Judaism

Answer 1 Introduction The Jewish holy book is the Tanakh (Jewish Bible), containing the Torah and the prophetic books. The Torah is the most holy book of Judaism. Torah, which means "teaching", is God's revealed instructions to the Jewish People. The purpose of the rest of the prophets is, simply put, to uphold the Torah. (It is important to note that while "Torah" is generally used to refer to the Five Books of Moses or Pentateuch, it is sometimes used to refer to the basic texts of Judaism in general. In this sense, "Torah" includes the Torah itself, as well as Midrash, Mishnah, and Talmud, which are the Oral Torah. None of the Books of the Oral Torah are sacred and this will be discussed below in "Additional Non-Holy Supplements".) Tanakh Composition: The complete Jewish Bible is composed of 24 books called the Tanakh (תנ״ך). In Hebrew, Tanakh is an acronym of T, N, K which stands for the three parts of the Tanakh: 1. Torah (Teachings) (the T represents the letter 'taf' - ת), 2. Nevi'im (Prophets) (the N represents the letter 'nun' - נ ), 3. K'tuvim (Writings) (the K represents the letter 'chaf-sofit' - ך which can be transliterated as either 'ch' or 'kh' in English). 1) Torah (תורה) also called the "Teachings" or the Pentateuch and is the primary Jewish holy book. It is composed of the 5 Books of Moses (also called the Books of the Law). These books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Jews believe that the Torah was given by God to Moses (Exodus 24:12), who transmitted it to the people (Deuteronomy 31:24). Traditionally, it is read in front of a congregation three days a week and the scroll containing the Torah is considered holy. The word "Torah" derives from the Hebrew Word "yarah" which means "to aim" or "direct" and Jews believe that the words of the Torah aim and direct a Jew to proper action (orthopraxis) and proper belief (orthodoxos). The word Torah also has the same root as 'morah', meaning teacher. The Torah laid down the fundamental laws of moral and physical conduct. The Torah begins with a description of the origin of the universe and ends on the word Israel, after the story of the death of Moses, just before the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites. Traditionally, the document is viewed in two parts: the written and oral Torah. The written Torah is the Five Books of Moses. (Bereshit, "In the beginning," also called Genesis; Shemot, "Names," also called Exodus; Vayikra, "He called," also called Leviticus; Bamidbar, "In the desert," also called Numbers; and Devarim, "Words," also called Deuteronomy). The oral Torah is the discussions and interpretations of those scriptures applied into law and practice over time, collected in Talmud and Mishnah. 1-5: The Torah or Five Books of Moses: 1. (בראשית / Bereshit) - Genesis 2. (שמות / Shemot) - Exodus 3. (ויקרא / Vayikra) - Leviticus 4. (במדבר / Bamidbar) - Numbers 5. (דברים / Devarim) - Deuteronomy 2) Nevi'im (נביאים) which is usually translated as the "Prophets". The Jews see the book of Prophets as the story of their past and the relationship between God and Israel. Jewish tradition (Talmud, Bava Batra 14b) states that the prophetic books were written by the authors whose names they bear: Joshua, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc. Judges is credited to Samuel, Kings was written by Jeremiah. The Prophets is comprised of a total of 8 books according to the Jewish count. 6-9: The Nevi'im Rishonim, the Early Prophets: 6. (יהושע / Y'hoshua) - Joshua 7. (שופטים / Shophtim) - Judges 8. (שמואל / Sh'muel) - Samuel (I & II) 9. (מלכים / M'lakhim) - Kings (I & II) 10-13: The Nevi'im Acharonim, the Later Prophets 10. (ישעיה / Y'shayahu) - Isaiah 11. (ירמיה / Yir'mi'yahu) - Jeremiah 12. (יחזקאל / Y'khezqel) - Ezekiel 13. (תרי עשר / Trei Asar), or Minor Prophets (or "The Twelve Prophets") Books and Prophets within the Trei Asar a. (הושע / Hoshea) - Hosea b. (יואל / Yo'el) - Joel c. (עמוס / Amos) - Amos d. (עובדיה / Ovadyah) - Obadiah e. (יונה / Yonah) - Jonah f. (מיכה / Mikhah) - Micah g. (נחום / Nakhum) - Nahum h. (חבקוק /Havakuk) - Habakkuk i. (צפניה / Ts'phanyah) - Zephaniah j. (חגי / Khagai) - Haggai k. (זכריה / Z'kharyah) - Zechariah l. (מלאכי / Mal'akhi) - Malachi 3) Ketuvim (כתובים) which is usually translated as the "Writings" and which composes the remaining History Books: Daniel, Lamentations, and others. Jewish tradition (Talmud, Bava Batra 14b) states that the prophetic books were written by the authors whose names they bear: Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, etc. Ruth was written by Samuel, Lamentations was written by Jeremiah, Psalms was set in writing by King David, Chronicles was written by Ezra, Proverbs, Song of Songs and Kohellet (Ecclesiastes) were written by King Solomon, and Esther was written by Mordecai and Esther. Concerning Job, the Talmud states more than one opinion as to when it was written. The Writings consists of 11 books by the Jewish count: 14-16: The "Sifrei Emet" 14. (תהלים / Tehillim) - Psalms 15. (משלי / Mishlei) - Proverbs 16. (איוב / Iyov) - Job 17-21: The "Five Megilot" or "Five Scrolls" 17. (שיר השירים / Shir Hashirim) - Song of Songs 18. (רות / Rut) - Ruth 19. (איכה / Eikhah) - Lamentations 20. (קהלת / Kohelet) - Ecclesiastes 21. (אסתר / Esther) - Esther 22-24: The rest of the Writings: 22. (דניאל / Dani'el) - Daniel 23. (עזרא ונחמיה / Ezra v'Nechemia) - Ezra-Nehemiah 24. (דברי הימים / Divrei Hayamim) - Chronicles (I & II) Further Discussion on the Tanakh The Torah is also called "The Five Books of Moses". The term Torah can refer loosely to the entire Jewish Bible. There are those who would claim that the canon of the Tanakh was completed after the Second Destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. However, all evidence disproves this claim with the codification being completed no later than the Hasmonean era (140-37 BCE). Tradition places the sealing of the Tanakh around 340 BCE. The Tanakh is, essentially, what Christians mistakenly call the "Old Testament". They call it that because they think that is has been superseded by the "New Testament". But to Jews the Tanakh can not be superseded by anything. Additional Non-Holy Supplements There are other Jewish texts; however, they are not considered prophetic and are not within the above canon. In addition to Tanakh, there is the Talmud (itself composed of Mishna & Gemara), which are additional writings containing oral laws and interpretations of the Tanakh handed down until about 500 C.E. (when it was sealed and put in writing). The Mishna and the Talmud are of tremendous importance in Judaism. Some people believe that Jews regard the Talmud as a holy text. While it does contain rich commentaries on the holy texts of the Bible, The Talmud is not often referred to as holy text, but rather an important text. Other books of major importance include the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law), the Mishneh Torah (Maimonides' codex), and the Zohar (a mystical Midrash). There are generally accepted prayer books, mainly 'Sidur' (meaning arrangement) and religious Jews would refer to various writings by Jewish Theologises of the past 2000 years, such as Talmud, Gama'ra, "Shulkhan aruch" etc. Here is a partial list of additional non-holy Jewish books, in no particular order: Apocrypha: Additional books from the post-Biblical Era which did not make the Biblical Canon, such as Maccabees and Ben Sira. Pirkei Avot: (Sayings of the Fathers) is a compilation of the ethical teachings and maxims of the Rabbis of the Mishnaic period. Midrashim: (Deeper Readings) A collection of stories that explain Torah verses and Jewish concepts. Haggadah: (The Retelling) The prayerbook used on the night of Passover that details the Exodus from Egypt and its religious significance. Moreh Ha-Nevukhim: (Maimonides' Guide to the Perplexed) A discussion of Jewish philosophy. Derekh Hashem: (Way of God) A book on Divine Providence, which explains Jewish philosophy. Ramban al Ha-Torah: (Nahmanides on the Torah) A book detailing Nahmanides' views expounding and commenting on Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki's (Rashi's) more famous commentary. Related Links for further information. Dissenting Views Jewish View on Talmud Holiness The Talmud is a holy book. It is the Oral Torah. While in theory a Torah command supersedes a Rabbinic one, in reality what usually happens is that the earlier text is reinterpreted so that the later one is in agreement with it, rather than the other way around. "Torah le'Moshe miSinai" is a phrase commonly found in the Gemara where no Scriptural source can be found for a Halacha. In some ways, yes, it is only some Jews who believe that the Talmud is either binding or holy, but those who do not are not considered Orthodox, and Orthodox practices are generally the ones that are most traditional. The Talmud is holy and is regarded as such by the Jewish community, along with all other works of halacha, hashkafa, and aggada; these are considered to be "sifrei kodesh" and must be regarded with a certain respect under Jewish law (for instance, not sitting down on a surface where such a book is lying), although this is true only up until a certain point, as there is an informal and formal hierarchy (more recent books are generally regarded with less reverence than, say, the Rambam; as are works that are not in Hebrew, with the exception of the Rambam.) However, the reverence afforded these books is lesser to that afforded a Torah Scroll. While the Talmud is central to understanding Jewish Law and is certainly a treasured book, it is not holy to the same extent or in the same way that the Tanakh and specifically the Torah are. Answer 2 (Islamic View) From the Islamic perspective, the Jewish holy book is the Torah. Torah reflects real God words revelation to prophet Moses (peace be upon him). Other books are collections of other human writers and religious leaders texts. The God holy books; that revealed by God; the Creator; are Psalms (revealed by God to Abraham), Torah (revealed by God to Moses), in addition to the Bible that is revealed by God to Jesus and Qur'an; the last God holy book; that is revealed by God to Muhammad (peace be upon them all). Answer 3 The books considered sacred by the Jewish people are the Tanakh and the Talmud. Even though the Talmud is not considered a holy book, it is (together with the Torah) what most Jews follow, except for the Karaites. The most important Jewish Holy Book is the Torah.

