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Tradition holds that Judaism began with Abraham, around the year 2000 BCE. Aside from The Bible, there is no other source of information about the origins of Judaism.
Answer 2:
Abraham (18th century BCE) came from ancestry that had been God-fearing a couple of centuries earlier but had slipped into idolatry in recent generations (Joshua 24:2).
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.
Abraham was a historical person, as recorded in the Book of Genesis (ch.11-25); and his gravesite is known to this day, in the Machpelah at Hebron, Israel. He is revered by Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The Jewish people have attested to his existence for 3800 years, and his name is mentioned by several ancient non-Jewish historians as far back as 2,300 years ago. These include Berosus, Alexander Polyhistor, Melo, Eupolemus, Artapanus, Hecateus, and Nicolaus Damascenus.

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8y ago

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