9781422279731

A Jewish man reads a holy book in a synagogue in the historic Neve Tzedek district of Tel Aviv. Israel is the only country in the world with a predominantly Jewish population. 1 What Do Jews Believe?

J udaism is more than a religion. It is also a way of living and thinking, a body of literature, a society, a musical tradition, a language, and a history that stretches back over 4,000 years. It is built upon a code of beliefs, laws, and teachings that are set out in the Tanakh (also called the Hebrew Bible) and other Jewish religious texts. The laws and customs of Judaism have provided the framework for a practical and spiritual way of life for its followers since the origins of Judaism thousands of years ago. There are three basic principles of faith at the heart of Judaism—God, the Torah , and the land of Israel. First, Jews believe there is only one God, the creator, who is eter- nal, all-powerful, all-knowing, and loving. Judaism was the

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