There are four general answers about who founded Judaism and the answers to these questions are grouped by founder: God, Abraham, Moses, Historical Authorities, Combinations. God Answer 1 The founder of Judaism is God. God was the founder of the idea of calling unto Himself a people known as Israel. This was done by taking someone who until then had been a Gentile and cutting a covenant with him (this of course was Abram). God changed his name to Abraham and he was to bring forth a separate nation unto God. Answer 2 Judaism is based on national revelation (all of the Israelites accepting the Torah at Mount Sinai), not a single founder. Abraham Answer 1 Nearly 4,000 years ago, their forefather Abram emigrated from the thriving metropolis of Ur of the Chaldeans in Sumeria to the land of Canaan, of which God had stated: I will assign this land to your offspring. (Genesis 11:31-12:7) He is spoken of as Abram the Hebrew in Genesis 14:13, although his name was later changed to Abraham. (Genesis 17:4-6) From him the Jews draw a line of descent that begins with his son Isaac and his grandson Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. (Genesis 32:27-29). Israel had 12 sons, who became the founders of 12 tribes. One of those was JUDAH, from which name the word Jew was eventually derived.2 Kings 16:6. In time the term Jew was applied to all Israelites, not just to a descendant of Judah. (Esther 3:6; 9:20) Today Judaism is practiced by millions of Jews in Israel and the Diaspora. As a side note - Abraham is also considered the father of followers of Islam, although he is not the one credited with starting Islam. Abraham mentioned above is considered the first Jew. He is believed to have lived about 4000 years ago and was the son of an idol maker. (An idol maker was a good job then and most all houses had many idols to pray to as gods). Answer 2 Actually, the Talmud says that Abraham did live as a practicing Jew. This is implicit in many passages in the prophets (e.g. Isaiah 41:8) and throughout the Talmud (e.g. Yoma 28b) and is clearly borne out by a reading of Genesis, even without commentaries. Additionally, God calls himself "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" no fewer than eighteen times in the Torah, and that is how we address Him in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. Abraham didn't blindly accept the ubiquitous idolatry of his time. He repudiated it and instead taught people about the One God. The grave sites of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their wives (Genesis 49:29-32) are located in Hebron and have been known for many centuries. Answer 3 Judaism began with the covenant God made with Abraham, which is talked about in the book of Genesis in the Bible, starting in chapter 17. The different branches of Judaism were founded later by different people, but the religion itself was started with the covenant between God and Abraham. Answer 4 Judaism has no one person as its founder. However, biblical tradition says that Abraham was the first to worship One God. A midrash (non-binding Jewish tradition) says that Abraham realized that the idols of his time had no power and so sought the real God. Answer 5 According to Jewish tradition, Abraham founded the Jewish religion around 2000 BCE in Israel. The founders of Judaism are the Patriarchs, i.e. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob but mainly Abraham. He is known as the "Father of the Jews", the person whom God appointed to be the father or beginning of His nation, which is Israel. It was with Abraham that God made a covenant. The covenant was that God promised to protect his descendants if Abraham would remain faithful to Him. Moses Judaism is largely defined by the first five books of the Bible, which Moses is credited with having written (Deuteronomy 31:24), with Divine guidance (Exodus 24:12). Historical Analysis Answer 1 What we now know is that the first five books are composed from input from several sources, usually known as J, E, D and P. The sources known as J and E seem to date back to early in the first millennium BCE. D dates from before 600 BCE and P probably lived during the Babylonian exile. We use designations such as J, E, D and P because we do not know their real names. In fact, one or more of these sources may have been several people. Answer 2 Many regard the founder of Judaism to be Abraham, whom they consider to have lived around 2000 BCE. Others may regard the true founder of Judaism to be Moses, who is traditionally considered to have lived around 1400 BCE. However, many scholars regard the stories of Abraham and Moses as creations of the first millennium BCE. They point out that the Bible also tells us that the people of Israel (the northern kingdom) were, throughout its history, polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Even in the south, in Judah, the people worshiped many gods until at least the time of King Hezekiah (729-686 BCE), who made the first real attempt, in historic times, to impose a monotheistic religion. However, Hezekiah's son allowed Judah to revert to polytheism. On this evidence, Judaism, as we know it, did not yet exist in Judah. We now know that much of what we know as the Hebrew Bible was written by the 'Deuteronomist' source during the reign of King Josiah ( about 640-609 BCE), although, of course, the books written by the Deuteronomist contain a great deal of material that had been written down by authors several centuries earlier. From the time of Josiah, a monotheistic religion seems to have become dominant among the Jews. The role of Josiah in finally enforcing a monotheistic religion with its own canon of literature, should make him the true founder of Judaism, supported by the anonymous author or authors we now call the Deuteronomist. Answer 3 Judaism is a religion - membership in it is conferred by religious beliefs and laws, not necessarily genetic heritage. Like all ancient religions, Judaism developed over time in a cultural or geographic context, so there was no single founder in the modern sense. Many modern religions can be traced directly to a single person or event. Answer 4 The Nomadic Hebrew tribes founded Judaism based on ignorance of natural forces such as: rainstorms, floods, droughts, winds, naturally occurring fires, earthquakes, cyclones, volcanic eruptions, etc. The early Jews were Polytheists. Jehovah was originally the god of the atmosphere. "From this elemental worship Indra, Agni, Zeus, Odin, Jehovah and other gods were evolved. Jehovah was originally a god of the atmosphere. He manifested himself in the tempest; he unchained the waves of the sea; the wind has his breath; the thunder was his voice, the lightning his messenger. He filled the air with frost; he precipitated the hail; he blanketed the earth with snow; he deluged the land with rain; he congealed the water of the stream, and parched the verdure of the field." Answer 5: The application of 19th Century Biblical skepticism, which produced the Documentary Hypothesis, which denies Mosaic authorship and proposes a fictional Deuteronomist, has largely been undermined by archaeological discoveries which Wellhausen and others largely ignored in developing their theory. Archaeological discoveries, as well as further literary research have, to a large extent, overturned this theory, although many still cling to it for various reasons. Some of these are outside of the scope of this question, such as the denial of any supernatural causes in the origin of Israel's religion - this is obviously a matter of faith or non-faith in such. Literally hundreds of books have been written on this subject. Combinations Answer 1: Abraham and Moses While Abraham is undoubtedly the father of the Jews in terms of their genetic descent and genealogy, Moses is the founder of Judaism in terms of giving the Torah. From the scriptures these two roles are clearly distinct. While Abraham was undoubtedly of great faith he did not found the religion of Judaism in terms of its teachings or practices, only providing the 'seed' from which would come the nation of Israel and of course, Moses. Answer 2: Abraham and God Judaism has no one person as its founder. However, Biblical tradition says that Abraham was the first in his line to worship God. A midrash (non-binding Jewish tradition) says that Abraham realized that the idols of the gods of his father had no power and so sought the real God. However, Jewish teachings and tradition states that Judaism was based on national revelation, and was not founded by a single person. Answer 3: God and Abraham Judaism began with the covenant God made with Abraham, which is talked about in the book of Genesis, starting in chapter 17. The different branches of Judaism were founded later by different people, but the original religion itself was started by the covenant between God and Abraham. Answer 4: Lineage of Founders Receiving Divine Revelation Judaism doesn't claim to have any founders in the classical sense. As reported in Genesis, Abraham realized that a higher power ran the world; this at a time when idol-worship was rampant. God appeared to Abraham in a vision and confirmed that fact. God also informed Abraham about certain commandments that He expects from all of mankind: Not to steal, not to kill, not to worship idol and others. Abraham passed on this revelation to his son, Issac, who passed it on to his son, Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons. They all lived by these rules, when they were exiled to Egypt. Some 200 years later, when their descendants were redeemed from Egypt, God revealed himself to the 600,000 strong crowd, gave them the 10 commandments and the Bible on Mount Sinai. He also appointed Moses as their leader and prophet. Essentially, it was at the revelation on Mount Sinai that the descendants of Jacob became "Jews" and the charter members of Judaism. Answer B (Islamic Perspective) All religions are founded by God (or Allah and same God worshiped in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). All monotheistic God-religions are based primarily on worshiping God as the one and only God with no equivalence and no associate. All God religions are based on full submission to God. Hence the founder of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is God and same God. Judaism is founded by God through the God revelation of Torah to prophet Moses (peace be upon him); the same way Christianity is founded by God through God revelation of the Bible to Jesus (peace be upon him) and Islam is founded by same God through God revelation of Quran to prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Prophet Abraham was long before the revelations of the three religions. He called his people to abandon idol worship and to worship God as the one and only one God with no partner. Judaism began with the covenant God made with Abraham, which is talked about in the book of Genesis in the Bible, starting in chapter 12. The different branches of Judaism were founded later by different people, but the original religion itself was started by the covenant between God and Abraham. Answer: Judaism is a religion - membership in it is conferred by religious beliefs and laws, not genetic heritage. Like all ancient religions, Judaism developed over time in a cultural or geographic context, so there was no single founder in the modern sense. Many modern religions can be traced directly to a single person or event. Answer: The tradition of the Jewish people, and their Sages and Talmud, has always been that Abraham founded what we call Judaism. This is implicit in many passages in the prophets (e.g. Isaiah 41:8) and throughout the Talmud (e.g. Yoma 28b) and is clearly borne out by a reading of Genesis, even without commentaries. God calls himself "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" no fewer than eighteen times in the Torah, and that is how we address Him every day in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. 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. Moses was born 245 years after the death of Abraham. Pharaoh had decreed that Israelite boys be killed (Exodus ch.1), but the daughter of Pharaoh took pity on the infant Moses (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 Judaism is a faith that is based on the history of the Jews. The Jews were descended from Abraham and his descendants. Moses established the religion and lead the people to settle in what is now Israel and established their scripture and their temple worship. Islamic answer: God is the founder of Judaism religion per Torah God revelation to prophet Moses (Peace be upon him). You must differentiate between Jews as a race (who were originated long before the era of prophet Moses) and the Jews as followers of Judaism religion per Torah revelation to prophet Moses. Islamic Answer: Judaism; as religion and not as a race; started by revelation of Torah to prophet Moses while he was in Sinai (Egypt). The claim that the Judaism religion started with prophet Abraham may not be generally accepted as prophet Abraham was selected by God to call his people to submit to God as the one and only one God and to abandon worshiping Idols and never called his people to Judaism as the Torah was not yet revealed by God. My understanding is that prophet Abraham is called the father of prophets as he called his people to worship one and only one God and that he himself fully submitted to God to the extent that when he destroyed the idols and the unbelievers put him in fire God made the fire not affecting him and this was a miracle by God to his prophet Abraham (or Ibrahim as called by in Middle East). Prophet Abraham is loved by God as expressed in the three God religions and the three God holy books. Judaism as religion with specific ritual worships; from my understanding; started by God through prophet Moses by revelation of the Torah and not before. We generally credit Moses for establishing a relationship with G-d and communicating about it with the people, however, the idea of Jewish monotheism goes back to Abraham, who held that there was one G-d above all others.

