One of the most important contributions of the Jewish people to humankind has been the idea of monotheism, or belief in one God, rather than the myriad of different gods worshiped by the pagans of the ancient world. This fundamental tenet of the Jewish faith is expressed by the words of the Shema Yisrael, from the Torah: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord.” The faith of the Jewish people is based upon the eternal covenant of God with the Jewish people through Abraham, represented by the ritual circumcision of all Jewish men in their infancy. The history of the Jewish people and its relationship with God is based on this Abrahamic covenant, and described in the Hebrew Bible or TaNaKh, which consists of the Torah (the Law or Pentateuch), the Prophets (Nevi’im), and the Writings (Ketuvim). Jewish ethics is based on the Torah and the Talmud, which is a written record of rabbinic commentary on the Jewish Scriptures. Much of Jewish morality revolves around good behavior, helping others and striving to achieve social justice.

Judaism, along with Christianity and Islam, are known as the three Abrahamic faiths, or the “people of the Book,” since all three of them trace their lineage from Abraham in the Torah, and they all accept the originally Jewish idea of one Creator, and the importance of written Scripture.