Judaism Explained

Summary

This video explores the foundations of Judaism, the world's oldest monotheistic religion, highlighting its sacred texts like the Torah and the Tanakh. It delves into Jewish beliefs, practices, and history, including the significance of the Covenant, the role of the Messiah, and the importance of the Sabbath. The script also touches on the diversity within Judaism, its dietary laws, and the centrality of the synagogue, offering a comprehensive yet concise introduction to the rich tapestry of Jewish culture and faith.

Takeaways

• 📜 Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, influencing the development of Christianity and Islam.
• 📚 The core text of Judaism is the Tanakh, which is divided into three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.
• 🌍 The Jewish religion has about 15 million followers, making it the tenth most popular religion worldwide.
• 👶 The concept of Covenant in Judaism is central, symbolized by circumcision and the adherence to God's commandments.
• 🏛 The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, once the center of Jewish worship, was destroyed and rebuilt multiple times.
• 🔍 The Jewish understanding of God is of a singular, eternal, and all-powerful creator with an active interest in human affairs.
• 🤝 The Tetragrammaton (YHWH) represents the name of God in Judaism, which is often not pronounced out of respect.
• 💡 The afterlife in Judaism is not extensively detailed, but it is believed that the soul lives on after death.
• 🤔 The Talmud is a vast collection of Jewish law and commentary, serving as a guide for Jewish life.
• 🌐 Judaism is not just a religion but also encompasses a diverse people, nation, culture, and civilization.
• 🕍 The synagogue is the central place of Jewish worship and community, with the Torah Scroll at its heart.

Q & A

What is the significance of the number 4000 in the context of Judaism mentioned in the video?

The number 4000 refers to the approximate age of Judaism, making it one of the oldest monotheistic religions.

What is the Tanakh and why is it important to Judaism?

The Tanakh is the Hebrew name for the Hebrew Bible, which is foundational to Jewish belief and consists of three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim.

Can you explain the concept of the Covenant in Judaism as described in the video?

The Covenant in Judaism is a special agreement between God and the Jewish people, symbolized by circumcision and representing a commitment to follow God's commandments.

What are the Five Books of Moses, and why are they significant?

The Five Books of Moses, also known as the Torah, are the most sacred texts of the Jewish people, containing the foundational stories and commandments of Judaism, including the 10 Commandments.

How did the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt and their subsequent exodus shape Jewish history and belief?

The enslavement in Egypt and the exodus led by Moses are pivotal events in Jewish history, symbolizing God's promise to the Jewish people and establishing the second Covenant at Mount Sinai.

What is the significance of the number 613 in the Jewish faith?

The number 613 refers to the total number of Mitzvah, or commandments, that God gave to Moses in the Torah, guiding the conduct and beliefs of the Jewish people.

Why is the Holy Temple in Jerusalem important to Jewish worship?

The Holy Temple in Jerusalem, housing the Ark of the Covenant, was the center of Jewish worship and a symbol of the sacred heart of Judaism before its destruction.

What is the Tetragrammaton, and why is its pronunciation significant in the Jewish faith?

The Tetragrammaton is the four-letter name of God (YHWH), the pronunciation of which was lost over time. Its significance lies in the reverence and respect for God's name, with many Orthodox Jews avoiding its pronunciation.

What is the concept of Tzedakah in Judaism, and how is it practiced today?

Tzedakah, meaning justice or charity, is a principle in Judaism that encourages acts of righteousness and giving, with many Jews donating a portion of their income to the needy.

What is the significance of the Messiah in Jewish belief, and how does it relate to the afterlife?

The Messiah in Jewish belief is a prophesied leader who will usher in an era of peace and perfection, rebuild the Holy Temple, and bring about the resurrection of all Jews, signifying the end of suffering and the beginning of a new heaven on Earth.

How does the Talmud complement the Torah in Jewish religious life?

The Talmud is a vast collection of commentary and debate on the Torah, providing interpretations, legal insights, and guidance for Jewish life, forming the basis for Jewish law.

What are the key differences between Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews, and how do they influence Jewish culture?

Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews represent two major groups with distinct cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Ashkenazi Jews developed in Central and Eastern Europe and speak Yiddish, while Sephardi Jews are descendants of Spanish Jews and speak Ladino, influencing Jewish cuisine, traditions, and religious practices.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Introduction to Judaism and its Sacred Texts

This paragraph introduces the audience to Judaism, one of the oldest monotheistic religions at 4000 years old, and its foundational texts. The script discusses the Torah, the first section of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh, which is divided into three parts: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. The Torah itself, sometimes referred to as the Five Books of Moses, includes the creation story and God's covenant with Abraham. The script also touches on significant historical events such as the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt and their subsequent liberation led by Moses, who received the 613 Mitzvah or commandments, including the famous 10 Commandments. The paragraph concludes with the mention of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and the division of the kingdom, leading to the Assyrian conquest and Babylonian exile, setting the stage for the religious and historical context of Judaism.

05:04

🌟 Monotheism and the Core Beliefs of Judaism

The second paragraph delves into the concept of monotheism in Judaism, which is the belief in one eternal, all-powerful God, the creator of the universe and the source of all morality. It explains the origins of this belief with Abraham and how it influenced the development of Christianity and Islam. The script discusses the Tetragrammaton (YHWH), the sacred name of God, and the reverence with which it is treated, including the practice of not pronouncing it aloud. It also covers the Jewish perspective on the afterlife, including the belief in the soul's continuation after death and the concept of Sheol as an underworld. The paragraph highlights the importance of Tzedakah, or charity, in Jewish life and the hope for the coming of the Messiah, who will bring about an era of peace and perfection, culminating in the resurrection of all Jews. Additionally, the Talmud is introduced as a critical text for Jewish law and life, being a comprehensive collection of commentary and debate on the Torah.

10:08

🌐 The Diversity of Jewish Culture and Denominations

This paragraph explores the cultural and ethnic diversity within the Jewish community, emphasizing that Judaism is not a race but a people, nation, culture, and civilization with members from various backgrounds. It distinguishes between Ashkenazi Jews, who originated in Central and Eastern Europe and speak Yiddish, and Sephardi Jews, descendants of Spanish Jews who speak Ladino. The script also mentions other Jewish communities from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Ethiopia, China, and Georgia, each with unique cultural practices. The paragraph discusses the impact of the Holocaust and the 20th-century migrations on the distribution of Jews, with North America and Israel becoming the primary homes for the Jewish population. It outlines various Jewish denominations, from atheistic to Orthodox, each with its interpretation of the Torah and Jewish law. The paragraph concludes with an explanation of the significance of Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, and the dietary laws of Kashrut, including the concept of kosher food and the prohibition of certain animals and practices.

15:08

🕍 Synagogues and the Practice of Judaism

The final paragraph focuses on the central role of synagogues in Jewish life and worship since the destruction of the Second Temple. It describes the presence of a handwritten Torah Scroll in every synagogue and the role of the rabbi as a scholar and interpreter of Jewish law. The script touches on Jewish customs such as wearing a kippah or yarmulka as a sign of respect and the tradition of not cutting the hair at the sides of the head, known as Payot. The paragraph also promotes the documentary streaming service CuriosityStream and its offerings, including a special deal for viewers to support educational creators. It concludes with an invitation for viewers to explore more about Judaism and other religions through the provided resources and to support the channel through Patreon or the t-shirt store.

Keywords

💡Judaism

Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, with a history spanning over 4000 years. It is considered the precursor to Christianity and Islam. The video discusses the core beliefs, practices, and historical development of Judaism, highlighting its significance as the foundation of other major world religions. For instance, the script mentions how Judaism's teachings influenced the creation of the world's two most popular religions.

💡Torah

The Torah is the most sacred book of the Jewish people, also known as the Five Books of Moses. It contains the foundational laws and narratives of Judaism, including the creation story and the covenant with Abraham. The script summarizes the Torah's content and emphasizes its importance in Jewish belief, as it provides the 613 Mitzvah or commandments that Jews are expected to follow.

💡Covenant

A covenant in the context of the video refers to the agreement between God and the Jewish people, as established with Abraham and later with Moses at Mount Sinai. The covenant is a central theme in Judaism, symbolizing the special relationship and commitment between God and the Jews. The script illustrates this with the example of circumcision as a 'token' of the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants.

💡Tanakh

The Tanakh is the Hebrew name for the Hebrew Bible, which consists of three sections: Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim. It is the foundational text of Judaism and contains the sacred writings, prophecies, and historical accounts. The video uses the Tanakh to explore the religious beliefs and narratives central to Judaism, such as the stories of Abraham, Jacob, and Moses.

