While the Torah, its commands and the principles and beliefs of Judaism remain unchanged, Judaism has evolved as circumstances have necessitated. Here are just a few examples:
1) After the end of prophecy (some 2350 years ago), the Tanakh was sealed by a special Sanhedrin (Rabbinical court). It was the same Sanhedrin which placed our prayers in their permanent form (see Talmud, Berakhot 33a).
2) Purim and Hanukkah were instituted after the relevant events.
3) Certain fasts were instituted in connection with the Destruction of the Temple.
4) After the Destruction, the laws of sacrifices were suspended.
5) When circumstances made it impossible, the New Moon was no longer proclaimed by testimony; rather, the fixed calendar was instituted (around 360 CE).
6) The Talmud was put in writing (around 500 CE) when it became too hard to be learned by heart.
7) There are seven formal Rabbinical commands. These are:
Saying the blessings over food (and on various occasions)
Washing one's hands before eating bread
Lighting the Hanukkah-menorah
The Eruv
Saying the Hallel prayer on certain occasions
Lighting the Sabbath candles
Reading the Megillat Esther on Purim.
In addition, there are many Rabbinical decrees, mostly from the Men of the Great Assembly (4th century BCE), as well as later enactments.
The purpose of every one of these is to provide a "fence around the Torah," meaning to shore up something that can benefit from strengthening. An example: not handling electric appliances on the Sabbath, even if they are not connected to any electric socket.
therefore helped to lead them out of slavery in Egypt. In time, his achievements were
celebrated by the Jews.
OR
Moses was not a real, historical person, the consensus view of scholars. The Hebrew
people needed a glorious hero and created Moses for the purpose. He became involved in
Judaism because his existence and his role in the history and religion of the Jews came
to be accepted as true.
Jewish answer:
Moses was an Israelite, a great-great grandson of Jacob. He was born 245 years after
the death of Abraham. The time when Moses was born was when the Pharaoh ordered
his people to kill all Jewish male infants because he (Pharaoh) was afraid that the
Israelites would become too strong for him (Exodus ch.1-2). Moses' mother didn't want
him to die. So she made a basket for him and put him in it to float in the Nile reeds. He
was found by the Pharaoh's daughter, who took pity on him (Exodus ch.2) and raised him
as her own son. He was forced to flee after killing a cruel Egyptian taskmaster, and went
to Midian, where he wedded the daughter of Jethro. He eventually achieved the highest
level of prophecy (Deuteronomy ch.34) and was called upon by God (Exodus ch.3). He
brought the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery (Exodus ch.12). He received the Torah
from God (Exodus 24:12) and later recorded it in writing (Deuteronomy 31:24). He went
up on Mount Sinai for 40 days and nights (Deuteronomy ch.9-10) and brought down the
Two Stone Tablets with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18). He brought the
Israelites into the covenant with God (Exodus ch.19 and ch.24), and he oversaw the
building of the Tabernacle (Exodus ch.35-40). He was the humblest of men and the
greatest of prophets (Numbers ch.12).
Short Answer:
Through the simplest possible and historically the most widespread process:
By being born to Hebrew parents in a household aware of its heritage and observant
in its traditions to the extent of their knowledge and the best of their ability.
Yes, Moses was and is Judaism's greatest prophet. The Torah states that there will never be a prophet like him again.
Abraham and Moses.
Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are all Abrahamic religions, that is, they all share the common background of the ancient prophets of Abraham, Moses, Noah, Adam, and others. Judaism draws its roots from Moses, in about 1400 BC; Christians began in about 30 AD with Jesus; and Muslims began about 500 AD with Mohammad.
It depends on how the word "figure" is read.If it is referring to which human being is the most important historical personage in Judaism, that would be the Prophet Moses, who received the Torah and helped the Jews escape bondage in Egypt.If it is referring to which symbols represent Judaism, those would be the Star of David and the Menorah (or candelabra).
Jewish tradition holds that Abraham's realization of monotheism around 2000 BCE is the beginning of Judaism. Others hold that Judaism began after the time of Moses, when the Jewish people lived by the laws in the Torah.
Moses.
Moses.
Yes, Moses was and is Judaism's greatest prophet. The Torah states that there will never be a prophet like him again.
Judaism. One of the definitions of Judaism given in dictionaries is "the religion of Moses."
No it is not Moses, but it is Abraham the father of Judaism.
Moses.
Judaism
Moses.
moses.
Moses.
Moses.
Judaism is sometimes called the Mosaic faith (religion of Moses).