Judaism is practiced wherever Jews live. As of 2018, there are about 14.5 million Jews. Israel.......... 6,590,000 America....... 5,600,000 France......... 460,000 Canada........ 385,000 United Kingdom 280,000 Argentina.... 190,000 Russia........ 188,000 Australia...... 112,500 Germany......110,000 Brazil............ 95,000 South Africa.. 70,000 Ukraine......... 63,000 Mexico.......... 53,000 Hungary........ 48,000 Belgium........ 30,000 Spain.............30,000 Holland......... 29,900 Poland...........25,000 Italy.............. 28,000 Switzerland..19,000 Chile............. 18,500 Turkey...........17,200 Sweden.........15,000 Uruguay........14,500 Belarus..........11,500 Panama, Romania, Austria...10,000 each. All other countries, combined.... 125,000.

There are a number of names for the Jewish houses of prayer. The names are listed here, from most common to least common. "Synagogue" comes from Greek: Since it was during the Roman Empire that Jews began forming small, communal worship centers, these were identified in the lingua franca of Koine Greek. "Synagogue" is still considered the most specific in English, since "Temple" could refer to a Buddhist place of worship (in which a Jew could not pray on account of the idols). Jews who grew up only speaking English usually use the word "Synagogue." Beit Knesset (בית כנסת) is the Hebrew name: In Hebrew it is called a Beit Knesset. Synagogues serve as the Jewish Beit Ha-Knesset (House of Assembly), Beit Ha-Midrash (House of Study), and Beit Ha-Tefillah (House of Prayer). Schul is from Yiddish: People who grew up among Yiddish speakers may call it a Schul. The Orthodox and Chasidim often use this term as well. However, "Schul" is unfamiliar to many Jews who didn't grow up around Yiddish speakers. Temple is from English: Many Reform Jews call it a "Temple". Many Conservative Jews also called it a Temple. Outside of the United States, the use of the word Temple is far less prevalent among Jews. Temple can also be offensive or confusing since the Jewish synagogue is not to be confused with the Great Temple of Jerusalem. Sla3 is from Judeo-Arabic: This term has almost become extinct as the Mizrahi Jewish community adopts Hebrew or English as its primary languages, but this word was used quite commonly, especially in Iraq. Ashkenazi Jews would not recognize this word. 2) At Home: In addition to synagogue-worship, it is possible (though not preferable) to pray privately, or set up a temporary session of prayer in any place which is clean, and fitting for prayers, as long as they are done during the requisite times. 3) Lesser Sanctuary/Mikdash Me'at: Mikdash Me'at means a "lesser sanctuary" and generically refers to a synagogue or to a Jewish home that is marked by tranquility and holiness. 4) Great Temples in Jerusalem/Beit Mikdash: In ancient times,the Jews had a Great Temple, called Beit HaMikdash in Hebrew. The Jews worshiped in the Great Temple built by King Solomon (Deuteronomy ch.12; 1 Kings ch.6-8). The most important aspect of Jewish worship revolved, for a long time, around worship at the Temple of Solomon until it was destroyed. This Temple housed the Ark of the Covenant, the tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments that Moses received on Mount Sinai. The Second Great Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E., but the elevated plaza and its retaining walls still stand. Today, Jews pray at the retaining wall to the west of the Temple Mount. This area is called the "Western Wall" or Kotel Ha-Ma'aravi in Hebrew and is the holiest place in Judaism. 5) Tabernacle/Mishkan: The original Jewish house of worship was the Mishkan, or Tabernacle, a transportable temple used in the wilderness. General Functions of the Synagogue The synagogue's primary purpose is communal prayer, but a it's not just a place for worship. For some prayers, the presence of ten adult men called a minyan (or men and women in Liberal Judaism) is required. Even the reading from the Torah scrolls could theoretically be done in a home, but since Judaism emphasizes worshiping as a community, people normally gather together in a synagogue. It is also a place for study, since the study of Torah is equal to all other Mitzvot combined. Reading, learning and understanding of religious texts is very important. Additionally, the synagogue sometimes serves as a place for Jews to assemble and to socialize.

