Pensées Juives

Understanding Judaism: Answers to the Essential Questions

par le Rav Raphaël Benizri

Why do Jews wear a kippah? What is Shabbat? What does “kosher” mean? Thousands of people type these questions into Google every day. Here are complete answers, written for readers who know nothing about Judaism: the sources in the Torah and the Talmud, the reasons, the history and how these things are practised today.

Each article in this series answers one precise question. It opens with a short answer, then takes the time to explain: what the Torah says, what the Talmud and the great sages say, why it is done and how it is lived today. Every article cites its sources and, wherever possible, draws on the teaching of Rav Raphaël Benizri.

You can read these pages in any order. If you are just starting out, begin with the Torah, Shabbat and the origins of Judaism. Hebrew words are explained in the glossary.

Texts, prayers and language

Torah scrolls dressed in blue and burgundy velvet mantles trimmed with gold braid, lined up in front of a velvet curtain in a synagogue

What Is the Torah?

A stack of large old leather-bound volumes and an open book on a wooden study table, lit by golden light, beside a brass lamp and a pair of glasses

What Is the Talmud?

An open pomegranate spilling its red seeds onto a wooden table, next to two old leather-bound books and a brass candlestick

What Are the 613 Commandments (Mitzvot)?

Rocky peaks of the Sinai desert at dawn, golden light breaking through the clouds above the mountains

What Are the Ten Commandments? Text, Meaning and Place in Judaism

In a synagogue bathed in golden light, a man wrapped in a white tallit with black stripes prays with his eyes closed, his hand raised to his face, deep in concentration

What Does Shema Yisrael Mean?

Scribe's table with a blank sheet of parchment, a quill pen resting in an inkwell, a ruler and a stone mortar, in the golden light of a window

Hebrew, the Holy Tongue: History and Meaning

Beliefs and Jewish identity

An old man seen from behind, staff in hand, walking at sunrise with a caravan of camels and sheep across desert hills, evoking Avraham's departure

What Are the Origins of Judaism?

A scribe's hand holding a quill above a blank parchment, next to an inkwell, in soft light

What Are the Names of G-d in Judaism? Hashem, YHWH and "G-d"

Red granite mountains of the Sinai desert at sunrise, under a golden sky streaked with clouds

What Does "Chosen People" Mean in Judaism?

The great ancient stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, lit by the rising sun, with doves and plants growing between the blocks

Who Is the Messiah in Judaism?

A small lit oil lamp on the sill of an arched stone window, facing the hills of Jerusalem bathed in the golden light of dawn

What Happens After Death in Judaism?

A mother's hand holding her child's small hand on a Shabbat table, beside lit brass candlesticks and a braided challah

Who Is a Jew? And How Do You Become Jewish?

Silver Star of David pendant resting on an old bound book on a wooden table, in golden light

What Does the Star of David Mean?

An elderly rabbi with a white beard, in a black suit and hat, seen from behind, seated at a study table before a large open book in a library bathed in golden light

What Is a Rabbi?

Holy ark of a synagogue: a carved wooden cabinet with blue velvet panels embroidered with golden lions, with a red eternal light lit in front of it

What Is a Synagogue?

Visible signs: clothing, gestures and objects

Three kippot on a wooden table: a black velvet kippah, a navy and white knitted kippah and a white kippah, next to a bound book

Why do Jews wear a kippah?

The corner of a white tallit with black stripes lying on a wooden table near a window, with knotted white strings hanging from it

What are tzitzit, the "fringes" Jews wear?

A square black leather tefillin box with its strap, resting on a wooden table beside a folded tallit, a blue velvet bag and a prayer book, in the morning light

What are tefillin?

A mezuzah in a metal case fixed to the wooden doorpost of an open front door, in the golden evening light

What is the mezuzah fixed to doorposts?

A young Orthodox Jew seen from behind, with a black hat, a beard and curly sidelocks, in a stone alley in Jerusalem at sunset

Why do some Jews wear sidelocks and a beard?

Folded silk and linen headscarves on a wooden chest of drawers beside a beige hat and a vase of white flowers, in the morning light

Why do married Jewish women cover their hair?

A black felt hat on a wooden table next to a folded white shirt and an old leather-bound book, in golden light

Why do some Jews dress in black and white, with a hat?

Men in white tallitot with black stripes praying, seen from behind, along the great stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, in the golden evening light

Why do Jews sway when they pray?

Two hands resting on an open old book on a wooden table, in the soft light of a window

Why Are Tattoos Forbidden in Judaism?

