Judaism

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world, having originated in the Middle East more than 3,000 years ago with patriarch Abraham.

As the first Abrahamic religion, Judaism has played a major role in shaping the history of the world, having greatly influenced the development of Christianity and Islam, despite having always had a relatively small amount of adherents by comparison.

The religion itself is built off of the "written Torah" of the Bible, known in Judaism as the Tanach, and the "oral Torah" of the Mishna, Talmud and other great works of leading rabbis throughout history.

Judaism itself has no single leading figure, and is divided into multiple streams, such as the ultra-Orthodox (haredi), Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. Further differences also exist along the lines of historic Diasporic communities, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry.

Today, the largest concentration of adherents of Judaism can be found in Israel, with the US having the second-largest.

As Ramadan meets Purim, Jews and Muslims must choose shared humanity over fear - opinion

Purim commemorates the deliverance of the Jews in ancient Persia over 2,000 years ago. It is rooted in the broader Middle Eastern landscape, where Jews have part of this region since antiquity.

FEBRUARY 21, 2026|ByMENDY CHITRIK

PALESTINIAN MUSLIMS are seen praying at the Temple Mount during the holy month Ramadan, in Jerusalem, on February 17, 2026.

Ortal Pelleg connected to the author through surfing.

Hinenu at 10 million: 100 lives that tell Israel’s real story

As Israel reaches 10 million citizens amid war, one photographer captures 100 lives that reveal a quieter, more human story.

FEBRUARY 21, 2026|BySHANNA FULD

At first glance, it reads like an architectural blueprint rather than sacred literature.

Jewish return to Temple Mount brings renewed memory and hope - opinion

Jews are returning to the Temple Mount, reconnecting prayer, memory, and faith in the place their hearts have longed for.

FEBRUARY 21, 2026|ByMICHAEL FREUND

The Hadassah Ein Karem hospital in Jerusalem. January 15, 2017.

Grapevine: Ancient minority

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

FEBRUARY 21, 2026|ByGREER FAY CASHMAN

Concert unites community with music for OneFamily victims in Ra'anana

OneFamily hosts “A Concert of Love & Hope” in Ra’anana, featuring Azi Schwartz and guest performers from around the world.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByRACHEL COHEN

 OneFamily group photo in Cyprus.

Death penalty bill could turn terrorists into heroes - opinion

Executions won’t stop terror; they could glorify killers and spark more attacks against Israel.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByMICHAEL J. ZOOSMAN

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir attends a faction meeting at the Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 17, 2025

Moral, legal issues with Israel’s terrorist death penalty - opinion

Ben-Gvir’s law treats non-Jewish lives as unequal, risking Israel’s moral and global standing.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByYITZ GREENBERG

Israeli politician Itamar Ben-Gvir walks inside the Knesset, on the day US President Donald Trump delivers remarks, in Jerusalem, October 13, 2025.

Collapse of responsibility in the name of faith - opinion

Parashat Bo warns: true faith demands responsibility, that honoring life means accountability and protecting the vulnerable.

JANUARY 25, 2026ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN

Ultra-Othodox Jewish men block a road and clash with police during a protest against the autopsy of toddlers who died in a daycare, on Tuesday. These protests were not about honoring the dead, but about avoiding accontability, the writer argues.

Everyday heroines: Quiet burden of Israeli anchors waiting at home during wartime

While soldiers served for months, their partners carried the home front alone; now facing the emotional aftermath few see.

JANUARY 24, 2026ByMICHAL RONESS

One should act heroically like a lion to get up in the morning to serve his Creator, the ‘Shulchan Aruch’ says.

Compassion vs halacha: UK assisted dying bill sparks Jewish debate

RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS: Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain and UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis answer questions on the religious and ethical implications of assisted dying as the UK passed a law on the matter.

JANUARY 24, 2026ByMATHILDA HELLER

"There is nothing sacred about suffering," argued Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain, who told the ‘Post’ that Jewish values of compassion should guide end-of-life care.

Secular Manhattan private school holds annual Shabbat gathering post-October 7

At the Town School, officials and parents say, the entire school community has embraced the Shabbat celebrations alongside the other special events held to honor students’ traditions.

JANUARY 24, 2026ByJACKIE HAJDENBERG/JTA

Students and parents at the Upper East Side's Town School celebrate the school's third annual Shabbat.

Zionism is not failing - it is paying the price of long neglect - opinion

October 7 did not create the crisis: It removed the insulation. What Zionism needs now is not another campaign. It requires a re-founding.

JANUARY 24, 2026ByADAM SCOTT BELLOS

A silhouette of Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, is displayed near a flag of the state of Israel on a building in Jerusalem.

Ghetto Fighters’ House: World's first Holocaust museum keeping memory, message alive

The Ghetto Fighters’ House brings rare archival artifacts and stories to Givatayim for International Holocaust Remembrance Day, linking past resilience to today’s changing world.

JANUARY 23, 2026ByBARRY DAVIS

Janusz Korczak motivated the children in his care by giving them jolly cards.

Jerusalem highlights: January 23-29

What's new to do in Israel's capital?

JANUARY 23, 2026ByHAGAY HACOHEN

A charity donation box is seen in this illustrative photo taken March 22, 2023