💡Monotheism

Monotheism is the belief in one God, which is a core tenet of Judaism and has been influential in the development of other major religions like Christianity and Islam. The video explains that Abraham's belief in one all-powerful, all-knowing God was revolutionary at the time and spread across the ancient world, shaping the religious landscape as we know it today.

💡Tetragrammaton

The Tetragrammaton refers to the four-letter Hebrew name of God (YHWH), which is considered so sacred that its pronunciation is often avoided in Jewish tradition. The script mentions the Tetragrammaton as an example of the reverence and respect for the divine name in Judaism, with some Orthodox Jews using alternative names like HaShem or Adonai.

💡Diaspora

The Jewish diaspora refers to the scattering of the Jewish people across different regions of the world, particularly after the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 C.E. The video discusses the diaspora as a significant period in Jewish history, during which Jews experienced various forms of persecution and established communities in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

💡Tzedakah

Tzedakah, derived from the Torah, is the concept of justice or charity in Judaism. It is a fundamental principle that encourages Jews to act with generosity and support those in need. The script cites the practice of leaving the corners of fields unharvested for the poor as an example of Tzedakah, and notes that many Jews donate a portion of their income to the needy.

💡Messiah

In Judaism, the Messiah is a prophesied Jewish leader who will usher in a Messianic Era characterized by peace, justice, and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The script mentions the belief in the Messiah's coming as a central aspect of Jewish faith, with the expectation that it will lead to the resurrection of all Jews and the creation of a new heaven on Earth.

💡Talmud

The Talmud is a vast collection of Jewish oral teachings, commentary on the Torah, and legal interpretations. It is a central text in Judaism, second only to the Torah itself. The video describes the Talmud as a comprehensive guide that covers a wide range of topics, including debate, ethics, philosophy, and history, and provides the foundation for Jewish law.

💡Kosher

Kosher refers to the Jewish dietary laws as prescribed by the Torah and Jewish law. It dictates which foods are permissible and how they should be prepared and consumed. The script explains the criteria for kosher animals, the prohibition of blood and certain types of seafood, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of the body for potential resurrection, which is why cremation is forbidden and amputated limbs are buried with the deceased.

Highlights

Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, influencing the development of Christianity and Islam.

The Torah is the most sacred book of the Jewish people, also known as the Five Books of Moses.

The concept of a covenant in Judaism is central, symbolized by circumcision as a sign of the agreement with God.

The Israelites' history includes enslavement in Egypt and liberation under the leadership of Moses.

613 Mitzvah or commandments are contained in the Torah, including the famous 10 Commandments.

The Holy Temple in Jerusalem was a central place of worship, housing the Ark of the Covenant.

The Babylonian exile and the destruction of the Holy Temple are significant events in Jewish history.

Judaism is not only a religion but also encompasses a diverse people, nation, culture, and civilization.

Monotheism, the belief in one God, is a fundamental aspect of Judaism and has influenced other religions.

The Tetragrammaton, YHWH, is the name of God used in the Tanach, with pronunciation lost over time.

Jewish beliefs include the idea of free will and the possibility of a personal relationship with God.

The concept of an afterlife in Judaism is based on the life one leads on Earth, with the soul living on after death.

Tzedakah, or charity, is an important practice in Judaism, with many Jews donating a portion of their income to the needy.

The Messiah in Judaism is a prophesied leader who will bring about a Messianic Era of peace and perfection.

The Talmud is a vast collection of commentary on the Torah, providing the foundation for Jewish law and life.

Jewish denominations range from Orthodox to Reform, with varying interpretations of the Torah and Jewish law.

Shabbat, or the Sabbath, is a day of rest and rejuvenation, with specific prohibitions and encouragements for activities.

Kosher laws regulate the Jewish diet, specifying which animals and foods are permissible to consume.

The synagogue is the center of Jewish life and worship, with a handwritten Torah Scroll and a rabbi leading services.

Jewish traditions include wearing a kippah as a sign of respect and following specific grooming practices like Payot.

Transcripts

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Judaism, at 4000 years old is one of the oldest monotheistic religions

and the granddaddy of Christianity and Islam.

But even though its teachings helped create

the world’s two most popular religions many people

don’t know what Jews actually believe.

What is the Torah? What’s a Covenant?

and why don´t people on the Middle East worship mermaid anymore?

Well, let’s find out.

