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.

WATCH: Thousands gather at Western Wall for selichot prayers as 'Post' observes Yom Kippur

The Jerusalem Post will temporarily pause news coverage to observe Yom Kippur. We wish all our readers a gmar hatima tova and an easy and meaningful fast.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Thousands of Jews gather for selichot prayer services at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem, ahead of Yom Kippur, September 15, 2026

Three women who arrived in the morning to sit the Rabbinate exams finally do so at a four-hour delay, April 27, 2026

ITIM demands equal conditions for women in upcoming Chief Rabbinate exams

After women faced severe delays during historic first exams, ITIM threatens legal action against the Chief Rabbinate to ensure equal venues and testing conditions for upcoming certification tests.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026|BySARAH BEN-NUN

The empty streets in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and the holiest of Jewish holidays. Israel came to a standstill for 25-hours during the high holiday of Yom Kippur when observant Jews fast and Israelis are prohibited from driving, October 2, 2025.

In the shadow of October 7: How Yom Kippur has changed for some secular Israelis

The October 7 attack has affected all Israelis somehow. Some have questioned God’s existence. Others have gotten closer to religion, and sought connection to spirituality.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026|ByLINDA GRADSTEIN

An illustrative image of a Torah scroll and a shofar for Yom Kippur.

The Jewish sin we never confess: Choosing indifference over love - opinion

Judaism does not demand agreement or unity. It demands that we never erase another Jew from the circle of our obligations.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026|BySHIVI GREENFIELD

Senior US Rabbi moves to Israel, chooses home in Jerusalem’s Givat Hamatos

Rabbi Kalman Topp, former head of Beverly Hills' Beth Jacob, joins a growing wave of US Olim establishing a new Anglo-Zionist enclave in the capital's emerging neighborhood.

AUGUST 16, 2026ByYOSSI NISSAN, NADLAN-MEDIA

Aderet project in Jerusalem by Ram Aderet Group and Saleet in the Givat Hamatos neighborhood.

Steve Witkoff's grandson born on 15th anniversary of son Andrew's death

Andrew Witkoff died of an opioid overdose in 2011 at age 22. Steve Witkoff previously spoke about the loss at a conference on the opioid epidemic organized by Melania Trump.

AUGUST 16, 2026ByIDAN KWELLER

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff delivers a press conference upon the signing of the declaration on deploying post-ceasefire force in Ukraine, during the so-called 'Coalition of the Willing' summit, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, January 6, 2026; illustrative.

Rediscovering an ancient gift: What Nigerian Jews taught me about the meaning of Shabbat - opinion

Where do you begin to explain Shabbat from scratch? I found myself going back to the beginning. Literally. The first Shabbat in the Torah is found in the opening chapter of human existence.

AUGUST 15, 2026ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN

Congregants of an Igbo synagogue gather to pray

This week in Jewish history: Moses ascends Mount Sinai, a massacre shakes Hebron

A highly abridged monthly version of Dust & Stars.

AUGUST 15, 2026BySTEVEN DRUCKER

ADELHEID AND Edmond James de Rothschild visit British Mandate Palestine, 1914.

The question is not ‘Bibi: Yes or no?’ but the answer is, ‘Which Israel?’ - opinion

Perhaps, after nearly 80 years devoted to changing the Jewish condition, Israel has reached another stage of Zionism.

AUGUST 14, 2026ByJEFFREY KAHN

An AI-generated political cartoon.

Parashat Shoftim: Wholehearted – and well

“Wholeheartedness is greater than wisdom, but great wisdom is required of a Jew before he reaches the level of ‘You shall be wholehearted with the Lord your God.’” - Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz.

AUGUST 14, 2026ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

SORCERERS, MAGICIANS, diviners: The Torah rejects them all.

Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Shabbat candle lighting times for your area.

AUGUST 14, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

Nirim is thriving, but Oct. 7 still haunts its present – opinion

A proud father watches his daughter actualize her decision, made in hiding during some of the worst hours of Hamas’s massacre, to capture Nirim’s life in art on a weekly basis

AUGUST 12, 2026ByGIL TROY

A photograph from the ‘Seeing Home’ exhibition at Kibbutz Nirim.

Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community feels misunderstood. Here’s why - opinion

If haredim see that they are treated with understanding, respect, and sensitivity, they will more readily change and adapt in the service of the greater good

AUGUST 11, 2026ByMOTI LEITNER

Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) people in Tel Aviv in June.

Beyond the Headlines: Have you heard Elkana Levi’s speech? - opinion

Elkana did not gloss over the pain or the difficulty. He spoke about friends who had been killed, and about his darkest moments.

AUGUST 10, 2026BySIVAN RAHAV MEIR

Elkana Levi giving a speech on gratitude.