.