What Is Judaism?

Ages 3-5 Simple Explanation

You know how some families have special traditions that have been passed down from grandparents and great-grandparents? Judaism is like that! It is a very, very old religion that Jewish families have followed for thousands and thousands of years.

Jewish people believe in one God. They have a special book called the Torah, which is written on a long scroll and tells stories about God and the rules God gave to people. The Torah is so special that it is kept in a beautiful cabinet in the synagogue, which is where Jewish people go to pray.

Jewish people have lots of wonderful traditions. On Friday nights, many families light candles, say a blessing, and have a special dinner together called Shabbat. It is a time to rest, be together, and be thankful.

You might know about some Jewish holidays! Hanukkah is when families light candles on a special holder for eight nights. Passover is when they have a big dinner and tell the story of how their ancestors were set free a long, long time ago. These holidays are full of family, food, and stories.

Ages 6-8 More Detail

Judaism is one of the oldest religions that people still follow today. It began about 4,000 years ago in the Middle East, and it is the religion of the Jewish people. Even though there are only about 16 million Jewish people in the world, Judaism has had a huge effect on history because both Christianity and Islam grew out of it.

Jewish people believe in one God. A very long time ago, a man named Abraham made a special agreement with God, called a covenant. God promised to take care of Abraham's family, and in return, they would follow God's laws. Jewish people see themselves as part of that same agreement today.

The most important holy book in Judaism is the Torah, which is the first five books of the Bible. The Torah contains stories, laws, and teachings. In a synagogue, the Torah is kept as a handwritten scroll and is treated with great respect. The Torah also contains the Ten Commandments, which are ten important rules God gave to a leader named Moses.

Jewish people worship in a building called a synagogue. Their religious leader is called a rabbi, which means teacher. Jewish worship includes prayers, songs, and reading from the Torah. The Sabbath, called Shabbat, is a day of rest that starts Friday evening and lasts until Saturday evening.

Judaism has many meaningful holidays. Passover tells the story of Moses leading the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur is a serious day of fasting and asking God for forgiveness. Hanukkah celebrates a miracle where oil in the temple lasted eight days instead of one.

Being Jewish is not just about religion. It is also about being part of a community and culture. Jewish people share traditions, foods like matzo ball soup and challah bread, and a history that stretches back thousands of years. For many Jewish families, their traditions connect them to their ancestors in a very personal way.

Ages 9-12 Full Explanation

Judaism is one of the oldest religions still practiced today, with a history stretching back roughly 4,000 years. It began in the ancient Middle East and is the foundation religion from which both Christianity and Islam later developed. There are about 16 million Jewish people in the world today, with the largest communities in Israel and the United States.

The central belief in Judaism is that there is one God who created the universe and made a special covenant, or agreement, with the Jewish people. This covenant goes back to Abraham, considered the father of the Jewish people. Later, God gave Moses the Torah, including the Ten Commandments, on Mount Sinai. The Torah is the most sacred text in Judaism and contains laws, stories, and teachings that guide Jewish life.

Jewish practice is rich with tradition. Shabbat, the weekly day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening, is one of the most important practices. Families light candles, share meals, and step away from work and screens. The idea is that even God rested after creating the world, so people should too. Other traditions include dietary laws called kashrut (keeping kosher), which guide what foods Jewish people eat and how those foods are prepared.

Judaism has a strong calendar of holidays, each with deep meaning. Rosh Hashanah marks the Jewish New Year and is a time for reflection. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is the most solemn day of the year, when Jewish people fast and ask forgiveness. Passover retells the story of the Exodus from Egypt. Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the ancient temple in Jerusalem. Each holiday connects modern Jewish people to their ancient history.

Jewish history includes both remarkable achievements and terrible suffering. Jewish thinkers have made enormous contributions to science, literature, music, and philosophy. But Jewish people have also faced centuries of persecution, including the Holocaust during World War II, when six million Jews were killed by the Nazis. This painful history makes the survival of Jewish culture and traditions all the more meaningful to Jewish communities.

Judaism today comes in different forms. Orthodox Jews follow traditional laws very strictly. Conservative Jews maintain many traditions while adapting to modern life. Reform Jews focus more on the ethical teachings and allow for more personal choice. Despite these differences, all branches share a love for the Torah, a commitment to community, and a connection to thousands of years of history.