The Core Beliefs Of The Abrahamic And Messianic Faith Of Judaism

Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are some of the religions that most individuals can relate to, being the three largest religions in the world. Like many religions they share many differences and also some similarities. One difference that these religions hold is their view of Jesus Christ. Similarities are surprisingly common to find among some religions because of the basis they put on one another. Some similarities between these religions include: belief of monotheism and the influence of Zoroastrianism had on each religion. Also another similarity carried out by these three religions would be the significance of Abraham. Some other differences include: religious texts and also how they approach God in prayer.

The Jewish faith revolves around the theme of relationships between the Creator, mankind and the land of Israel. It is through these relationships that Jewish Beliefs, Customs and Sacred Writings interlink throughout the Jewish religion. The festival Rosh Hashanah is a prime example of where Jewish practices strongly associate with the beliefs and Sacred Scriptures of Judaism. Through the links between customs, traditions and Sacred Writings, adherents to the Jewish faith affiliate with not only their communities, but with themselves and God.

The religions Judaism and Christianity are two of the five major belief systems. Some of the similarities they share are: they are both monotheist, believe in the afterlife, and they share the old Testament in their Holy Book. Some of their differences include: the Jews believe that Jesus isn't a divine being and the Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah, and their holy ceremonies are guided by Rabbis, for the Jews, and Priest, for the Christians.

Judaism and Islam have a large history of fighting which has separated them significantly but they have also grown similarly side by side. On one hand there is the oldest religion and on the other one there is the youngest religion but both of them possess the same belief in monotheism, and to a large extent a similar code of law and scriptural authority. These religions share a similar creation story and patriarchy, since the roots of these two are to be found in the basin of Mesopotamia, dubbed the “Fertile Crescent” of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The story is used here as an opening to introduce a religious law effecting God and the surrounding area of the Arab nations, the Hebrews, the Muslims, and even a mention of Mesopotamian law. Chatim Potok phrases their story in his book Wanderings: Chaim Potok’s history of the Jews and he wrote “Abraham was probably born in the Sumerian City of Ur four thousand years ago a scholar invented a label for the descendants of Shem; he called them Semites,” (23).1

They believe there is no other god and you may only worship the one God.

The monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have over many thousands of years established many traditions and beliefs. Many of these are from their respective book of scripture such as the Bible, Torah, or Qu’ran. Others are from the interpretation of the religions over the many years from their leaders and the generational stories that have been passed down. Many of these can be seen as quite similar between the religions, but others can be considered unique to each one of them. There are many concepts that can be analyzed across these religions. The goal of this essay will be to focus and to put an understanding to some of the main concepts that include ultimate reality, human beings, community/society and nature (science) and how these influence the believers’ understanding of what it means to religious.

Just as western religions accept that G-d exists, we know that evil and suffering exists. Western religions know G-d as omnipotent, omniscient, and morally good. With these three fundamental characteristics in mind, G-d would have the power to destroy evil, the knowledge to know what evil is, and the will and desire to destroy it. Thus, the western conception of an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good G-d gives rise to a new Problem of G-d. To answer this problem, many scholars have searched for a theodicy, a rational explanation for evil in the world. When analyzing Judaism, the necessity for theodicy is most prevalent, and possibly most difficult, when trying to come to terms with the Holocaust. Using Elie Wiesel as my starting point, I will address the three conclusions scholars have reached: theodicy is possible, there is a human inability to construct a convincing theodicy, and a completely rejection of any possibility for theodicy. After presenting these options, I will offer criticisms as well as explain my own rationale for supporting Wiesel’s claim that G-d deserves to be questioned because He bears responsibility for evil in the world.

This essay will highlight the challenge the Holocaust inflicted upon Jewish thinkers and will illustrate the affect the catastrophe had upon belief in the God of tradition.

#1 Maimonides is making a thesis in his two works, “The Thirteen Foundations of Jewish Belief” and "The Laws Concerning Mashiach" which illustrates what most basic of moral codes those of his fellow Jews should be keeping. “The Thirteen Foundations of Jewish Belief” is basically the Ten Commandments as published by mainstream Christianity. The title clearly states that there are thirteen foundations that those of the Jewish faith should follow as closely as they can. a few of them are , to believe in God and only God, stay a loyal servant of God. Also, that the Torah, the Jewish Bible, is the word of God. His second work, “The Laws Concerning Mashiach” Maimonides is trying to speak to a broader demographic, both to those who are Jewish and those who are non¬believers. By reaching out the nonbelievers, and to those who may have never even heard of Judaism, he is trying to enlighten on the main tenants of Judaism while showing why they make sense. Hopefully, this ends up recruiting those that read the writings into his religion. His interpretation of the actual doctrines was Maimonides way of redefining the principals and moral cade that Judaism claims to follow. Also, he tries to explain and clarify the consequences of not follow the Word of G-d. He gives tangible examples of who the Messiah will be like, so that the audience can come closer to God, by living like the Messiah that he describes in such details that make him seem real and not unattainable. The writings also

