Exploring Judaism
Biblical Judaism is based on a number of fundamental beliefs, called mitzvoth in Hebrew. The rituals of the religion are meant to help us connect with these truths, as well as with God and the divine. A central tenet of this way of thinking is that Torah must be interpreted literally. Judaism recognizes that its laws have changed over time and that not all Jews agree on when those changes should take place. For some people, this is a challenge to faith. For others, it’s an opportunity to explore the ways their own religious traditions can be improved. Here, Rabbi Samuel Waldman explains Judaism and offers some ways of exploring your faith. What is Judaism? Judaism is a religion based on the study of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament or the Tanakh. Rabbi Samuel Waldman shares that Judaism’s central tenet is the belief in one God, as outlined in the Hebrew Bible. Jewish law is also an important part of Judaism. This law, called the Torah, outlines rituals, ethical pr