# Central Concept in Judaism **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 22, 2015, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457 "2015-10-22T14:01:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/21 "2015-10-22T18:41:03Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > The central concept of Judaism? To apologize to your mother. You know what you did. I was going to say it was do what your mother tells you to do, or else. šŸ˜ƒ Actually, the central concept of Judaism is the same as it is for all religions: be nice to one another. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/22 "2015-10-22T19:26:45Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > Actually, the central concept of Judaism is the same as it is for all religions: be nice to one another. Be excellent to each other. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/23 "2015-10-22T19:33:18Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > The central concept in Christianity is Salvation. > The central concept in Islam is Submission. > The central concept in Buddhism is Enlightenment. > > What is the central concept in Judaism? Iā€™d say from my secular perspective, \*Obedience \*sounds good. Also, the central tenet of Buddhism is, ā€œEvery Man for Himself.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/24 "2015-10-22T19:47:44Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > In one word: [Mitzvah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitzvah) I agree. Especially since the word can mean ā€œcommandmentā€ as well as ā€œgood deed.ā€ A basic idea in almost every Jewish prayer is that G-d makes us holy by giving us mitzvot to perform. Jews donā€™t look at all the laws in the Bible and think ā€œlook how many ways there are to sin.ā€ Rather they think ā€œlook how many ways there are to be closer to G-d.ā€ ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/25 "2015-10-22T20:01:39Z")
Arenā€™t mitzvah and upholding the covenant basically the same thing? Following the mitzvah (as in commandments) and performing mitzvah (as in good deeds) are the methods by which one can assure that one is upholding the covenant, arenā€™t they? I 'm not Jewish, but thatā€™s my understanding from what Iā€™ve read: Itā€™s all about upholding your end of the agreement, and the arguments are all about what, exactly that entails in a given set of circumstances. As life becomes more complicated through the generations, so does the requirement. ---
**Author:** ![epolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@epolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epolo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/26 "2015-10-22T21:19:31Z")
> [@Andy\_L](#): > > Covenant? I prefer to phrase it as ā€œwhat a bargain we got with G-d!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/27 "2015-10-22T22:08:28Z")
> [@epolo](#): > > I prefer to phrase it as ā€œwhat a bargain we got with G-d!ā€ Why pay retail? šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/28 "2015-10-22T22:22:51Z")
Iā€™m a Jew. Iā€™ll vote for ā€œThere is exactly one Godā€. My second choice would be ā€œThe Law/Mitzvahā€ > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Iā€™d second this. In my opinion (as a non-Jew) the central tenet of Judaism is that there is a defined agreement between God and the Jewish people. Nope. God gave extra laws to the Jews because of that covenant, but God is the Lord of all creation, not just of the people He has made covenants with. I think thatā€™s really a Christian idea, that there was a covenant leading up to Jesusā€™s universal offer of salvation. I mean, the covenant thing is there in Judaism, of course. But I think itā€™s more central to Christianity than to Judaism. > [@Lobohan](#): > > Iā€™d say from my secular perspective, \*Obedience \*sounds good. > > Also, the central tenet of Buddhism is, ā€œEvery Man for Himself.ā€ Definitely not obediance. Abraham argued with God. The prophets argued with God. The Talmudic sages argued with God. And sometimes God said, ā€œokay, what you want.ā€ Yes, following the law is a central virtue in Judaism, maybe the central virtue. But obediance sounds blind to me, and Jews are expected to interact with the law. > [@TruCelt](#): > > Arenā€™t mitzvah and upholding the covenant basically the same thing? Following the mitzvah (as in commandments) and performing mitzvah (as in good deeds) are the methods by which one can assure that one is upholding the covenant, arenā€™t they? > > I 'm not Jewish, but thatā€™s my understanding from what Iā€™ve read: Itā€™s all about upholding your end of the agreement, and the arguments are all about what, exactly that entails in a given set of circumstances. As life becomes more complicated through the generations, so does the requirement. Mmmm, there are commandments given to the gentiles, as well. (Look up the Noachide code, or the laws of Noah) > **[Seven Laws of Noah](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah)** > > In Judaism, the Seven Laws of Noah (Hebrew: שבע מצוו×Ŗ בני נח, Sheva Mitzvot B'nei Noach), otherwise referred to as the Noahide Laws or the Noachian Laws (from the Hebrew pronunciation of "Noah"), are a set of universal moral laws which, according to the Talmud, were given by God as a covenant with Noah and with the "sons of Noah"ā€”that is, all of humanity. > The Seven Laws of Noah include prohibitions against worshipping idols, cursing God, murder, adultery and sexual immorality, theft, eating fl... I guess thatā€™s sometimes called a covenant with Noah, but it was one sided. God told Noah to build the ark, and he did so. And afterwards, God said, ā€œI promise not to do that again, and by the way, you can eat meat now, but you gotta follow these laws.ā€ Itā€™s not like Noah chose to enter into a covenant with God, the way Abraham did. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/29 "2015-10-22T23:12:33Z")
Tradition! (Well, thatā€™s what Tevye would say.) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/30 "2015-10-22T23:36:51Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I have always liked, ā€œTo make the world a better placeā€. No, thatā€™s the central tenant of Apple, which is also a religion with only one god. šŸ™‚ > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > Why pay retail? > > šŸ™‚ I though it was ā€œNever pay retail!ā€ ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/31 "2015-10-23T01:59:54Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > No, thatā€™s the central tenant of Apple, which is also a religion with only one god. šŸ™‚ > > I though it was ā€œNever pay retail!ā€ I believe[Rabbi Telushkin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Telushkin) advocates, ā€œMake the world a better place.ā€ [Two Jewish Guys](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxKZSDcNMf4) advocate ā€œWhy pay retail?ā€ here. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/32 "2015-10-23T17:42:24Z")
