why Judaism isn't called Mosesim?

Question

as christians related to christ, should Judaism related to Moses?

Answer 1

no Judaism relates to Judah

Answer 2

You actually raise a really interesting issue here. Why isn't Judaism called "Mosesism" or perhaps "Abrahamism," "Isaacism" or "Jacobism"?

Judaism isn't named for a specific person because Judaism isn't about a specific person. There are revered figures to be sure, Kings and Prophets. But they are human beings. Enlightened human beings, to be sure, but human beings nonetheless. The Messiah for whom we wait will also be a human being. He will be the pinnacle of humanity, but not more than that. Because Christianity today is focused on the deification of Jesus, and is rooted in teachings that are attributed to him, the name Christianity makes sense.

While Moses is referred to as "Moshe Rabbeinu" (Moses our Teacher), the teachings aren't his. They're G-d's.

The Torah teaches that Moses was buried by G-d himself - his grave remains unmarked. In death he is as he was in life, before all else, an incredibly humble man. In his humility was his greatness. And the reason the site of his burial went unmarked is so that the Jews wouldn't be tempted to form cults and to start a religion of "Mosesism," to use your term.

Judaism comes from Judah, which was the name of an individual, but more importantly, of his tribe. This derives from the history of our people. The nation of Israel was at one point divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Of course, the Judeans were all Israelites. And the Kingdom of Israel consisted of the other tribes. The Northern Kingdom was conquered by foreign powers before the Southern, and their people were scattered and buried under the sands of history. After that, Judean became synonymous with Israelite or Hebrew, because most of the Israelites were in fact Judeans. There were still some Benjaminites too, as I recall, and Levites (including the priestly class, the Kohanim).

Today, Jews (the English term derived from Judah, now referring to all Israelites, not to be confused with Israelis, which is a political identity. Most Israelis, are, of course, Israelites as well - but not all of them) are classified amongst themselves as being Kohein, Levi, or Yisroel. This is significant in synagogue ritual, as Kohanim (again, Priests) and Leviim (Levites) have special ceremonial privileges and duties. Yisroel (meaning Israelite) is a term used for all non-Kohein/Levite Jews.

So Judaism refers to the historical experience of the Jewish people, and the fate of the kingdoms. It is not the veneration of a specific individual, which is not a very Jewish idea. :)

I hope this helps clear things up.

Answer 3

It was called the religion of the Hebrews. over 200 years later Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem.Jerusalem is in the territory(like a state) of Judah(Judah is one of the 12 tribes or states of Israel)Not long after Solomon died ,10 of those 12 tribes split away in Civil War.Those 10 tribes started their own Calf worship religion,and made their religious place Bethel.
So the people from "Judah " were called Jews(get it ? Ju ...Jew?)and the people of the northern 10 tribes were called Israelites.Jerusalem became the place of the Jews ,or Judahites.

Answer 4

just to prarphrase what other answerers have been saying, Judaism, comes not from the tribe of Judah, but from the location judea in ancient Israel. It is just a game of semantics however, the religion came well before the place in Israel was named Judea.

Answer 5

Moses was long way down the line from Judah.

Answer 6

Because they are the tribe of Judah not the tribe of Moses

Answer 7

There were twelve tribes of Israel who was the son of Abraham. 10.5 of those tribes disappeared leaving the Tribe of Judah and half the Tribe of Levi (Mose's tribe). since most of the Israelites where of the tribe of Judah, they took on his name.

Answer 8

You do know that Chist is a new word right? just like Christianity and Jesus are new words. at the time of Jesus these words didnt even exist.

Answer 9

umm, abraham was actually the "founder" of judaism....