Basic Judaism Beliefs

So, what do Jews believe in? And of course, you want to know what are the main Orthodox Judaism beliefs?

We will list the core Judaism beliefs. We will inform you with the beliefs of Judaism, which all Orthodox Jews believe in. You will get to know the Orthodox Jewish beliefs on God, Jewish beliefs about Jesus, Jewish beliefs about death, Jewish beliefs on afterlife and much more on what do Jews believe.

Thirteen principles of belief

There are thirteen principles of belief, which are the Basic of Judaism beliefs.

The thirteen principles of faith were condensed by the great scholar Rabbi Moses Maimonides, an orthodox Torah giant from the twelfth century. According to Maimonides whoever doesn't believe in these thirteen principles of faith, he is not considered a Torah observing Jew. All sects throughout Orthodox Judaism believe that the thirteen principles of faith are the central beliefs of Judaism. For the list of the thirteen principles of faith click here

Orthodox Jews, including Orthodox Jewish scientists, condemn the theory of evolution, and strongly believe that the world was created 5,771 years ago.

There are many approaches how to deal with the scientific research of evolution by the Orthodox Jews. All Orthodox Jews believe fully in creation, denying or even not recognizing the theory of evolution. The ultra orthodox believe that the Torah is above science. One of the core Judaism beliefs, mentioned in the beginning of the Torah, is the belief of creation. Many ultra orthodox won't even know about the theory of evolution, and never heard of Charles Darwin.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, one of Ultra - Orthodox leading Rabbis ruled that reading about evolution is strongly forbidden. According to Rabbi Feinstein, belief in evolutionary history is Apikorsus (heresy). (Igrot Moshe, Yoreh Deah. 3,73).

The modern orthodox also firmly believe that the world was created by Hashem (God). Human creation is solely an act of creation by Hashem. The modern orthodox will not accept any evolutionary theory that mankind evoluted from lower animals. Although they will acknowledge the theory of evolution and deal with it, their core Jewish belief is still the same as the Ultra Orthodox Jew.

There are multiple ways to deal and make sense between evolution and the Torah. Some will accept some parts of the evolutionary theory, while rejecting other parts that contradict with the Torah. Some will explain the Torah in other ways, so it shouldn't contradict. Many Jewish Modern Orthodox scientists wrote many books and articles on this topic.

Torah min Hashmayim (Torah from heaven)

One of the key beliefs of Judaism, or if you want a short answer to the question "what do orthodox jews believe?" is the belief that the Torah is a divine work of Hashem (God). The Torah was revealed and given to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai in front of a crowd of six hundred thousand Jewish men. By the Sinai revelation Hashem chose the Jewish people as his chosen nation. This has been the basis of Jewish loyalty to the Torah for the past 3,300 years.

The Sinai revelation is a fundamental belief of Judaism and according to many Jewish sages in the twelfth century is the proof to the truth of the Jewish religion.
The revelation at Sinai is the foundation of Jewish evidence to know that the Torah is true.

Of the 15,000 known religions in recorded human history, how many stake the foundation of their belief on the idea that G-d spoke to their entire nation?
One. Judaism!
Torah Shebaal Peh (The Oral Torah)

Orthodox Judaism believes that the Torah is not complete without the oral part of the Torah that Hashem verbally spoke to Moses to explain the written Torah. Believing in the written torah without believing in Torah Shebaal Peh is considered Apikorsus (heresy) according to orthodox beliefs of Judaism. The Torah Shebaal Peh is written in many volumes of the Talmud.

Jewish beliefs on afterlife

Many people want to know what do Jews believe about afterlife. Honestly spoken, Judaism beliefs in afterlife takes a major role in the life of an Orthodox Jew. One of the core religious beliefs of Judaism is the belief that for every action on earth by humans he will be rewarded or punished in the world to come. In Talmud, earth is named a corridor to the palace, the real world that first takes place after a person dies. Every small child is educated with the to live with a vision to prepare for the world to come.

In the world to come there is Gan Eden (Paradise) and Gehinom (Hell). If a person did more deeds than sins on earth that he goes to Gan Eden after death. If his sins are greater than his good deeds than he goes to Gehinom. Sometimes a person needs to go in Gehinom to clean his soul from sins before he can enter Gan Eden. The work of any Orthodox Jew is to prepare himself in the corridor in order to be able to enter the palace.

Belief on death

In Judaism beliefs death is not an end of life, but a beginning of a new and better life. Even though the family will mourn and cry on the death of their loved one, they will take comfort of the fact that the soul (Neshama) of their loved one is now in a better and brighter place. It is therefore that Judaism has special laws in honoring the dead body and desecrating graves is strictly prohibited.

What do Orthodox Jews believe about Jesus?

Orthodox Jews don't believe in Jesus!. One of the fundamental beliefs of Judaism is the Jewish belief that Hashem (God) is one. Hashem is beyond human grasp of mind and no human action or traits can be related to him. The biggest prophet was Moses and no other prophet can come later and change his words. The "Messiah" has not yet come. Jesus has no place in Orthodox Judaism.

Orthodox Jews are very upset on all the "Jews for Jesus" movements. There are many Orthodox Jewish organizations fighting all these missionary activities.

More important beliefs of Judaism

One of the central Orthodx Judaism beliefs is that they are the chosen nation. The Jewish people believe that they must be a light for all the nations. One of Judaism beliefs, is that if a Jew behaves immoral, he than desecrates the name of Hashem (God). This is considered a great sin, because Hashem expects the Jewish people to glorify and bring respect to his great name.