jesus' crib

Briefly: Judaism worships one omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent God who is often seen to be the same God worshiped by Christians and Muslims. More In Depth: Monotheism Before addressing the issue of naming the Jewish God or describing what Jews believe about Him, it is important to note that Jews have only One God. In Judaism, God is the one and only one; with no partner, no son, no associate, no companion, and no resemblance. Judaism openly rejects the presence of other (even weaker) gods or anything such as the Christian Trinity. Jews believe in the One God, who created the universe (Genesis ch.1) and made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis ch.15 and 17), Isaac, and Jacob (Leviticus 26:42), and gave the Torah (Exodus ch.19-20). Therefore, God has existed since the start of the creation of the universe and even before. He shall also be the last after any known or unknown last. The first and greatest "new idea" that Judaism introduced to the ancient world was the strange and revolutionary concept of one single Deity. Now, after close to 4,000 years, that's one of the main ideas that still has a hard time being accepted by some people: the idea that there is exactly one and only one entity worthy of reverence, and that any other concept or entity that may attract the loyalty of individuals or groups ... whether it be money, sports, cars, computer games, body-building, sex, poker, business, sailing, etc. ... must be subservient to the only Real Thing. Characteristics of God Jews believe in one ethical God, who created the Universe and all things within it (Genesis ch.1). Jewish people also believe that God continually wills the creation into existence and controls all events. God, in his immeasurable kindness, gave the Jews his Instructions (Torah) so that they might learn moral behavior. God is not a person or an animal, nor does He physically resemble His creations in any way. He also has no form. He has no beginning or ending. He (at one point) granted prophecy. God punishes for wickedness and rewards for moral conduct and He will bring the Messiah. God is the Creator, to whom we should pray for help, support, and/or guidance. Liberal Jews understand God a little differently, preferring to see God as a guiding metaphor or just less dogmatically. Naming and Language God may be called different things from one language to another; however, these are titles, not actual names from the Jewish perspective, since there is only one true name for Him in Judaism (see below). The word "God" is a title: Allah in Arabic, Dieu in French, Gott in German, etc. In many prayers and Tanakh (Bible) passages, titles are used (instead of God's proper name), such as Adonai (my Lord) or Elohim (the Supreme). This has led to confusion among Christianity as well as Islam as to what the actual name of God is; causing many to believe that these titles are actually proper names, despite the fact that in any other context of life - your boss at work and their name, a child's school teacher and their proper name, a cat and the name you gave it - people automatically recognize the difference between a name and a title or adjective. But on the topic of God, the elementary difference between name and title is cast aside without question by many. The Name of God in Judaism God's name in the Torah is יהוה (YHWH). Over the course of the exile, the exact pronunciation has been lost. Some non-religious scholars believe that it is pronounced Yahweh; but that is questionable. Jehovah is the most widely recognized English pronunciation but is used only by Christians. Pronunciation of YHWH There's one true name for God, spelled YHWH in English. This name for God, as written in the Torah, is (for us) not pronounceable, partly due to to a religious prohibition, and partly due to the fact that the pronunciation of the (unwritten) vowels has been lost to history. The Hebrew letters that correspond to YHVH are "yud, hei, vav, hei." These four letters are referred to as the Tetragrammaton and are a contraction of the Hebrew words for "was, is (and) will be." His true name was only said in the Temple; and with the Temple's destruction we lost the correct pronunciation. (One obstacle to determining the correct pronunciation is that the letter 'vav' can be a vowel or a consonant sound depending on the word. There is no indication as to what form it takes in the Tetragrammaton.) Jewish Customs on Pronouncing YHVH In the days of the Great Temple in Jerusalem, only the High Priest would pronounce the name of God (YHVH) and only once a year. It was said that the name inspired so much fear and awe that it humbled the people who heard it. The remainder of the time, God's name would not be pronounced at all to spare people this effect. However, many Christians do not have the prohibition on speaking God's name, and do not even realize that the Jews still follow this prohibition. Scholarly Opinions on Pronouncing the Name As excerpted from Wikipedia: During the Babylonian exile, the Hebrew language spoken by the Jews was replaced by the Aramaic language of their Babylonian captors. Since then, observant Jews have maintained the custom of not pronouncing the name, but use Adonai ("my Lord [plural of majesty]") instead. As a result of this decision, the original pronunciation of God's name is lost. In the Jewish Bible, God's name appears 6823 times. It is usually translated as "LORD" in all capital letters. I Am Who I Am In the following excerpt from Exodus, God identifies himself as "Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" which is commonly translated as "I Am Who I Am." Some suggest that this a name of God, rather than just a response to Moses' question: "When I go to the Israelites and say to them, "The God of your fathers has sent me to you," and they ask me, "What is his name?" What shall I tell them?" And God answered, Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh" (Exodus 3:13-14). Jews typically do not read this as God's name since God said that His name is YHVH (Exodus 3:15). The message in "I am who I am" is meant to imply continuity with the covenant of Abraham over 400 years earlier, signalling that His relationship with the Jewish people remains constant. Additional Titles for God In the Tanach (Jewish Bible), there are 72 different titles used for the Creator. These aren't actual names though; they're descriptions of Him that are contextual. Additionally, in prayers, the Jewish people have many titles for God, all showing the highest respect and honor. These include: Adonai: This is the title most often used in prayer and reading the Bible, meaning "Our Lord" Adonai Tzevaot: This is a title referring to God's protective qualities, meaning "Lord of Hosts" or "Lord of the Armies" Elohim: This is a title referring to his role as God El: This is another title referring to his role as God Shaddai: This is a term related to his strength, meaning "Almighty" Melekh Malkhei HaM'lakhim: This is a title referring to his kingship over all, meaning "King of Kings" Malchut Tzedek: This is a title referring to God's righteousness, meaning "Kingdom of Righteousness" El Shaddai: This is another term relating to his strength, meaning "God Almighty" or "God Sufficient" HaBorei: This refers to God as the Creator, meaning "Creator" LORD (in English). Answer B (Muslim's view) In brief, Allah (or God in English) is the God worshiped in Judaism and He is the same God worshiped in Christianity and He is the same God in Islam and the same God since start of universe creation and even before. God is the first before any known first and the last after any known or unknown last. God is the one and only one God; the Creator; that we should pray for help, support, and/or guidance.

The sacred text in Christianity is the Bible. Description of the Holy Bible The Holy Bible is a collection of 66 little books written by some 40 different people, over a period of 1600 years (2 Peter 1:21) (2 Samuel 23:2) telling the history of mankind, his fall into sin, God's promise of a 'rescuer' , God's dealings with humanity over the centuries, the arrival of that 'rescuer', fulfillment of the Messianic prophecies and mankind's one hope for the future. It is a collection of historical books, poetry, prophecy, and letters. Essentially it is the same as the Jewish Scriptures, with the addition of the New Testament - which relates the story of Jesus and the growth of the church in the years after Jesus' death and resurrection. The Holy Scriptures that are accepted by Christianity are the 66 books that comprise the Bible. The original scriptures that were penned in Hebrew run from Genesis to Malachi. Then the part of the scriptures that were originally penned in Greek run from Matthew to Revelation. These individual books are not in chronological order. But the Bible canon as it is, was accepted in the early years right after John wrote his books. Style of Writing and Relevance to Founding Christianity The sacred writing of the Catholic Church are contained in the Bible, but unlike other sacred writings, they (well, the New Testament) was written more as preaching, it is not an encyclopedia of Christianity. The Church is based on the Bishops under the successor of St. Peter (read St. Matthew 16:17-19). Weight of Scripture in Christian Sects Catholics hold that Scripture forms a part of the Church doctrine, but it holds in conjunction with the Catechism and other Papal Bulls and Creeds. Protestants typically reject any source of decrees or laws outside of the Bible in what is known as Sola Scriptura. Orthodox Christianity affirms the fact that the Bible is the sole rule for all matters of faith. Thus any other influential writings are seen as lesser than and subject to the scrutiny of the Holy Bible. Importance of the New Testament The Bible as a whole is of great importance to the Christian believer. The New Testament, in particular. The books of the Old Testament are also considered scriptural as these tell of the revelation of God throughout history, before the coming of Christ. They also they point to the coming of Christ through prophesy. It tells us of who God is, what God did, what He expected from His people "the Israelites", how he wants to be worshiped and tons of wisdom for each of us as individuals. It is a biography of His people, the things they did wrong and what they did right. The Old Testament is full of the law of God and how the people could not live by His holy law. The New Testament is the biography of Jesus. It tells us of his birth and his death, burial and resurrection. There is direction in Acts on how to be saved and the epistles tell us how to stay saved. Revelation tells us what to expect when we die from this earth. For today the New Testament is the place for all new believers to start learning. But once you get your feet wet you need to study more and delve into the wonderful knowledge of the Old Testament so you can be well rounded in the knowledge of God. Canons of the Bible Depending upon the version of Christianity you are referring to, there are multiple different versions of the Bible. The basic text is comprised of the Old and New Testaments that are further broken up into collections of books. There are different canons, however. The canon are the books that are in the Bible being that the Bible is really just a larger book containing many smaller books. In the list below, if a book has no parentheticals, this means that it is a part of all Christian Canons. If it does have letters inside the parentheticals, it means that this is a book used by the following traditions: P - Protestant (it is worth noting that because Protestants keep to a reduced canon, there is no "P" below) C - Catholic O - Orthodox S - Syrian Orthodox E - Ethiopian Orthodox It is worth noting that a book will carry an asterisk if the text has additions in some sects but not others. After this a dash will provide additional content information. Additionally most of the books of the Old Testament that are part of the Catholic or Orthodox Canons but are not part of the Protestant Canons are called the Apocrypha. The Christian Bible contains the following books: OLD TESTAMENT Pentateuch / Five Books of Moses / Books of the Law Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Historical Books Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles 1 Esdras (COE) Ezra - Esdras 2 Additions (COSE) Nehemiah - Esdras 2 Additions (COSE) Tobit / Tobias (COSE) Judith (COSE) Esther - Additions (COSE) 1 Maccabees (COS) 2 Maccabees (COS) 3 Maccabees (O) 4 Maccabees (O) 1 Meqabyan (E) -- Note that while "Meqabyan" is usually called "Maccabees" by Ethiopian Orthodox, the text of the Meqabyan is entirely different from Maccabees. 2 Meqabyan (E) 3 Meqabyan (E) Wisdom Books Job Psalms 1-150 Psalm 151 (OS) Psalms 152-155 (S) Prayer of Manasseh (O, in E this is part of 2 Chronicles) Proverbs Ecclesiates Song of Songs Wisdom of Solomon (COS) Sirach (COSE) Prophets Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations (in COSE this is part of Jeremiah) Baruch (COS, in E this is part of Jeremiah) 4 Baruch (S, in E this is part of Jeremiah) Letter of Jeremiah (OS, in C this is part of Baruch, in E this is part of Jeremiah) Ezekiel Daniel - Additions such as "Bel and the Dragon" (COSE) Minor Prophets Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Josippon (E) NEW TESTAMENT Gospels Matthew Mark Luke John Apostolic History Acts of the Apostles Pauline Epistles Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon General Epistles Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Apocalypse Revelation Ethiopian Canon Ser`atä Seyon (E) Te'ezaz (E) Gessew (E) Abtelis (E) I Covenant (E) II Covenant (E) Ethiopic Clement (E) Ethiopic Didascalia (E) Additional Holy Materials Outside of this, there are a few things that people regard as holy that are specific to parts of the church as a whole. The Catechism of the Catholic church is a book that answers all of the questions of where the church stands on certain issues--this includes anything from speeding to abortion and the death penalty. It is the very essence of the doctrine of the church. Other churches contain similar books like the Lutheran and Episcopalian church. The United Methodist has one called the Discipline. Though these may not be always regarded as holy (some consider them--especially the Catholic church), they are a place that condenses the doctrines of the church to a single book. Some church include a Book of Common Prayer. This is used in Episcopalian, Catholic, Anglican, and others. It is a book that aids in devotion and prayer in one's private meditation as well as cooperate worship. The Latter Day Saints movement (LDS or Mormons) include the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. These four texts are referred to as the Standard Works. The Book of Mormon is believed to be written in about the same time as the Bible but in the Americas, after Jesus was crucified. The other books were written by Mormon prophets. The Catholics consider writings by the Popes on doctrine as sacred and infallible and have a very high regard for the Catechism of the Church. The Christian Scientists consider Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy as scripture. In addition to these, some Christian groups accept other books as scriptural. These include other documents such as the Didache, a first century 'handbook' on Christian living, which is held as scriptural by some eastern churches. Additionally there are many sayings of the Church Fathers, which are extrabiblical, but critical in the development of Christianity. Please see the Related Question below for more on that. Commentary on the idea of "Christian Holy Books" The question should be rephrased as "What do followers of Christ call their holy book?" The answer is commonly thought of as the Holy Bible. The common misunderstanding of Christianity is that it is a set of rules or beliefs that need to be followed like other religions. Christianity is about the person of Christ. Everything is centered about Christ. It is either one has Christ and Christ owns him or not at all. Jesus never claimed to be anyone else than God Himself. He made it so clear that the Jews of his day who understood his claim wanted to stone him to death. Jesus proved his Deity through his miracles, his teachings and his resurrection from the dead. His teachings, his miracles and his resurrection were public knowledge during his time. When the New Testament was written, most if not all of the eye witnesses were still alive and could have refuted the writings of Paul, Peter and the Gospel writers. Even the enemies of Jesus acknowledged the miracles but did not accept Jesus as their long awaited Messiah. Hence, the religious leaders of that time missed their opportunity to place their faith on Jesus who fulfilled every prophesy that were written about him in the Old Testament. For someone to fulfill more than a hundred prophecies to the letter like Jesus did is like looking for a penny in a two-feet deep of dollar coins covering the whole state of Texas! So you see, even Jesus hated religion. Christianity is about a personal relationship with Jesus, whom Christians believe is alive today! Islamic faith perspective Per Islam teachings and per Qur'an holy book, Muslims believe in the Bible (called in Arabic Injil or إنجيل) or Gospel that was revealed by God to Jesus (peace be upon him). Muslims; per Islam teachings; don't believe in the holiness of any other human written sections of the Christian New Testament. Muslims believe also in the Torah as the God revelation book to prophet Moses (peace be upon him) and believe in the Psalms as God revelations to prophet Abraham (peace be upon him). Qur'an says (meaning English translation): "And We (Allah or God and same God worshiped in Judaism and Christianity) sent, following in their (Jews) footsteps, Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming that which came before him in the Torah; and We gave him the Gospel (or the Bible), in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous. And let the People of the Gospel judge by what Allah has revealed therein. And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed - then it is those who are the defiantly disobedient." (5:46-47).

