BELIEFS & COMMUNITY
Judaism: Torah, covenant and Jewish life
Religious Values guide · Updated
Judaism is the religious tradition of the Jewish people, shaped by covenant, Torah and a continuing life of interpretation and practice. Jewish identity also involves peoplehood, family and culture. A useful introduction therefore asks both what Jews believe and how Jewish communities live, study, celebrate and understand their responsibilities.
Jewish movements and individuals differ in belief and observance. Orthodox and Reform sources below illustrate differences within Judaism; neither represents every Jew.
Torah and a tradition of interpretation
Torah can refer specifically to the Five Books of Moses or more broadly to Jewish teaching. Rabbinic interpretation, including the Talmud, gives practical and intellectual depth to this tradition. Mitzvot are commandments, connecting religious life with relationships, time, food and ethical conduct. Communities differ over how Jewish law is binding and how inherited teaching should respond to changing circumstances.[1][2]
Shabbat, home and community
Shabbat runs from Friday evening to Saturday night and creates a weekly rhythm of rest and holiness. Prayer, festive meals, candle lighting and synagogue services can all be part of it. The Jewish calendar also shapes household and communal life through festivals. Observance ranges widely; it is misleading to assume that every Jewish person keeps the same dietary rules or follows an identical Sabbath routine.[1][3]
Differences among Jewish movements
Orthodox Judaism understands Torah and halakhah, Jewish law, as authoritative obligations. Reform Judaism emphasizes an evolving relationship with tradition and informed choices about practice. Conservative and other movements have their own approaches to law, scholarship and community. These labels help identify institutions, but do not measure how meaningful Jewish identity is to an individual or how much someone belongs to the Jewish people.[1][2]
Common questions
Is Judaism only a set of religious beliefs?
No. Religion, peoplehood, ancestry, culture and communal belonging can overlap in Jewish identity. Someone's level of religious observance does not by itself determine whether they are Jewish. Communities also have specific standards for recognizing conversion and membership.[1][2]
How should a newcomer approach a synagogue?
Contact the synagogue about visiting, security arrangements and introductory classes. Ask about its movement and customs. Learning about Judaism does not require pretending to be Jewish or participating in a ritual whose meaning and participation rules you have not yet learned.
Sources & further reading
The sources below explain the beliefs and practices discussed here. Where a guide describes a broad movement, a named organization illustrates its own approach.
- 1.Chabad: What is Judaism?
An Orthodox Jewish account of Torah, covenant and commandments.
- 2.Union for Reform Judaism: What is Reform Judaism?
The Reform movement's account of tradition, diversity and religious practice.
- 3.Chabad: What is Shabbat?
Shabbat explained within Orthodox practice.