Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Judaism: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

Tzohar rabbis launch a direct line for conversation about Judaism • Nov. 9, 2026, 12:10 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)
Jewish treasures stolen during Kristallnacht return to Berlin after decades in US synagogue • Nov. 5, 2026, 12:30 AM ET (Jerusalem Post)
Orthodox Jewish caucus grows to record 11 in New York legislature • Nov. 4, 2026, 9:59 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)
Why Haley Stevens Can’t Stop Talking About Abdul El-Sayed • Nov. 1, 2026, 2:00 AM ET (New York Times)
Norwegian auction house withdraws sale of SS-looted Torah fragment following Israeli outcry • Oct. 22, 2026, 2:58 PM ET (Jerusalem Post)

Photos and Videos

The Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, with visitors gathered and praying at the base of the large ancient stone wall under a clear sky.
Painting Sacrificio di Isacco by G. B. Pittoni shows Abraham holding a knife above Isaac, who is kneeling, as an angel intervenes and grabs Abraham's arm.
Guercino: Abraham Casting Out Hagar and Ishmael
Titian: Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
15th-century German Bible illustration showing Moses leading a group of Israelites between parted green waves of the Red Sea, with Hebrew text above.
Rembrandt: Moses with the Tablets of the Law
Nicolas Poussin: Adoration of the Golden Calf
Map titled ‘Palestine and the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah during the time of David and Solomon,' with tan/orange land, yellow Philistia and Phoenicia, red borders, and blue seas.
Donatello: David
Homer
What and When Is Passover?
What and When Is Yom Kippur?
A look into the Hanukkah celebration
History of ancient Jerusalem and its people
Understanding the story of Purim
See All Videos and Images →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Key People

default image
Theodore Bikel
Austrian-born actor. singer, and political activist
Caravaggio: The Conversion of St. Paul (second version)
St. Paul the Apostle
Christian Apostle
Martin Buber
Martin Buber
German religious philosopher
Philo Judaeus
Philo Judaeus
Jewish philosopher
Painting by Rembrandt van Rijn showing Jeremiah sitting in a dimly lit cave, head resting on his hand in sorrow, with Jerusalem burning in the background.
Jeremiah
Hebrew prophet
Engraving by Johann Sadeler after Chrispijn van den Broeck showing Ezra, a bearded man in robes and a cap, standing outdoors and reading an open book, with a landscape in the background.
Ezra
Hebrew religious leader
Edith Stein
Edith Stein
German nun
Ernest Bloch.
Ernest Bloch
American composer
Sir Moses Montefiore
Sir Moses Montefiore, Baronet
British philanthropist
default image
Josiah
king of Judah
Nehemiah
Nehemiah
Jewish leader
default image
Elisha ben Abuyah
Jewish scholar
default image
Jacob ben Meir Tam
French Judaic scholar
default image
Anan ben David
Jewish religious leader
default image
Salomon Sulzer
Austrian composer
Rebecca Gratz.
Rebecca Gratz
American philanthropist
default image
Amram bar Sheshna
Jewish scholar
default image
Aaron David Gordon
Russian author and philosopher
Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, detail of an etching by Richard Dighton, 1824.
Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, 1st Baronet
British political activist
default image
Christian David Ginsburg
British biblical scholar