They use a kosher Torah scroll, (one in which the entire text of the Torah has been hand-written, using the proper materials and with no known errors), a table upon which to open the scroll for reading, and a minimum of ten Jewish adult males to convene a formal service, of whom one is capable and prepared to read the proper portion for the specific occasion of the reading.

They are two of God's names in the Hebrew Bible. Adonai means "my Lord" (in the Royal Plural). YHWH means "eternal." See also: The correct spelling of God's name

Jewish tradition holds that Abraham founded Judaism in the land of Israel (called Canaan at that time) around the year 2000 BCE. No exact date is known. Answer 2 "Judaism was founded in the promised land of Canaan (also known as Israel)" Details: The forefather of Judaism - Abraham - was born in Ur in Mesopotamia and was commanded by God to go to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1). After doing so, Canaan was promised to his descendants. (ibid 15:7) Abraham's son Isaac was also promised the land of Canaan (ibid 26:3) Isaac's son Jacob was also promised the land of Canaan (ibid 28:13) Jacob's 12 sons went down to Egypt and 400 years later (ibid 15:13), after the Exodus, their descendants were given the detailed laws of Judaism in the Torah, at Mount Sinai. After wandering in the desert for 40 years, they conquered the land of Canaan that was promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and then renamed it the land of Israel. Answer 3 Abraham discovered the idea of one God in Ur-Kasdim, and God spoke to him, sending him to Canaan (Israel). This was the start of the Jewish people. The Jewish people became a nation at Mount Sinai when God spoke to them and they accepted his teaching, the Torah, which is the basis of Judaism. Abraham was the father of the Israelites (through Isaac and Jacob), and the Arabs who are considered the descendants of Abraham's first son Ishmael (by Hagar). Abraham's son Isaac who had two sons Jacob and Edom. Edom became the ancestor of the Edomites. Jacob got his name changed to Israel and became the father of twelve sons and one daughter. One of those sons was Judah who is today the ancestor of most Jews. Answer 4 Some trace Judaism to the Laws of Moses, others to the rabbinical traditions developed during the Babylonian exile, others to the 19th century developments of Conservative, Orthodox and Reform branches we have today.

Roots of Hitler's and the Nazis' Hatred of Jews. For a short answer see the Related Questions listed at the bottom. Many of the 'theories' about Hitler's hatred of the Jews, especially those claiming to be based on a single experience early in his life, are no more than fanciful guesswork. The reasons given by Hitler in 'Mein Kampf' should be treated with caution. The book is not a reliable source. In the last 30 years or so historians have generally distinguished between the ordinary prejudices of his background and time (Roman Catholic, Upper Austria, lower middle class, around 1880-1910) and the obsessive hatred that later became one of his hallmarks. It appears that, contrary to what he says in 'Mein Kampf', Hitler's extreme antisemitism only arose towards the end of World War 1 or even later. (See Volume 1 of Ian Kershaw's two volume biography, Hubris, Penguin Books 1998). There had been anti Jewish prejudice of varying degrees of intensity in many parts of Europe and elsewhere for a long time. A distinctive feature of Hitler's antisemitism was that it was formulated as conspiracy theory. For many, especially in Bavaria, this went hand in hand with the 'stab-in-the-back' theory, that is, with the view that Germany had not been defeated on the battlefield but had been brought down by liberal, socialist and Communist subversives on the home front. In other words it was claimed that 'the Jews had caused Germany's defeat in World War 1'. Potentially, this made antisemitism explosive in Germany. In much of Europe it was assumed that Jews were Communists. In many hardline right wing circles there was talk about a supposed 'Judeo-Bolshevist conspiracy'. This was highly inflammatory. Despite his ranting against Jewish businessmen Hitler saw the Jews as the 'biological root' of Bolshevism. (See the link below on the influence of emigres from Russia). In Bavaria but not in other most parts of Germany a number of Marxists of Jewish origin had been prominent in the upheavals of 1918-1919. Most, like Ernst Toller and Erich Mühsam, for example, were idealistic utopians. They were not conspirators or traitors or anything of that sort. However, their origins were shamelessly exploited for propaganda purposes. Many extreme German Nationalists (not only the Nazis) called the new German republic a 'Jewish republic' (though almost none of its leaders were Jews). There was a widespread tendency, not only in Germany, to equate the Jews with subversion and Communism. In many of his speeches Hitler often used the words Jews and Bolshevists almost interchangeably. He merged rabid anti communism with equally fanatical antisemitism. To this he later added the claim that Jews were homosexuals, allegedly undermining the manliness and and fighting spirit of the German people. This combination was potentially a 'witches' brew'. Against this background there are also many contributing factors and possible theories. Here is some further input: Jealousy. Some Jews were successful and held "visible" positions in Austria and Germany in the 1920s and 1930s. In the Great Depression. Germany was hit the hardest by the worldwide economic depression, and successful Jews were envied. Some Germans believed that "Jewish bankers" were responsible for the Treaty of Versailles. Jews became a scapegoat for Germany's economic problems. (According to this racist sentiment, "international Jewish financiers had plunged the world into a war and the Depression for their business profit.") Hitler and many Nazis were influenced by the notorious anti Semitic book called "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion." Hitler lived in Vienna from 1907 to 1913 and those were the most difficult years of his life. Hitler was trying to become an artist or to make himself a name in field of arts. He was twice rejected from the Vienna Academy of Fine Art. He claimed that the professors that rejected him were Jewish ... [However, none of the members of the selection panel was Jewish]. The Nazis had a vision of an Aryan German race that specifically excluded Jews and many other groups of people. Here is an example of Hitler's anti Semitic racism from a speech given in Munich in July 1922: "His is no master people; he is an exploiter: the Jews are a people of robbers. He has never founded any civilization, though he has destroyed civilizations by the hundred...everything he has stolen. Foreign people, foreign workmen build him his temples, it is foreigners who create and work for him, it is foreigners who shed their blood for him." Some say Hitler and the Nazis were opportunistic demagogues. Inciting hatred of the Jews was the means to an end. The Nazis used hatred of the Jews to unify the German people and create a new German empire. Nothing unites a people more than when they believe they are constantly under attack and fighting a common enemy. The Jews were convenient enemies. Christianity had traditionally blamed the death of Christ on the Jews. One can see in the Bible the statement that the Jews demanded the death of Jesus, and said, "let it be upon our heads and that of our children." This became an excuse to abuse the Jews for more than a thousand years. It was not until the 1960s that the Catholic Church stated that the Jews were NOT to blame for the death of Jesus. Antisemitism was deeply embedded in European and American culture. In the 1930s there was a lot of anti Jewish feeling and resentment in the Western world. Many Jews who tried to escape the persecution in Germany were refused entry into the US and other European countries and also many countries further afield. Antisemitism has been rife throughout European history, largely because the Jews were a distinct, identifiable group, who did not integrate. (Those who really wanted to integrate converted.) Of course, many now see pluralism as a virtue, and a variety of ethnicity's and religions as a positive thing. However, in the inter war period diversity was often regarded as divisive and "disloyal". Another key element of a dictatorship is fear, and a visible scapegoat experiencing the wrath of the state is a good way to keep people from stepping out of line. Hitler stated: "The war is to be a war of annihilation". His henchman Heinrich Himmler declared: "All Poles will disappear from the world. . . . It is essential that the great German people should consider it as a major task to destroy all Poles." The Jews did absolutely nothing to deserve the treatment they got. Like the Africans and the Indians the Jews were just picked for hatred and unjust things but again they did absolutely nothing! Since the 1870s the Jews had been the object of a new wave of demonization and conspiracy theories. On the whole this wasn't taken too seriously in Germany, but in Austria anti Jewish conspiracy theories were spread by extreme right wing politicians and also by the Roman Catholic Church, which knew perfectly well that these theories were rubbish. Young Adolf was a server (altar-boy) and may have been influenced by this. Well, there were more "sub humans", as Hitler called those poor people, than he could handle. He had to find ways to kill them without making it too obvious. That's when the real Holocaust started [1941]! He built extermination camps, where he could kill many thousands of people at a time. Hitler blamed Germany's defeat in WWI on the Jews, and he hated them. When he took power he started rounding them up. He did the same when he started taking over other countries. He used the Jews, Poles, gays, gypsies, Russians and mentally challenged people as slave labor and then started to annihilate them in gas chambers. His reason - hatred. He classed the above mentioned people as sub human and basically in his Nazi world there was no place for the "sub human", only the 'Aryans'. To understand the Holocaust you have to understand the Darwinian biology of the time. There was a growing sense, particularly since Ernst Haeckel, that there were those in society who were 'biologically' inferior and that for a 'fit' world to survive and thrive, those who were 'unfit' should be done away with. Instead of letting nature take its course, there was a unspoken sense that humans could take matters into their own hands. I am obviously not supporting this twisted logic, but that is a key to understanding how a number of things converged to create the nightmare of the century. [However, 'biological inferiority' is subjective. In Britain, for example, many Social Darwinists, especially those active in education, were most impressed by the achievements of Jews in schools and universities and concluded that they were a 'superior breed' ... This view was to some extent echoed in Nazi conspiracy theories, which painted a picture of diabolically cunning Jews]. Hitler blamed the Jews for Germany's defeat in World War I. He didn't only kill Jews. He killed Communists, liberals, homosexuals, gypsies and many other groups, including millions of victims of warfare. Why he did is up for debate, but I'd guess a mixture of antisemitism and stereotypes of the as Jews as Communists, subsersives and all kinds of other things - as a means to an end. A common way to gain power is to spread fear and panic about an enemy (real or imaginary), stir up hatred and present yourself as the only person able to 'save' the country. Of course, hatred does not in itself account for the Holocaust. How the Nazis moved from hatred and persecution to genocide is another matter. Please see the links and related questions. because He Took Over THere Land The only reason that the Nazi party hated Jews was because of Hitler's convincing. He was convinced that it was a Jewish professor that had rejected his art work; he became convinced that a Jewish doctor had been responsible for his mother