Eating kosher

Family table set for a meal: a braided challah under a white cloth, a roast chicken, fresh vegetables and a glass of red wine in the morning light

What Does "Kosher" Mean? Kashrut Explained

A whole fish with silvery scales and clearly visible fins on a plate, set on a wooden table with fresh vegetables, bread and an old book

Why don't Jews eat pork or shellfish?

Kitchen countertop divided into two sides: on the left, red dishes and meat; on the right, blue dishes, a bottle of milk and cheese

Why Don't Jews Mix Meat and Milk?

The great milestones of life

Carved wooden chair of Eliyahu with a white cushion and a Star of David, next to a cup of wine on a small table, in a sunlit synagogue

Why do Jews circumcise? The meaning of brit milah

A thirteen-year-old boy seen from behind, wearing a kippah and wrapped in a white and blue tallit, standing before the reading table of a synagogue bathed in golden light

What is a bar mitzvah and a bat mitzvah?

A chuppah, a wedding canopy draped with white veils and flowers, set up outdoors in a Jerusalem stone courtyard at sunset, with two cups of wine on a small table

The Jewish wedding: chuppah, ketubah and the breaking of the glass

A house in mourning: a wall mirror completely covered with a white sheet, a lit memorial candle on a small wooden table and low stools

Jewish Mourning Customs: Shiva, Covered Mirrors and Burial

Men wearing kippot and wrapped in white prayer shawls with black stripes, seen from behind, praying before the holy ark of a synagogue

What Is the Kaddish?

Jewish graves of pale Jerusalem stone covered with small pebbles, in the golden evening light

Why Do Jews Put Stones on Graves?

Jewish time: Shabbat, the calendar and fasts

Shabbat table on Friday night with two lit candles, a challah and a silver Kiddush cup

What Is Shabbat?

A thin crescent of the new moon in the blue twilight sky above the Judean hills and the lights of a valley

How Does the Jewish Calendar Work?

A glass of water and an empty plate resting on an open book on a wooden bench, lit by golden evening light

Why Do Jews Fast?

The Jewish festivals

Each festival has its own full article on the site. See also all the Jewish festivals and the Rav’s lectures devoted to them.

Un chofar levé face au lever du soleil sur Jérusalem

Rosh Hashanah: What Is the Meaning of the Jewish New Year?

Une bougie de souvenir sur un rebord de pierre face à Jérusalem au crépuscule

Yom Kippur: What Is the Meaning of the Day of Atonement?

Une soucca au toit de palmes, table dressée pour le repas de fête

Why Do We Live in the Sukkah for Seven Days?

Lumières de Hanoucca allumées sur le rebord d’une fenêtre

Why Do We Light Eight Candles on Hanukkah?

Masque, couronne, rouleau et gâteaux de Pourim

Why Do We Dress Up on Purim?

Matsot, coupe de vin et herbes amères sur la table du Séder

Why Do We Eat Matzah on Pesach?

Épis de blé, fleurs, laitages et prémices pour Chavouot

Shavuot: What Do We Celebrate, and Why Do We Read the Book of Ruth?

Bougies au pied des pierres du Mur occidental, la nuit

Why Is the Ninth of Av a Day of Mourning? Tisha BeAv, the Destructions and Hope

Go deeper: 36 more questions

Detailed answers, with Talmudic sources, to the questions people ask most.

Festivals and the calendar

A Seder table seen from behind: the Seder plate, matzot covered with a cloth and a cup of wine, in the soft light of candles

What Is Passover (Pesach) and How Does the Seder Work?

A ram's shofar resting on an open prayer book, soft raking light

What Is Rosh Hashanah and Why Is the Shofar Blown?

A sukkah set up in a courtyard at dusk, palm-branch roof, table laid with bread, wine and candles

What Is Sukkot? The Sukkah, the Lulav and the Etrog

A lit chanukiah on a windowsill, seen from the street at night

What Is Chanukah and Why Do We Light Candles for Eight Days?

A parchment scroll unrolled on a wooden table, next to a festive mask and a small package of food

What Is Purim? The Megillah of Esther, Masks and the Mitzvot of the Day

Rocky desert mountain at dawn, low mist over a vast empty plain, in black and white

What Is Shavuot and Why Do People Stay Up All Night?

A lit candle beside a low stool on the stone floor of a dark synagogue, an image of mourning on Tisha B'Av

Why Do Jews Fast on Tisha B'Av? The Destructions of the Temple

Almond tree in blossom on a rocky hillside under a winter sky, black and white photograph

What Is Tu BiShvat, the New Year of the Trees?

