Not all Jewish people are religious, nor do all religious Jews believe exactly the same things but there are certain assumptions that prevail in the Jewish community. Before witnessing to Jewish people it is helpful to know a little about the differences between Judaism and Christianity.

Authority

Judaism is often referred to as "the religion of the Book" but, as Jewish scholar Jacob Neusner points out in Jews and Christians: the Myth of a Common Tradition, "Christianity is the religion of the Bible ... Judaism is the religion of ... the Talmud". Judaism has added to the Scripture a body of tradition which is accorded equal authority with the Word of God. Christianity alone accepts the Bible as the final authority in matters of faith and practice.

Salvation

In common with every man-made religion, Judaism relies on self-effort. According to the rabbis, if one's good deeds outnumber one's evil deeds, one is inscribed in the Book of Life. Some orthodox Jews, however, teach that every Jew has "a place in the world to come."

The Messiah

If Jewish people know anything about the Messiah it is that he will bring about a reign of universal peace when nations will beat their weapons of war into agricultural implements (Isaiah 2:4) and wolves will lie down with lambs (Isaiah 11:6-9). But, like the Jews of the first century, they know nothing of a Messiah who must suffer and rise from the dead (Acts 17:1-3; Luke 24:25-27, 44-47; Matthew 16:21-23; Mark 8:31-33; Luke 18:31-34).