Throughout history humans have held a wide array of religious beliefs. Some people have believed in a single God; others have believed in a pantheon of divine beings. Some believe in a personal God who responds to their prayers, while others view God as an impersonal force behind their world of daily experiences. For some people, God speaks clearly through prophets and written revelation. For others, God is discovered in their private meditations and in their willingness to open their minds or souls. Regardless of the particular belief system, religions very often dominate people’s search for meaning in their lives.

Judaism, the religion of the Jews (or the Israelites), is based upon a self-revealing God. The most important revelation was the Law, which was given to Moses at Mount Sinai. In this chapter, Louis Finkelstein gives a brief explanation...