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.

Israeli woman arrested for stealing religious books from Haifa rabbi's tomb, trying to burn them

The suspect was taken into custody and transferred to the Haifa police station for questioning.

OCTOBER 11, 2026|ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAM

An Illustration of a Hebrew Bible at a synagogue in Jerusalem, July 14, 2023

'Legend of Destruction.'

Israeli Second Temple drama ‘Legend of Destruction’ now available in the US

The story follows Ben Batich, voiced by Oscar Isaac, an idealistic young man who joins the zealots rebelling against Rome, driven by anger at corruption and inequality.

OCTOBER 11, 2026|ByHANNAH BROWN

FLYDUBAI FLIGHT FZ1073 passengers arrive at Ben-Gurion Airport after the terror attack was thwarted, Sept. 30.

The land and sky of miracles: Flydubai hijacking reminded Israel of God's protection - opinion

The dramatic events of flydubai’s flight 1073 – what I like to call “the miracle at 30,000 feet” – have brought to the surface a host of eye-opening revelations.

OCTOBER 10, 2026|BySTEWART WEISS

People shop at the Mahane Yehuda market on the first day of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, in Jerusalem, September 27, 2026

Israelis feel more Middle Eastern as views of Europe sour, study finds

A Hebrew University survey finds Israelis increasingly identify as Middle Eastern, feel safer in Israel, and view Europe more skeptically.

OCTOBER 10, 2026|ByJUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH

The women who should enter Israel’s sukkah this Sukkot - opinion

It is not about who receives a ceremonial invitation to enter for one evening, but about what kind of sukkah we build in the first place.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2026ByYIFAT SELA

Prime Minister Golda Meir

Sukkot and Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US

See candle lighting times for your area

SEPTEMBER 25, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

Sukkot 2026: The refined person

The Torah itself emphasizes the idea of hadar in the festival’s central mitzvah, the mitzvah of the Four Species, and even makes it part of the definition of the mitzvah.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2026ByRABBI SHMUEL RABINOWITZ

EXAMINING AN ETROG.

MDA medics finish building woman's sukkah for her after treating head injury

The woman had begun building the sukkah beneath her home as part of preparations for the approaching holiday when an iron pole fell while the upper supports were being tied together and struck her.

SEPTEMBER 25, 2026BySHIR PERETS

An MDA team finishes building a sukkah for a woman after treating her injuries.

The Quran is pro-Zionism. Here’s why – opinion

Islam’s holiest book contains elements that reinforce Jews’ right to the Land of Israel

SEPTEMBER 23, 2026ByTOM WEGNER

A Quran manuscript from Turkey, dated between 1851 and 1852. Artist Unknown.

After Yom Kippur, Israel must learn to say: 'We were wrong' - editorial

Yom Kippur asks Israelis to confess in the plural, but accountability after October 7 still requires individuals and leaders to explain where they went wrong.

SEPTEMBER 22, 2026ByJPOST EDITORIAL

The Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City during the final Selichot prayers ahead of Yom Kippur. September 19, 2026.

WATCH: Thousands gather at Western Wall for selichot prayers as 'Post' observes Yom Kippur

The Jerusalem Post will temporarily pause news coverage to observe Yom Kippur. We wish all our readers a gmar hatima tova and an easy and meaningful fast.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Thousands of Jews gather for selichot prayer services at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem, ahead of Yom Kippur, September 15, 2026

ITIM demands equal conditions for women in upcoming Chief Rabbinate exams

After women faced severe delays during historic first exams, ITIM threatens legal action against the Chief Rabbinate to ensure equal venues and testing conditions for upcoming certification tests.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026BySARAH BEN-NUN

Three women who arrived in the morning to sit the Rabbinate exams finally do so at a four-hour delay, April 27, 2026

In the shadow of October 7: How Yom Kippur has changed for some secular Israelis

The October 7 attack has affected all Israelis somehow. Some have questioned God’s existence. Others have gotten closer to religion, and sought connection to spirituality.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026ByLINDA GRADSTEIN

The empty streets in Tel Aviv, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and the holiest of Jewish holidays. Israel came to a standstill for 25-hours during the high holiday of Yom Kippur when observant Jews fast and Israelis are prohibited from driving, October 2, 2025.

The Jewish sin we never confess: Choosing indifference over love - opinion

Judaism does not demand agreement or unity. It demands that we never erase another Jew from the circle of our obligations.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2026BySHIVI GREENFIELD

An illustrative image of a Torah scroll and a shofar for Yom Kippur.