What Does Judaism Teach?

Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion and has had a major influence on both Christianity and Islam. Its roots lie in the accounts of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses found in the Hebrew Scriptures, and for more than three thousand years it has shaped the Jewish people and their history.

Short Answer: Judaism teaches belief in one God and regards the Torah as God’s law given through Moses. Modern Judaism is based on the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Tanakh, while the oral tradition preserved in the Mishnah and Talmud also plays a central role in Jewish belief and religious practice.

Although Judaism shares many biblical figures and historical events with Christianity, the two religions differ on some fundamental questions. Most importantly, Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, or the Savior of the world.

In this article, we will examine the history of Judaism, its sacred writings, main beliefs, and religious practices. Finally, we will consider whether the teachings of modern Judaism agree with what the Bible teaches.

The History of Judaism

The history of Judaism begins with Abraham, who, according to the Hebrew Scriptures, was called by God to leave his homeland and follow him. God promised Abraham that he would become the ancestor of a great nation and that all the families of the earth would be blessed through his offspring.

Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob—who was later given the name Israel—became the forefathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Several centuries later, God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt through Moses. At Mount Sinai, God made a covenant with the people and gave them the Law of Moses, which became the foundation of Israel’s religious and national life.

Centuries after the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, Jerusalem became Israel’s religious center. King Solomon built the first temple, where sacrifices to God were offered in accordance with the Law of Moses. The temple was later destroyed by the Babylonians, but after the exile a new temple was built.

In AD 70, the second temple was destroyed by the Romans. With the end of the temple service, the sacrificial system of the Law of Moses could no longer be carried out. During the following centuries, Rabbinic Judaism developed, with the synagogue, rabbinic teaching, and the oral tradition becoming central to religious life.

Already in Jesus’ day, oral tradition played an important role among the Jewish religious leaders. Many of these traditions were collected and written down during the following centuries in the Mishnah and were later expanded upon in the Talmud. Modern Judaism is therefore based not only on the Hebrew Scriptures but also on these interpretations and traditions, which have become highly influential in Jewish belief and practice.

The Tanakh, Mishnah, and Talmud

Modern Judaism draws on three central sources: the Tanakh, Mishnah, and Talmud. These writings differ in origin and authority, but together they play a foundational role in Jewish belief and religious practice.

The Tanakh

The Tanakh is the sacred Scripture of Judaism and corresponds broadly to the part of the Bible known as the Hebrew Scriptures. The name Tanakh is formed from the names of its three main divisions: the Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

The Torah—the five books of Moses—holds the highest authority and is regarded as God’s law given to Moses. The Prophets and the Writings contain the history of Israel, prophecy, wisdom literature, and psalms.

The Mishnah

The Mishnah is the first major written collection of the Jewish oral tradition. According to Rabbinic Judaism, Moses received not only the written Law at Mount Sinai but also an oral law, which was passed down from generation to generation before being compiled in the Mishnah around AD 200.

The Mishnah contains rabbinic interpretations and rules concerning how the Law of Moses is to be understood and applied in daily life.

The Talmud

The Talmud is an extensive collection of rabbinic commentary, explanations, and discussions of the Mishnah. It was compiled over several centuries and is one of the most important works within Rabbinic Judaism.

For religious Jews, the Talmud serves as a guide to understanding and practicing the commandments of the Torah. Modern Judaism is therefore based not only on the Hebrew Scriptures but also on the interpretations and traditions found in the Mishnah and Talmud.

The Main Beliefs of Judaism

Judaism is based on belief in one God, who created heaven and earth and sustains all life. God is regarded as eternal, almighty, and holy, and as having a special covenant relationship with the people of Israel. The Shema, Judaism’s central declaration of faith, expresses this belief in the words:

“Hear, O Israel! Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4)

A fundamental teaching of Judaism is that God gave the Torah to his people through Moses. The Law is regarded as a gift from God that guides the Jewish people in both faith and daily life. Great importance is therefore placed on studying and obeying God’s commandments.

Judaism also maintains the hope of the promised Messiah. Most Jews continue to expect the Messiah to come as a human leader who will bring peace, gather the people of Israel, and restore the Kingdom to Israel. Judaism therefore does not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, or the Savior of the world.

Prayer plays an important role in Jewish religious life. Many religious Jews pray daily and regularly read from the Tanakh. Great importance is also placed on worship in the synagogue, the Sabbath, and the Jewish festivals.

Modern Judaism also places great emphasis on rabbinic interpretation of the Torah through the Mishnah and Talmud. These writings are highly influential in determining how God’s commandments are understood and applied in daily life.

How Do Jews Practice Their Faith?

Judaism is not only a system of belief but also a way of life that shapes everyday living. Many religious Jews seek to live in accordance with God’s commandments as understood through the Tanakh and the rabbinic interpretations found in the Mishnah and Talmud.

The Sabbath

The Sabbath is the weekly holy day and begins at sunset on Friday evening and continues until sunset on Saturday. The day is devoted to rest, prayer, and time with family. Many Jews refrain from ordinary work and spend the day in worship, Scripture reading, and fellowship.

The Synagogue

The synagogue is the Jewish gathering place for prayer, teaching, and the public reading of the Tanakh. A rabbi often leads the teaching and helps the congregation understand and apply the sacred Scriptures.

