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Judaism - 5 dictionary results
What makes a jew Jewish?
 Calling all Jewish students. Study judaism one on one. Free book
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Ju⋅da⋅ism

  [joo-dee-iz-uhm, -dey-, -duh-]
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–noun
1. the monotheistic religion of the Jews, having its ethical, ceremonial, and legal foundation in the precepts of the Old Testament and in the teachings and commentaries of the rabbis as found chiefly in the Talmud. Compare Conservative Jew, Orthodox Jew, Reform Jew.
2. belief in and conformity to this religion, its practices, and ceremonies.
3. this religion considered as forming the basis of the cultural and social identity of the Jews: He called assimilation a threat to American Judaism.
4. Jews collectively; Jewry.
Origin:
1485–95; < LL jūdaismus < Gk ioudaismós, equiv. to Ioudaî(os) Jew + -ismos -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Ju·da·ism   (jōō'dē-ĭz'əm)   
n.  
  1. The monotheistic religion of the Jews, tracing its origins to Abraham and having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Hebrew Scriptures and the Talmud.
  2. Conformity to the traditional ceremonies and rites of the Jewish religion.
  3. The cultural, religious, and social practices and beliefs of the Jews.
  4. The Jews considered as a people or community.

[Middle English Iudaisme, from Old French Judaisme, from Late Latin Iūdaismus, from Greek Ioudaismos, from Ioudaios, Jew; see Jew.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Judaism

Ju"da*ism\, n. [L. Juda["i]smus: cf. F. juda["i]sme.]

1. The religious doctrines and rites of the Jews as enjoined in the laws of Moses. --J. S. Mill.

2. Conformity to the Jewish rites and ceremonies.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Judaism
Spanish: Judaísmo,
German: der Judaismus,
Japanese: ユダヤ教
More Translations »

Judaism

The religion of the Israelites of the Bible and of the Jews of today, based on the teachings of the Torah. Judaism involves the belief in one God, whose Chosen People are the Jews. Abraham is considered the founder of Judaism, although Moses, who delivered the laws of God to the Israelites, is also an important figure.

The holy days and festivals of Judaism include Hanukkah, Passover, Purim, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur. (See also Sabbath.)

Note: A symbol of Judaism, the Star of David is a six-pointed star, formed by placing two triangles together, one upon the other, or interlaced.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Judaism 
1494 (attested in Anglo-L. from 1251), from L.L. Judaismus (Tertullian), from Gk. Ioudaismos, from Ioudaios "Jew" (see Jew). The Anglo-L. reference is to a special tax levied on the Jews of England.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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What makes a jew Jewish?
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