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About Judaism
One of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, Judaism emerged in and around Israel sometime between 1700 and 1200 BCE. It evolved from a tribal religion, and there has always been ambiguity between the religious and ethnic/nationalistic identity of Jews. Judaism has been very influential in history, although frequent repression by the Roman Empire, Christian governments and (more recently) Islamic nations has kept the number of Jews small -- currently about 1/4 of 1% of the world's population.
Judaism is based upon a number of texts, listed here in ascending order of complexity:
A) The TEN COMMANDMENTS, traditionally believed to have been given to Moses on Mount Sinai. They are:
1. I am the Lord your God who brought you out of slavery in Egypt.
2. You shall have no other gods before me.
3. You shall not take the Lord's name in vain.
4. You shall remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
B) The TORAH (Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy), which contains the Ten Commandments, the traditional history until the time of Moses (c 1200 BCE), and 613 religious laws. Excerpts are read weekly at the synagogue.
C) The BIBLE, which is similar to the Christian Old Testament. The Bible includes all of the Torah, as well as the Books of: Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, I Chronicles, and II Chronicles.
D) The TALMUD, the lengthiest and most misunderstood of the primary Jewish sources. It is an encyclopedic commentary on Jewish law, written about 2,000 years ago. The many volumes of Talmud include:
ZERAIM (Seeds)
RE: Agriculture
Berakoth (Benedictions)
Peah (Gleanings)
Demai (Untithed Produce)
Kilaim (Diverse Kinds)
Shebiith (Sabbatical Year)
Terumoth (Heave Offerings)
Maaseroth (Tithes)
Maaser Sheni (Second Tithe)
Challah (Dough Offering)
Orlah (Fruit of Young Trees)
Bikkurim (First Fruits)
MOED (Set Feasts)
RE: Calendar and Ritual
Shabbath (Sabbath)
Erubin (Fusion of Sabbath Limits)
Pesachim (Feast of Passover)
Shekalim (Shekel Dues)
Yoma (Day of Atonement)
Sukkah (Feast of Tabernacles)
Yom Tov or Betzah (Festival Days)
Rosh HaShanah (Feast of the New Year)
Ta'anith (Days of Fasting)
Megillah (The Scroll of Esther)
Moed Katan (Mid-Festival Days)
Chagigah (The Festal Offering)
NASHIM (Women)
RE: Marriage
Yebamoth (Sisters-in-Law)
Ketuboth (Marriage Deeds)
Nedarim (Vows)
Nazir (The Nazirite Vow)
Sotah (The Suspected Adulteress)
Gittin (Bills of Divorce)
Kiddushin (Betrothals)
NEZIKIN (Damages)
RE: Civil and Criminal Law
Baba Kamma (First Gate)
Baba Metzia (Middle Gate)
Baba Bathra (Last Gate)
Sanhedrin (The Sanhedrin)
Makkoth (Stripes)
Shebuoth (Oaths)
Eduyoth (Testimonies)
Abodah Zarah (Idolatry)
Aboth (Sayings of the Fathers)
Horayoth (Instructions)
KODASHIM (Hallowed Things)
RE: Sacrifices and Offerings
Zebahim (Animal Offerings)
Menachoth (Meal Offerings)
Chullin (Kosher Animals)
Bekhoroth (Firstlings)
Arakhin (Vows of Valuation)
Temurah (The Substituted Offering)
Kerithoth (Extirpation)
Meilah (Sacrilege)
Tamid (The Daily Whole Offering)
Middoth (Measurements)
Kinnim (The Bird-offerings)
TOHOROTH (Cleannesses)
RE: Defilement
Kelim (Vessels)
Oholoth (Tents)
Nega'im (Leprosy Signs)
Parah (The Red Heifer)
Toharoth (Cleannesses)
Mikvaoth (Immersion Pools)
Niddah (The Menstruant)
Makshirin (Predisposers)
Zabim (They that Suffer a Flux)
Tebul Yom (He that Immersed Himself That Day)
Yadaim (Hands)
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