The+Basics+of+Judaism

 =The Basics of Judaism In this webpage, I will tell about the fundamental beliefs of Jews. I'll tell you who is a Jew, what a Messiah is, and the basic teachings of Judaism. =  =Who is Jewish: =  A Jewish person is somebody that was born of a Jewish mother or someone who has gone through the formal process of conversion. You can be born of a Jewish mother and practice atheism, and will still be considered Jewish. Many people who believe all that Jews believe, do not go through the conversion process. They do not convert, because Jews actually discourage converting. They do so in the belief that a person does not need to be a Jew to be righteous in God's eyes.

What do the Terms, "Judaism," and, "Jew," Mean:
The term "Jew" is derived from the word "Hebrew." Hebrew is first used in the Torah to describe Abraham. Abraham is considered, "The first Jew, the founder of Judaism, the physical and spiritual ancestor of the Jewish people." Judaism actually means, Judah-ism. Judah was one of Jacob's 12 sons, an ancestor of the tribe of Israel.

What are the Basic Teachings of Judaism:
The most important teaching of Judaism is that God wants people to do what is just and merciful. The Torah contains the basic teachings of Judaism. The Hebrew Bible is what Christians call the Old Testament; and the Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. As a Jew, you serve God by studying scripture and  practicing what it teaches. This includes ritual practices, such as sacrifices, and moral laws. "Jacob was also called Israel, and so his descendants became known as the children of Israel. God gave the Ten Commandments through Moses... These laws explained how the Israelites should live and build their community." The Ten Commandments is basically how God wants Jewish people to live their lives.

What is the Messiah:
The Messiah means, "the anointed one." In the scriptures, the Messiah is described as a fair and just ruler who will correct the wrong doings of the people and defeat their enemies. Many Jews are still in waiting for the Messiah. Others, however, speak instead of the Messianic Age, a time of peace and justice. They belive that this time will come about through the cooperation of all people, and from the help from God.