Judaism

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world, having originated in the Middle East more than 3,000 years ago with patriarch Abraham.

As the first Abrahamic religion, Judaism has played a major role in shaping the history of the world, having greatly influenced the development of Christianity and Islam, despite having always had a relatively small amount of adherents by comparison.

The religion itself is built off of the "written Torah" of the Bible, known in Judaism as the Tanach, and the "oral Torah" of the Mishna, Talmud and other great works of leading rabbis throughout history.

Judaism itself has no single leading figure, and is divided into multiple streams, such as the ultra-Orthodox (haredi), Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. Further differences also exist along the lines of historic Diasporic communities, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry.

Today, the largest concentration of adherents of Judaism can be found in Israel, with the US having the second-largest.

Your Investments: Shavuot lessons, from Torah to retirement planning

Shavuot celebrates receiving the Torah. Beyond cheesecake, the holiday teaches restraint, morality, and living wisely, including lessons on finances and desire.

MAY 22, 2026|ByAARON KATSMAN

A holiday of cheese and wine

An AI-generated cartoon illustration of Moses presenting the Ten Commandments to the Israelites and linking it to sovereignty over Israel.

Shavuot’s lesson for Israel: Sovereignty without purpose cannot survive - opinion

The future of Israel will not be determined only by where its borders are drawn but by whether the nation remembers what made it a nation in the first place.

MAY 22, 2026|ByJEFFREY KAHN

Huvy Elisha paintings (all oil on canvas): ‘Man with the Torah.’

Revealing the invisible: Jewish artists bring Mount Sinai to life

For artists who take on the challenge of depicting scenes from the Torah – particularly Moses and the giving of the Ten Commandments – the process begins with preparation.

MAY 22, 2026|ByLIANE GRUNBERG WAKABAYASHI

Shabbat candles

Shabbat candle-lighting times for Israel and US

See Shabbat times for your area.

MAY 22, 2026|ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shavuot and Mount Sinai: Why modern Jews still wrestle with the Torah

The debate over Torah from Sinai may depend less on proof than on the condition of the soul.

MAY 22, 2026ByNATHAN LOPES CARDOZO

Scribe Nadav Elhadad writes a Torah scroll at Safed’s Mount Sinai Institute, in Feb.

Shavuot 2026: The holiday's enduring call to faith, loyalty, and Jewish purpose

From Sinai to modern Israel, Shavuot reminds Jews of the power of faith, words, and commitment.

MAY 21, 2026BySTEWART WEISS

We begin our day with the acknowledgment of ‘Modeh Ani.’

Shavuot 2026: The festival's Jewish mission to elevate the world

Judaism calls on people not to flee the physical world, but to elevate it through Torah and mitzvot.

MAY 21, 2026ByMICHAEL FREUND

Judaism seeks to bridge the divide between spiritual and physical.

Grapevine, May 21, 2026: New face on the diplomatic circuit

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

MAY 21, 2026ByGREER FAY CASHMAN

This aerial view shows residents waving Somaliland flags as they gather to celebrate Israel's announcement recognising Somaliland's statehood in downtown Hargeisa, on December 26, 2025.

My Word: Shavuot's striking legacy of Jewish pain, historic success - opinion

Shavuot is celebrated as a harvest festival with a conflicting history of both attacks on Jews in the past and historical military success.

MAY 21, 2026ByLIAT COLLINS

Children from the Toldot Aharon Talmud Torah march through the Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem ahead of the Shavuot holiday. May 19, 2026.

How Shavuot was rescued by the Torah, and brought home by Israel - opinion

Beyond cheesecake and tradition, Shavuot carries a layered identity that links Sinai, agriculture, and Jewish history from exile to return.

MAY 21, 2026ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN

CHILDREN MARCH through the Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem ahead of the Shavuot holiday.

Shavuot, Shabbat candle-lighting times for Israel and US

See Shavuot and Shabbat times for your area.

MAY 21, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

Shavuot 2026: Why the Torah still matters in the age of AI and technology

One of the fundamental principles of Jewish faith is that the Torah is eternal and will never be replaced.

MAY 21, 2026ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

TECHNOLOGY KNOWS how to make life easier, but it does not know how to make a person better.

Editor's Notes: Why some Jews are scrubbing themselves from the internet - comment

The writer who asks for anonymity has not abandoned the Jewish people. He is covering, trying to stay employable and safe in a world that has quietly decided his affiliation is a liability.

MAY 21, 2026ByZVIKA KLEIN

The real Jerry Seinfeld was never the assimilated man his show implied. Seinfeld during his visit to Israel, December 2023.

What do Apple, Nike, and Mount Sinai have in common? - opinion

What brands understand about experience, memory, and identity – and why it matters for Jewish education.

MAY 20, 2026ByNAOMI KOVITZ