Judaism

Judaism is the oldest monotheistic religion in the world, having originated in the Middle East more than 3,000 years ago with patriarch Abraham.

As the first Abrahamic religion, Judaism has played a major role in shaping the history of the world, having greatly influenced the development of Christianity and Islam, despite having always had a relatively small amount of adherents by comparison.

The religion itself is built off of the "written Torah" of the Bible, known in Judaism as the Tanach, and the "oral Torah" of the Mishna, Talmud and other great works of leading rabbis throughout history.

Judaism itself has no single leading figure, and is divided into multiple streams, such as the ultra-Orthodox (haredi), Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. Further differences also exist along the lines of historic Diasporic communities, such as Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jewry.

Today, the largest concentration of adherents of Judaism can be found in Israel, with the US having the second-largest.

From rain to dew: Prayer and the meaning of uncertainty - opinion

The shift from rain to dew in prayer reveals a deeper message about resilience, fear, and spiritual growth.

APRIL 15, 2026|ByZACHARY PAIKIN

Rain falls in mid-August in the upper Galilee

Rabbi Jacobson stands next to the monument in Trondheim, 1947.

How a Norwegian pastor helped Jews pray in secret during the Holocaust

A remarkable bond between a pastor and the rabbi of the Jewish community of Trondheim helped Jews through the

APRIL 14, 2026|ByYOAV ETIEL

A SECTION of Jonathan Vidgop’s family tree on the walls of the Am haZikaron office in Tel Aviv.

Perpetual Jewish family traits: Jewish genealogy, history explored by Am haZikaron Institute

Using an exact-sciences approach endorsed by a committee of 55 Nobel laureates, Am haZikaron can reveal the unique characteristics of one’s clan that have been preserved for centuries.

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SIMON BETUEL in his home studio.

Simon Betuel: Cosmetics producer by day, artist by night

Influenced by the palettes of Rubens, Klimt, Vrubel, and especially El Greco, Betuel executes deeply Jewish paintings in both figurative and abstract styles.

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Verbal intifada: How modern antisemitism is weaponized through words - opinion

From campuses to social media, antisemitic rhetoric is silencing Jews and normalizing exclusion through the weaponization of words.

MARCH 29, 2026ByCOOKIE SCHWAEBER-ISSAN

TENTS ARE pitched outside the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, as students occupy parts of British campuses in support of Palestinians in Gaza, this week. Supporters of genocidal jihadist groups are spreading mayhem across the Western world, says the writer.

Wine Talk: Pass over the wine

Here's what you need to know to choose the perfect wines for your Passover Seder.

MARCH 28, 2026ByADAM MONTEFIORE

Passover may be seen as a wine banquet. The 1848 Winery offers quality, value, and award-winning wines.

The Fort Sill Haggadah: A US Army chaplain’s mission to create a Seder for hundreds

The general of Fort Sill and his wife were our honored guests. We were all thrilled when the chaplain, Wes Geary, sang “Let My People Go.”

MARCH 28, 2026ByDAVID GEFFEN

Fort Sill in Oklahoma, seen 2021. The writer was chaplain there from 1965 to 1967

Anti-Zionist Jews: The wayward sons of our generation - opinion

Some Jews seek Judaism without peoplehood; the Haggadah warns that faith and community are inseparable.

MARCH 28, 2026ByDORON PEREZ

A PRO-PALESTINIAN Jewish protester participates in a demonstration calling for the release of Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, in New York City.

IDF's ‘Operation Roaring Matzah’: Keeping Passover, ensuring security for army and country

“If we need to do Seder in the tank, we will be happy to do so,” E asserts. “We will drink grape juice and sing all the songs together – “Mah Nishtana?” and “V’hee She’amda.”

MARCH 27, 2026ByJUDITH SEGALOFF

Soldiers are ready for anything - including Passover.

Parashat Tzav: True freedom begins in the mind, not in physical circumstance

Shabbat Hagadol is a time of inner preparation for the Festival of Freedom. On this Shabbat, we begin to think and act from a broader perspective.

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An Israeli family enjoys a "Seder" Pesach on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Pesach. April 22, 2024.

Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and US

See Shabbat times for your area.

MARCH 27, 2026ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Shabbat candles

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Jewish survival, defiance, and hope shine as Passover 2026 is observed in a world of challenges.

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The aftermath of an Iranian missile hit on an Arad apartment building, March 21, 2026.

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Abandoning the term “Zionism” hands victory to Israel’s critics and undermines Jewish identity, history, and the ongoing mission of the Jewish state.

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American Jews [Illustrative]

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Prayer at the Kotel should remain sacred, guiding Jews through crises rather than fueling division.

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A general view of Jerusalem's Old City shows the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest prayer site, in the foreground and the Dome of the Rock, located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in the background June 24, 2019