Judaism (religion) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia

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Judaism, the religion of the Jews. It is the complex phenomenon of a total way of life for the Jewish people, comprising theology, law, and innumerable cultural traditions.

The first section of this article treats the history of Judaism in the broadest and most complete sense, from the early ancestral beginnings of the Jewish people to contemporary times. In the second section the beliefs, practices, and culture of Judaism are discussed. Dates are listed throughout as bce (before the Common Era = bc) and ce (Common Era = ad).

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Aspects of the topic Judaism are discussed in the following places at Britannica.

Assorted References

importance of Israel (in Israel: History)
religious law (in Hebraic law)

education

ancient development (in education: Ancient Hebrews)
nature of scholarship (in literature: Scholarly research)
parochial schools (in parochial education)

historiography

(in historiography: Hebrew traditions)

Dead Sea Scrolls (in Dead Sea Scrolls)

history

after biblical times (in Jew)
Benjamin tribe (in Benjamin (Hebrew tribe))
Middles Ages (in history of Europe: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam)
Moses’ mission (in Moses (Hebrew prophet))
origin in Southwest Asia (in Asia (continent): Southwest Asia)
Palestinian Judaism in Jesus’ day (in Jesus Christ: The Jewish religion in the 1st century)
relations with
- Egypt (in ancient Egypt: Merneptah; in ancient Egypt: The Late period (664–332 bc) )
- Mesopotamia (in history of Mesopotamia (historical region, Asia): The Parthian period)
rule of
- Antiochus IV (in Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Seleucid king))
- Cyrus II (in Cyrus II (king of Persia))
- Darius I (in Darius I (king of Persia): Darius as an administrator.)
- David (in David (king of Israel))
- Nebuchadrezzar II (in Nebuchadrezzar II (king of Babylonia))
- Solomon (in Solomon (king of Israel))
tribalism to monarchism (in ancient Middle East (historical region, Asia): New states and peoples)

holy cities

Hebron (in Hebron (city, West Bank))
Jerusalem (in Jerusalem (national capital): Jews)
Tiberias (in Tiberias (Israel))
Ẕefat (in Ẕefat (Israel))

myth and legend

(in Judaism (religion): Jewish myth and legend)

creation myths (in creation myth: Transcendence and otherness)
influence on Christian myth (in Christianity: The early church)
Leviathan (in Leviathan (Middle Eastern mythology); in Middle Eastern religion: Myths as the basic mode of religious thought )
world ages (in myth: Myths of time and eternity)

philosophy and theology

(in Judaism (religion): Jewish philosophy)

contribution by
- Baron (in Salo Wittmayer Baron (American historian))
- Baeck (in Leo Baeck (German theologian): Baeck’s philosophy)
- Buber (in Martin Buber (German religious philosopher))
- Kaplan (in Mordecai Menahem Kaplan (American rabbi))
- Maimonides (in Moses Maimonides (Jewish philosopher, scholar, and physician))
- Philo Judaeus (in Philo Judaeus (Jewish philosopher))
- Rosenzweig (in Franz Rosenzweig (German philosopher))
- Saʿadia ben Joseph (in Saʿadia ben Joseph (Jewish exegete and philosopher))
influence of Hellenistic philosophy
(in Hellenistic religion: The influence of Hellenistic religions)
- Aristotelianism (in Aristotelianism: The Syriac, Arabic, and Jewish traditions)
- Platonism (in Platonism: Greek Platonism from Aristotle through Middle Platonism: its nature and history; in Platonism: Early Jewish Platonism; in Platonism: Islamic and medieval Jewish philosophy )
influence on medieval philosophy (in Western philosophy: Jewish thought)
monotheism (in monotheism (theology); in monotheism (theology): Religion of Israel and Judaism )
philosophy of religion (in philosophy of religion: Epistemological issues)
study of religion (in study of religion: Later attempts to study religion; in study of religion: Theories of the Middle Ages; in study of religion: The late 17th and 18th centuries )
views of
- Benedict XVI (in Benedict XVI (pope): Papacy)
- John Paul II (in Saint John Paul II (pope): World religions)
- Nietzsche (in ethics (philosophy): Nietzsche)
- Spinoza (in Benedict de Spinoza (Dutch-Jewish philosopher): Early life and career; in Benedict de Spinoza (Dutch-Jewish philosopher): Tractatus Theologico-Politicus )

