What are the leaders of judaism?

Answer 1

God

Abraham

Moses

David

According to Genesis 29:35, Leah gave birth to Judah at about 1750 BCE. His father Jacob was the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham. This was the beginning of all twelve Israeli tribes, Judah being one of them.

Genesis chapter 49 tells of a gathering of the twelve to their dying father Jacob, also called Israel (meaning: God's rule), to hear his pronouncements of their futures. Jacob tells Judah that his tribe will be the greatest, and will be lawgivers.

As to important leaders, if Judah, Jacob, Isaac and Abraham are historically too early for your purposes, Numbers chapter 1 has Moses calling upon the heads of house of every tribe to bring forth men, twenty years of age and upward as able to prepare for war. Representing Judah is Nahshon the son of Amminadab. Then in Numbers chapter 13 tribal heads or rulers were sent to scout the land of Canaan. Representing Judah is Caleb the son of Jephunneh. Numbers chapter 34 has Caleb representing Judah in dividing up the land of Canaan, now Israel, for the tribes. Joshua chapter 15 describes the land Caleb got for Judah. I Chronicles chapter 2 has too much tribal family information to digest here, but interestingly it tells of Judah's firstborn son being killed by God because he was evil.

GOD is their important leader.

Answer 2

Answer 1

Judaism isn't a centralised religion with a single leader. For the most part, Rabbis serve as community leaders on a religious basis.

Answer 2

Strictly speaking, no one. We do not have a Pope, like Catholics, or a living Prophet, like Mormons. We have no centralized authority at all. Each rabbi is an entity unto him or herself who was educated and trained for the position, but doesn't answer to anyone in particular.

Answer 3

Jews have had many leaders in their 4000 year history, but there hasn't been one single human rule of Judaism since Biblical times. The Jewish religion is not an organized religion in that sense. Every syngagogue is autonomous.

Answer 4

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel are called the Patriarchs, the ancestors of the people whom God promised to make as "numerous as the stars" and allegedly promised the land of Canaan to.

Judah, the son of Jacob, was the ancestor of the people who now identify as Jewish. Of the twelve tribes of Israel, the Judaic kingdom continued separately from the rest of Israel.

Moses allegedly received the Law from God and helped found the religion we now know as Judaism.

Answer 5

Abraham and Moses. Abraham, according to our traditions, was the founder of Judaism. 500 years later, Moses received the Torah from God, which is the written record of Jewish laws, history and beliefs.

The tradition of the Jewish people, and the Torah Sages and Talmud, is that Abraham founded Judaism. He lived 3800 years ago. This tradition is implicit in many passages in the prophets (e.g. Isaiah 41:8) and the Talmud (e.g. Yoma 28b) and is borne out by a reading of Genesis.

God calls himself "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" eighteen times in the Torah, and that is how we address Him every day in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer.

However, Abraham and his descendants observed their traditions voluntarily, until the Giving of the Torah to Moses 3325 years ago, when God made it obligatory.

Abraham (18th century BCE) came from ancestry that had been God-fearing a couple of centuries earlier but had afterwards slipped into idolatry (Joshua 24:2). Nimrod, the idolatrous tyrant, had brought Abraham's father (Terah) from the Semitic ancestral seat near the conjunction of the Balikh and the Euphrates, and instated him in a position of power in his army in the royal Babylonian city of Ur, where Abraham was born. Nimrod persecuted any who would question his idolatrous cult.

The Kuzari (Rabbi Judah HaLevi, 1075-1141) states that Abraham was gifted with high intelligence; and, as Maimonides (1135-1204) describes, Abraham didn't blindly accept the ubiquitous idolatry. The whole populace had been duped, but the young Abraham contemplated the matter relentlessly, finally arriving at the conclusion that there is One God and that this should be taught to others as well. This is what is meant by his "calling out in the name of the Lord" (Genesis ch.12). As a young man, he remonstrated with passersby in public, demonstrating to them the falsehood of their idols; and our tradition tells how he was threatened and endangered by Nimrod.

Subsequently, Terah relocated to Harran; and it is here that Abraham began to develop a circle of disciples (Rashi commentary, on Genesis 12:5).

Later, God told Abraham in prophecy to move to the Holy Land, which is where Abraham raised his family.

He continued his contemplations, eventually arriving at the attitudes and forms of behavior which God later incorporated into the Torah given to Moses. Abraham taught disciples (Talmud, Yoma 28b), gave tithes (Genesis ch.14), strove to raise a family (Genesis ch.15, 17, and 24) which would serve God (Genesis 18:19), made a covenant with God (Genesis ch.15 and 17), welcomed guests into his home (Genesis ch.18) unlike the inhospitable Sodomites (Genesis ch.19), prayed for people (Genesis ch.18), rebuked others when necessary (Genesis ch.20), eulogized and buried the deceased (Genesis ch.23), and fulfilled God's will unquestioningly (Genesis ch.22). He became renowned as a prince of God (Genesis 23:6).

