This purpose of this post is to educate people about Jewish beliefs, as is practised by "Torah Observant Jews" in Nigeria. The main goal is to provide the most basic information about Judaism, and correct any misconception that Judaism is only about a political separatist group and ethnic movement seeking to dissolve Nigeria. Judaism in its truest form does not endorse any form of nationalism outside of the nationalism that promotes a theocratic Jewish political state in the LAND OF ISRAEL. Judaism does not condemn people who wish to seek self-determination, but it strongly opposes those who use Judaism as a platform to further their own political agenda.

What Do Jews Believe?
The closest that anyone has ever come to creating a widely-accepted list of Jewish beliefs is a medieval Rabbi called Moshe Ben Maimon known to the secular world as Maimonides. Maimonides articulated thirteen principles, which he considered the minimum requirements of Jewish belief, namely:

1. G-d exists.

2. G-d is one and unique. He is not seen as a Trinity and has no partners or equals.

3. G-d is incorporeal and has no material body and He can never manifest physically. G-d transcends the material universe. This is the major reason why it is forbidden to make an image or statue of G-d.

4. G-d is eternal and can never die, not even for our sins. The existence of the whole world depends on the existence of G-d. If G-d dies everything will cease to exist cos our existence depends on G-d. A branch cannot survive on its own when the root is dead.

5. Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other. We cannot pray in the name of someone else or through an intermediary be it a man or an angel.

6. The words of the prophets as they are recorded in the Hebrew portions of Bible (commonly known as the "Old" Testament) are true and were never changed or altered but have been handed down to us as it was written. The New Testament and the Quran are not considered as authentic scripture to be adhered to, by Jews.

7. Moses' prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets. There is no other prophet that was greater than Moses or that will be greater than Moses. A student can only be as good as his Teacher. He can never be better. Thus, G-d said He will send a prophet LIKE Moses, not a prophet GREATER than Moses.

8. The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses.

9. There will be no other Torah or a new revelation that will be different from the Torah or added to the Torah. Therefore, Jews do not recognise the Quran or the New Testament as divine revelations.

10. G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men.

11. G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked.

12. The Messiah will come.

13. The dead will be resurrected.

As you can see, these are very basic and general principles which determine if a person's beliefs is in line with the doctrines of the Emunah (Jewish faith). However, failure to believe in these principles do not necessarily mean that one is not a Jew. Believing in them also does not mean that one is a Jew either, because Judaism is not a faith-based religion like Islam or Christianity where you must BELIEVE in their doctrines to qualify as a member.

Unlike many other religions, Judaism does not focus much on abstract concepts or beliefs. There is no creed or beliefs, outside of the very general concepts discussed above. There is substantial room for personal opinion on all of these matters, because, Judaism is more concerned about actions than beliefs. As was mentioned previously, even if someone who is considered Jewish does not believe in one or more or even all of the aforementioned principles he is still considered Jewish because what defines a Jew is who G-d says he is and not what he believes, or what he thinks he is. Therefore a Jew may be an atheist but in the eyes of G-d he is still considered a Jew nonetheless. This is very much different from other religions where your beliefs define your membership status. Only in rare circumstances does one loses his Jewish status.

So who then is a Jew or what defines a Jew?

The word Jew comes from the Hebrew word, Yehudi, which means a member of the tribe of Yehuda (Judah). Yehuda means "He praises". Therefore, the life of a Jew is a life of praise to the Most High G-d.

According to Rabbinical Judaism (the most authentic form of Judaism), a Jew is anyone who was either born of a Jewish mother or who converted to Judaism in accordance with Jewish Law. Judaism today is open to sincere converts, although conversion has traditionally been discouraged since the time of the Talmud. The conversion process is evaluated by an authority, and the convert is examined on his or her sincerity and knowledge. Converts are called "ben Avraham" or "bat Avraham", (son or daughter of Abraham). If your father is a Christian, or a Muslim, if your mother is a Jew, then you are a Jew, even if you are following the religion of your father. Your beliefs do not define your status as a Jew. You are a Jew because G-d says so! Rabbinical Judaism maintains that a Jew, whether by birth or conversion, is a Jew forever. Thus a Jew who claims to be an atheist or converts to another religion is still considered by traditional Judaism to be Jewish.

Conversion to Judaism takes time. Of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism is the only religion whose conversion takes the longest. This is because Judaism is primarily a religion of ACTIONS and not BELIEFS. Therefore, a would be convert would need to learn the laws and customs of the Jews while in the process of conversion. After he has learnt sufficiently, he will be required to be circumcised and immerse himself into water as a ritual engrafting him into the Jewish nation. Even if he had undergone a medical circumcision, he will be required to have a drop of blood taken from his private part as a witness and a testimony that he has entered into the covenant of Abraham. From then onwards, he will be required to obey the 613 commandments written in the Torah that was given to Moses from heaven. Judaism is a blood covenant between the descendants of Abraham and G-d.

Judaism is a religion that focuses on relationships: the relationship between G-d and man, between G-d and the Jewish people, between the Jewish people and the land of Israel, and between human beings. Our scriptures captures this relationship succinctly in the story of Abraham. This relationship is known among Jews as the covenant. The covenant is what unites every single Jew. It is what makes us a nation in the sight of G-d.

In the second part of this series, I will examine that relationship further.