Jews believe in one creator who alone is to be worshipped as absolute ruler of the universe. He monitors people"s activities and rewards good deeds and punishes evil. The Torah was revealed to Moses by God and cannot be changed. Jews believe in the inherent goodness of the world and its inhabitants as creations of God and do not require a savior to save them from original sin. They believe they are God"s chosen people.

The Basic Features of Judaism are as follows:

1. Judaism is a classical example of a revealed religion in which God himself has given the entire body of religion to His "chosen people".

2. It is strictly monotheistic religion, believing in one and only one God. God has a personality and he listens to and answers to the people"s prayer.

3. Besides having metaphysical attributes of omnipotence, omniscience omnipresence, etc. God is pre-eminently imbued with such moral qualities as justice, mercy, kindness, love, holiness, etc.

4. With its God being pre-eminently imbued with moral qualities, Judaism is primarily an ethical religion giving out moral rules of conduct and a way of life - of justice, mercy, humility, modesty, etc. God, of course requires man to serve and to pray him, but the least of service that man is required to do is in the form of the observance of the Torah (the Law) and the commandments given to people by God.

5. The world is created by God out of nothing and is dependent upon him, but then it is real. The world is not to be treated as a place of scorn and lamentation; rather it is to be taken as a working ground for righteousness, justice, etc. In the form of his existence on earth, man has got an opportunity to lead a life of righteousness and serve the purpose of God.

6. Judaism believes in many prophets of God of whom Moses is treated as the most favoured messenger of God.

7. Judaism believes in angels and spirits, both good and bad. Satan is taken to be the chief evil spirit, the Devil, who contributes to the spread of evil in the world. However Satan is not taken as beyond God"s control.

8. Judaism believes in the immortality of soul and consequently in a life after death.

9. In spite of its emphasis on the primary value of the moral conduct of man, Judaism abounds in ceremonies, religious festivals, ritualistic ways of prayer and worship, etc.

10. Although Judaism is very much an ethical religion and a way of life, it lays much stress on service and prayer as well. It is said that the purpose of the creation of man is the service of God. And this service essentially consists in praying God with inner heart without any outside thought or preoccupation. God hears ones prayers and answers to them.

11. A Jew is obliged to pray three times a day - in the morning, in the noon and in the evening. In spite of these, there were also their congregational prayers, which were done in their synagogues in the form of hearing the study of passages from the Torah, especially on the Sabbath day and on festivals.

12. The festivals and ceremonies of the Jews, the observance of Sabbath Passover, the New Moon and Harvest festivals are important.

13. Like the Dasturs in Parsiism and Brahmins in Hinduism, there are the Levites who have to serve as priests of Yahweh for His people. Hence priesthood is hereditary.