Origins and Beliefs
Judaism is an ancient religion dating back 4,000 years to the family of Abraham. The central Jewish belief about God is summarised by the Shema, which is said twice daily: "Hear O Israel, The Lord is our God, The Lord is one."
Jews have three prayer times each day: Shacharit (morning), Minchah (afternoon), and Ma’ariv (evening, also known as Arbit). An additional service called Musaf takes place on the Sabbath and during festivals.
Jews believe that the five books of the Torah are the word of God, dictated to Moses. Along with the Prophets and Writings, these are known as the "Written Torah." There is also the "Oral Torah," believed to be God’s word passed down orally until written down in the Talmud, which consists of the Mishnah and the Gemara.