Judaism, one of the first monotheistic religions, began as the faith of the ancient Hebrews of the Middle East. These Hebrews were descendants of the Patriarch Abraham, who settled his family and relatives in Palestine in the second millennium B.C. Later some elements of the population, which had become known as the people of Israel, went to Egypt where they were eventually put under the yoke of slavery. After several hundred years of serving as slaves, they gained their freedom and escaped from Egypt under the leadership of a prophet named Moses. After their escape, they wandered in the desert for forty years before returning to Palestine and fighting their way back into the country.
The people of Israel believed that they were God's chosen people, and that he promised the country of Palestine to them as their permanent home. These beliefs were passed down to the later adherents of Judaism. But over the centuries the Jewish people dispersed and spread to many parts of the world. Some of them left Palestine voluntarily, and some left because of wars and upheavals. But a small number stayed, and in the twentieth century these were joined by many others returning from other countries. These newcomers forcibly took some land from the native Arab Palestinians and established the modern state of Israel on it.
The sacred text of Judaism is the Hebrew Bible, particularly the Torah. This ancient book is a complex compilation of history, religious laws, moral instruction, poetry, and prophesy. It was composed over many centuries and by many authors.
The ancient kingdom of Israel was established by Saul and David with its capital at Jerusalem. Its reached its height of power under King Solomon, who built a magnificent temple. This temple was destroyed by the Assyrians when they conquered the country in the sixth century B.C. A second temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.
The formal worship services of modern Jews usually take place in local synagogues under the direction of Rabbis. The annual Passover festival celebrates the liberation of the ancient Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, marks an annual period of fasting and penitence.
Christianity originated as an offshoot of Judaism, and still retains many of its traditions and beliefs. The Christian bible was created by adding the gospels and other books of the New Testament to older Jewish scriptures. Islam also traces some of its beliefs back to ancient Judaism.
The Middle East Media Research Institute -- This website monitors the activity of broadcast and print media in the Middle East. It also supports studies of the practices and trends in news reporting in the region.
Jewish Virtual Library -- This website provides access to an extensive collection of Jewish literature, both ancient and modern. It also includes a bookstore, a glossary, and many specially-written articles.
Jewish History Resource Center -- This website is a project of a department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It includes a collection of more than 4000 links to pages with information about Jewish History. The overall goal is to index all important resources on the web which pertain to Jewish History.
Judaism on Religious Tolerance -- This website provides basic information about Judaism and discusses its place among the religions of the world. One article describes the history of the persecution of the Jews, and another article discusses the relationship between Judaism and Christianity.
Religion Facts Judaism -- This page contains a summary of basic Jewish beliefs.
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