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.

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Israel’s opposition unites against Netanyahu, but lacks policies to present a clear alternative government.

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Benjamin Netanyahu

A person holds a placard during a demonstration against antisemitism, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Brussels, Belgium December 10, 2023.

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A Jewish woman covered in a white prayer shawl prays in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, during the Jewish holiday of Passover, April 2, 2018

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

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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.

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

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

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Exodus from Egypt (Edward Poynter)

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IDF commanders visit Auschwitz as part of their training.

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Gold.

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Promises.

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See Shabbat times for your area.

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Shabbat candles

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People gather at a OneTable Shabbat dinner.

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at a solidarity rally for Israel in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, October 9, 2023.