I’ve been noticing a lot of complaints about Judaism lately, and it appears that there are many people who don’t seem to understand what Judaism stands for. Please take a moment here to see if any of this short explanation relates to anything that you stand for.

Judaism is really about a covenant. It’s an agreement—a binding commitment that goes much deeper than any signature on a contract. Our ancestors, the ancestors of the people who are presently part of the Jewish community, made an agreement with the universe that we would follow certain guidelines, to ensure that we would be able to live in peace with each other. These guidelines, which have since been taken on by many other societies, can be found in the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible, and also in the Koran.

This covenant requires a commitment to show respect for the greater wisdom of the universe, and also for all that this universe has created. When we acknowledge the oneness of the entire universe, we’ll be able to appreciate that all of life on earth is interconnected through the unified energy on our planet. When we set aside one day, every week, as a Sabbath—a rest day—then we can reflect on this understanding.
Our way of living has to be such that we must honor our parents, and agree not to commit murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, or even feel jealous of our neighbor’s possessions.

When we live in this respectful way, Judaism teaches us that we can create a peaceful community. When we live in this respectful way, we can each experience the love and protection it will provide. When we act with compassion for the needs of others, and gratitude for what has already been given to us, we create the foundation to bless all of life, including our own.
Does this relate to anything you stand for?