I would nominate ā€œJusticeā€. Judaismā€™s break with contemporaneous religions was revolutionary not only in its assertion that there is only one God, but even more so in its assertion that Godā€™s expectations of humanity arenā€™t limited to the proper performance of ritual mumbo jumbo by priestly elites, but extend to the everyday activities of ordinary people. We are, as someone concisely stated above, called to be excellent to each other. The Torah constantly repeats the commandment to defend the rights of those who are too weak to defend themselves, ā€œwidows, orphans and immigrantsā€ in the Biblical parlance. Although the Torah tolerates the practices of slavery, patriarchy, and warfare, it took the previously unheard of step of asserting that even slaves, women, and prisoners of war have certain rights which nobody is permitted to violate. It was the value of Justice which Abraham referred to when he argued with God. In addition, unlike many of the other suggestions in this thread, I think Justice would be identified as a core Jewish value by almost all Jews today, including those who donā€™t literally believe in the Divine origin of the Torah and its commandments, and even those who reject theism entirely and view Jewishness in ethnic rather than religious terms. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/33 "2015-10-23T18:00:47Z")
> [@Enola\_Straight](#): > > The central concept in Christianity is Salvation. > The central concept in Islam is Submission. > The central concept in Buddhism is Enlightenment. > > What is the central concept in Judaism? Iā€™m not sure those are really analogous. Submission describes _what_ you are supposed to do, while Salvation and Enlightenment are _rewards_ offered for doing the right stuff. If we say that Submission must be the central concept of Islam because itā€™s right there in the name of the religion, shouldnā€™t we say that the central concept of Christianity is Christ and his status as a Divine being? Isnā€™t that what really differentiates it from Islam, which also commands obedience to a set of laws and promises eternal bliss as the reward? (Judaism, in general, is much less focused on the afterlife as a central theological concept) I believe with all my heart that the OP will return to the thread, and, though he tarry, yet I will await him. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/34 "2015-10-23T20:22:13Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > I believe with all my heart that the OP will return to the thread, and, though he tarry, yet I will await him. - Iā€™ve not seen him rebuild any temples.\* :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/35 "2015-10-23T23:21:51Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > God gave extra laws to the Jews because of that covenant, but God is the Lord of all creation, not just of the people He has made covenants with. Isnā€™t part of Judaism a belief that the Jews are a chosen people? Sure, Jews believe that God created everything but that doesnā€™t mean everything has an equal status. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/36 "2015-10-23T23:34:24Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Isnā€™t part of Judaism a belief that the Jews are a chosen people? ā€œChosenā€ in this context doesnā€™t mean ā€œpreferredā€. It means (as I understand it) that they were selected to receive a greater obligation than the rest of mankind, which through the fulfillment thereof they might become an example to other nations. Itā€™s as much a curse as it is a blessing. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/37 "2015-10-23T23:35:55Z")
Sure, but itā€™s still an essential facet of the faith. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/38 "2015-10-23T23:50:50Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Sure, but itā€™s still an essential facet of the faith. Not really. Remove it and nothing changes. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/39 "2015-10-24T04:51:51Z")
> [@andros](#): > > Sure, but itā€™s still an essential facet of the faith. Itā€™s something taught by Judaism, sure. Itā€™s important to the implementation of Judaism, sure. But the question is ā€œwhat is the central teachingā€. Thatā€™s not it by a long shot. Thatā€™s like saying that since Christians believe in the power of baptism, baptism is the central teaching of Chritianity ā€“ glossing over the whole ā€œJesus died to bring salvation to all mankindā€ thing. Baptism is important, sure, but only in the context of salvation through Jesus. The coventant between God and Israel is important, sure, but only in the context of the fundamental nature of God. I could be persuaded that ā€œjusticeā€ might be the central teaching of Judaism. Or ā€œcommandmentā€. But Iā€™m still lobbying for ā€œThere is exactly one God who rules everything.ā€ That was a novel idea, unique to the Jews for a long time, and it still takes center stage in every Jewish service. The central prayer, the prayer that Jews who donā€™t remember prayers remember, is the Shema. Here, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. > **[Shema](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shema_Yisrael)** > > Shema Yisrael (Shema Israel or Sh'ma Yisrael; Hebrew: שְׁמַע י֓שְׂ×ØÖøאֵל ŠəmaŹæ YÄ«srāŹ¾Ä“l, "Hear, O Israel") is a Jewish prayer (known as the Shema) that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: YHVH our God, YHVH is one" (Hebrew: שְׁמַע י֓שְׂ×ØÖøאֵל יְהוÖøה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוÖøה אֶחÖøֽד׃), found in Deuteronomy 6:4. > The first part can be translated as either "The LORD our God" or "The LORD... ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2015, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457/40 "2015-10-24T07:03:31Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > ā€œChosenā€ in this context doesnā€™t mean ā€œpreferredā€. It means (as I understand it) that they were selected to receive a greater obligation than the rest of mankind, which through the fulfillment thereof they might become an example to other nations. > > Itā€™s as much a curse as it is a blessing. Sure. But it still means that while God created all the universe including all of mankind, he nonetheless has a different relationship with the Jews than he has with non-Jews. According to Judaism, God has a special covenant with the Jews. He doesnā€™t have an equivalent covenant with the Egyptians or the Chinese or the Brazilians. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/central-concept-in-judaism/735457.md?page=3)