Religious Jews call themselves the “children of Israel.” Israel (also called Jacob) was Abraham’s grandson. According to the Hebrew Bible there is one God, who created heaven and earth, and made humans in God’s own image, and established a covenant with Abraham and his descendants. Jews believes that God sent the prophet Moses to lead the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt. On Mt. Sinai, Moses received the Torah, God’s instruction to the people of Israel. The words of the Torah guide Jewish life. As interpreted in the Mishnah, the Talmud, and other scared writings, they urge Jews to honor God with prayer (sacrifices of the lips) and with acts of loving kindness. While Jews believe that death is not the end of human existence, focus is placed on the search for meaning in this life. The greatest number of Jews today live in North America and Israel.
Excerpt from the book, "Families of Abraham" by Eleanor Brawley
