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The G-d of the Israelites made a divine covenant with Abraham promising a good life for all if they followed the teachings he revealed to them. Judaism's next leader was Moses who received the Law from G-d after he led the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Later on, they were led to the promised land by Joshua where Samuel founded the first Israelite kingdom with King Saul; King David founded Jerusalem; and King Solomen built the first Jerusalem temple. When this temple was destroyed in 70 CE by the Romans, Jews were dispersed worldwide, becoming a religion of congregations.
The Jewish state of Israel
was established in 1948 with the Law of Return, granting citizenship to anyone
anywhere in the world who was a Jew. Determining, Who was a Jew?, was a point of
contention between the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform denominations of
Judaism and it continues to be a controversial issue today.
To be a Jew in the Orthodox denomination one must accept the Torah's commandments by taking on the Yolk of the Kingdom of Heaven, and be immersed in a ritual bath, Mikveh, before witnesses; and, men must undergo Brit Milah, be circumcised before witnesses. The Reform denomination leans more toward vernacular worship and questions the bath and circumcision requirements based on a debate between sages in the Talmud, and also disagrees with the need for a Jew to make a lifelong commitment to following the 613 commandments. Judaism is a religion based on the Jewish commitment to follow the Ten Commandments and a code of law that regulates how they worship and treat others.
The Jews believe they are
the chosen people of the one and only universal Creator G-d and that they are
created in the image of this omniscient and omnipotent G-d who punishes evil and
rewards good deeds. They observe lifecycle events and the Jewish Holiday
Calendar...
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