Judaism and Jewishness

The following educational content was compiled by the Jewish Affairs Working Group.

What is Judaism and Jewishness?

These terms encompass religious, cultural, and ethnic sets of identities that span thousands of years. They are the sum total of all of the diverse elements and identities that make Jews distinctive, including teachings and discourses, sacred texts and commentary, food, dance, rituals, and music. This includes religious traditions as well as cultural histories, heritages, and practices.

An excellent short video produced by Harvard Divinity School used in their online course called “Judaism Through Its Scriptures” provides a short overview of key beliefs and practices.

Who are the Jews?

Living in diaspora and exile existences, Jews have lived in varied political, cultural, and racial identities and contexts across the world.

Modern Jews identify in various ways, from different religious commitments (such as Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, or Reformed) to secular identities embracing cultures and ethnicities.

Inclusive of this diversity of identities, Jewish people comprise about 0.2% of the global population with between 15-16 million people. The two largest Jewish populations live in the United States and Israel.