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. Abraham discovered the idea of one God in Ur-Kasdim, and God spoke to him, sending him to Canaan (Israel). This was the start of the Jewish people. The Jewish people became a nation at Mount Sinai when God spoke to them and they accepted his teaching or Torah, which is the basis of Judaism. Abraham was the father of all the races that are considered Hebrews, this includes the Arabs who are considered the descendants of Abraham's first son Ishmael (by Hagar). Abraham had a son (by Sarah) called Isaac who had two sons Jacob and Edom. Edom became the ancestor of the Edomites. Jacob got his name change to Israel and became the father of twelve sons and one daughter. One of those sons was Judah who became the ancestor of the Jews after the other Tribes went lost in exile. Additional Perspective: The forefather of Judaism - Abraham - was born in Ur in Mesopotamia and was commanded by G-d to go to the land of Canaan (Genesis 12:1). After doing so, Canaan was promised to his descendants. (ibid 15:7) Abraham's son Isaac was also promised the land of Canaan (ibid 26:3). Isaac's son Jacob was also promised the land of Canaan (ibid 28:13) Jacob's 12 sons went down to Egypt and - 400 years later(ibid 15:13) - after the Exodus their descendants - 600,000 men with their wives and children - were given the detailed laws of Judaism - the Torah - at Mount Sinai. After wandering in the desert for 40 years, they conquered the land of Canaan that was promised to their forefathers - Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - and then renamed it the land of Israel. And, Still More: Many regard the founder of Judaism to be Abraham because of the widespread belief that Abraham, as a boy, was the first to realise that the idols of his people had no power and was therefore the first to believe in just one God. However, this is not supported by the biblical account. In fact, the Bible never explicitly credits Abraham with monotheistic beliefs. Bruce Feiler (Abraham) says that probably less than one per cent of the stories told about Abraham appear in the Bible. Others may regard the true founder of Judaism to be Moses, who is traditionally considered to have lived around 1400 BCE, because he is often credited with writing the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. However, many scholars regard the stories of Abraham and Moses as creations of the first millennium BCE. They point out that the Bible also tells us that the people of Israel (the northern kingdom) were, throughout its history, polytheistic in their religious beliefs. Even in the south, in Judah, the people worshipped many gods until at least the time of King Hezekia (729-686 BCE), who made the first real attempt, in historic times, to impose a monotheistic religion. Judaism is largely defined by the Hebrew Bible, and we now know that much of the Bible was written by the 'Deuteronomist' during the reign of King Josiah ( about 640-609 BCE). The biblical analyses have been confirmed by archaeological evidence. On this evidence, Judaism originated in the kingdom of Judah, located west of the Dead Sea, during the seventh century BCE. Answer: Jewish tradition: the tradition of the Sages and the Talmud, has always been that Abraham founded Judaism. This is implicit in many passages in the prophets (e.g. Isaiah 41:8) and throughout the Talmud (e.g. Yoma 28b) and is clearly borne out by a reading of Genesis. God calls himself "the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob" no fewer than eighteen times in the Torah, and that is how we address Him in the Shemoneh Esrei prayer. Since the time of Abraham, the Israelites have always worshiped the One God. Abraham worshiped "the Lord God of Heaven and Earth" (Genesis 14:22 and 24:3) and complained about the Philistines' lack of fear of God (Genesis 20:11). Jacob confiscated the idolatrous images taken from Shechem (Genesis 35:2) and got rid of them (Genesis 35:4); and refrained from invoking the gods of Nahor (Genesis 31:53). Rachel pilfered Laban's statue-images (Genesis 31:19) in order to prevent him from idolatry (Rashi commentary, ibid.). Joseph placed his hope in the God of the Forefathers (Genesis 50:24). Moses characterized the Golden Calf as "a great sin" (Exodus 32:21, 30) and punished the worshipers (Exodus ch.32). During the rest of his lifetime and that of Joshua (Judges 2:7), no incidents of Jewish idolatry were reported. Shortly before he died, Moses warned the people that he suspected that they would eventually succumb to the lure of the idols (Deuteronomy 29:17). Joshua gave a similar warning (Joshua ch. 24). These warnings came true. Many of the Israelites went astray after the foreign gods (Judges 2:11). However, the Jews never invented their own idol. It was always the baneful influence of other peoples. And there were times when the entire Jewish nation repented (Judges 2:1-4) and prayed to God (Judges 3:9, 3:15, 6:6, 10:10). Idolatry was never universal among the Jews. The tradition of the One God was handed down in every generation, whether by the few or the many; and it is those who handed down the tradition whose beliefs we Jews continue today. Deborah ascribed victory to God (Judges 4:14), Gideon tore down the idolatrous altar (Judges 6:25-27);Samson prayed to God (Judges 16:28), as did Hannah (1 Samuel 1:11) and Samuel (ibid. 12:18); Eli blessed in the name of God (1 Samuel 2:20), Saul built an altar to God (1 Samuel 14:35); Jonathan ascribed victory to God (1 Samuel 14:12), as did David (1 Samuel 17:46); and Solomon built the Temple for God (1 Kings 8:20). A number of the kings "did what was right in God's eyes": Asa (1 Kings 15:11), Yehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), Yehoash (2 Kings 12:3), Amatziah (2 Kings 14:3), Azariah (2 Kings 15:3), Yotam (2 Kings 15:34), Hizkiah (2 Kings 18:3), and Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). And, of course, the Prophets, who spoke in the name of God and warned against idolatry: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea and so on. The sages of the Talmud, who ridiculed idolatry (Megillah 25b), were simply continuing in the tradition of the Prophets whose verses are quoted in that context (ibid.). Islamic Answer Judaism religion was originated by God (the one and only one God). It should be emphasized that all God religions had been founded by God not by any human or prophet. The prophets are assigned by God to deliver His message to their people. They don't found a religion on their own. Prophet Abraham (peace be upon him) refused worshiping idols and believed that God; the one and only one God; is the only Creator and the sole God to be worshiped. Accordingly he had full submission to God as the one and only one God with no partner and no companion and no equivalence. Then God revealed the Torah to Moses (peace be upon him). This, according to dating of the text by Orthodox rabbis, the revelation of Torah to prophet Moses (peace be upon him) had occurred in 1312 BCE; another date given for this event is 1280 BCE. This revelation occured while prophet Moses on the mountain in Sinai in Egypt. This marked the start of the religion of Judaism. Refer to links below. This means that Judaism per Torah God revelation (in around year 1300 BC) to prophet Moses (peace be upon him) was founded in Sinai (Egypt) and moved afterwards to other places.

