Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions in the world, with its origins tracing back to the ancient Near East. It didn’t have a single “founder” in the way that some other religions do, but its foundational stories and beliefs are deeply tied to the figures of the Hebrew Bible.
The beginning of Judaism is often associated with the figure of Abraham, a patriarch who is considered the first to enter into a covenant with God, according to Jewish tradition. This event is typically dated around 2000 BCE. Abraham is regarded as the “father” of the Jewish people and the one who initiated the worship of one God, in contrast to the polytheistic practices of the time.
However, the formal establishment of Jewish religion and identity can be traced to the time of Moses (around the 13th century BCE), who, according to tradition, led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt (the Exodus) and received the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Pentateuch) from God at Mount Sinai. The Torah forms the central religious and legal text of Judaism, and it outlines the laws and commandments (mitzvot) that Jews are to follow.
Thus, while Judaism has no single founder, its roots are deeply connected to the covenantal relationship between God and figures like Abraham and Moses, which laid the foundation for the religious practices, ethics, and community that define Judaism.