Ripe barley ears at dawn and a reaper's hand gathering a sheaf, an image of the first harvest of the Omer

What Is the Counting of the Omer and Lag BaOmer?

Joyful crowd dancing in a synagogue, arms raised in shafts of light, a man holding a Torah scroll above his head

What Is Simchat Torah and Why Do We Dance with the Torah Scrolls?

Shabbat and daily practice

Hands holding a lit braided candle in the dark, for the Saturday-night havdalah

What Is Havdalah, the Ceremony That Ends Shabbat?

Woman seen from behind in front of two lit candles and a braided challah, at a window, at nightfall

Why Do Jewish Women Light Shabbat Candles?

Hands pouring water from a cup over a bowl, in black and white, on a wooden table

Why Do Jews Wash Their Hands (Netilat Yadayim)?

Hands breaking a round loaf of bread resting on a cloth, with a glass of wine on a wooden table, black and white photograph

What Are Jewish Blessings (Berakhot) and Birkat Hamazon?

Men wearing kippot and prayer shawls, seen from behind, praying while standing in a synagogue in the early morning

What Is a Minyan, and Why Do Jews Pray Three Times a Day?

A stone staircase descending to a pool of clear water in an ancient mikveh, soft light filtering from above

What Is a Mikveh and Why Do Jews Immerse in It?

Jewish values and ethics

A man wrapped in a shawl, seen from behind, walking down a deserted road toward a door of light at dawn

What is teshuva, repentance in Judaism?

Two aged, weathered hands holding a round loaf of bread, in black and white

What is tzedakah? Charity in Judaism

Two shadows on an old stone wall, one leaning toward the other as if whispering

What Is Lashon Hara? The Jewish Laws of Speech

Elderly hands resting on a wooden table beside a cup of tea, in soft black-and-white light

What Does the Torah Say About Honoring Parents (Kibbud Av Va'em)?

Silhouette seen from behind walking on a stone path in the mist at dawn, in black and white

What Is the Yetzer Hara, the Evil Inclination?

A newborn's tiny hand gripping his father's finger, wrapped in a white cloth

What is pidyon haben, the redemption of the firstborn son?

The Temple, the Torah and the law

An altar of rough stones on a rocky height, a thin column of smoke rising into the dawn sky

Why Are There Sacrifices (Korbanot) in the Torah?

Large hewn stone blocks of an ancient Jerusalem wall at dusk, a few figures seen from behind at its foot

What Is the Beit Hamikdash, the Temple in Jerusalem?

An unrolled Torah scroll guided by a silver yad, a tallit sleeve in the background, soft light

Who Are the Kohanim, Levites and Israelites?

A row of old leather-bound books and two parchment scrolls on a wooden shelf, near a window

What Is the Tanakh? Torah, Prophets and Writings

A scribe's hands holding a quill over a blank ruled parchment on a slanted desk, with a small inkwell

How Is a Sefer Torah Written? The Craft of the Sofer

Stone terraces on a Judean hillside with a fallow field and an old olive tree, black-and-white photograph

What Is Shemitta, the Sabbatical Year, and the Yovel (Jubilee)?

Sheaves of ripe wheat gathered on a threshing floor in the Land of Israel, black-and-white photograph

What Are Maaser (Tithes) and Terumah?

Wooden table by a window: a folded sheet of blank parchment, a quill and a plain ring set apart from one another

How Does Jewish Divorce (Get) Work?

A rainbow arching over a landscape of hills after the rain, soft evening light

What Are the Seven Noahide Laws and Who Must Keep Them?

Jewish thought and communities

An old book open by candlelight on a wooden table, evoking the study of the hidden wisdom of the Torah

What Is Kabbalah and Who May Study It?

A stack of old leather-bound books on a wooden table, near an arched window and a lit candle, in black and white

What Are Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of Faith?

Silhouettes of men in long dark coats and hats, seen from behind, dancing in a circle in a wooden hall by the light of a window

What Is Hasidism?

Two Torah scrolls side by side on a reading table: one in an ornate rigid case, the other bound in cloth with a silver plate, in a synagogue

What Is the Difference Between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jews?

Two hands cupped around a small candle flame in the darkness

Does Judaism Believe in Reincarnation (Gilgul)?

Can’t find the answer to your question? Write to us from the Contact page: our readers’ questions shape the next articles.