What was Judaism's most significant contribution to world religion?

Question

Did any earlier religion have the concept of a day of rest?

The Ten Commandments were not original, except for the item about Sabbath-keeping. That one item seems to be absent from the Egyptian Books of the Dead and the Babylonian codes of law such as Hammurabi's. Did it perhaps originate with the Hebrews?

Answer 1

Though Judaism may not have been the first authors of monotheism, it is a religion based on the finely tuned concept of a "perfect" law (Common Sense)...

This led to later prophets, etc. such as Jesus and Muhammed, who were considered to be embodiments of this "perfect" law...

Answer 2

Judaism produce Jesus

Answer 3

One of the greatest, it is was not totally alone in this but one of the few, greatest contributions of Judaism was not merely a religious concept.  It was the concept that all men were equal before God and God was the only being above them.  Judaism had a hard time with this concept itself.  The other was a crollary: all men should learn and be educated to serve their God as best they can.  They should all READ what their God had to say.  In may mind these were the greatest legacies of the Hebrew religion.  The Athenian were the only ones who came close to this concept, but did not quite reach it.

Answer 4

Jesus Messiah

Answer 5

Possibly the most significant contribution of Judaism was the idea that time is linear, rather than cyclical.

Answer 6

Perhaps it was the establishing of monotheism into a predominant concept

Answer 7

Jesus Christ

Answer 8

Santa Claus and Turkey Dinners...

Answer 9

Judaism  emphasized  "a sacred time and a sacred place" by establishing permanent locations of worship accompanied by a 'sabbath'.

Answer 10

I like what the others have to say.  

I'm not sure about the Egyptian contribution.  They were surely around long enough to have developed a system of society beneficial to most.  And that's part of the contribution of Judaism.

I don't agree that monotheism may somehow contribute to conflict, etc.  There's been enough of that around regardless of the theism.

I'm curious, though, how you experience atheism.  What do you make of this universe we're in?  Whose idea?  A figment of your imagination?  But if your imagination doesn't exist?    

As the seeker asks the man on the mountaintop:  "What is the meaning .."  

It'd be a shame if we never know.

Answer 11

Cavassi makes a good point, particularly the one about encouraging literacy (although I believe you will find that in practice it was traditionally only scribes and elders who were literate.)  He also makes a misinformed one.  The Old Testament is very clear that Hebrews are God's chosen people, and the only race of people eligible for salvation (with individual exemptions, like Rahab.)

However, I think the answer (if you're looking for a single revolutionary concept) is unarguably monotheism.  The Jewish Faith is the first recorded faith with a pantheon of one.

If you're looking at a broader spectrum, I think it was laying the framework for the world's two current most influential religions, Christianity and Islam.  Both are founded from the Jewish Faith, and splinter from it where the interpretations and supposed fulfillments of messianic prophecy are concerned.  All the other differences stem from the teachings of the individual who each of the respective faiths deem to be the fulfillment of that prophecy, the Messiah.

Answer 12

Judaism's most significant contribution to the world and religion was JESUS CHRIST.

Answer 13

Many people religious or otherwise have spiritual experiences.  God features in these genuine experiences as both a single thing and everything at the same time. The genuine experience of a spiritual encounter is not of many Gods but of a single being that is everything and can manifest as anything.  Encounters with God are far more than visions but total experiences experienced with your whole being.  Impossible to describe.  So, what was Judaism's most significant contribution to world Religion? THE TRUTH of one God and one God only.