Basics of Judaism
- Basic Values and Morality
- Chosen People
- G-d and Torah
- Heaven and Hell
- Other Denominations
- Reward and Punishment
- Science and Torah
- Sin and Repentance
- The Messiah
- Who is a Jew?
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Mitzvos
What is a mitzvah? "Mitzvah" translates as "commandment", but it is sometimes used with the meaning of "good deed".
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Sustaining the World
What keeps the world going? "The world is sustained only because of the breath of schoolchildren" (Talmud, Shabbos 119b).
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Personal Power
What does the Torah say about developing personalpower over life? The Torah encourages self-control (Who is mighty? He who conquers his inclinations: Mishnah Avos 4:1) and values the spiritual over the physical (Not by strength, but by My spirit: Zechariah…
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Good Intentions
Is there a reward for good intentions? Here are three Talmudic sources about the importance of our intentions: Berachos 5b: People who do what they can, and have good intentions, are rewarded. Shabbos 63a: If someone intends to perform a…
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Improving People
Are we responsible for improving other people's behavior? We should try to improve others, but only if they're willing to accept our advice (Lev. 19:17; Talmud, Arachin 16b). If we aren't able to improve others, we are better off staying…
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Judging People
What attitude should we have toward people? The Rabbis tell us to judge everyone favorably (Avos 1:6) and to greet everyone with a smile (Avos 1:15). In effect, everyone should be presumed innocent until proved guilty, and everyone should be…
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Dreams
What is the significance of dreams? The Rabbinic view is that the overwhelming majority of dreams have no significance; as the Talmud says "A person is shown only what is on his mind" (Berachos 55b). In rare cases a dream…
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Why we say "Ha-Shem"
Why do we say "Ha-Shem" instead of pronouncing G-d's name the way it is written? In Biblical times the Tetragrammaton was pronounced the way it was written, and in the Temple it was pronounced by the Kohanim when they blessed…
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Testimony about the Torah
Is the Torah mentioned in ancient sources? Aside from references to the Torah in other Biblical books, the earliest written sources that mention it date from about 2-300 B.C.E., over 1000 years after Moses. But the Jews have an unbroken…