Facts & Stats on Judaism

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 and 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

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)

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