God in Judaism facts for kids

Judaism is a religion that believes in only one God. People who follow Judaism are called Jews. They believe this one God created the world. They also believe they can have a special, personal connection with God. The name for God in Judaism is often called "The Name" or "My Master."

What is Judaism?

Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world. It teaches that there is only one God. This idea is called monotheism. Jews believe God is powerful and cares about everyone. They also believe God has a plan for the world.

A Long History

Judaism began a very long time ago. It started around 1800 BCE in a place called Mesopotamia. This area is now part of the Middle East. The religion slowly grew and changed over many years.

Abraham's Journey

God spoke to a man named Abraham. God told Abraham to travel to a new land called Canaan. Abraham and his followers went there. They became sheep herders in this new land.

From Egypt to Freedom

Later, a famine made them leave Canaan. They went to Egypt to find food. But in Egypt, they became slaves. After many years, God spoke to another leader named Moses. Moses helped Abraham's people escape from Egypt. He led them back to Canaan.

The Jewish Diaspora

After this, the Jewish people spread out. This spreading is called the Jewish Diaspora. Jews moved to many different countries. They took their religion and traditions with them. This helped Judaism grow around the world.

Living by God's Rules

Jews follow special rules from their holy book, the Torah. These rules guide how they live. One very important set of rules is the Ten Commandments. These commandments teach about how to treat God and other people.

Shabbat and Synagogues

Another important rule is about Shabbat. Shabbat is a day of rest, from Friday evening to Saturday evening. On Shabbat, Jews do not work. They also avoid using transportation. Because of this, many Jewish families live close to their synagogue. A synagogue is a special building where Jews gather to pray and learn.

Images for kids

• 

  Hebrew name of God inscribed on the page of a Sephardic manuscript of the Hebrew Bible (1385)

• 

  The Mesha Stele bears the earliest known reference (840 BCE) to the Israelite god Yahweh.

• 

  The mass revelation at Mount Horeb in an illustration from a Bible card published by the Providence Lithograph Company, 1907

See also

In Spanish: Dios en el judaísmo para niños