No, Jews do not believe in the existence of Jinn. Jinn are an Islamic concept.

Putting it as simply as possible: The Nazis thought that the German Jews were 'alien', 'un-German' and a 'corrupting influence' on Germany and that they were encouraging immorality. The Nazis believed that the Jews were Communists (and that Communism was a specifically Jewish ideology). There were strange conspiracy theories that claimed that the Jews were trying to achieve 'world domination'. The Nazis said that the Jews were enemies of Germany, and that Jews and Germans were locked in a struggle to the death. (This was another of those conspiracy theories that many Nazis took seriously). The Nazis believed that the Jews had made Germany lose World War 1. The Nazis subscribed to racialist theories that claimed that the Jews were inferior to others. However, Nazi propaganda also portrayed them as very clever indeed, very dangerous and close to achieving world domination: the two don't even begin to fit. With the start of World War 2 in September 1939 Hitler became obsessed with the idea that 'the Jews' had started the war. Earlier, 'religious' hostility to Judaism had often demonized the Jews and painted them as sinister and evil. Because some Jews were affluent and influential, they represented political positions in opposition to Hitler, and were targeted like others he saw as rivals. All this was much more important than stories about what a Jew might or might not have done to Hitler in his childhood. There is no firm evidence that Hitler was anti-Jewish before about 1916. Beware of naive explanations. For fuller answers click on the related questions below.

Answer A: From Muslim perspective: * For purposes of clarity, there is no old testament in Islam. Islam has since its inception preached one word or rather one book which has never been edited. The Old Testament recognized no inheritance rights to widows. Accordingly, widows were among the most vulnerable of the Jewish population. The male relatives who inherited all of a woman's deceased husband's estate were to provide for her from that estate. However, widows had no way to ensure this provision was carried out, and lived on the mercy of others. Therefore, widows were among the lowest classes in ancient Israel and widowhood was considered a symbol of great degradation (Isaiah 54:4). However, the plight of a widow in the Biblical tradition extended even beyond her exclusion from her husband's property. According to Genesis 38, a childless widow must marry her husband's brother, even if he is already married, so that he can produce offspring for his dead brother, thus ensuring his brother's name will not die out. "Then Judah said to Onan, 'Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother' " (Genesis 38:8). The widow's consent to this marriage is not required. The widow is treated as part of her deceased husband's property whose main function is to ensure her husband's posterity. A childless widow in Israel is bequeathed to her husband's brother. If the brother is too young to marry, she has to wait until he comes of age. Should the deceased husband's brother refuse to marry her, she is set free and can then marry any man of her choice. It is not an uncommon phenomenon in Israel that widows are subjected to blackmail by their brothers-in-law in order to gain their freedom. The pagan Arabs before Islam had similar practices. A widow was considered a part of her husband's property to be inherited by his male heirs and she was, usually, given in marriage to the deceased man's eldest son from another wife. The Quran scathingly attacked and abolished this degrading custom: {And marry not women whom your fathers married--Except what is past-- it was shameful, odious, and abominable custom indeed} (Quran, chapter 4, verse 22). Widows and divorced women were so looked down upon in the Biblical tradition that the high priest could not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a prostitute: "The woman he (the high priest) marries must be a virgin. He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman defiled by prostitution, but only a virgin from his own people, so he will not defile his offspring among his people" (Lev. 21:13-15) In Israel today, a descendant of the Cohen caste (the high priests of the days of the Temple) cannot marry a divorcee, a widow, or a prostitute. In the Jewish legislation, a woman who has been widowed three times with all the three husbands dying of natural causes is considered 'fatal' and forbidden to marry again. The Quran, on the other hand, recognizes neither castes nor fatal persons. Widows and divorcees have the freedom to marry whomever they choose. There is no stigma attached to divorce or widowhood in the Quran, [nor is there any attached to widowhood in the Bible]. {When you divorce women and they fulfil their terms [three menstruation periods] either take them back on equitable terms or set them free on equitable terms; But do not take them back to injure them or to take undue advantage, If anyone does that, he wrongs his own soul. Do not treat Allah's signs as a jest} [Quran, chapter 2, verse 231]. {If any of you die and leave widows behind, they shall wait four months and ten days. When they have fulfilled their term, there is no blame on you if they dispose of themselves in a just manner} [Quran, chapter 2, verse 234]. {Those of you who die and leave widows should bequeath for their widows a year's maintenance and residence. But if they [the widows] leave (the residence) there is no blame on you for what they justly do with themselves} [Quran, chapter 2, verse 240]. Answer B: from Jewish perspective: The above comments about women in Judaism are completely wrong. 1. In matters of inheritance, even in ancient times women could inherit the property of her husband. The only time that wouldn't happen would have been if she returned to her father's home and her father belonged to a different tribe from her husband. The reason for this is that land ownership was tribal based and land owned by one tribe couldn't be transferred to a different one. Tribe is determined by biological father but if a woman marries a man from a different tribe, she becomes a part of the husband's tribe. Of course, today there is no issue of tribal association with land. 2. In regard to brothers marrying a deceased brother's wife where there were no children from that marriage. The brother was required to offer marriage to the widow but it was the widow's choice to accept the marriage proposal. If she refused the proposal, the marriage didn't happen. There is NO practice of blackmailing widows to marry a brother in modern Israel. 3. There is no stigma attached to divorce and being a widow and never has been. 4. There is no Israeli legislation that bans a woman who's been widowed 3 times from marrying again. Answer C: Comment on Answer B The views in answer B are fully agreed upon as the current civil rights assured for women; whether Christians, Jewish, or any other religion followers. However, the sayings in answer A reflects the Jewish and Christian woman status; religiously; in time of Quran revelation to prophet Muhammad in the seventh century and how Islam teachings assured woman rights at that time and long before the countries woman right laws and UN human rights laws. We all agree that the current civil laws in Israel and in Euorope and other parts of the world assures human rights for woman as that for man. Answer D: Comment on Answer C Answer C implies that the information provided in Answer B reflect only modern Judaism which is false. The information provided in Answer B reflects attitudes held in ancient Judaism going back over 3000 years. At no point in history were the claims made in Answer A about Judaism true.

The Book of Esther places Esther during the reign of Xerxes, who was king of Persia from 486 to 465 BCE. However, scholars say there are good reasons to believe that the story is fictional and that there never was a Queen Esther of Persia. There is no historical record of either Vashti or Esther, and Queen Amestris is accepted by historians as Xerxes' only wife for the first several years of his reign. Answer 2 According to Jewish tradition, Esther was queen for about 11 years. (The Book of Esther makes it clear that this was not in the early part of Xerxes's reign.) *************** Esther was the heroine and central figure in the Biblical book of Esther. She was crowned about 60 years after the destruction of the First Temple, and ten years before the Second Temple was built. The Jews were in the Babylonian exile. A few of them, such as Nehemiah, Mordecai and Daniel, rose to positions of prominence under the Babylonian kings. The last of the Prophets of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) were still living. King Cyrus had recently made his famous proclamation (2 Chronicles 36:22-23) allowing the Jews to resettle Judea (Israel), and some had gone up with Zerubavel, but the enemies of the Jews had then slandered them (Ezra ch.4), causing the Babylonian king to put a stop to the rebuilding and resettlement of Judea. This last event was around the same time that Esther became Queen. According to tradition, the book of Esther was written in the mid-4th century BCE, and was made part of the canon which was sealed a couple of decades after. The name of Mordecai is the Judaised pronunciation of Marduka, which is attested in the Persepolis Texts as the name of officials in the Persian court during the period of Xerxes I. One of these officials was the biblical Mordecai. The grave of Mordecai and Esther still stands in Hamadan; and the Jews of Iran, to this day, are referred to as "the children of Esther." ********** How reliable is the Hebrew record? "Although critics contended that the Hebrew Bible is unhistorical and untrustworthy, time and time again, the archaeological record supports places, times, and events mentioned in Scripture. We now have archaeological information about a number of patriarchal towns mention in Scripture, including Bethel, Shechem, Jerusalem, Mamre, Gerar, Beer-sheba, and Dothan" (Professor John Arthur Thompson, The Bible and Archaeology). The personal names Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are names of the time and area mentioned in the Bible (ibid). "One city after another, one civilization after another, one culture after another, whose memories were enshrined only in the Bible, have been restored to their proper places in ancient history by the studies of archaeologists" (Prof. Gleason Archer, A Survey of Old Testament Introduction). No parchment, scroll, or inscription has ever been found that would support the Bible-critics' JEPD (different sources) hypothesis, which remains a set of postulates. And those ancient writers who mention, describe, summarize or translate the Torah (Josephus, Samaritans, Targum, Septuagint etc.), describe it in its complete form. Archaeological finds, such as the Ugarit documents and those of Nuzu, Mari, Susa, Ebla, and Tel el-Amarna, have repeatedly caused the critics to retract specific claims. The entire social milieu portrayed in the Torah, once criticized as anachronistic, has been shown to be historically accurate, including customs of marriage, adoption, contracts, inheritance, purchases, utensils, modes of travel, people's names and titles, etc. Professor Gleason Archer states: "In case after case where historical inaccuracy was alleged as proof of late and spurious authorship of the biblical documents, the Hebrew record has been vindicated by the results of excavations, and the condemnatory judgment of the Documentary theorists have been proved to be without foundation."

