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Judaism

Learn more about Judaism and Jews in the Holy Land

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  • Jewish Basic Concepts
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  • Jewish Life Cycle
Puberty

Another very widespread celebration is the Bar Mitzvah, marking a boy’s 13th birthday. Somewhat less common is the Bat Mitzvah, marking a girl’s 12th birthday. It may seem strange …

Marriage

Judaism is a religious culture which does not mandate the practice of celibacy.  Actually, it is reputed that there was only one rabbi, out of …

Death and Mourning

Human beings are mortal, and therefore, death is a part of life. The traditional Jewish birthday wish, Ad me’ah v’esrim, “until 120!” expresses our hope for a …

Modern Orthodox Jews

In Germany (originally) in the mid-19th century, a new kind of Jew emerged, a Jew who accepted Halacha and Rabbinic authority but who also wanted …

Secular Jews

Up to now we have talked of Jews who in one way or another define themselves in positive religious or theological terms but there are …

“Hardal” Jews

This relatively new group comes, on the whole, out of Modern Orthodoxy but has developed a more extreme religious position, echoing much of the Haredi …

Reform and Conservative Jews

From these three different categories of Orthodox Jews, we move now to the non-Orthodox part of the religious spectrum. We introduce here two liberal movements …

Haredi Jews

Haredi Jews is the general term used today for extremely religious Jews who in one way or another continue to distance themselves from many aspects …

Jewish Ethnic Identities

ANOTHER WAY OF SEEING IT: ETHNIC IDENTITY – “JEWS ACCORDING TO GEOGRAPHY” It is important to remember that Jews traditionally have never seen themselves as …