Jewish texts are beyond vast, and so I’ll definitely only be able to give you a taste of what Judaism is about.  With that in mind, I thought I would highlight some cool Jewish ideas for you that will help you get a sense of what we’re all about.

Pikuach Nefesh– This means saving a life.  In Judaism, life is the most precious, important thing there is pretty much.  So when a life is in danger, you’re supposed to move mountains to save it.  If saving a life is pitted against another Jewish law, such as observing the Sabbath, saving a life is the trump card.  This is why doctors are allowed to work on Shabbat.  If it’s a fast day but fasting could seriously endanger your health, your life is infinitely more important.  Not only are you not supposed to fast; you’re not allowed to.  It says in the Talmud that if you destroy a life, it’s tantamount to destroying the whole world, and if you save one life, it’s as if you’ve saved the whole world.

Tikkun Olam– This means fixing the world.  There are all sorts of derivations on this idea, but the gist is that the world is not a perfect place and it’s our job in the world to fix it.  Doing tikkun olam could mean volunteering at a homeless shelter, helping the elderly… pretty much anything you would associate with good deeds.  There’s a beautiful quote in one of our texts that says “Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, ve lo atah ben horin lehibatel mimena.”  It roughly translates to, “It’s not up to you to finish the task, but you’re not exempt from contributing to it.”  It’s no one person’s job to fix the whole world, but everyone is supposed to contribute to the work of fixing it.

B’tselem Elohim– We believe that every person was created in the image of G-d.

Ve’ahavta Lereacha Kamocha- Often translated as loving your neighbor.  A famous story goes, Rabbi Hillel (one of the most important Rabbis ever, from about 2000 years ago), was asked to explain the whole Torah on one foot.  He responded, “That which you hate, do not do to others.  The rest is commentary.”  This really sums it up.  We have lots of laws, about everything from diet to prayer to the Sabbath to dress and so on.  But at the end of the day, at the core of it, don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want done unto you.  Love your neighbor as yourself.