All About Judaism

10 Most Basic Questions Asked About Judaism

From Lisa Katz, former About.com Guide

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What are the basic beliefs of Judaism?
The page describes Judaism's concepts of God, people, the world and the Messiah, describes Judaism's Holy Books, lists Judaism's main principles of Judaism and summarizes the essence of Judaism.
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What are the different branches of Judaism?
Jewish movements, often referred to as denominations, branches or sects of Judaism, differ from each other in some beliefs and thus in the way they observe Judaism. Learn more about various branches of Judaism, namely Secular Humanistic, Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative and Orthodox.
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Am I Jewish? Who is a Jew?
The "Who is a Jew" issue has become one of the most controversial issues in Jewish life today. Orthodox Judaism stands unequivocably behind Judaism's almost 2000 year old law of matrilineal descent. Conservative Judaism has stayed loyal to the traditional matrilineal descent law, but, compared to Orthodoxy, is more open in its acceptance of potential converts, more sensitive in its approach to intermarried Jews, and more active in its outreach to intermarried families. Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism have expanded their definition of a Jew from one with a Jewish mother to also include one with a Jewish father.
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How can one become a Jew? How can one convert to Judaism?
Must a convert to Judaism immerse in a mikvah (ritual bath) and undergo circumcision (brit)? Must a convert commit to an orthodox life? The various branches of Judaism maintain different beliefs regarding the content of the process of conversion to Judaism. Learn about the different conversion processes offered, and find online resources for potential converts.
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What is the history of the Jewish people?
Find Jewish history information and timelines that start with Biblical figures like Abraham and continue through the growth of American Jewry, the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the establishment of the State of Israel.

How is the Jewish Sabbath observed? What are the various Jewish Holidays?
Enjoy this comprehensive and helpful information about the Jewish Sabbath, Festivals and Holidays -- including Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Shavuot, Tishat HaYamim, Tisha B'Av, Purim, Passover, Chanukah and Tu B'Shvat.

How can Israel be both a Jewish and a Democratic State?
What happens when rabbis tell soldiers not to follow the commands of their officers, which are passed down by the Israeli government? Should a democratic government make it illegal for restaurants to serve bread during Passover or mandatory for a hotel to serve only kosher food? Is it right for a democratic government to give money for the building of orthodox synagogues but not for conservative and reform synagogues?
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How does Judaism mark different lifecycle events?
It is no surprise that Jewish weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and even Bris ceremonies are so well-known outside the Jewish world. Judaism stresses celebrating life. And one way to do this is the celebrate lifecycle events. Celebrations of life's milestones are called Simchas (Smachot in Hebrew), which means "Joys."
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What is the purpose of prayer in Judaism?
In Judaism, prayer is man's way of communicating with God. Read about the history of worship in Judaism, the focus of Jewish prayer, and how Jews pray today.
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Practices and Rituals in Judaism?

What are the Holy Books of Judaism?
The Torah is the primary sacred document of Judaism. Torah, which means "teaching", is God's revealed instructions to the Jewish People. Torah includes both Written and Oral parts. The Written Torah, called the Tanakh, is sometimes called the Hebrew Bible, Jewish Bible, or Old Testament. The Oral Torah, explanations of the Written Torah, was originally passed down verbally from generation to generation and later codified into the Talmud.
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