What makes the community so important to Jews?

On the everyday level, this focus on peoplehood is translated into an emphasis on the community as the primary organizing structure of Jewish life. Wherever Jews have lived, they have built synagogues, established communal organizations and created systems of communal governance. What Makes Jewish Community?

What is the Institute for Jewish ideas and ideals?

The Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals offers a vision of Orthodox Judaism that is intellectually sound, spiritually compelling, and emotionally satisfying. Based on an unwavering commitment to the Torah tradition and to the Jewish people, it fosters an appreciation of legitimate diversity within Orthodoxy.

Why was the Jewish idea of God so important?

The Jewish idea of God is particularly important to the world because it was the Jews who developed two new ideas about God: There is only one God. God chooses to behave in a way that is both just and fair.

How many Jews say it is very important in their lives?

Nearly nine-in-ten Orthodox Jews (87%) and two-thirds of Conservative Jews (69%) describe being Jewish as very important in their lives. Far fewer self-identified Reform Jews say being Jewish is very important to them (43%).

Why do the Jews believe in the law?

Since the Jews esteem their laws as divine revelations, and are instructed in the knowledge of them from their earliest youth, they bear the image of the law in their souls. So perhaps it is the Jewish culture that has made them more educated and as a consequence, more successful.

Why was science so important to the Jews?

Moses Maimonides says that science is one of the routes to the love and fear of God. Jews were not in the scientific mainstream because they were not in the social mainstream until the modern era. In the 15th century, in the Italian Renaissance, for the first time we have real contact between Jewish and Christian scholars.

Why did the Jews concentrate in a few industries?

Jews, being a minority, Kuznets argued, chose to concentrate in a few industries and occupations in order to be able to maintain their cohesion and group identity separate from the majority.

Why are some Jews more educated than others?

Yet another view would be a more cultural one: perhaps Jews are more educated because their religion requires them to be educated. In fact, (male) Jews are expected to read the Torah and teach it to their children (sons).

Which is the most important tradition in Judaism?

The most prominent aspect of Jewish funereal tradition is the Shiva (or mourning) period of 1 week after the funeral. The Jewish faith looks positively on those who pay someone in Shiva a respectful visit. Lunisolar (moon- and sun-based) timekeeping impacts a large list of Jewish traditions.

What are the contributions of the Jewish people?

Considering that the Jewish people constitute a mere one-half of one percent of the world’s population, Jewish contributions to religion, science, literature, music, medicine, finance, philosophy, entertainment etc., is staggering. In the field of medicine alone, Jewish contributions are staggering and continue to be so.

Why is the Torah important to the Jewish religion?

The Torah is important because it contains written and oral laws central to the religion of Judaism. The Torah, also called the Jewish bible, contains the Laws of Moses that outline actions and codes of conduct expected of practitioners of the Jewish faith. Hebrew writing forms the Torah because Hebrew is the oldest of all Jewish languages.

What was the significance of the Jewish Week?

Ritual purity and impurity dominate this week’s Torah portion of Tazria, but after the destruction of the Second Temple these religious institutions have been discontinued in Jewish life. Nor do many contemporary Jews yearn for their return, for what meaning could the ancient purity rituals offer Jews trying to understand the world in modern terms?

Who are the most important people in Jewish history?

Jews believe that God made a special covenant with Abraham and that he and his descendants were chosen people who would create a great nation. Abraham’s son Isaac, and his grandson Jacob, also became central figures in ancient Jewish history. Jacob took the name Israel, and his children and future generations became known as Israelites.