Judaism

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world, having originated in the Middle East more than 3,000 years ago with patriarch Abraham.

As the first Abrahamic religion, Judaism has played a major role in shaping the history of the world, having greatly influenced the development of Christianity and Islam, despite having always had a relatively small amount of adherents by comparison.

The religion itself is built off of the "written Torah" of the Bible, known in Judaism as the Tanach, and the "oral Torah" of the Mishna, Talmud and other great works of leading rabbis throughout history.

Judaism itself has no single leading figure, and is divided into multiple streams, such as the ultra-Orthodox (haredi), Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. Further differences also exist along the lines of historic Diasporic communities, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry.

Today, the largest concentration of adherents of Judaism can be found in Israel, with the US having the second-largest.

Jerusalem's Bikur Cholim hospital battle puts city's pluralism to the test

“If the hassidim take control of the eastern building, it will no longer be open to the public, and the gate will be locked,” warned Jerusalem's Deputy Mayor Yosef Havilio.

JULY 19, 2026|ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

The Jerusalem Bikur Cholim hospital in Jerusalem closes due to lack of money. November 30, 2010.

RALLYING IN JERUSALEM for the Bnei Anusim.

Latin American Jewish converts caught between communal bans and Israel’s Law of Return

The Nascent Sanhedrin is urging Israeli authorities to recognize Orthodox converts from Latin America and reopen a path long blocked by communal policy.

JULY 18, 2026|ByRIVKAH LAMBERT ADLER

Circa 700 BC, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Esekiel, three prophets of the Old Testament.

Your Investments: Lessons from Tisha B'Av on reflecting for a better future

Every setback contains the potential for growth if we are willing to learn from it. Sometimes you need to destroy in order to build.

JULY 17, 2026|ByAARON KATSMAN

Palestinian women walk past a mural of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Hebron on the 21st anniversary of Arafat’s death. Ruth Wasserman Lande argues that the Palestinian narrative was created by the Soviet Union.

Middle Israel: How Jews and Palestinians became masters of historical denial

Had the Jews studied their history impartially, they would've understood centuries before Herzl that regaining their land and restoring their power is their task, not God's.

JULY 17, 2026|ByAMOTZ ASA-EL

Europe condemns settlements, but ignores Zionism’s deeper roots - opinion

Zionism is the belief that the Jewish people’s religion and culture, its national soul, cannot be complete without a national territory and is some 4,000 years old.

JUNE 23, 2026ByYISRAEL MEDAD

A general view of houses in the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim in the West Bank

Resurrecting Herodium: A royal desert fortress awakens After 2,000 years

JUNE 23, 2026ByIN COOPERATION WITH DERECH ERETZ

"Herodium became a living testament to the enduring roots of Jewish history."

'Engaging the Essence': The Lubavitcher Rebbe as philosopher - review

While the Rebbe did not write a system, he spoke to occasions for 40 years. Bronstein anchors the structure of the Rebbe’s talks in his first discourse of 1951.

JUNE 22, 2026ByNOAH ROTHSTEIN

CHABAD ‘SHLUCHIM’ gather in front of 770 Eastern Parkway, New York, in 2022.

Fair is not always equal: Adapting bar, bat mitzvahs to developmental challenges - review

The goal of "A Different Spirit" is to offer practical guidance to those planning Jewish rite of passage ceremonies for youth with autism, anxiety, or other mental/physical health issues.

JUNE 21, 2026ByMARION FISCHEL

GIRLS CELEBRATE their bat mitzvah in Alexandria, Egypt, 1967.

What "Mazel Tov" reveals about Judaism's long relationship with luck

JUNE 21, 2026ByIN COOPERATION WITH JAMES EVANS

“From ancient constellations to modern games of chance, Jewish culture has long balanced the idea of fate and luck with free will and meaning.”

Parashat Hukat: The red heifer's lesson in an age of multitasking and fragmentation

We strive to understand divine will, but when our understanding falls short, we do not walk away from obedience. Commitment to divine command remains the bedrock of religious life.

JUNE 20, 2026ByMOSHE TARAGIN

OUR CULTURE celebrates those who can juggle multiple tasks at once.

Not your zaide’s kiddush: Jerusalem's young olim are reinventing the Shabbat kiddush

From apartments to synagogues, Jerusalem's young adults are reinventing kiddush as a social gathering that fits modern life.

JUNE 19, 2026ByHOWARD BLAS, ERICA SCHACHNE

Kugels and pickles: Classic noshes for both old-school and modern tables.

Parashat Hukat: A life of meaning

The Torah teaches that genuine values require commitment and effort. A person who remains connected to their values only when it is convenient will struggle to maintain them over time.

JUNE 19, 2026ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

‘MESIRUT NEFESH’: Willingness to give up comfort, time, money, and personal interests for a greater value.

Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Shabbat candle lighting times for your area.

JUNE 19, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

Israel's haredi divide has become a test of national unity - opinion

Israel's haredi crisis is about more than military service; it's a test of shared responsibility and national cohesion.

JUNE 17, 2026ByMICHAEL J. SALAMON, LOUIS LIBIN

HAREDI DEMONSTRATORS protest in Jerusalem on July 23, 2025.