Fast Facts on Judaism

This section provides basic facts and statistics on Judaism in an at-a-glance format, including a guide to Jewish numbered lists.

date founded

c. 1300 BC

place founded

Mesopotamia

founder

Abraham

adherents

14 million

main location

Israel, Europe, and USA

major sects

Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox

sacred text

Tanakh with the Talmud

original language

Hebrew

spiritual leader

rabbi (rebbe in Hasidism)

place of worship

synagogue ("temple" in Reform Judaism)

day of worship

Saturday (Shabbat/Sabbath)

theism

monotheism

ultimate reality

One God (YHWH)

human nature

created good

purpose of life

obedience to God

how to live

obey the law and atone for sin

afterlife

views vary: Gan Eden, Gehinnom, nonexistence, or reincarnation

major holidays

Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year (1 Tishri)
Yom Kippur: Day of Atonement (10 Tishri)
Sukkot: Festival of Booths (15 Tishri)
Hanukkah (25 Kislev)
Tu B'Shevat: New Year for Trees (15 Shevat)
Purim (15 Adar)
Pesach: Passover (15 Nisan)
Shavuot: Pentecost (6 Sivan)

Seven days of creation

Separation of light from darkness.
Separation of water above and waters below.
Separation of land from water.
Sun, moon, and stars.
Sea creatures and birds.
Land creatures and man.
God rested. {1}

Ten Commandments

Worship no other gods.
Do not worship idols.
Do not misuse the name of the Lord.
Keep the Sabbath holy.
Honor your father and mother.
Do not murder.
Do not commit adultery.
Do not steal.
Do not give false testimony
Do not covet. {2}

Twelve tribes of Israel

Reuben
Levi/Simeon
Judah
Issachar
Zebulun
Benjamin
Dan
Naphtali
Gad
Asher
Ephraim
Manassah {3}

13 Articles of Faith

God exists
God is one and unique
God is incorporeal
God is eternal
Prayer is to God only.
The prophets spoke truth.
Moses was the greatest of the prophets.
The Written and Oral Torah were given to Moses.
There will be no other Torah.
God knows the thoughts and deeds of men.
God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
The Messiah will come.
The dead will be resurrected. {4}

books of Tanakh 

Torah (Law) Bereisheet (Genesis) Sh'mot (Exodus) Vayikra (Leviticus) BaMidbar (Numbers) D'varim (Deuteronomy)

Nevi'im (Prophets) Joshua Judges 1,2 Samuel 1,2 Kings Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel Twelve Minor Prophets

Ketuvim (Writings) Psalms Proverbs Job Song of Songs Ruth Lamentations Ecclesiastes Esther Daniel Ezra/Nehemiah Chronicles

books of Mishnah

Zera'im (Seeds) Berakhot Peah Demai Kilayim Shebiit Terumot Maaserot Maaser Sheni Challah Orlah Bikkurim Mo'ed (Festivals) Shabbat Erubin Pesachim Sheqalim Yoma Sukkah Besah Rosh Hashanah Taanit Megillah Moed Qatan Hagigah

Nashim (Women) Yebamot Ketubot Nedarim Nazir Sotah Gittin Qiddushin Nezikin (Damages) Baba Qamma Baba Mesia Baba Batra Sanhedrin Makkot Shabuot Eduyyot Avodah Zarah Pirke Avot Horayot

Kodashim (Holy Things) Zevachim Menachot Chullin Bekhorot Arakhin Temurah Keritot Meilah Tamid Middot Qinnim Tohorot (Purities) Kelim Ohalot Negaim Parah Tohorot Miqvaot Niddah Makhshirin Zabim Tebul-Yom Yadayim Uqsin

References

1. Genesis 1:3-2:2.
2. Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21.
3. Genesis 49.
4. According to Maimonides.