answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

According to historical accounts of the history of Judaism, this religion was created as a result of a divine Covenant between God and Abraham, the founder of the Jewish people. The Abrahamic Covenant, one of many made between God and man throughout Biblical history, can be found in the book of Genesis. In it, God promised Abraham the following: to found a great nation in the name of Abraham, and to bless those who blessed him and curse those who cursed him (Gen. 12, 1-3), to give Abraham all of the land from the river of Egypt (the Nile) to the Euphrates (Gen. 15: 18-21), to make Abraham the father of many nations (Gen. 17:1-8), and to give Abraham and all of his descendents circumcision to represent this Covenant (Gen. 17: 9-14). In short, Abraham was the Father of the Jewish People (and Judaism as a result).

User Avatar

Wiki User

16y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

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 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).
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.
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.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

11y ago

He was grandfather of Jacob/Israel, the ancestor of all Jews.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Abraham is regarded as the father of the Jewish people (God's chosen race) and of faith.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: How did Abraham help the Jews?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

When did the Jews get a message from Abraham?

The Jews did not receive a message from Abraham, Abraham was the first Jew. All Jews are (so it is said) descended from Abraham. The year of Abraham's birth is not known for sure, there are only guesses.


Jews are the believed descendants of this person?

The Jewish people are descended from Abraham, the first Jew.


Was Noah a gentile?

No, there were no Jews or Gentiles at that time. He was an ancestor of Abraham. Jews are the descendants of Abraham and his son Isaac.


Who united the Jews?

Abraham


Who is Jews's father?

Abraham


Who cosiders Abraham to be their father?

The Jews consider Abraham the father of their nation.


Why is Abraham father of the Jews?

They are descended from him.


Is god the father of the Jews?

Abraham is.


Who is Abraham a holy figure of?

Jews


What has the author I S Abraham written?

I. S. Abraham has written: 'The origin and history of the Calcutta Jews' -- subject(s): History, Jews


Why do Jews and Muslims call Abraham farther?

Abraham is called father of their nations.


What has the author Abraham A Neuman written?

Abraham A. Neuman has written: 'American Jewry and a Jewish Renaissance' 'The Jews in Spain' -- subject(s): Jews