Judaism developed here in the eastern Mediterranean over the last 4000 years.

Today there are about 15 million Jews making it

the tenth most popular religion on earth.

Right, let’s jump straight into their beliefs.

Tanakh is the Hebrew name for the Hebrew Bible,

known to most English speakers as the Old Testament.

But obviously, they don’t call it that

since they don’t recognise any New Testament.

The Tanakh is actually a trilogy and the word Tanakh

is made up of the names of the 3 sections of the Hebrew Bible.

T: for Torah N: for Nevi’im and K: for Ketuvim

The first section, the Torah, is the most sacred book of the Jewish People.

The Torah consists of the five books shown here

and is sometimes called the Five Books of Moses.

Let's summarise this very long and very sacred book in a few paragraphs,

it should be easy!

In the beginning, God creates the world in six days

and then has a deserved rest on the seventh.

Later on, God starts talking to a guy named Abraham The Hebrew.

He tells Abraham to leave his home in Mesopotamia

and go to a land called Canaan, which is here.

God makes a deal or covenant with Abraham, promising:

"I will make of thee a great nation"

and offers "the whole land of Canaan" to him and his descendants.

To seal this special covenant God said unto Abraham

“Every man child among you shall be circumcised.”

And Abraham was like: we’re going to do what now!

“ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin,

and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you”

Circumcision was a symbol literally “cut into the flesh”

of the Jewish People to show their covenant with God.

And has been done by every Jewish male for thousands of years

The Covenant is extremely important in Judaism.

Later Abraham's grandson called Jacob literally wrestles with God

or an angel of some sort for an entire night.

So from then on, Jacob would be called Israel "one that struggles with God".

Jacob/Israel has twelve sons and their descendants

would become known as the Children of Israel

or Israelites and give their name to the land of Canaan now known as Israel.

The Children of Israel would be enslaved in Egypt.

But then one of them called Moses would under

God's guidance lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

Moses and his people arrive at Mount Sinai. Here God gives Moses the entire Torah

which contains 613 Mitzvah or commandments

the most famous of which is the 10 Commandments written on two stone tablets.

This new Covenant requires Jews to worship only this God

and to follow His commandments.

In return, God will bless the Jewish people

and make them a holy nation living in the Promised Land, which is Israel.

The Israelites would eventually form a kingdom and one of their kings,

Solomon, builds a Holy Temple in Jerusalem,

which houses the Ark of the Covenant and becomes the sacred heart of Jewish worship.

Ironically enough Solomon’s kingdom would cut itself in two.

Israel, populated by 10 tribes descended from the sons of Jacob in the north

and Judah populated by the other 2 tribes, primarily the Judah in the south.

In 722 BCE the Assyrians conquered Israel,

leaving Judah as the sole surviving Jewish kingdom.

Which is this guy, Judah, a random son of Jacob,

and not even the one with the dazzling coat of many colours

gave the religion of Judaism and the Jews their name.

In 586 BCE the Babylonians conquered Judah,

demolished the Holy Temple, into exile and slavery in Babylon.

The destruction of the Holy Temple and Babylonian exile

is a heartbreaking historical event for Jewish people.

But then in 539 BCE along came Cyrus with his big Persian army and cool hat.

He wrecks the Babylonians, frees the Jews, and rebuilds the Holy Temple.

And that concludes our retelling of the Tanakh. It is foundational to all Jewish belief

and my summary barely scratches the surface.

So you can go and read more by checking out links in the description

or just waiting until I make a video just about that.

In 70 C.E. the Romans destroyed the Holy Temple ….again,

and sent the people into another exile.

The Jews moved out across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East forming a diaspora

which periodically suffered persecutions, pogroms, and genocides from their neighbours.

This 2000ish year exile is considered to have lasted up until 1947

with the partitioning of Palestine

and the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948.

Now that was a very brief summary of 2000 years of very complex history,

so please bear that in mind.

2. God

So Abraham lived in a world that believed in many, many gods.

You had your Marduks, your Nergals, you even had Dagans,

everyone loves Dagan, look at him the fancy merman.

But Abraham believed in One God.

An eternal, all-powerful, all-knowing creator of the universe,

and the source of all morality.

He has no children, he has no rivals, he has no equals.

This is known as monotheism and Judaism would

spread this concept across the ancient world

acting as an origin for both Christianity and Islam.

