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| Judaism | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Abrahamic |
| Scripture | Hebrew Bible (TaNaKh) |
| Theology | 6th century BC |
| Region | Israel, Diaspora (primarily USA) |
| Language | Hebrew |
| Number of followers | 14-15 million |
Judaism is an Abrahamic and monotheistic religion dating back roughly 3,500 years; practiced by over 15 million people in primarily Israel and the United States. Practisers of the faith are called 'Jews', although this term can also refer to atheists born to a Jewish family ('secular Jews'). Judaism has had large influences on other abrahamic religions such as Christianity and Islam. It developed in ancient Israel in the southern Levant, but following persecution from the Roman Empire spread across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and even as far as China.
The most important Jewish text is the TaNaKh (תנ"ך), the canonical collection of ancient books on law, mythology, history and other writings. Its name is an acronym for the three section of the TaNaKh: Torah (תוֹרה) , Nevi'im (נביאים) and Ketuvim (כתובים). Other important texts include the Talmud and Shulchan Aruch.