It is therefore clear why God expresses His love for Abraham (Isaiah 41:8) and calls Himself the God of Abraham (Genesis 26:24), and says that Abraham obeyed Him fully (Genesis 26:5). And this is why, according to our tradition, Abraham is credited with having begun the religion which became known as Judaism.

Answer 6

According to tradition, Abraham founded Judaism, and Moses later received the Torah from God.

Abraham, tenth generation descendant of Noah, of Hebrew lineage, was the son of Terah, uncle of Lot, father of Isaac, grandfather of Jacob, and ancestor of the Israelites. His story is in Genesis ch.11 (end), through ch.25. Jewish tradition states that he was the first to teach belief in One God; and it is in his merit that Jews continue to exist (Genesis 18:19, and ch.17).

Abraham (18th century BCE) came from ancestry that had been God-fearing a couple of centuries earlier but had afterwards slipped into idolatry (Joshua 24:2). Nimrod, the idolatrous tyrant, had brought Abraham's father (Terah) from the Semitic ancestral seat near the conjunction of the Balikh and the Euphrates, and instated him in a position of power in his army in the royal Babylonian city of Ur, where Abraham was born. Nimrod persecuted any who would question his idolatrous cult.

The Kuzari (Rabbi Judah HaLevi, 1075-1141) states that Abraham was gifted with high intelligence; and, as Maimonides (1135-1204) describes, Abraham didn't blindly accept the ubiquitous idolatry. The whole populace had been duped, but the young Abraham contemplated the matter relentlessly, finally arriving at the conclusion that there is One God and that this should be taught to others as well. This is what is meant by his "calling out in the name of the Lord" (Genesis ch.12). As a young man, he remonstrated with passersby in public, demonstrating to them the falsehood of their idols; and our tradition tells how he was threatened and endangered by Nimrod.

Subsequently, Terah relocated to Harran; and it is here that Abraham began to develop a circle of disciples (Rashi commentary, on Genesis 12:5).

Later, God told Abraham in prophecy to move to the Holy Land, which is where Abraham raised his family.

He continued his contemplations, eventually arriving at the attitudes and forms of behavior which God later incorporated into the Torah given to Moses.

Abraham, with God's help, singlehandedly trounced the supremacy of the evil Nimrod. He received God's promise of inheriting the Holy Land (Genesis 13). He strove to raise a family (Genesis ch.15, 17, and 24) which would serve God (Genesis 18:19); and God eventually blessed his efforts, granting him many children (ibid., ch.16, 21 and 25), as He had promised (Genesis ch.17). Abraham founded the Jewish people and lived to see his work live on in the persons of Isaac and Jacob; and he taught many other disciples as well (Talmud, Yoma 28b). He saved the population of the south of Canaan from invading foreign kings (Genesis 14); and he was feared by neighboring kings (ibid., ch.12 and 20). Abraham gave tithes (Genesis ch.14), entered into a covenant with God (Genesis ch.15 and 17), welcomed guests into his home (Genesis ch.18) unlike the inhospitable Sodomites (Genesis ch.19), prayed for people (Genesis ch.18), rebuked others when necessary (Genesis ch.20), eulogized and buried the deceased (Genesis ch.23), and fulfilled God's will unquestioningly (Genesis ch.22). He became renowned as a prince of God (Genesis 23:6).

All of these forms of behavior were based upon the ways of God, which Abraham comprehended through his contemplations. These, and similar personality traits, were the teachings of Abraham and his descendants (unlike idolatry, which had tended to go hand in hand with cruel, licentious and excessive behavior, since the caprices which were narrated concerning the idols were adopted as an excuse to imitate those types of behavior).

It is therefore clear why God expresses His love for Abraham (Isaiah 41:8) and calls Himself the God of Abraham (Genesis 26:24), and says that Abraham obeyed Him fully (Genesis 26:5). And this is why, according to our tradition, Abraham is credited with having begun the religion which became known as Judaism. However, Abraham and his descendants observed their traditions voluntarily, until the Giving of the Torah to Moses 3325 years ago, when God made it obligatory.