Haddock is a kosher species of fish.

All fish are kosher except for those that do not have both fins and scales, such as lampreys. Whales and dolphins - which are of course mammals and not fish - are treif (not kosher); as are molluscs and crustaceans such as mussels, whelks, prawns and lobsters. So yes, anchovies are a kosher species of fish.

All of the dates and information provided below are based on the Jewish Torah, Talmud and oral tradition. Note that many hundreds of names and dates have been omitted for the sake of brevity. Early Era: Terah, Abraham's father was born, 1882 BCE. 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. 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. 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. The forty years in the Wilderness were 1312-1272 BCE. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). Eliyahu (Elijah), 8th century BCE, famous prophet. See 1 Kings ch.17 until 2 Kings ch.2. 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. 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. 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. The events of Purim (Scroll of Esther) were in 355 BCE. 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). 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. 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. Destruction of the Second Temple, 68 CE. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. A massive burning of the Talmud by anti-Semites took place in Paris, 1242. The Inquisition began to use torture, 1252. The Ramban (Nachmanides), 1194-1270, author of a leading commentary on the Torah. All Jews were expelled from England, 1290. The Maharam (Rabbi Meir) of Rothenburg (1215-1293), last of the Tosafists (early Talmud-commentators). The Ralbag (Rabbi Levi ben Gershom), 1288-1344, author of a commentary on the Bible. Rabbi Nissim (1320-1376), and other Torah-scholars in Spain, were imprisoned. 1367. The expulsion of Jews from France, 1394. Rabbi Yosef Albo (1380-1444) was in a forced debate with Christians, 1413. The invention of printing, 1440s. Rabbi Ovadya Bertinura (1445-1515), Rabbi in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) from 1488, author of the leading commentary on the Mishna. Jews expelled from Spain and Sicily, 1492. Rabbi Yitzchak Abarbanel (1437-1508), Rabbi in Naples from 1493. Author of a book on Jewish thought. All Jews were expelled from Portugal, 1496. The Turks (Ottoman Empire) conquered the land of Israel, 1516. Rabbi Joseph Caro (1488-1575) published the Shulchan Arukh, a leading text of Jewish law, in 1566. Later Rabbis and events: Rabbi Isaac Luria (1534-1572), was a leading kabbalist. The Maharal (Rabbi Loewe), 1512-1609, Rabbi in Prague from 1573. Maker of the legendary Golem. Rabbi Shmuel Eidels (1555-1631), Rabbi in Lublin from 1614, author of a leading Talmud commentary. Rabbi Yoel Sirkes (1561-1640), author of a major commentary on the Shulchan Arukh. Rabbi Shabsei Cohen (1621-1662) and Rabbi David Halevi (1586-1667) publish leading commentaries on the Shulchan Arukh in 1646. Chmielnicki massacres, 1648-9. Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (1707-1746), author of a famous text on piety. Rabbi Israel Ba'al Shem Tov (1700-1760), founder of modern Hassidism. The Pale of Jewish Settlement was established in Russia, 1791. The Vilna Gaon (Rabbi Eliyahu of Vilna, 1720-1797), famous Talmudist. Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai (1724-1806), sage and biliographer. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810), charismatic pietist and Hassidic leader. Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (1810-1883), founder of the modern Mussar movement. Rabbi Meir Malbim (1809-1879), opponent of the secularists (Haskalah), authored a major commentary on the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible). Rabbi Israel Meir Kohen (Chafetz Chaim), 1838-1933, beloved pietist and Talmudist. Wave of Russian pogroms begins, 1881. Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried (1804-1886), author of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Rabbi Abraham Karelitz (Chazon Ish), 1878-1953, leading Torah sage in Israel from 1933. Germany started World War II, and mass killing of 6 million Jews, 1939.

Blessed is God.

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The mature men were about 600,000 (Exodus 12:37), plus the 23,000 Levites (Numbers 3:39). To this must be added the converts (Exodus 12:38), and the women and children. Based on the ratio of firstborn to younger children (Numbers ch.3), it can be seen that the children were numerous. Estimates for the total number are usually given at two million or more. Who survived the entire time in the wilderness? All of the Levites survived, as did all of the women and children. Plus Joshua and Calev. The Levites survived: Talmud, Bava Bathra 121. The women survived: Rashi commentary, Numbers 26:64. The children survived: because the decree of dying in the wilderness applied only to men aged twenty and over (Rashi, Numbers 14:29). See also: The Exodus Timeline of Jewish history Archaeology and the Hebrew Bible

The long, rich history of Judaism gives the Western world much of its shape today. Many of the laws, traditions, culture and values are directly attributable to Judaism. Here are a few examples: 1) The Jews' monotheistic religious tradition (Deuteronomy 6:4) shaped the Western beliefs about God. 2) The 7-day week (Exodus ch.20), including a day of rest for everyone. This weekly rest was a concept unique to the Israelites. 3) The concept of morality (Leviticus ch.18-19) was also the work of the Hebrews, including the dignity (Genesis 5:1) and value of a person (whereas idolatry 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). (See: Cruelties of the polytheists) 4) Women's rights were carefully maintained in Judaism. Israelite women could own property, could initiate court cases, could have their own servants, and could own fields and businesses; and the Torah specifies marital rights for women (Exodus 21:10). 5) Under Israelite law, everyone had recourse to the courts. A child, widow, wife, poor person, etc., could initiate legal action against any citizen to redress perpetrated harm. Compare this to those societies in which only mature, land-owning males had any legal status. 6) The Western diet is a reflection of much of the Judaic dietary law. With the exception of the pig, Western society does not eat species not contained in kosher law (Deuteronomy ch.14). Owls, mice, insects, rats, snakes, cats and dogs are not eaten by most Westerners and it is a direct result of Jewish culture. 7) Parents are responsible for teaching children (Deuteronomy ch.11). Illiteracy among Israelites, in every generation, was rare. Universal education in the Western world is taken for granted today, yet this is a recent development. In Judaism, however, it goes back for more than 3300 years. Judaism has always maintained that education is the highest goal of man in his pursuit of godliness. This tradition has now been passed on to Western culture. 8) Infants are to be cherished, protected and cared for, whether or not they turned out to be the gender you were hoping for. Compare this to societies in which unhealthy babies, or females, were killed. 9) Cruelty to animals is not acceptable. 10) Government is accountable to a higher authority. In other ancient societies, the monarch was all-powerful. Among the Israelites, however, the king was under the constant scrutiny of the Divinely-informed prophets, who didn't hesitate to castigate him publicly for any misstep in the sight of God. And, other than for the crime of rebellion, the king couldn't punish any citizen by his own decision. He was obligated by the Torah-procedures like everyone else (Talmud, Sanhedrin 19a). 11) A robber repays double to his victim (Exodus 22:3), or works it off. Cutting off the hands of a robber is a punishable crime. Debtors are not imprisoned or harmed. They are made to sell property and/or work to repay what they owe. Compare this to the Roman practice by which anyone could accuse a man of owing them money and the debtor could be killed (Roman "Twelve Tables of Law" code, 3:10). 12) Western jurisprudence in general is based in part upon Judaic Torah-observance. A quick look at the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) and the laws that follow (Exodus ch.21-23) gives a summary of most modern law. 13) It is the responsibility of the community to support the poor (Deuteronomy ch.15), the widow, the orphan, and the stranger passing through (Exodus 22:20-21). It is important to note that every one of the above was instituted among the Hebrews (a.k.a. the Israelites) thousands of years earlier than in other nations. Here's just one example:Infanticide was practiced among classical European nations until it was stopped by the influence of Judaism and its daughter-religions. Professor and former President of the American Historical Association, William L. Langer (in The History of Childhood): "Children, being physically unable to resist aggression, were the victims of forces over which they had no control, and they were abused in almost unimaginable ways." See also: More about Judaism's impact How did Jewish ideas spread?

Answer 1 > All men and all women are equal under God, with inalienable rights. So people have many rights in this life and no matter what your social status is or your gender God will treat everyone the same. > The existence of right and wrong, of good and evil. 1) That we can know right and wrong through reason and common sense. 2) That there are certain moral standards. We can see this in the ten commandments. >Human life is sacred and is of great value because we are made in the image of God. >A world with rules, not the law of the jungle. > Discipline, respect, respect for elders and for others, individual responsibility, loyalty and gratitude. >The Earth, its resources and its animals, and the rest of creation should be honored and well cared for. I would simply add that Galatians 5 give us a good idea of the ideals we as Christians should embody. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." These are also the attributes of Christ in a nutshell. Answer 2 The Judeo-Christianity is mixture of two religions that was invented by some people for political reasons. There is no religion called Judeo-Christianity. The religion may be either Judaism or Christianity. Judeo-Christian is a term used since the 1950s to stress the common ethical standards of Christianity and Judaism, such as the Ten Commandments. It has become part of American civil religion and is often used to promote inter-religious cooperation.

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