Jews

From the ethnic or racial point of view, Jews, Hebrews, or Israelites are the descendants of Abraham. From the religious point of view, those who follow the law of Moses receive these same names. Here we will speak of the latter: the Jewish religion.

- The Jewish religion is based on the successive revelations of God to Abraham, Moses, David, the prophets, etc. These divine manifestations were transmitted orally and were collected in the Bible. They accept only the Old Testament and group it in two parts: the Law and the prophets. The Law or Torah contains the first five books of the Bible — the Pentateuch — and its center is the revelation of God to Moses.

Scholars of the Law and the prophets strove to repeat it well to others, and so their precepts were called Mishnah — repetition. This transmission required commentaries to adapt it to the various eras and places. The whole of the Mishnah with its commentaries was called Talmud — teaching. The Talmud itself needed clarifications, and summaries in the form of precepts; among these the code of Maimonides — Mishneh Torah — and the rabbinical code stand out, both composed by Spaniards.

They are relatively few:

• There is one God.
• God is spiritual, eternal, wise, holy, creator of the world.
• God has revealed Himself and given men the Torah.
• There is a future life and resurrection of the dead.
• God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
• The Messiah will come. (Jews do not recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah.)

The dogmas are rather limited, but the moral commandments are very numerous. They include the ten commandments and a long series of concrete and subtle precepts. There are said to be 613 precepts, among which there is no clear hierarchy.

The Shema — translated: listen — is a very frequent prayer among Jews that contains the beginning of God's revelation to Moses. It begins thus: 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.'

Devout Jews wish to keep God very present in their lives, and to this end frequently repeat the Shema. There are two customs:

• phylacteries: straps that are bound to the forehead and to the left arm; they carry a small box with biblical texts, including the Shema.
• the mezuzah: a small box fixed to the doorposts of houses. It contains texts from the Shema; Jews touch it when crossing the threshold and then kiss their fingers.

In general the relationship is cordial:

• On the part of Catholics.- Catholics think well of Jews. They see them as a people still chosen by God, sharing a heritage common to Catholics — the whole Old Testament. The greatest loves of a Catholic are two Jews: Jesus and Mary. The Catholic Church is built upon a Jew: Simon Peter.
• On the part of Jews.- There is also respect and correct dealings toward Catholics. Except in the state of Israel, where Christians are somewhat discriminated against.

Not counting those of a political nature, the main Jewish holidays in calendar order are:

• The Sabbath or Shabbat.
• New Year: celebrates the creation of the world.
• Passover or Pesach: in memory of the Exodus from Egypt.
• Pentecost.- With a double meaning: commemorates the giving of the Torah, and offers to God the first fruits of the harvest.
• Atonement or Yom Kippur: celebrates purification, reconciliation with God and with others.
• Tabernacles or Sukkot: recalls the forty years in the desert.
• Dedication: commemorates the purification of the Temple by Judas Maccabeus.