Kosher

Judaism contains rules concerning which foods are permitted (kosher) and how they are to be prepared. Religious Jews do not eat pork, for example, and meat and dairy products are kept separate in food preparation and meals.

Circumcision

The circumcision of male infants is a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham. It is normally performed on the eighth day after birth and continues to have great significance in Jewish tradition.

Festivals

Judaism observes several annual festivals. Among the most important are Passover (Pesach), commemorating the deliverance from Egypt; Shavuot, associated with God’s giving of the Law to Moses; and the Festival of Booths (Sukkot), which recalls the Israelites’ journey through the wilderness. Other important observances include Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which is regarded as the holiest day of the year.

The Main Branches of Judaism

Although Jews share the Hebrew Scriptures as a foundation of their religious tradition, modern Judaism includes several different branches. They differ particularly in how they understand and apply the Torah and rabbinic tradition.

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism regards both the written Torah and the oral tradition as binding. Great emphasis is therefore placed on observing the religious commandments and the rabbinic interpretations found in the Mishnah and Talmud. Many Orthodox Jews follow traditional rules concerning the Sabbath, food, and family life.

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism seeks to preserve Jewish traditions while also holding that they can, to some extent, be adapted to changes in society. It maintains the importance of the Torah and Talmud but allows greater room for modern interpretation than Orthodox Judaism.

Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism arose in Europe in the 19th century and places greater emphasis on the ethical principles of Judaism than on literal observance of all religious rules. Many traditional requirements are regarded as optional, and worship and religious practice are often adapted to modern society.

Although the different branches hold different views concerning tradition and religious practice, they share belief in one God and respect for the Tanakh, and they do not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah or the Son of God.

Does Modern Judaism Agree with the Bible?

Modern Judaism is based on the Hebrew Scriptures. At the same time, it draws heavily on the oral tradition recorded in the Mishnah and Talmud. There are therefore both similarities and significant differences between modern Judaism and the Bible’s overall message.

Who Is the Promised Messiah?

Judaism maintains that the Messiah has not yet come. He is expected to be a human leader who will bring peace, gather the people of Israel, and restore the Kingdom to Israel.

In mainstream Jewish interpretation, the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is generally understood to represent the people of Israel rather than the Messiah.

The Greek Scriptures, by contrast, interpret Isaiah 53 in connection with Jesus Christ. When the Ethiopian official asked whom the prophet was speaking about, Philip used Isaiah 53 as the starting point for proclaiming Jesus to him (Acts 8:30–35).

The Greek Scriptures teach that Jesus is the Messiah foretold by the prophets. They therefore present Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection as the fulfillment of the promises God had given through his prophets (Luke 24:25–27, 44; Acts 2:36).

Is Jesus the Son of God?

Modern Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the Son of God. He is commonly regarded as a Jewish teacher or historical figure, but not as the promised Messiah or the Son of God.

The Bible, by contrast, teaches that Jesus is God’s only-begotten Son, sent into the world to save mankind from sin and death (John 3:16; Matthew 16:15–17; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4).

What Role Does Oral Tradition Play?

Modern Judaism places great importance on the rabbinic interpretations found in the Mishnah and Talmud. These writings are used to explain and apply the commandments of the Torah in daily life.

Jesus recognized the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures but criticized the religious leaders when human traditions were placed above God’s word. He said: “You make the word of God invalid by your tradition which you have handed down” (Mark 7:13; see also Matthew 15:3–9).

Has the New Covenant Been Established?

The prophet Jeremiah foretold that God would one day establish a new covenant with his people (Jeremiah 31:31–34).

According to the Greek Scriptures, this covenant was established through Jesus Christ, who gave his life for the sins of mankind and became the mediator of the new covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:6–13). Because modern Judaism does not recognize Jesus as the Messiah, it also does not recognize the new covenant as having been established through him.

What Does the Bible Say?

Modern Judaism is based on many of the same writings found in the Hebrew Scriptures, but reaches different conclusions concerning Jesus and God’s plan of salvation.

The Bible therefore encourages everyone to examine the Scriptures personally and test what they hear (John 5:39; Acts 17:11). The question of who Jesus is remains central because the Greek Scriptures present him as the fulfillment of the promises God gave through the prophets in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Conclusion

Judaism is the world’s oldest monotheistic religion and has had a profound influence on both Christianity and Islam. It is based on belief in one God and has its roots in the Hebrew Scriptures. At the same time, the Mishnah and Talmud play a central role in modern Judaism’s understanding of faith and its practical application.

When it comes to the question of Jesus, modern Judaism differs fundamentally from the teaching of the Greek Scriptures. It does not recognize Jesus as the promised Messiah, the Son of God, or the mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5–6).

It is therefore not enough simply to know what a religion teaches. The crucial question is whether its teachings agree with what God has revealed. The Bible encourages everyone to examine the Scriptures personally and test what they hear, so that faith is based on truth rather than merely on human traditions (John 17:17; Acts 17:11).

If you would like to examine the Bible’s teachings more closely, you will find additional articles on Skriften.dk exploring central questions about God, Jesus Christ, salvation, and God’s purpose for mankind on the basis of what the Bible itself says rather than human traditions.

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