Judaism is the religion of the Jews.
There are an estimated 13.5 million Jews in the world, approximately 6 million
in the
The Judaism
of today is based mainly on the Talmud
and 613 Commandments derived from the Torah (by early renowned rabbinic
scholars), several of which (The
commandments in the Torah) cannot presently be
fulfilled without the existence of the
Judaism is
the religion of the Jewish people. Is the oldest of the three western
monotheistic religions and so (Talmudic Judaism) is the ancestor of both Islam and Christianity. The heart and underlining promise of Judaism is the
belief that there exists only one eternal God who is the creator and the ruler
of the universe and all that is in it; God is transcendent and eternal, knowing
and seeing everything. God has revealed the law (Torah), which is of utmost
importance to the Jewish People, the chosen people, who are to be a light and
example to all the world. Abraham, the biblical
patriarch was the first to give expression to the Jewish faith, and it is
through him that the blessing and the inheritance from God to the Jewish people
comes, particularly the promise of the land, that has a central place in Jewish
thought and practice.
The essence
of the Jewish faith is contained in the “Shema” (A Talmudic prayer
that all Jewish males above 12 years of age are commanded to recite two times
every day) that is recited every morning
and evening by a devote Jew: “Here O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is
One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be
upon your heart.” (In Deuteronomy 6:4-6). Basic to
Judaism is the dynamic that God’s revelation is contained in both written Torah
and oral
Torah (This so-called “Oral Torah” was created
in
In modern Judaism, Jews have disagreed on the binding
role of written and oral Torah as religious law. (Between Orthodox Jews fundamentalists, Conservative Jews
Secular Jews, and Reformed Jews Liberal Jews) Within the following major groupings there have developed variations
with respect to (Talmudic) religious
beliefs their practice, and ritual observance, (Reformed Jews have done away with a number of
Talmudic traditions and beliefs but have also embraced almost every corrupt and
evil ISM in the last 60 years) lifestyles,
and degree of acculturation.
Private
A devout Jew
is required to pray three times a day -- morning, afternoon, and evening --
either in the home or synagogue. An additional morning prayer
service is added on the Sabbath and Festivals; these prayers can be private or
corporate, but corporate worship is preferable. A Hebrew or Hebrew/English book
containing the prayer service is used during prayers. For all Orthodox,
Conservative, Reconstructionist, and some Reform
Jews, the head is covered during prayer with a skull-cap (yarmulke) or ordinary
hat. Note: Most
Orthodox Jews will continue to cover their heads all day as a sign of reverence
to God. During morning prayer, a prayer shawl (tallit), which has fringes at the four corners (in
obedience to a command found in the Torah), is worn by adult males. On
weekdays, small black leather boxes, phylacteries (tefillin)
may also be worn by adult males. (Christ speaks both of these fringes on Rabbi’s robes and
their phylacteries as being measures of arrogance and pride rather than
holiness) They contain four passages of scripture --
Exodus 13:1-10 and 13:11-16, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 -- and are strapped
to the forehead and the arm. Although these items may be inspected, the Tefillin, in deference to correctional concerns is to be
kept in the inmate groups cabinet located in the religious Activities center
and is to be handled with care. Only a
qualified Rabbi or Scribe may open the sewn closed portion of the boxes.
Whenever possible, a Jewish inmate should not be required to pray in a room
that contains either a toilet or symbols of any other religious denominations.
(In the
Talmud there are chapters devoted to this subject alone)
http://www.jewishprisonerservices.org/practices.htm