Judaism

At the root of three of the world's great religion are the ancient teachings of Judaism. Based on principles and ethics embodied in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and the Talmud, Judaism is among the oldest religions still in practice today.

While Judaism is not monolithic in practice, it has always been monotheistic. Different from many religions, its central authority is not vested in a single person or group, but rather in sacred texts and traditions. Judaism clings to a number of religious principles, with the most important being the belief in a single, omnipotent, benevolent, omniscient, transcendent God, who not only created the universe but continues to govern it.

Traditional Jewish belief holds that the God who created the world established a covenant with the Israelites, revealed his laws and commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the Jewish people are the descendants of the Israelites. The traditional practice of Judaism revolves around study of the ancient texts, and the observance of God's laws and commandments. These commandments were first written in the Torah of Moses and expounded in the Talmud.