Judaism

The Jewish faith is based upon the belief in one ‘G-d’, the Creator of the universe, whose divine purpose was revealed in the Torah.

The word Torah sometimes refers to the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the books of Moses, which have primary importance, and sometimes to the whole Hebrew Scriptures, often called Tenakh. The Torah is a template for the way Jews should live and Judaism has been described as a religion of 'deed' rather than 'creed'. The precepts of the Torah were debated by the rabbis over some hundreds of years, and these debates and explanations are detailed in the Talmud. (rabbi=teacher). A major tenet of Judaism is the sanctity of Shabbat (the Sabbath), which lasts from sunset on Friday evening to sunset on the Saturday, on which no work is permitted. For Orthodox Jews this includes driving, operating equipment, and carrying things. On certain festivals - Rosh ha'Shannah (New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Tabernacles), Pesach (Passover) and Shavuot (Pentacost) - there are similar constraints on normal daily activities. These festivals are fixed in the Jewish calendar but do not correspond to fixed dates in the 'normal' calendar.

Other tenets include the observance of strict dietary laws - kashrut - which, among other provisions, forbids the consumption of pork and shellfish and the mixing of dairy products and meat. Any food (or activity) which is permitted is called kosher.

Jewish communities are autonomous though most affiliate to one of the main synagogal groups in the UK, of which Orthodox and Reform/Liberal and Progressive are represented in Yorkshire and the Humber. One of the main features of non-Orthodox Judaism is the full integration of women in religious ritual and the ordination of women rabbis. In Orthodox synagogues there is a separate section for women.

Many traditions and rituals take place in the home including, for example, the ceremony and meal to welcome in the Sabbath and the Passover meal, called a Seder, which marks the start of Passover.

The Jewish community can also be broadly divided into the Sephardim (Spanish, Portuguese and Middle Eastern heritage) and the Ashkenazim (Central and Eastern European heritage). In Yorkshire and the Humber, 11,554 people identified themselves as ‘Jewish’ at the 2001 Census. Leeds (8267 / 1.2% of population) was by far the largest centre, with Sheffield (763 / 0.1% of population) the next most significant. East Riding, Bradford, Harrogate and Hull were all home to between 400 and 250 Jewish people, with Ryedale the smallest recorded centre with just 18.

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Essential Facts

Origins

c1900 BCE, the Mediterranean countries.

Present Spread

Israel, Russia, USA, Western Europe.

Founder/prophets

Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Amos, Isaiah and many others.

Major beliefs

The Covenant; the unity of God; judgement and repentance; the Ten Commandments; the Law (Torah).

Sacred writings

Torah, Talmud.

Special places of worship

Home and Synagogue.

Special times

Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Purim.

Religious teachers

Rabbis.

Places of pilgrimage

The Western Wall, Masada, Yad Vashem.

Holy day

Shabbat (Friday sunset to Saturday sunset)

Forms of worship

Psalms and thanksgiving, prayers, study and readings from sacred texts, celebrations, rituals, the wearing of tefillin and tallit.

Groups

Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and Liberal.