ABC of Judaism
The Fundamental Principles of Judaism
Divine Unity Monotheism is the founding principle of Judaism. It is expressed in the profession of faith contained in the Shema prayer: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our G-d, the Lord is One”…
The Meaning of the Tetragrammaton
In Hebrew shem-ha-meforash, meaning "the unpronounceable name", even though the literal meaning of the expression is the exact opposite: the "explained, spelled out, explicit name".
The Chosen People
Judaism has never believed that there is only one way to reach God. On the contrary, the rabbis teach: “The righteous of all nations have a place in Paradise”. For this reason, the Jewish…
The Seven Laws of Noah
Judaism has never believed that there is only one way to reach God. On the contrary, the rabbis teach: “the righteous of all nations have a place in Heaven”. For this reason, the Jewish…
The Ten Commandments
Around 3200 years have passed since the promulgation of the Decalogue and the giving of the Torah. Today the Bible has become the common heritage of many peoples, a sacred book for…
The Jewish Home
According to the rabbis, the home that a couple builds is like a miniature sanctuary (Mikdash me’at). The term derives from the tradition according to which, after the destruction of the…
The Rabbi
The rabbi (or rav in Hebrew) is a spiritual guide and an authority on Jewish law. He possesses sound knowledge, good judgment, and acts as an arbiter and counsellor. The rabbi does not have…
The Synagogue
The synagogue is a Jewish place of prayer and is also a place for meeting and study, which makes it the centre of community life. In this sense it replaces the Temple.