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.

Simon Betuel: Cosmetics producer by day, artist by night

Influenced by the palettes of Rubens, Klimt, Vrubel, and especially El Greco, Betuel executes deeply Jewish paintings in both figurative and abstract styles.

APRIL 11, 2026|ByABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN

SIMON BETUEL in his home studio.

FOR ISRAEL in the here and now, these ideas are playing out in real time

A deeper reflection: Why the Passover story still matters today - opinion

The lesson that lingers is that freedom is not just about leaving a place of hardship; it is about creating a reality where that hardship does not repeat itself.

APRIL 11, 2026|BySTEWART WEISS

THEODOR HERZL, the solution appeared straightforward. Pictured: Theodor Herzl’s portrait on the 100-lira note (preceding the shekel), 1965

The sky is no longer silent: Antisemitism persists, but Jews are no longer defenseless - opinion

For the first time in centuries, Jews are not merely subjects of history but active participants within it.

APRIL 11, 2026|ByMOSHE TARAGIN

Jewish book lovers gather at the Jewish Book Council's offices in Manhattan, July 19, 2023.

Jewish authors slam Jewish Book Council for ‘bias toward centering Israeli, Zionist voices’

A new open letter signed by 42 authors argues that the Jewish Book Council, which was founded in 1925, should commit itself more to spotlighting Jewish voices who disagree with traditional Zionism.

APRIL 11, 2026|ByANDREW LAPIN/JTA

In every generation: The revolutionary spirit of Passover - opinion

Our story is not one of strength but of vulnerability; not of total victory but of powerlessness.

MARCH 29, 2026ByOFEK MEIR

Exodus from Egypt (Edward Poynter)

Passover’s missing heart: The silence at the Seder table - opinion

In Temple times, the Seder was not just a storytelling evening. It was built around a real offering brought in Jerusalem.

MARCH 29, 2026ByLEO DEE

A family sit together for the Passover Seder in Ramat Gan, in 2021

Make this year’s seder meaningful when tables are smaller - opinion

We are a link in a chain that stretches back over three millennia, a chain that has endured exile, persecution, and upheaval, yet has never been broken.

MARCH 29, 2026ByJONATHAN LIEBERMAN

An illustrative image of a Passover Seder plate.

A crisis of faith: The Christian debate over Jews, covenant, and Israel - opinion

As Jews return to their land, some Christians are reshaping theology to deny that reality, revealing a deeper crisis within the Church.

MARCH 29, 2026ByPESACH WOLICKI

Armenian Orthodox worshippers arrive at the Church of the Nativity, in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, to celebrate Christmas and Epiphany, January 18, 2026

Passover and the Holocaust: Why Judaism refuses to build identity on tragedy - opinion

The only safeguard against this constant danger is constant vigilance: seeing Jewish duty as the greatest of privileges.

MARCH 29, 2026ByNATHAN LOPES CARDOZO

DO WE not have the right to mourn, to take stock of our losses? Pictured: Direct Iran missile hit in Arad, seen March 22.

We are living the Haggadah: The war gives new meaning to the story of freedom

On this night of Jewish history, remember that we are not only telling the Haggadah. We are living it. Let its story meet our moment.

MARCH 29, 2026ByMOSHE TARAGIN

An Israeli family enjoys a "Seder" Pesach on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Pesach. April 22, 2024.

American Jews, Israel: Navigating growing post-war divide - opinion

Bridging the divide requires understanding each community’s trauma and valuing both Diaspora support and Israeli sacrifice.

MARCH 29, 2026ByURI PILICHOWSKI

A PRO-ISRAEL rally takes place at Times Square in New York City, May 2021, during Operation Guardian of the Walls. The writer poses the question: Are Jewish Americans supportive of Israel?

Verbal intifada: How modern antisemitism is weaponized through words - opinion

From campuses to social media, antisemitic rhetoric is silencing Jews and normalizing exclusion through the weaponization of words.

MARCH 29, 2026ByCOOKIE SCHWAEBER-ISSAN

TENTS ARE pitched outside the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, as students occupy parts of British campuses in support of Palestinians in Gaza, this week. Supporters of genocidal jihadist groups are spreading mayhem across the Western world, says the writer.

Wine Talk: Pass over the wine

Here's what you need to know to choose the perfect wines for your Passover Seder.

MARCH 28, 2026ByADAM MONTEFIORE

Passover may be seen as a wine banquet. The 1848 Winery offers quality, value, and award-winning wines.

The Fort Sill Haggadah: A US Army chaplain’s mission to create a Seder for hundreds

The general of Fort Sill and his wife were our honored guests. We were all thrilled when the chaplain, Wes Geary, sang “Let My People Go.”

MARCH 28, 2026ByDAVID GEFFEN

Fort Sill in Oklahoma, seen 2021. The writer was chaplain there from 1965 to 1967