Moses was an Israelite, a great-great grandson of Jacob. He was born 245 years after the death of Abraham. The time when Moses was born was when the Pharaoh ordered his people to kill all Jewish male infants because he (Pharaoh) was afraid that the Israelites would become too strong for him (Exodus ch.1-2). Moses' mother didn't want him to die. So she made a basket for him and put him in it to float in the Nile reeds. He was found by the Pharaoh's daughter, who took pity on him (Exodus ch.2) and raised him as her own son. He was forced to flee after killing a cruel Egyptian taskmaster, and went to Midian, where he wedded the daughter of Jethro. He eventually achieved the highest level of prophecy (Deuteronomy ch.34) and was called upon by God (Exodus ch.3). He brought the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery (Exodus ch.12). He received the Torah from God (Exodus 24:12) and later recorded it in writing (Deuteronomy 31:24). He went up on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights (Deuteronomy ch.9-10) and brought down the Two Stone Tablets with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18). He brought the Israelites into the covenant with God (Exodus ch.19 and ch.24), and he oversaw the building of the Tabernacle (Exodus ch.35-40). He was the humblest of men and the greatest of prophets (Numbers ch.12).

Answer 7

Era of the Patriarchs:

• Avraham, founder of Jewish belief, born 1812 BCE (= "Before the Common Era"). Abraham founded the tradition of monotheism, which is the belief in One God.

Link: A biography of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob

• Yitzchak (Isaac), second of the Avot (Patriarchs), born 1712 BCE.
• Yaakov (Jacob), third of the three Patriarchs, born 1652 BCE.
  

Era of the sojourn in Egypt:

• Yosef (Joseph), born 1563 BCE, became Viceroy of Egypt.
  

Link: Joseph's importance

• The sojourn in Egypt was 1522-1312 BCE. The enslavement in Egypt began in 1428 BCE.
  

Era of Moses and Joshua:

• Moshe (Moses) was born in 1392 BCE. He played a key role in the Exodus, and brought down the Two Stone Tablets from God.
  

Link: A biography of Moses and Joshua

• The forty years in the Wilderness were 1312-1272 BCE.

Link: The Exodus

• The Israelites crossed the Jordan into Canaan, 1272 BCE. Yehoshua (Joshua, died 1244 BCE), leader after Moses, led the conquest of Canaan. His period of leadership was 1272-1244 BCE.

Era of the Judges: The era of the Judges was 1244-879 BCE.

Link: Who were the Judges? Here are some of the prominent Judges:

• Devorah became leader in 1107 BCE. She was a female Torah-sage and Judge who led a miraculous victory over a Canaanite king (Judges ch.4-5).
  
• Gideon became Judge in 1067 BCE. He led a miraculous victory over the Midianites (Judges ch.6-8).
  
• Yiphtach (Jephthah) became leader in 982 BCE. He led a miraculous victory over the Ammonites (Judges ch.11).
  
• Shimshon (Samson) became leader in 951 BCE. This Judge had unequaled strength and subdued the Philistines for many years (Judges ch.13-15).
  
• Shmuel (Samuel) became leader in 890 BCE. He marked the transition from Judges to Kings.

Link: More about Samuel

• The Mishkan (Tabernacle) at Shiloh is overrun by the Philistines, 888 BCE.
  

Era of the Kings: The era of the Kings lasted until the destruction of the First Temple in 422 BCE.

Link: Who were the Kings? Here are some of the prominent kings, prophets and events:

• Shaul (Saul), died 876 BCE, was first of the Kings. 1 Samuel ch.8-31.
  
• King David reigned 40 years, from 876 BCE.
  

Link: About King David

• The building of the First Temple commenced in 832 BCE, by King Solomon, who reigned 40 years. See 1 Kings ch.6-8. The First Temple stood for 410 years.
  
• Yerav'am (Jeroboam) took power in 796 BCE. He split the Ten Tribes (the Northern Kingdom of Israel) away from the Southern Kingdom of Judah and Benjamin (1 Kings ch.12).
  

Link: Why did the Ten Tribes break away?

• Eliyahu (Elijah), 8th century BCE, famous prophet. See 1 Kings ch.17 until 2 Kings ch.2.
  

Link: What was the role of the Prophets?

• Yeshayahu (Isaiah), best-known of the Prophets, began his prophecies in 619 BCE.
• Exile of the Ten Tribes by the Assyrians to points presently unknown, in 555 BCE.
  

Link: Where are the Ten Tribes?

• Yirmiyahu (Jeremiah) began his prophecies in 463 BCE. Warned about the impending Destruction.
  
• Yechezkel (Ezekiel) prophesied, 429 BCE.
  

Era of the Babylonian Exile (422-352 BCE):

• Destruction of the First Temple, in 422 BCE.
• Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream in 422 BCE.
  

Link: More about Daniel

• Zerubavel led the Jewish return to Israel (Judea) in 371 BCE, after King Cyrus of Persia permitted it. 18 years later, another wave of Jews returned with Ezra, while Nehemiah oversaw the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls.
  

Link: More about Nehemiah

• The events of Purim (Scroll of Esther) were in 355 BCE.

Link: More about Esther

• Mordecai institutes the annual Purim celebration, 354 BCE.
  

