18 THINGS TO LOVE ABOUT JUDAISM

01. JUDAISM OFFERS A STRONG MORAL CODE
Judaism teaches that we are made in the image of God and therefore holy.  Our primary task in life is to remember this holiness and strive to be a person of great integrity and kindness—to be a mensch.  Jewish teachings are filled with inspiration and reminders to be good and decent human beings.

02. JUDAISM VALUES LIFELONG LEARNING
Studying the Torah is a central value, obligation, and practice of Judaism.  With regular study, we deepen our connection to God, ourselves, and each other.  We can also dedicate ourselves to a regular practice of reading Jewish texts, which can also include Torah commentaries (both classic and modern) and any book that can inspire us Jewishly.   

03. JEWISH PRAYER CONNECTS US TO GOD AND EACH OTHER
The foundation of Judaism is faith in God, and when we pray, we can feel our connection to God and remember that we are partners with God to make the world a better place.  There are many set Jewish prayers and saying them alone or together in worship can be very powerful.  We can also speak from the heart and express our gratitude, needs, or awe in our own words.

04. HOME IS THE EPICENTER OF JUDAISM
We celebrate many of our holidays at home; we study Judaism at home (and at synagogue and other places, too); and our relationships at home give us an opportunity to learn to be kind, patient, slow to anger, compassionate, and generous—an opportunity to transform into our best selves.  Judaism teaches us to create a home that is filled with love, joy, respect, meaningful moments, and peace – shalom bayit (peace at home).

05. JUDAISM GIVES US COMMUNITY
Hillel said, “Do not separate yourself from the community.”  Indeed, community has always been a vital part of Judaism.  To fully live a Jewish life, we need to be connected to others.  It gives us a sense of belonging, support, and friendship.  As a society, we are more disconnected and isolated than ever—making the necessity of community even more essential.  Throughout most of history, community was a given; now, we must be intentional about connecting ourselves to our Jewish community.  Through community, we become whole.

06. JUDAISM CALLS ON US TO MAKE TIME HOLY
One of the greatest gifts of Judaism is an invitation to make time holy.  To be intentional about time.  To be grateful for it.  To be aware of how we’re spending it.  To allow the reality of the time limit each of us has for our life create an urgency to live it with holiness.  Judaism has its own calendar, which is primarily lunar, and informs the dates of all the Jewish holidays and also provides a roadmap for our spiritual journey.

07. JUDAISM GIVES US A DAY OF REST
Shabbat, our weekly Jewish holiday that begins at sundown on Friday night and ends after sundown on Saturday night, sanctifies time and allows us to disconnect from our daily obligations and the demands of modern life and also connect with our true selves, each other, and God.  Shabbat is a gift, but it is a gift that we must intentionally give ourselves each week.

08. JUDAISM IS RICH WITH TRADITIONS THAT GIVE US MEANING, CONNECTION & JOY
Jewish holidays and traditions enrich our lives, our families, and our communities.  They also connect us from one generation to the next (in Hebrew, l’dor v’dor) and ensure the continuity of the Jewish people.  Each holiday has its own rituals and lessons, and by observing them, we bring meaning to our lives, create new connections to each other, and renew our hope that the world will be filled with peace.

09. JEWISH LIFESTYLE RITUALS HELP US SAVOR JOY AND COPE WITH SADNESS
From birth to death and every significant moment in between, there are Jewish rituals and blessings which connect us to our ancestors and also to our family and community today.  Rituals give these moments meaning, allowing us to feel the spiritual through physical acts and imprint these special moments in our memories.  During times of sorrow, they are reassuring and familiar and guide us toward healing and strength.  During times of joy, they give us concrete and familiar ways to express our elation.  Rituals are an essential and powerful part of the Jewish experience. 

10. JUDAISM REQUIRES US TO DO MITZVOT
Although we have come to associate the word mitzvah with good deeds, the true meaning of mitzvah is “commandment.”  Understood this way, we see that we have an obligation to perform mitzvot rather than just doing nice things when we feel like it.  Judaism is a religion that prioritizes action, and in many ways what we do is more important than what we believe.  Honoring our obligations transforms us personally and also brings peace to the world.

11. JUDAISM PRIORITIZES SERVICE AND MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
When we use our unique dispositions, talents, and circumstances to better the world and the lives of others, we feel purposeful and fulfilled.  Tikkun olam (Hebrew for “repair world”) is a central Jewish concept that has its origins in kabbalah, and in modern times has come to mean our collective mission to make the world a better place.  Every good deed, no matter how small, brings peace and holiness to our world.

12. JUDAISM TEACHES THAT GIVING IS AN OBLIGATION
In Judaism, tzedakah, which is often mistaken to mean “charity,” actually means “justice.”  Tzedakah is a way of making the distribution of resources, particularly to those in need, more fair and just.  Tzedakah is a moral obligation, not just something we do when we feel generous.  In the beautiful words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: “We are worth what we are willing to share with others.”  

13. JUDAISM OBLIGATES US TO BE STEWARDS OF THE EARTH
Every human being should be making great efforts to care for the earth, particularly in light of the devastating effects of climate change, which we are already experiencing.  There are three Jewish values that remind us of our responsibility for earth stewardship: (1) Bal tashchit (do not destroy) – the biblical equivalent of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle; (2) Shomrei Adamah (Guardians of the earth) – we have an obligation to care for the earth; and (3) L’dor v’dor (from generation to generation) – we must be mindful of the world we are passing on to the next generation.

14. KINDNESS IS ONE OF JUDAISM’S MOST CHERISHED VALUES
Judaism teaches that the world is sustained on three things: Torah, serving God, and deeds of loving kindness (in Hebrew, gemilut chasidim).  The fact that deeds of loving kindness carry the same weight as Torah and serving God illustrates the high priority of kindness.  We must constantly look for opportunities to perform acts of kindness and to maintain a kind disposition in all that we do.

15. JUDAISM ENCOURAGES JOY
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, who was the great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Hasidism, said, “Always remember: Joy is not merely incidental to your spiritual quest.  It is vital.”  Having joy as our focal point, specifically giving joy to others and having a joyful disposition, is very powerful—both to each of us individually and to everyone around us.   

16. JUDAISM TEACHES US TO BE GRATEFUL
It’s tempting sometimes to have a negative outlook on life—particularly with the stress and complexities of the world we live in today.  In order to view our life circumstances more positively and in turn to experience more joy, Judaism offers a practice to regularly exercise our spiritual muscles:  Each day we should say 100 blessings.  This deceptively simple daily process is quite powerful because when our mind is focused on gratitude, and when we say each blessing, we can’t help but have a more positive outlook and feel more joy. 

17. LOVE IS AT THE HEART OF JUDAISM
To love (in Hebrew, ahava) and be loving is our supreme task in life and what makes it feel the most meaningful.  We must strive to be giving, forgiving, empathetic, compassionate and kind.  We must look for the best in others.  We must remember to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18).  "The truth -- that Love is the ultimate and highest goal to which man can aspire.  Then I grasped the meaning of the greatest secret that human poetry and human thought and belief have to impart: The salvation of man is through love and in love” (Viktor E. Frankl).

18. JUDAISM MAKES LIFE SWEETER IN EVERY WAY
Living Jewishly makes us better people; it strengthens our relationships; it makes our lives more purposeful; it helps us handle stress, disappointments, and heartbreaks; it connects us to joy; it encourages us to be lifelong learners, and so much more.  It is a framework for living a life of blessing – a blessing to others and a blessing to ourselves.  Nothing is sweeter than that!