History and beliefs
Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world and was founded in 2,500 BC in Mesopotamia, by a man named Abraham. Judaism has spread through Israel, Europe, and the United States of America, with 14 million adherents.
Judaism began as a small nation of Hebrews and grew to become what it is today. Judaism is a nation and a religion that has laws and rituals that the adherents belief.
Jewish sacred text, the Torah teaches the main belief of Jews. Jewish people believe that there is one God that is powerful. As time went on, however, a rabbi named Maimonides added in 13 Articles of Faith, that every Jew should adhere to, to be apart Judaism, and they are:
1. God exists
2. God is one and unique
3. God is incorporeal
4. God is eternal
5. Prayer is to God only.
6. The prophets spoke truth.
7. Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
8. The Written and Oral Torah were given to Moses.
9. There will be no other Torah.
10.God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
11.God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
12.The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will be resurrected.” (Source A).
Judaism began as a small nation of Hebrews and grew to become what it is today. Judaism is a nation and a religion that has laws and rituals that the adherents belief.
Jewish sacred text, the Torah teaches the main belief of Jews. Jewish people believe that there is one God that is powerful. As time went on, however, a rabbi named Maimonides added in 13 Articles of Faith, that every Jew should adhere to, to be apart Judaism, and they are:
1. God exists
2. God is one and unique
3. God is incorporeal
4. God is eternal
5. Prayer is to God only.
6. The prophets spoke truth.
7. Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
8. The Written and Oral Torah were given to Moses.
9. There will be no other Torah.
10.God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
11.God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
12.The Messiah will come.
13. The dead will be resurrected.” (Source A).
symbols
The Star of David is a hexagram that is the symbol for the entire religion and had been since the 17th century. It is the star that is represented on the flag or Israel.
The Menorah is another symbol of Judaism. It is a nine-branched candelabrum that is used during Hanukkah. The holiday of Hanukkah is eight days long and one candle is lit on each night of the holiday. The middle candle id called “the helper” which is used to light the other candles as each day passes.
Dreidels are also associated with Hanukkah and is a spinning top, that has four sides. Each of the sides are marked with a different letter and are used in gambling. “Tradition says that when Jews were being persecuted and hiding out in caves, they passed the time playing dreidel games” (Source A
The Menorah is another symbol of Judaism. It is a nine-branched candelabrum that is used during Hanukkah. The holiday of Hanukkah is eight days long and one candle is lit on each night of the holiday. The middle candle id called “the helper” which is used to light the other candles as each day passes.
Dreidels are also associated with Hanukkah and is a spinning top, that has four sides. Each of the sides are marked with a different letter and are used in gambling. “Tradition says that when Jews were being persecuted and hiding out in caves, they passed the time playing dreidel games” (Source A
misconceptions
Usually the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Jews is the Holocaust. There is a Holocaust museum in Washington DC, that the United States made it to honor the fallen, and remember that we can overcome anything. However, many do not know that this caused an up roar with the Jews. The up roar occurred because the US could have helped the Jewish population during WWII from the beginning and chose not to. The US acted to save the Jews after millions were already killed. Of course the Jews were thankful, but also upset that the US would put such a thing as a museum to honor the fallen that should not have even been killed. And to top it off, in the capitol of the US.
Sources
Source A: www.religionfacts.com