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.

How a Norwegian pastor helped Jews pray in secret during the Holocaust

A remarkable bond between a pastor and the rabbi of the Jewish community of Trondheim helped Jews through the

APRIL 14, 2026|ByYOAV ETIEL

Rabbi Jacobson stands next to the monument in Trondheim, 1947.

A SECTION of Jonathan Vidgop’s family tree on the walls of the Am haZikaron office in Tel Aviv.

Perpetual Jewish family traits: Jewish genealogy, history explored by Am haZikaron Institute

Using an exact-sciences approach endorsed by a committee of 55 Nobel laureates, Am haZikaron can reveal the unique characteristics of one’s clan that have been preserved for centuries.

APRIL 12, 2026|ByABIGAIL KLEIN LEICHMAN

SIMON BETUEL in his home studio.

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

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

Freedom under fire: What Passover means in a time of war - comment

In a year of war, Jewish holidays reflect reality, where freedom is less about ideals and more about safety and survival.

APRIL 2, 2026ByHERB KEINON

On Wednesday night, we will talk about freedom, with the specter of ballistic missiles, safe rooms, and red-alert sirens still fresh in our minds.

A Passover tribute: Kindness from a Jerusalem neighborhood pharmacy

Every year as Seder approaches, we all look for inspiration in how to make our Seder even richer than the year before.

APRIL 2, 2026ByLEE GLASSMAN

Mrs. Glassman enjoys a cup of coffee at one of the Jerusalem cafés she frequented

Passover reimagined: How Jews reinterpret freedom at the Seder table

Passover celebrates liberty, tradition, and the evolving ways we mark the Seder night.

APRIL 2, 2026ByBARRY DAVIS

Rabbi Daniel Burstyn conducting a Seder on Kibbutz Lotan.

Coming home: Traveling from Maine to Israel during the Iran war

A modern exodus unfolds as a rabbi navigates flights, borders, and devotion to reach Israel.

APRIL 2, 2026ByAKIVA HERZFELD

Akiva Herzfeld crosses over from taba into Israel.

Rewriting the ‘Pharaoh Constant’: A sci-fi reimagining of the Exodus - opinion

Future historians would deride this as the “Pharaoh Constant” – a civilization of unbroken empire, universal slavery, and global misery.

APRIL 2, 2026ByBRIAN BLUM

The Staff's ultrasonic emitter, broadcast at 800 hertz, drove every frog in the delta inland.

Freedom is not free: Passover 5786 in the shadow of war - opinion

This Passover, Jews sit at the Seder table amid sirens, reflecting on freedom, oppression, and existential threats in today’s world.

APRIL 2, 2026ByJEFFREY KAHN

An illustrative image of the Korean War Memorial in Washington.

Seder night: A crumpled white shirt reveals Passover’s deeper meaning

Rav Amital’s lesson shows that even a rushed Seder can be meaningful and spiritually powerful.

APRIL 1, 2026ByMOSHE TARAGIN

‘Our revered Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yehuda Amital (pictured 2007) gathered us and shared his experiences from the labor camps during World War II.’

The Seder’s message: Why we diminish our joy for others’ pain on Passover

The spilling of wine at the Seder lessens joy to recognize that freedom came with suffering and calls for empathy toward all.

APRIL 1, 2026ByRABBI MICHAEL M. COHEN

'Although it is a great joy for us that god took us out of Egypt and redeemed us, it is still painful for us that through this others were destroyed.'

Passover Seder night: The deeper meaning of matzah and the urgency of the Exodus

“When a mitzvah comes to your hand, do not let it ‘become leavened.’”

APRIL 1, 2026ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

A MAN wraps fresh matza during Passover in Ashdod in 2016

Flying frogs, Seder spins: Unique Passover traditions from Jews around the world

From playful rituals to cherished stories, public figures share how they make their Passover Seders.

APRIL 1, 2026ByDAVID BRINN

Naftali Bennett