Jews believe that God appointed the Jews to be his chosen people in order to set an example of holiness and

ethical behavior to the world.

Judaism

Is the religion, culture, ethics and law of the Jewish people. It is one of the first recorded monotheistic faiths. A religious tradition with origins dating back nearly four thousand years, rooted in the ancient near eastern region of Canaan. Traces its heritage to the covenant God made with Abraham around 1812 BC in the Middle East and his lineage --- that God would make hem a sacred people and give them a holy land.

Beliefs & Practices

Based on the principle that there is only one indivisible, all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-present God, who is fair and just and the creator of the universe and mankind. Tends to emphasize practice over belief. God still acts in the world as it is today, and that he he establishes a personal relationship with every one of His followers. (Belief) Keep God's laws and to bring holiness into every aspect of their lives. (Tradition) Jews are God's chosen people, whose responsibility is to set an example of holiness and morality to the rest of the world. (Belief) Many Jews observe a weekly day of rest, the Sabbath, that begins shortly before sundown on Friday and ends after sunset on Saturday. No work may be done, business transactions are forbidden, and light switches are not to be turned on or off. (Practice)

Observant Jews worship three times a day, throughout the year. Jewish rituals and religious observance are grounded in Jewish law, the halakhah, (the path walks). It governs not just religious life, but daily life, from how to dress to what to eat how to help the poor. It provides a sense of Jewish identity and brings the sacred into everyday life.

Religious Books

The scripture of Judaism is the Torah, which is the first part of the Tanakh. The Torah contains the revelation that was given to Moses. The five books of Moses (the Torah), in which the Mosaic Law is found, are generally considered to be the core of the Jewish Scripture.

The five books are:

1. Genesis 2. Exodus

3. Leviticus
4. Numbers 5. Deuteronomy

Identity of the Messiah

Perhaps one of the most striking aspect of Jewish theology is the rejection of Christ as the Messiah, in sharp contrast to the Christian belief. It is generally accepted that Jesus was a Jew himself, most probably a Pharisee (teacher/theologian) of the more liberal wing. Jews believe that a Messiah is still awaited, and coming at some future time. Jews do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Some Jews believe that Jesus was a spiritual leader.