Judaism

There are about 14 million Jews in the world today—almost 6 million in the United States and 5 million in Israel. Although Christians believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and follow the Jewish Messiah, Christians and Jews don’t have as much in common as one might think.

Judaism is ranked as the 6th most widespread religion in the world, but you might be surprised to learn that many Jews do not believe in God. Today, more than half of the Jews living in Israel identify as « secular »; according to polls, only 30% of Jews say they are « absolutely certain » that God exists, 34% say they are « uncertain, » 24% « express doubts, » and 12% believe « there is no God. »

So it is possible to be agnostic or atheist while being Jewish. Some even believe in reincarnation. But then, what does it mean to be Jewish?

Being Jewish does not necessarily mean following the religion of Judaism: in fact, it doesn’t matter what you believe. If your mother is Jewish, then you are considered Jewish. Being Jewish means being a descendant of a specific ethnic group (the Hebrews), while following Judaism means adopting a particular way of life. For the Jewish people, what they believe about God and the afterlife is not as important as how they live.

Background

There are three main branches (movements) in contemporary Judaism:

1. Orthodox: This is the strictest branch, and until about 200 years ago, it was the only form of Judaism that existed. Orthodox or “traditional” Jews emphasize tradition and take great pride in keeping the Mosaic law. They make up about 10% of the Jewish population in the United States.
2. Reform: At the other end of the spectrum is the liberal, “modern” movement called Reform Judaism. This movement began in the 18th century to update the old and outdated ideas of Judaism. According to its adherents, it is important to keep the good values of Judaism, but strict religious laws are not necessary. Today, this is the most common branch.
3. Conservative: Positioned between Orthodox and Reform, the Conservative movement began around the 19th century and represents a middle ground between the two other branches. Conservatives are traditional but believe rabbis have the authority to change Jewish laws according to the times. About 30% of Jews in the United States are Conservative.

Since Judaism emphasizes behavior over theology, there is a great variety of beliefs even within each branch. With so much diversity, it is difficult to generalize about their beliefs.

Who is God ?

Orthodox Jews believe there is only one God. He is spirit, omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and eternal. Jews regularly recite what they call the Shema: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Deuteronomy 6:4).

Reform Jews, on the other hand, may interpret the “concept of God” as they wish. They can be atheists, naturalists, religious humanists, but they all agree on this: “the truth is that we do not know the truth.” So if you want to understand what Reform Jews believe today, you need to discuss with individuals, as beliefs vary more or less significantly depending on the person you’re talking to.

Scriptures

Orthodox Jews (the strict believers) believe that the Torah was written by God through the hand of Moses. The Torah is the Hebrew name for the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). They also believe in the rest of the Old Testament, called the “Tanakh,” but do not grant it equivalent authority.

There is also the Talmud (the oral law, which is the main collection of commentaries on the Torah), which holds significant authority for Jews.

However, Reform Jews (the more liberal ones) do not necessarily believe that the Scriptures were written by God. Most consider that they were written by humans. They see these books as valuable for preserving their culture and history, and that these books help guide a meaningful life.

Heaven and Hell

Orthodox Jews believe in life after death, called “Olam haba” (the world to come). They believe that righteous people from every nation will live forever with God in a perfect, peaceful, and prosperous place, while sinners will suffer. However, there is no consensus about where these people will be. Some think that nothing happens at the time of death. Others believe that one goes either to “Sheol” (the abode of the dead) or to “Gehenna,” a place of purification (similar to a Jewish purgatory). After this, three options are possible:

1. You go to paradise;
2. You are destroyed and cease to exist;
3. You live in a state of perpetual remorse and regret.

Again, Judaism leaves room for personal opinions. In the Reform and Conservative branches, most people do not have personal beliefs about life after death—they simply don’t think about it. What matters to them is the present: being a good person and making this earth a better place.

Sin and Salvation

None of the branches of Judaism believe in original sin. They teach that man was created in the image of God and that he is born morally pure. They believe either in a “neutral” humanity (with the potential for both good and evil) or in a good humanity. Few Jews ask themselves the question: “What must I do to go to heaven?” This is explained by the fact that Judaism teaches that all good people, from every nation, will go to heaven. And since most Jews do not believe in the concept of “hell,” they do not consider themselves in need of being “saved” from anything. Consider this: Jews believe they hold a “favored” position with God because of their status as the “chosen people” or “elect people.” Many Jews think that studying the Torah, praying, and doing good deeds will earn them a better place in heaven; but as descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they automatically gain access to heaven.

However, the Scriptures say something important on this subject:
“And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.”
— Matthew 3:9

The Messiah

But then, what do Jews today believe about the Messiah if they consider that they don’t need to be “saved”? Again, it depends on the person you ask. In fact, most of them do not await the coming of the Messiah. Orthodox Jews still hold on to this hope, but they do not see the Messiah as a divine being. They also do not believe that this Messiah will suffer as the Scriptures (the Bible) have announced and prophesied. For them, the Messiah will simply be a great political leader who will bring peace to Israel and extend his reign over the entire planet.
However, the thing that the vast majority of Jews agree on is that Jesus is not the Messiah. The other branches place their hope not in a person but in a “messianic age,” an utopian era toward which humanity progresses.

Traditions

For most Jews, certain life events are celebrated, such as the circumcision of newborn boys, the bar mitzvah (for boys), and the bat mitzvah (for girls), celebrated when each child turns 13. Many Jews also observe the Sabbath as a weekly day of rest. Most of them observe at least some Jewish holidays, not so much for religious reasons but to reconnect with their roots. The most solemn are the “High Holy Days”: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. On Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, Jews fast and pray for the forgiveness of their sins. The most popular festival is the “Jewish Passover,” during which Jews commemorate their liberation from slavery in Egypt. During this Passover week, they eat “Matzo,” unleavened bread, and hold a “Seder,” or Passover dinner.