Guide Note

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion¹, having been founded in the Middle East over 3,500 years ago.² The central text of Judaism is the Torah, which consists of the first five books of the Old Testament as revealed to Moses.¹ The Jews believe that they are God's chosen people and that it is their duty to honor God and set an example of His holiness during their daily lives.²

Fast Facts

1. Jewish temples are called synagogues
2. Hebrew is the liturgical language of Judaism
3. Yiddish is the language of Ashkenazic (central and eastern European) Jews
4. Rabbis are Jewish spiritual leaders
5. Israel was established as a Jewish homeland in 1948
6. There are approximately 12 million Jews worldwide²

The Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, is the Jewish day or worship and rest. It begins on Friday night and lasts until Saturday night² and is the most important of all the Jewish holidays. The observance of the Sabbath was designated in the Ten Commandments and is a time for families to spend time together, feasting and seeking spiritual and intellectual enrichment.³