Second Temple Era (352 BCE-68 CE):

• Building of the Second Temple, 352 BCE. The Second Temple stood for 420 years. Soon after its construction, prophecy ceased.
  
• Anshei Knesset HaGedolah - The Men of the Great Assembly. This Sanhedrin (high court of sages) sealed the canon of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible).
  

Link: The history of the Hebrew Bible

• Shimon HaTzadik died in 273 BCE. One of the early sages.
  
• Writing of the Septuagint, in 246 BCE.
  
• The revolt of Mattityahu the Chashmona'i (Hasmonean), against the Syrian-Greeks, in 168 BCE.
  
• The miracle of Hanukkah, 165 BCE.
  

Link: More about Hanukkah

• Sh'lomit (Queen Salome) ruled 73-64 BCE. A brief period of peace in the turbulent Second Temple era.
  
• The Romans gained control of Judea in 61 BCE.
  
• Hillel, died 8 BCE. A beloved sage, famous for his humility.
  
• Agrippa I (grandson of Herod) ruled, 21 CE (= "Common Era"). A rare instance of a benign Roman ruler. Not to be confused with the wicked Agrippa II, who began ruling 35 years later.
  
• Christianity started spreading around this time, but not among the Jews.

Link: Why the Jews didn't accept Jesus

• Destruction of the Second Temple, 68 CE.

Link: Destruction and Diaspora

• Fall of Masada, 73 CE.
  

Era of the Mishna and Talmud-sages:

• Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, died 74 CE, gained the favor of Vespasian and managed to rescue a number of leading Torah-sages and brought them to the yeshiva (Torah-academy) in Yavneh.

Link: What Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai did for Judaism

• Betar fell, and Bar Kochba's revolt ended in tragedy, 133 CE.
  
• Rabbi Akiva, died 134 CE, was a leading Torah-sage throughout the Roman upheavals.
  
• Rabbi Judah Hanassi, died 188 CE, completed the collation of the Mishna (Oral Law), based on ancient tradition.
  

Link: More about Judah Hanassi

• Rav (Rabbi Abba Aricha) left Israel and settled in Babylonia, from 219 CE. Founded the yeshiva (Torah academy) of Sura. Died 247 CE.
  
• Rabbi Yochanan was the leading Talmudic authority, from 254 CE. Collated the Jerusalem Talmud.
  
• Rabbi Yehudah was the leading Talmudic authority, from 298 CE. Disciple of Rav.
  
• Abayei and Rava were the leading Talmudic authorities, from 325 CE. These two participated in the collation of the Babylonian Talmud.
  

Link: More about the Talmud

• Rav (Rabbi) Ashi was the leading Talmudic authority, from 392 CE.
  
• End of the collation of the Talmud, 475 CE. It was put in writing 25 years later.

Era of the Geonim (Torah-leaders in Babylonia):

• The yeshiva of Pumbeditha was reopened (after Persian persecutions), 589 CE. Era of the Geonim begins.
  
• The yeshiva of Sura was reopened, 609 CE.
  
• Rabbi Yitzchak was the last Gaon (sage) of Neharde'a (Firuz-Shabur). 636 CE.
  
• Rabbi Achai Gaon left Bavel (Iraq) for Israel, 755 CE.
  
• The Halakhot Gedolot, an early codex of halakha (Torah laws), was written at this time. 759 CE.
  
• Rabbi Amram (who put the Siddur [prayerbook] in writing), became Gaon (Torah-leader) of Sura in 858 CE.
  
• Rabbi Saadya (882-942) was appointed Gaon of Sura, from 928 CE. He led opposition against the breakaway Karaites.
  

Link: What were the Karaites

• Four sages were taken hostage and ransomed at around this time, 955 CE. This event contributed to the spread of Torah-learning to lands other than Babylonia.
  
• Rabbi Sherira (906-1006) became Gaon of Pumbedita, from 968 CE.
  
• Rabbi Hai Gaon (939-1038), last of the leading Babylonian Torah sages.

European Jewry:

• Rabbi Gershom Me'or HaGolah (c.960-1040) was the sage who decreed against Jewish polygamy.
  
• Rabbi Isaac Al-Fasi (1013-1103) was the author of a major compendium of Halakha.
  
• Rashi (Rabbi Shelomo Yitzchaki, 1040-1105), author of the greatest of the Talmud commentaries.
  
• First Crusade, 1096. First recorded blood libel, 1144.
  
• Rabbenu Tam (Rabbi Yaakov Tam, 1100-1170), a leading Talmudist. He was a grandson of Rashi.
  
• The Rambam (Maimonides), 1135-1204, author of several major works in halakha and Jewish thought.
  

Link: About Maimonides

Answer 8

Each community or congregation has its own Rabbis. See also the Related Link.

Past leaders

Answer 9

MOSES AND ISIAH

Answer 10

Abraham jackob isac and mosses