The Human Truth Foundation

Judaism

http://www.humanreligions.info/judaism.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2015

#christianity #ethiopia #iraq #islam #judaism #monotheism #polytheism #sudan

Judaism
Links: Pages on Judaism, Other Religions
The symbol of Judaism
God(s)Atheist / Monotheist / Polytheist / Other
AdherentJew
AdherentsJews
TextsTanakh and Talmud
AfterlifeYes
Founding
HeritagePrehistoric
Area of OriginBabylon (mostly - now Iraq) and Israel
When1st millennium BCE
FounderAs a combination of prehistoric practices which became organized in Babylon
Numbers in the UK (Census results)
2001259 9272011263 000
Jews Worldwide (Pew & WM)
World: 0.225%. Israel (75.6%), Gibraltar (2.1%), USA (1.8%), Monaco (1.7%), Belize (1%), Canada (1%), Cayman Islands (0.8%), Bahrain (0.6%), Moldova (0.6%), UK (0.5%), Australia (0.5%), Argentina (0.5%), France (0.5%) 1

Judaism is one of the most ancient religions, and became largely codified in Babylon in the 6th century BCE2. It was perhaps the first religion to be comprehensively monotheistic. Jews believe that God has a special covenant with the Jewish community3, as testified to in the Torah. From Judaism sprang both Christianity and Islam. Judaism is counted as one of the great world religions4,5,6.


1. Main Pages on Judaism

Moral Debates

Book Reviews

Links and other pages:

2. Numbers of Jews Around the World, by Country

#religion

Pos.Pew Forum (2010)1Worldmapper (2005)7
1Israel75.6%71.4%
2Gibraltar2.1%
3USA1.8%1.9%
4Monaco1.7%1.7%
5Belize1.0%1.1%
6Canada1.0%1.3%
7Cayman Islands0.8%
8Bahrain0.6%0.1%
9Moldova0.6%1.1%
10UK0.5%0.5%
11Australia0.5%0.5%
12Argentina0.5%1.3%
13France0.5%1.0%
14Aruba0.4%
15Panama0.4%0.1%
16San Marino0.3%
17Uruguay0.3%1.2%
18Germany0.3%0.3%
19Belgium0.3%0.3%
20Netherlands Antilles0.3%
21Bermuda0.3%
22Switzerland0.3%0.2%
23Andorra0.3%0.3%
24US Virgin Islands0.3%
25Suriname0.2%0.2%
26Austria0.2%0.1%
27Djibouti0.2%
28New Zealand0.2%0.1%
29Russia0.2%0.1%
30Netherlands0.2%0.2%
31Grenada0.1%
32Fiji0.1%0.0%
33Egypt0.1%0.0%
34El Salvador0.1%0.0%
35Greece0.1%0.0%
36Ghana0.1%
37Gabon0.1%
38Georgia0.1%0.4%
39Gambia0.1%
40Finland0.1%0.0%
q=232.

The way that the religious and cultural identity of the Jews is intermingled means that statistics often include both religious Jews and secular (non-religious) ones. For example, atheist Jews make up a sizeable portion of Jews worldwide.

As a result of the Holocaust in the 20th century CE there was a dramatic and rapid move in Jewish numbers away from Europe3.

The population of only one country is half (or mostly) Jew (2011)1. Comparing those 1 country(ies) to the rest of the world:

3. Calendar (2023)

#religious_calendars

DateEventNotes
Jan 10th
Tuesday

(this year)

Feast of Tammuz

Although the hebrew day starts in the evening, this fast starts the morning after and continues until nightfall. To remember the breach of Jerusalem's walls by Romans (69CE). A 3-week period also covers the destruction of the first Jewish Temple (586BCE), the Roman-Jewish war of 66CE & the 2nd temple's destruction.

Jan 27th
Friday

(fixed)

Holocaust Memorial Day

in the UK. Remembrance for those who suffered persecution and genocide under the Nazis.

Feb 6th
Monday
(2 days)
(this year)

Tu B'Shevat

Celebrating (and planting of) new trees, and the approach of spring.

Apr 6th
Thursday
(7 days)
(this year)

Pesach (Passover)

Marking the exodus from slavery in Egypt, with the Seder meal.

Apr 18th
Tuesday

(this year)

Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Day)

A day of remembrance for those countless many who suffered and died by the hands during the Nazi holocaust.

Apr 26th
Wednesday

(this year)

Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day)

in Israel. If this fell on a Mon, it is moved to Tues. If on a Fri or Sat, it's moved to the prior Thursday. For the creation of Israel in 1948.

May 9th
Tuesday

(this year)

Lag B'Omer

49 days long to mark a historical plague with sadness, except the 33rd day, which permits marriage.

May 26th
Friday
(2 days)
(this year)

Shavuot (Feast of Weeks)

Occurs seven weeks after Pesach. Early harvest festival. For the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Jul 27th
Thursday

(this year)

Tisha B'Av

Sep 16th
Saturday
(2 days)
(this year)

Rosh Hashannah

New Years' day. For self-examination and memory of Abraham attempting to sacrifice his son.

Sep 25th
Monday

(this year)

Yom Kippur

Follows from 10 days of repentance; the most important Jewish date in a year.

Sep 30th
Saturday
(7 days)
(this year)

Sokkot

Similar in style to the sabbath, but lasting a week instead of just Saturday.

Oct 7th
Saturday

(this year)

Simchat Torah

Outside of Israel, occurs a day later. The Torah reading moves from the end of Deuteronomy to the beginning of Genesis.

Oct 7th
Saturday

(this year)

Shemini Atzeret

Seasonal date that marks the beginning of the rainy season in Israel marked by candles, festive meals and celebration. The annual reading of the Torah restarts.

Dec 8th
Friday
(8 days)
(this year)

Hanukah

For the day the Maccabee army defeated a Syrian Greek army.

Dec 29th
Friday

(this year)

Feast of Tammuz

Although the hebrew day starts in the evening, this fast starts the morning after and continues until nightfall. To remember the breach of Jerusalem's walls by Romans (69CE). A 3-week period also covers the destruction of the first Jewish Temple (586BCE), the Roman-Jewish war of 66CE & the 2nd temple's destruction.

4. Types of Judaism17

#jews #judaism #poland #secularisation #theism #USA

There are four main forms of Judaism.

5. About Judaism17

#agnosticism #atheism #christianity #egypt #germany #islam #israel #spain #USA

6. The Disputed Ancient History of the Jews

In his description of Humanistic Judaism, Prof. Partridge notes that modern secular academics dispute the entire Biblical pseudo-history of the Jewish peoples.

Book CoverAccording to Sherwin Wine, the major exponent of Humanistic Judaism, the traditional conception of Jewish history is mistaken. In his view, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob never existed. Furthermore, the Exodus account is a myth: 'There is no historical evidence to substantiate a massive Hebrew departure from the land of the Pharaohs. As far as we can surmise, the Hebrew occupation of the hill country on both sides of the Jordan was continuous. The 12 tribes never left their ancestral land, never endured 400 years of slavery, and never wandered the Sinai desert.' Moreover, Moses was not the leader of the Hebrews, nor did he compose the Torah. In this light, it is an error to regard the biblical account as authoritative; rather it is a human record of the history of the Israelite nation, the purpose of which is to reinforce the faith of the Jewish nation. [...] Humanistic Judaism thus offers an option for those who wish to identify with the Jewish community despite their rejection of the traditional understanding of God's nature and activity.

"Encyclopedia of New Religions" by Christopher Partridge (2004)30