Today, nearly everyone in this region follows a monotheistic religion

and merman worship has dropped significantly.

The names of God used the most in the Tanach

are Elohim and the Tetragrammaton,

which is honestly one of the coolest words ever.

The Tetragrammaton is the letters YHWH.

The actual pronunciation YHWH was lost thousands of years ago.

Today it is sometimes pronounced as Yahweh.

But that was just one theory.

Many Orthodox Jews will not actually say the name out loud

and ones said HaShem, “the name” or Adonai "My Lord” instead.

Many Orthodox Jews won't even write words like God down,

as a sign of respect and will use something like G-D instead.

The Jewish God also takes an active interest in human affairs

and interacts with humans on Earth.

Humans can develop a personal relationship with God.

God granted humanity freewill and they, like Jacob, can “wrestle with God”,

and find and relate to God in their own personal way.

The Hebrew Bible barely mentions heaven or hell. Heaven is just where God lives.

It doesn´t mentions a place called Sheol, but it’s kind just

a vague underworld where souls go after death.

Doesn´t give any details.

But the Bible does make it certain that the soul lives on after you die.

When Abraham dies, for example, the Bible says:

"he breathed his last, dying at a good, ripe age, old and content

and he was gathered to his people....”.

The Bible describes a bunch of different characters being gathered to their people

and sinners being cut off from their people.

So while the body returns to the earth the human soul

goes somewhere to live on with their ancestors.

Jews accept that they do not know

what the afterlife would be like or what its rewards will be,

but they think it will be based on the kind of life they lived on earth.

So they try to follow God's path and commandments as closely as possible

because even if they don’t know what rewards they´ll receive in the afterlife

they know following God´s commandments here on Earth will make this world better.

Many Jews try to act with Tzedakah or Justice or charity.

Tzedakah comes from the Torah which says

“thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field.....

neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard;

thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger".

Today many Jews donate 10% of their income to the needy as part of Tzedakah.

Many Jews today and in the past have hoped for the coming of a masheach or messiah.

Which is prophesied in the Tanakh.

The Messiah is a Jewish leader that will bring about the Messianic Era.

They will rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem

and bring all the Jews back into the Promised Land.

Which will bring about the perfection of the world

and an end to all hunger, war, and suffering.

When the Messiah comes, every Jew who ever lived will be literally resurrected.

They will return to Jerusalem to be present when God creates a new heaven on Earth.

This is why Jewish law demands that Jews must

be buried with any amputated limbs lost in life.

Jewish law also forbids cremation.

All to keep the physical body intact for when it is resurrected

by God after the arrival of the Messiah.

For Jews, the Messiah has obviously not yet arrived

because there is still suffering and inequality in the world.

We already saw at the Tanakh

but another book is also extremely important to the Jews.

The Talmud. The Talmud is a collection of different books

and is over 10 million words long and covers 38 volumes.

It is a massive collection of commentary on the Torah

and on itself on how the Torah or it’s commandments should be interpreted.

It's filled with debate, legal interpretations,

history, ethics, philosophy and legends.

Within a few lines you can see rabbis that lived

centuries apart debating a topic in the Talmud,

it’s pretty interesting.

It provides the foundation for Jewish law and is a guidebook for Jewish life.

So those are some Judaism believes

But Judaism is more than a religion.

It is also a people, nation, culture, and civilization

but not a race. There are black, asian, and white Jews.

There are people born Jewish and people convert to Judaism.

There are atheist, Agnostic, and a buffet of differing levels of religious Jews.

According to Jewish law a Jew is a child born of a Jewish mother

or a person who converts to Judaism.

Some modern Jewish denominations also now accept descent through the father.

Since the Medieval Period, there have been two major groups of the Jewish People.

Ashkenazi and Sephardi.

The Ashkenazi are the Jewish community that developed in Central and Eastern Europe.

They speak Yiddish, a combination of Hebrew and the languages of Central Europe.

Yiddish words like bupkis, chutzpah, and klutz are familiar in English speaking pop culture

because most Jewish immigrants in the United States were Ashkenazi.

The Sephardi Jews are descendants of the Jews of Spain,

and those who fled from Spain to other Mediterranean countries and North Africa.

They have their own language, Ladino, a combination of Hebrew and Old Spanish.

But unfortunately, this language is under serious threat of the extinction

There are also communities of Jews who do not fall into these two categories

such as the Jews of Iran and Iraq, Yemen, Ethiopia,

China, and Georgia along with many, many others.

