Judaism and Islam

Judaism is believed to be the oldest monotheistic religion in the world and is one of three Abrahamic faiths along with Islam and Christianity. The Jewish history begins with the story of Abraham, formally known as Abram. Abraham is who the Jewish people believed God sent to earth to be their patriarch and teach the people to believe in only one God. Abraham was not only considered a patriarch to the people of the Jewish religion, he was also considered a patriarch to Muslims, who practice the Islam religion. The belief in Abraham draws many similar beliefs between Judaism and Islam, but each religion also has its own distinct beliefs and practices that separate them into two distinct religions. This essay will compare and contrast the two religions of Judaism and Islam. The focus of the comparison and contraction will include countries of origin; historical figures and events; central beliefs; nature of Gods; texts; rituals and practices; holidays; and the state of each religion today.
    A friend of mine was able to introduce me to her coworker Adam, who is Jewish. Adam agreed to take me to a worship service at the synagogue he attends and sit down for a formal interview. By recently attending a worship service at a Jewish Synagogue, I was able to get a firsthand experience and was able to gain a better understanding of the Jewish religion. On a Friday evening, I attended the Conservative Beth El Synagogue with Adam. Right from the beginning, this was an experience for me, as I was always used to attending church on Sunday mornings when I was growing up. The Beth El Synagogue is located just outside of Minneapolis, MN in St. Louis Park. When we arrived at the Synagogue, I was amazed at the look of the building. From the outside, the building looked more like a huge library or office building, than a place of worship. Even when I entered the synagogue, it still did not look like a place of worship, as I was used to seeing pictures and idols of Jesus and the... [continues]

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