Judaism is the religion and way of life of the Jewish people, and it is one of the worlds oldest monotheistic religions. Here are some key beliefs and practices of Judaism:

• Monotheism: Judaism is based on a strict monotheism, and Jews believe in one single, indivisible, non-compound God. The Shema Yisrael prayer encapsulates the monotheistic nature of Judaism: "Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God; the LORD is one".

• The Torah: The Torah contains the laws and commandments that are central to Judaism, including the Ten Commandments. The Jewish people are known for their strict adherence to the laws of the Torah, which are interpreted and applied by religious scholars known as rabbis.

• Beliefs about God: Most Jews believe that God is the creator of the universe, and that God values justice and mercy, and cares about all humanity. Different sects of Jews view this in different ways, and some ultra-Orthodox groups reject the concept of evolution and believe the earth to be only a few thousands years old.

• Beliefs about the Messiah: Judaism has different beliefs about the Messiah than Christianity. While Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah, Jews believe that the Messiah has not yet come.

• Observance of commandments: The central beliefs and practices of Judaism revolve around the worship of God and the observance of the commandments outlined in the Hebrew Bible. Jews are known for their strict adherence to religious law and the observance of religious holidays and rituals.

• Cultural components: Many American Jews prioritize cultural components of Judaism over religious ones. Most Jewish adults say that remembering the Holocaust, leading a moral and ethical life, working for justice and equality in society, and being intellectually curious are “essential” to what it means to them to be Jewish.

• Belief in God: Three-quarters of U.S. Jews say they believe in God or some spiritual force in the universe, including 26% who say they believe in “God as described in the Bible” and about twice as many (50%) who believe in some other spiritual force. Belief in God is much more widespread among Jews by religion than among Jews of no religion.

Overall, there is no one way that American Jews think about being Jewish, as the survey makes clear. When asked whether being Jewish is mainly a matter of religion, ancestry or culture, some Jewish respondents pick each of those things, and many choose some combination of them.