Origin of the Word Judaism

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Origin of the Word "Judaism"

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Question

Why is the religion called "Judaism" as opposed to "Jewism" since we are called Jews (compared to Hindus and Hinduism or Christians and Christianity)?

Answer

The words Jews and Judaism are English words derived from the Hebrew words, respectively of "Yehudim" and "Yahadut." Yehudim (Jews) practice Yahadut (Judaism), which refers to the body of Jewish religious thought, customs, symbols, rituals and laws.

In the early 1st millennium BCE, Judaism got its name from "Judah", the land of the Hebrews. We find the term “Judaism” used in the first century CE by Greek-speaking Jews. References include the Second Book of Maccabees 2:21 and 8:1. “Yahadut” or “dat Yahadut” is used infrequently in medieval commentaries, e.g. Ibn Ezra, but it is used extensively in modern Jewish history.

Best Wishes,

Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner
Foundation for Family Education (FFFE)

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