Judaism is more than 4,000 years old and is one of the oldest of the world’s faiths. However, Judaism is more than a faith.

Any person born to a Jewish mother or who converts to Judaism is considered to be a Jew, even if they never practise the Jewish religion. In this sense, Judaism is a bit like citizenship, and Jews often describe themselves as part of the ‘Jewish nation’ or ‘Jewish people’.

Origins of Judaism
Jewish history began with a nomadic people who lived near ancient Sumeria, in what we now call the Middle East. These people originally believed in many gods, but eventually a man named Abraham began to believe in just one supreme God.

The Jewish scriptures tell how God made an agreement (called a covenant) with Abraham, promising that he would be the father of a great nation. In return, Abraham and his descendants would have to show God their faith and obedience. This agreement with God is the basis for the Jewish faith.

Jewish beliefs
Jewish beliefs focus on creating a just and perfect world. The centre of this is our relationship with God and with each other. Judaism involves worship, but it also involves things such as working for justice and caring for the environment.

The Jewish scriptures discuss the obligations, called commandments or mitzvot, that are important to achieving a just and perfect world. For example, some commandments show us how to worship God in synagogue and in everyday life, while others show us how to treat all the other people in our lives.

One God
At the heart of Jewish belief is the idea that there is only one God, that God is everywhere and created everything, and that God cannot be divided into parts or described. This can be seen in one of the most important Jewish prayers, called the Shema, which says, in part: “The Lord is our God, The Lord is One”.

Jewish values
Jewish scriptures also help teach us how to live a good and honest life. Some of the values discussed in the scriptures are: that all life is important, the importance of justice and equality, showing kindness and generosity, the importance of education and social responsibility.

A perfect world
Jewish scripture teaches that one day the world will be a perfect place, but that God will not bring this about unless we first work for it. So, it is up to every person to work to bring about a perfect world.