All these different groups make up a diverse range of Jewish beliefs and cultures.

What many Americans and Europeans think of as Jewish culture or Jewish food

is really Ashkenazi culture and Central and Eastern European food,

adapted to Jewish kosher laws.

An Ashkenazi will eat Schmaltz herring

while a Sephardi will enjoy couscous.

An Ashkenazis will celebrate with a glass of schnapps,

a Sephardi will go for some Arak.

Ashkenazis called Saturday, Shabbos, Sephardis called Shabbat.

Before the Second World War about

9 million Jews lived in Europe, 5 million in the Americas,

800,000 in Asia, and 600,000 in Africa. Just above 15 million in total.

About six million Jews were systematically murdered during the Shoah,

the Hebrew term for the Holocaust.

The emigration, expulsion, and extermination of Jews

from their old heartlands during the 20th century

has made North America and Israel home to the majority of modern Jews.

Today there are many different denominations of Jews.

Ranging from Jewish atheists to Orthodox Jews.

Orthodox Jews believe the Torah is the direct word of God

and they strictly follow it's words and commandments.

The best known Orthodox Jews are the Hasidic Jews,

Jews that are recognisable and distinct fashion,

which has been appropiated by hipsters.

There is also Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist Judaism

who all cover a wide range of beliefs.

From not believing in a personal or supernatural God

and thinking ritual and ceremony have no place in the modern world

to belief in God and the Torah but changing their interpretation as society evolves.

Shabbat or the Sabbath or Saturday is the 7th day of the Hebrew week

and the most important day for Jews.

Since God rested on the seventh day, Jews do the same.

It is a day of physical and spiritual rejuvenation.

Jewish law prohibits any work on Shabbat.

Activities such as doing business, spending money, shopping,

housework, driving, using electricity, or even using the phone are discouraged.

While things like prayer or reading are encouraged.

The laws of Kosher regulate the Jewish Diet.

What is Kosher? Well according to the Torah and Jewish law.

All vegetables, fruits, grains, and nuts are kosher.

When it comes to meat a kosher animal is one

that both chews its cud and has a cloven hoof.

Don't worry I didn't know what cud was either.

Cud is a bit of food that an animal chews and then swallows

and then vomits back into their mouth and then chews again.

Which is why some animals can just appear to be chewing all the time.

Examples of kosher animals are cattle and sheep.

While nonkosher animals include pigs, dogs, rabbits, and well humans actually.

Kosher animals must also be killed in a certain way called shechita.

This method uses a trained professional with an incredibly

sharp knife to deliver quick death to the animal.

Finally all blood must be drained from the animal because blood isn’t kosher.

Today kosher food can be bought from kosher shops

or recognised by special kosher symbols on products.

All shellfish, birds of prey like eagles or owls, and fish without both fins and scales

like shark, whale, and porpoise are not kosher.

From the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE until today,

the synagogue has been the centre of Jewish life and worship.

In every synagogue, you’ll find a handwritten Torah Scroll.

Which is read aloud during services.

You’ll also find a rabbi. A rabbi is a trained Jewish scholar and interpreter of Jewish law.

They conduct many Jewish events, such as circumcisions,

Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, and funerals.

While there you may notice people wearing

a kippah also known as yarmulka on their heads.

Judaism originated in the Middle East,

where a sign of respect to God is a covered one´s head.

Orthodox Jews believe they are always in the presence of God,

so they wear a kippah at all times.

More liberal Jews wear a kippah sometimes.

You might also notice that many Orthodox Jew

have long curly hair on the sides of their head.

These are called Payot and Orthdox Jews do not cut

this hair because of a command on the Torah that says

“Ye shall not round the corners of your heads''

You can learn more about Synagogues, the history

of the Jewish people, and much, much more

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So those are the basics of Judaism. It isn't even close to covering everything.

I probably only covered about 1%. One video simply can't cover everything.

Religions are too diverse, too deep, and mean

too many different things to different people.

But you can find all the sources used in the description.

If you liked this video please subscribe.

If you are interested in supporting the channel,

there are links for Patreon and my t-shirt store also in the description.

If you liked this video I think you’d really enjoy my videos on

Hinduism, Sikhism, and Zoroastrianism.

Which you can see on screen or linked in the description.

Thank you so much for watch.