If you had to describe Judaism in one paragraph how would you do it?

Answer 1

I can do it in 3 words:

Sanctifying the mundane.

Now, to know what that means and to learn how to do it and bring it into daily practice requires a lifetime's commitment.

Answer 2

Hard and very good question, IMO...how about a list and a paragraph?

1. G-d exists
2. G-d is one and unique
3. G-d is incorporeal (nonmaterial)
4. G-d is eternal
5. G-d alone is to be worshipped and no other
6. G-d's prophets are truthful
7. Moses was the greatest of the prophets
8. The whole Torah was given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Written and Oral)
9. There will be no other Torah and the Torah will not be changed or annulled
10. G-d has foreknowledge of men's actions, thoughts, and words
11. G-d will deliver retribution
12. The Messiah will come
13. The dead will be resurrected at the coming of Moshiach (Messiah)

And tradition. The kind of the tradition that when you carry yourself away in prayer on synagogue in worship of G-d you can feel the Jews of the world surrounding you and united by these common bonds whether they're observant or not. The feeling you get when you stand at the Kotel swaying in front of the stones, feeling G-d's presence surround you. Beauty and grace, giving everything it's place. Tradition. It has kept us alive through thousands of years, through madness and exile, genocides and inquisitions, hatred...tradition! Like a fiddler on the roof. Trying to scratch out a pleasant simple tune without breaking his neck.

This was a really good question, I fear I've failed.

Answer 3

Mz Jakes' answer is perfect.

An easier-to-understand version from a recently-converted Jew-by-choice is that we are a community working together as partners with God to bring peace, justice, and goodness for all humanity. "Community" is emphasized much more than *personal salvation* or anything else personal. Our *denominations* differ from one another because of our actions, not beliefs.

When Hillel (1st century BCE rabbi) once said when asked to explain Judaism while standing on one foot, "do not do unto others that which you would find hateful. The rest is commentary. Now go study." Learning and wisdom are two of the highest virtues of Judaism. Group study of the Bible is considered to be an encounter with God.

Pjerry: If God hadn't sent his only son to be crucified, how do you think the evil Jews were able to do it? Without his death on the cross, you would not have received atonement and freedom from accountability and responsibility.

Jewish Girl mentions Paul Johnson. I believe the name of that book is "A History of the Jews."

Answer 4

The perseverence of the human condition through unbelievable persecution.

The belief in a merciful G-d that reigns mercy down on the people that keep His LAWS.

Giving charity to the poor and doing acts of kindness with no desire for re-payment.

A people that understand and appreciate the blessings that have been bestowed upon them by an all-powerful Creator.
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I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the Creator and Guide of everything that has been created; He alone has made, does make, and will make all things.

I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is One, and that there is no unity in any manner like His, and that He alone is our God, who was, and is, and will be.

I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is not a body, and that He is free from all the properties of matter, and that there can be no (physical) comparison to Him whatsoever.

I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, is the first and the last.

I believe with perfect faith that to the Creator, blessed be His Name, and to Him alone, it is right to pray, and that it is not right to pray to any being besides Him.

I believe with perfect faith that all the works of the prophets are true.

I believe with perfect faith that the prophecy of Moses, our teacher, peace be upon him, was true, and that he was the chief of the prophets, both of those who preceded him and of those who followed him.

I believe with perfect faith that the entire Torah that is now in our possession is the same that was given to Moses, our teacher, peace be upon him.

I believe with perfect faith that this Torah will not be changed, and that there will never be any other Law from the Creator, blessed be His name.

I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His name, knows all the deeds of human beings, and all their thoughts, as it is said: “[He] that fashioned the hearts of them all, [He] that comprehends all their actions.”

I believe with perfect faith that the Creator, blessed be His Name, rewards those that keep His commandments and punishes those that transgress them.

I believe with perfect faith in the coming of the Messiah; and even though he may tarry, with all this I wait every day for his coming.

I believe with perfect faith that there will be a revival of the dead at the time when it shall please the Creator, blessed be His name, and exalted be His Name forever and ever.

Answer 5

The person from above said perfectly of the 13 principles of the Jewish faith. this is the answer this is the answer to what is Judaism.

Answer 6

i like paul johnson's answer to this question of what the essence of judaism is:

"Equality before the law, both divine and human; of the sanctity of life and the dignity of human person; of the individual conscience and so of personal redemption; of collective conscience and so of social responsibility; of peace as an abstract ideal and love as the foundation of justice, and many other items which constitute the basic moral furniture of the human mind."

Answer 7

Pjerry writes some pretty awful things, based on lack off knowledge and lack of love.

"The religion that had Jesus crucified"
Nonsense. Jesus, if there ever was such a person, was executed by the Romans, who didn't much care for ANY Jew.

"Seems they also had a preference for stoning those who they didn't like. Now, they just bomb and shoot them."

What a lack of understanding. If you were aware of the number of attempted suicide bombings by loyal Muslims, you might have an inkling of what it takes to foil their plans.

Muslims are bent on destroying the Jewish state by murder, killing and maiming, in addition to property damage.

Abducting Israeli civilians and soldiers in Israel, Judea and Samaria and holding the hostages as bargaining chips is a modus used by the Palestinian terrorist organizations to try to secure the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Hamas views the abductions as justified and not part of its relatively restrained policy of attacks against Israel .

Moreover, the attempted attacks at the ‘Eli and Tapuah junctions show that Hamas operatives continue their attempts to abduct Israelis even as they conduct negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli corporal abducted in June 2006.

Israelis living in Judea and Samaria are preferred targets for abductions. They are a readily available target. Many of them, often alone, wait at bus stops, and many of them use services provided local Arabs (garages, tradesmen, craftsmen). The geographical proximity of Israeli settlements to areas inhabited by Palestinians makes it easy for the abductors to move and hide the abductees, and they themselves can quickly blend into the local population.

In 2006 there was a marked increase in the number of warnings received regarding the intention of the Palestinian terrorist organizations to abduct Israelis, and the number of actual abductions also increased.

In 2006 the terrorist organizations carried out three abductions, the most notable of which was that of Corporal Gilad Shalit at Kerem Shalom on June 25. Two other abductions, carried out in Judea and Samaria, ended with the murder of the abductees.

Yes, the Jewish army does indeed kill murderous Arabs, who are in the midst of penetrating the Israeli border on their jihad mission to kill innocent Israeli civilians.

Now perhaps Pjerry understands a bit of what is going on.

Answer 8

They did wander the desert for 40 years (some say that someone dropped a quarter). I'd say, nice bunch.

Answer 9

Can't I don't know any one of the Judism religion.


Well Josh from PotLuck is, and he seems like a normal stoner jewish rapper to me

Answer 10

i will get back to you later we just did the religions of like hinduism judaisam and all that crap in social studies