A Review of Judaic Thought

Judaic is an Abrahamic (Hebrew) religious faith, containing the common cultural, legal, and religious traditions and culture of the Jewish population throughout the eras. Many of its fundamental beliefs are similar to those of Christianity, though there are important differences as well. Judaism is regarded by many religious Jews as the literal expression of God’s promise to the children of Israel during their lifetimes. The members of this religious community, known as the Orthodox, read the Book of Ruth as part of their daily prayers. They also believe that the Torah, the Jewish sacred text, is the ultimate source of all knowledge and must be studied and applied consistently in all situations.

There are three main Judaic religious groups: Masorti – regarded as the original or authentic group of Judaic churches, Kabbalah – regarded as the mystical branch of Judaic theology, and Chuchotan – considered to be the renegade group who abandoned the original teachings of the bible and rejected its teachings. In modern times, there are approximately 150 Judaic sects and over two dozen Christian denominations that follow the teachings of the Judaic scriptures. The majority of these Judaic faiths are practised in the modern era as a form of worship, while others have adapted elements of Judaic theology to develop their own individual beliefs and practices. Two of these Christian sects that developed from the teachings of the bible are: Waad Hassidut – which is a sect founded by Count Isaac ben Isaac – and Christians – a denomination that has largely rejected the essentials of Judaic theology and instead focuses on the personal relationship between Jesus and God.

Unlike most other Judaic religions, judaism is not focused on the preservation of the holy commandments of the halakha – the commandments which define the path of the people of God, the sanctity of life, and the avoidance of evil. Instead, it concerns itself with following the path of God – to guide the people of God and to bring them to eternal life. While this may seem to be a contradiction in terms, the followers of judaism believe that by following the path of God, they will eventually reach the realization of God’s glory. And, in doing so, they will live fulfilling lives as people of God.