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.

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, 2026|ByBARRY DAVIS

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

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

Jerusalem highlights: January 23-29

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

JANUARY 23, 2026|ByHAGAY HACOHEN

Exodus from Egypt (Edward Poynter)

Parashat Bo: Jeremiah’s timeless promise to Israel

Empires crumble, pain persists, yet Israel survives; Jeremiah’s words offer reassurance across generations.

JANUARY 23, 2026|ByMICHAEL FREUND

IDF commanders visit Auschwitz as part of their training.

After October 7, IDF commanders visit Poland for Holocaust lessons and battlefield reflections

The Jerusalem Post interviewed Col. Yoni Dahan and Col. Nati Keren, who have been serving during the war, about the importance of a trip to Poland.

JANUARY 23, 2026|ByESTHER DAVIS

Before ‘SNL,’ there was Sid Caesar and a roomful of Jewish writers

Legendary Jewish comedian Sid Caesar dominated the television screen beginning in the 1950's and left a lasting mark on American showbusiness as we know it.

DECEMBER 27, 2025ByANDREW SILOW-CARROLL/JTA

Imogene Coca and Sid Caesar in a promotional photo for "Your Show of Shows," in 1952. The television show ran on NBC from 1950 to 1954.

When brothers reunite: Ezekiel’s prophecy and Israel’s deepest divide

A biblical vision of unity shows why Israel’s deepest fractures are also its greatest tests.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByMICHAEL FREUND

Iraqi Jews pray at the tomb of Ezekiel in Al-Kifl in southeastern Iraq on the Euphrates River, between Najaf and Al Hillah, in 1932.

My Word: 2025, in its own words - opinion

From AI slop to rage bait, 2025’s words reveal a world shaped by tech, outrage, and the human need to connect.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByLIAT COLLINS

AI education illustrative

Grapevine, December 26, 2025: In his father’s footsteps

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByGREER FAY CASHMAN

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, alongside David Fattal, chats with Assaf and Nadav Fattal.

Parashat Vayigash: A shoulder of tears

Though the formal verse of 'Shema, Israel' would only be inscribed later in Torah, Jacob sensed its truth centuries earlier.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByMOSHE TARAGIN

Joseph meeting his father, Jacob, in the desert, at the frontier of Egypt. Painting by Jean-Antoine Julien de Parme (1736 - 1799).

Parashat Vayigash: Sharp emotional transitions

The Torah describes the emotional upheaval, the sharp transition from deep sorrow to astonishment and joy, when Jacob discovers that Joseph is alive and even holds a senior position in Egypt.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

'The Recognition of Joseph by his Brothers,’ by Peter von Cornelius, 1817.

Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Shabbat times for your area.

DECEMBER 26, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

One in four Israeli Jews celebrate or consider celebrating Christmas - poll

The poll reflects the wider cultural presence of Christmas in Israeli public spaces, including markets, decorations, and seasonal events.

DECEMBER 23, 2025ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

People attend a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the New Gate in Jerusalem’s Old City, on December 14, 2025.

The day everything changed for Jewish Australians - opinion

The Bondi Beach attack on December 14 changed everything for Jewish Australians, revealing hate, heroism, and choices that shape their future.

DECEMBER 23, 2025ByTAMMY REZNIK

An aerial view of emergency personnel working at the scene of a shooting incident at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, December 14, 2025, in this screen grab from a video.

Beyond the Headlines: In memory of Rabbi Eli Schlanger - opinion

A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news.

DECEMBER 22, 2025BySIVAN RAHAV MEIR

A rabbi performs the Havdalah ceremony while Margaret Beazley, governor of New South Wales, holds the Havdalah candle, during a tribute for the victims of a mass shooting during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, in Sydney, Australia, December 20, 2025.