Judaism is one of the monotheistic religions. It is one of the most ancient. They believe in one god. They also believe Messiah will come, the dead will be resurrected, and the word of the prophets are true. Judaism was the first tradition to teach monotheism, the belief that there’s only one God. “As Judaism evolved, the idea of God evolved, too, focusing on One unknowable, universal, image-less Being, Who, because the universe is framed in Love, requires justice of human beings” ("Taking a Look at Jewish Religious Beliefs"). Early Jewish history is told in the Hebrew bible. Their holy book is the Torah. Their faith usually carried them through the tough times they experienced in life. Judaism teaches that maintaining the following of Jewish teachings will bring blessings. Almost everything a Jewish person does can become an act of worship. “Because Jews have made a bargain with God to keep his laws, keeping that bargain and doing things in the way that pleases God is an act of worship. And Jews don't only seek to obey the letter of the law - the particular details of each of the Jewish laws - but the spirit of it, too. A religious Jew tries to bring holiness into everything they do, by doing it as an act that praises God, and honours everything God has done. For such a person the whole of their life becomes an act of worship. Being part of a community that follows particular customs and rules helps keep a group of people together, and it's noticeable that the Jewish groups that have been most successful at avoiding assimilation are those that obey the rules most strictly - sometimes called ultra-orthodox Jews” (BBC "Religions - Judaism: Jewish beliefs" 2009).

Over 14 million people affiliate themselves Judaism but few people truly understand what it actually means to be a Jew. The basic beliefs of this religion are built upon the Holy book the Torah which; are the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Many Jews trust and run their lives by this collection of books but others don’t find it credible resulting in the different denominations of Judaism: Reform, orthodox, conservative, and messianic. Despite all of the denominations of Judaism, all followers share the belief that there is only one God who is the creator of the universe and the source of all moral authority (Silfkin). The Jewish perspective of God, mankind, and the Tanakh define the worldview.

Judaism originated a very long time ago, it is a part of the Bronze Age Polytheistic Ancient Semitic religions. The Jewish calendar goes back more than 5000 years, most scholars date the beginning of the religion of the Israelites to the known founder, Abraham, whose life is generally dated around 2000 to 1800 B.C.E. Abraham came to believe that the universe was the works of a single creator, and taught this to other believers. Therefore, Judaism is the first recorded religion to advocate monotheism, meaning there is only one God. Both Christianity and Islam found some of their roots in Judaism, about 2,000 years after Abraham, Jesus was born into Judaism. Then after Jesus, Muhammad could trace his ancestry back to Abraham. Judaism has three essential parts the written Torah, the recognition of Israel, which are the descendants of Abraham, as uniquely holy people chosen by God, and also it is a requirement that Israel lives in accordance with God's laws as it’s said in the Torah.

Judaism is practiced by almost half of the country and is one of the oldest and biggest monistic religions. The laws they follow come from the Torah which comes straight from the Hebrew bible. This paper will consist of Jewish traditions regarding food preferences and avoidances, death/dying, communication, and grieving.

The Jewish culture is an interesting combination of birth right and religion (Namburg, 2007). One can either be born in to Judaism or can convert (Namburg, 2007). Due to the relationship between culture, ethnicity, and religion, there is diversity within Judaism (Namburg, 2007). There are over 6 million Jews currently living in the United States and its territories (Namburg, 2007). The three cornerstones to the Jewish faith are: G-d, the Torah, and Israel (Namburg, 2007). “G-d” represents the monotheistic views of Judaism (Namburg, 2007). The Jewish religion is the first to have a monotheistic view and is one of the oldest recorded religions (Rich, 2011.). Until recently, Jews were to refer to God as “G-d”, now some rabbis, Jewish leaders, have stated that it is acceptable to use God (Rich, 2011). Judaism followers are more concerned with how people relate and interact with God that with what they believe about God (Dosick, 2009). The Torah is the teaching and belief system within Judaism (Namburg, 2007). Three sects of Judaism have been established over time: Orthodox, Reform, and Secular (Jewish Culture, 2015). Jobani (2008) argues that secular Jewish culture is a unique branch of the Western secular world.

Judaism, which is made up of a few separate groups, was very common at the originating of Christianity. The common ground (shared beliefs) for these sects was the belief in One God and that this One God had made a covenant with the people of Israel. The foundation of this covenant was called “The Torah.” The Pharisees and Sadducees were the two main groups the Bible focuses on around the time of Jesus, along with the Zealots, the Hellenists, the Lawyers, and the Essenes, who we only read about in sources outside of the New Testament.