practices and beliefs

altars (in altar (religion))
angels (in angel and demon (religion): Benevolent beings)
asceticism (in asceticism: Forms of religious asceticism.)
atonement (in atonement (religion))
attitude toward
- birth control (in birth control: Ethics and the influence of religious systems)
- celibacy (in celibacy: Islam, Judaism, and Christianity)
- censorship (in censorship: Ancient Israel and early Christianity)
- evolution (in evolution (scientific theory): Religious criticism and acceptance)
- homosexuality (in homosexuality)
- sexual behaviour (in human sexual behaviour: Social and cultural aspects)
ceremonial alcohol consumption (in alcohol consumption: Among Classical peoples)
chosen people concept (in chosen people (Judaism))
circumcision (in circumcision (ritual surgical procedure))
confession (in confession (religion))
covenants (in covenant (religion): The covenants of the Israelite monarchy (1020–587/586 bce))
creeds (in creed (religion): Judaism)
death (in death: Judaism)
demons (in devil (religion))
devequt (in devequt (Judaism))
dietary laws and food customs
- vegetarianism (in vegetarianism (dietary practice): Ancient origins)
doctrine and dogma (in doctrine and dogma (religion): Functions of doctrines and dogmas; in doctrine and dogma (religion): The relation of faith, reason, and religious insight to doctrine and dogma; in angel and demon (religion): Angels; in angel and demon (religion): In Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islām )
dress and vestments (in religious dress)
dualism (in dualism (religion): Judaism)
eschatology (in eschatology (religion): Judaism)
fasting (in fasting (religious practice))
fundamentalism (in fundamentalism (religious movement): Jewish fundamentalism in Israel)
gemilut hesed (in gemilut ḥesed (Judaism))
God as king (in Kingdom of God (Christianity))
heaven (in heaven: Judaism)
hell (in hell (religion): Judaism)
idolatry (in idolatry)
imposition of hands (in imposition of hands (Judaism and Christianity))
Last Judgment (in Last Judgment (religion))
marriage (in marriage: Marriage rituals)
martyr (in martyr (religion): Judaism.)
messiah (in messiah (religion))
millennialism (in eschatology (religion): Millennialism; in eschatology (religion): Renewed interest in eschatology )
miracles (in miracle: Judaism)
monotheism (in monotheism (theology): Religion of Israel and Judaism)
mysticism
(in mysticism: The location of mysticism in religion)
- Baʿal Shem Ṭov (in Baʿal Shem Ṭov (Polish rabbi))
- German Ḥasidism (in Ḥasidism (medieval Jewish religious movement))
- Kabbala (in Kabbala (Jewish mysticism))
- Merkava (in Merkava (Jewish mysticism))
- Moses de León (in Moses De León (Spanish Kabbalist))
- sefirot (in sefira (Judaism))
- Shabbetai Tzevi (in Shabbetai Tzevi (Jewish heretic))
oath (in oath (religious and secular promise))
Oneg Shabbat (in Oneg Shabbat (Judaism))
pantheism and panentheism (in pantheism: Ancient Middle Eastern doctrines; in pantheism: Medieval doctrines )
personal hygiene (in history of medicine: The ancient Middle East and Egypt)
pilgrimage (in pilgrimage (religion): Meaning and motivations of pilgrimage)
prayer
(in prayer: Religions of the West)
- use of amen (in amen (prayer))
prophecy
(in prophecy; in prophecy: Prophecy and prophetic religion in postbiblical Judaism; in dream (sleep experience): Dreams as a source of divination )
- Old Testament (in biblical literature: Hebrew prophecy)
- Samuel (in Samuel (Hebrew prophet): Conflicting traditions about Samuel.)
purgatory (in purgatory (Roman Catholicism): Development of the tradition)
purification
- ablution (in ablution (religious rite))
- baptism (in baptism (Christianity))
- lepers (in purification rite (anthropology): Rite for purifying a cured leper in ancient Judaism)
- mikvah (in mikvah (Judaism))
religious symbolism
(in religious symbolism and iconography: Symbols of sacred time and space; in religious symbolism and iconography: Absence of representational forms )
- David (in David (king of Israel): Religious role and significance.)
- musical instrument usage (in musical instrument: General characteristics)
resurrection (in resurrection (religion))
revelation (in revelation (religion): Nature and significance; in revelation (religion): Judaism )
ritualistic objects (in ceremonial object (religion): Sacred furniture and related objects)
sacrificial rites and symbolism (in sacrifice (religion): Sacrificer; in sacrifice (religion): Judaism )
saints (in saint: Judaism)
saʿir la-ʿAzaʾzel (in scapegoat)
salvation (in salvation (religion): Objects and goals; in salvation (religion): Judaism )
sin (in sin (religion))
Sinai covenant (in covenant (religion): The origin and development of biblical covenants: Judaism)
soul (in soul (religion and philosophy))
Ten Commandments (in Ten Commandments (Old Testament))
tzaddiq (in tzaddiq (Judaism))
vows (in vow (religion))

religious systems and institutions

classification (in classification of religions: Philosophical)
Israeli social issues (in Israel: A changing society)
Union for Reform Judaism (in Union for Reform Judaism (religious organization))

sacred offices and orders

cantor (in cantor (ecclesiastical official))
high priest (in high priest)
judge (in shofet)
monasticism (in monasticism (religion): Judaism)
priesthood (in cohen (Jewish priest); in priesthood (religion): Ancient Judaism )
rabbi ordination (in ordination (religion))

science and technology

eclipses (in eclipse (astronomy): Jewish)

The topic Judaism is discussed at the following external Web sites.

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