Judaism and Jewish Faith
The relationship between Judaism and the Jewish religion is highly complex. In the past, the two were essentially synonymous, such that when a Jew converted to Christianity (or Islam), they ceased to be considered Jewish. Statistically, it is highly likely that every non-Jew today has at least one Jewish ancestor who converted. Currently, following the evolution typical of Western societies, religious believers have become a minority, and this is true for the Jewish religion as well.
The majority of Israelis today are not religious, although in recent times, the number of fundamentalist believers has increased, mainly due to their high birth rates. Nonetheless, an Israeli today is not necessarily identified as a believer in that religion.
According to the Israeli "Law of Return," every Jew is eligible for Israeli citizenship. But who is a Jew? The precise term is Israelite, meaning a descendant of Israel, whom Christians know as Jacob. Therefore, one is an Israelite by being the child of Israelites, more specifically through the maternal line. However, exceptions are made, such as for spouses of Jews. There are even biblical precedents, like Ruth, who was not born Jewish but became the wife of a Jew and is considered an ancestor of Mary and, therefore, of Jesus.
Interestingly, atheists are considered Israelites, but those who have converted to another religion (usually Christianity) are not, as this is seen as renouncing their identity.
The fundamental point to keep in mind is that Judaism is the religion of a people; it does not engage in proselytism like most modern religions. Christianity itself was initially uncertain about this point, which was resolved at the so-called Council of Jerusalem with Peter and Paul. Thus, Christianity, like Islam, makes no distinctions between peoples and has consequently spread widely across the world, whereas Judaism is limited to the Israelites.
Another essential point is that the Jewish religion today lacks a precise, unified doctrine, with countless variations depending on religious movements and individual interpretations. Judaism has no single religious authority or uniform doctrine, leading to a wide variety of practices and beliefs. It is therefore always possible to encounter everything and its opposite. Politically, views range from those who consider it sacrilegious to cede even a single inch of the Promised Land to the Arabs, to those who believe the very existence of Israel to be sacrilegious. Similarly, there is great diversity on religious matters.
Today, Jews are categorized into various movements: Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist, Humanist, and more, all fragmented into numerous subdivisions. These groups resemble the American evangelical denominations: there is everything and its opposite.
The Jewish religion primarily focuses on ritual and dietary practices. This is governed by the Halakhah (or Halakha), commonly translated as "Jewish law," but which literally means "the way" (indicated by God). Its meaning is identical to the Islamic "Sharia," also translated as "law," but which also means "the way."
As in Islam, religious scholars (rabbis) are not so much theologians or philosophers, as in Christianity (e.g., St. Thomas or St. Augustine), but rather legal experts in the complex rules that form the essence of the religion.
In theory, there are 613 commandments, but with rabbinic clarifications and explanations, the number extends to many thousands. It takes an entire lifetime of study to understand them in detail.
Many of these rules pertain to kosher dietary laws, which dictate a series of forbidden foods and specific preparation methods. A well-known example is the prohibition against mixing meat and dairy, which leads Orthodox Jews to use two separate refrigerators for these products to avoid any possibility of contact.
This may seem inconceivable to others, but for Jews, the rules are what matter.
In Christianity, the immortality of the soul takes on fundamental importance, linked to eternal reward or punishment and the purification of purgatory, which is central to the faith. In Judaism, however, the idea of the soul's immortality is rather vague and contradictory. The Bible speaks of it only briefly and vaguely, referring to a place where souls dwell after death, akin to Virgil's depiction of Hades.
Later, the idea of the resurrection of the dead on Judgment Day emerged, a belief retained in Christianity alongside the immortality of the soul. Some Jewish movements fully embrace an idea similar to the Christian concept of immortality. However, there is no mention of eternal punishment (hell); rather, there is a state of purification called Gehinnom, leading to a state of bliss (Gan Eden). In other movements, this belief is diminished, and some even reject the notion of personal immortality, focusing instead entirely on earthly life.
Another controversial point is the concept of the Messiah (meaning "anointed"). For some, the Messiah is a real individual, a descendant of David, who will unite and organize all Israelites into a state and bring peace and prosperity not only to Jews but to the entire world. For others, the Messiah is not a single person but represents a state or a messianic era of moral and spiritual improvement. Still, others view the idea more secularly, seeing humanity itself as the Messiah, responsible for improving itself.
On the political level, Orthodox Jews generally believe that all of Palestine was divinely assigned to the Jewish people and that it is sacrilegious to cede even a fragment to others (Arabs). Conversely, groups like Neturei Karta ("Guardians of the City") view the very existence of the State of Israel as blasphemous, arguing that it must be founded and established by the Messiah sent by God.
In daily life, there is also disagreement about the role of women. In some more modern movements, the model is one of substantial equality, as in the West. In others, the role of women is traditional, with very modest attire similar to Islamic dress. Interestingly, they do not cover their heads with veils but with wigs. Additionally, since men are often engaged in meticulous study of the law and thus lack time to work (and may also refuse military service), women often bear the responsibility of sustaining the family.
Another significant concept is Noachism, recognized by some religious groups.
Noachism refers to the laws God gave to Noah, which are considered binding for all his descendants—that is, for all humanity. These consist of seven prohibitions: murder, theft, sexual immorality (homosexuality, adultery, and incest), consuming meat taken from a living animal, idolatry, blasphemy against God, and the establishment of a justice system.
For non-Jews, it is sufficient to observe these seven principles rather than the thousands imposed on Jews, making conversion to Judaism less appealing.
In conclusion, the Jewish religion, centered on formal practices without a clear and comprehensive vision of the universe, humanity, or eternity, appears to be a faith that is still primitive. It is far removed from the philosophical marvels of Christian scholasticism and even more so from the caritas (universal love) of Christian saints. It is hard to imagine someone of European upbringing truly embracing it, except as an aspect of cultural identity.