Unlike Christianity and other religions, Judaism has no formal dogma (a doctrine or body of doctrines concerning faith or morals formally stated and authoritatively proclaimed by a religion). In the Jewish tradition since the formation of the Rabbinic system after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Great Temple in 70 CE, greater emphasis has been placed on actions (commandments) than on maintaining a formal dogma.

Secondly, there exists wide debate and disagreement amongst the various branches of Judaism concerning the precise interpretation of the teachings of Jewish tradition. This in large part is a consequence of the Rabbinic restructuring of Judaism into a decentralized network of educators after the religion and its most holy scriptures were very nearly wiped out two thousand years ago.

This being said, there exists a core set of principles or articles of faith which represent the minimum requirements of Jewish belief. They are that:

• G-d exists
• G-d is one and unique
• G-d is incorporeal
• G-d is eternal
• Prayer is to be directed to G-d alone and to no other
• The words of the prophets are true
• Moses's prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of the prophets
• The Written Torah (first 5 books of the Bible) and Oral Torah (teachings now contained in the Talmud and other writings) were given to Moses
• There will be no other Torah
• G-d knows the thoughts and deeds of men
• G-d will reward the good and punish the wicked
• The Messiah will come
• The dead will be resurrected

In addition to these general and fundamental articles of faith, orthodox Judaism states the belief in approximately 613 commandments said to have been given by G-d and listed in the Torah as well as laws instituted by the rabbis and long-standing customs. Thus Judaism as it has evolved over the last two thousand years has come to focus on these laws and customs, rather than dogma (articles of faith).