The Talmud
Judaism is one that serves as a prominent moral system engrossed with important historical instances, which are supported by the primary elements of the moral teachings and how various key terms deepens the aspect of them. Judaism began its initiation as an religion through the Word of God to Abraham who is recorded to be the first to teach/preach monotheism through the rejection of idolatry. The name of God is spelled "G-d", as it is written by the Jews, representing the "Jewish conception of divine nature, and the relationship of God to the Jewish people." During the time peroid of 2000 BCE the "G-d" of the ancient Israelites established a divine covenant with Abraham marking the beginnings of Judaism. Following this God reaffirms his covenant with Moses by giving to him the Ten Commandments commonly known as the Ten Statements by the Jewish religion. These essential values within Judaism are Laws which serve as an internal covenant with God and his people.
As Judaism continued in its expansion it essentially "branched" into various moral and ethical themes that are common in the world. Within Judaism arises the moral issues of family ethics, Jewish prophetic ethics, justice, truth and peace, and the moral view concerning animals and the enviornment. The first, the ethics within Jewish families is key to understanding the status within the homes. The parents were considered equal, in that the mother was honored and respected by her children in the same fashion as the father. The aspect of monogamy, or marrying once, dominated as ideal within their values of family ethics. Concerning the aspect of worship, idolatry was strictly prohibited, as Jews believed that it would allow for "vice and oppression." In addition to this the value of equality concerning non-Israelites grew as an important aspect.
The ethics of Jewish prophetism was also essential to the moral teachings of Judaism. Within this particular realm, Jews believed that they were "singled out" when being chosen by God. From this, derived the imagery of Israel as the bride with the foundation of Judaism as the covenant. In addition to this was the moral aspect of Justice, in which the moral teachings are highlighted within the Talmud, a record of discussions concerning such thing as Jewish ethics. Within this moral system Judaism denounces various aspects that degrades the ignorance of man, personal gain through events such as bets, listening to various gossips, and other themes that are viewed as negative in the moral teachings of Judaism.
Another branch of elements concerning moral teachings, lies in the aspects of truth and charity.The center of this specific element lies within the question of God, as believed in the religion of Judaism, in the Last Judgement of whether "one has done justly with his neighbor" (Talmud, tractat Shabbat 31a). Concerning the moral view on charity, Jews believe in giving to the poor with the riches of ones personal property. Not only were Jewish moral teachings centered on these aspects but of the natural world as well. The moral teaching of the animals and the enviornment is that it is just to show compassion towards animals and the act of not feeding a brute before a serving is degrading. Natural resources such as trees are also brought to attention as it is probited that trees be cut down or destroyed.
The religion of Judasim may be viewed as a great moral system as it attempts to focus on each of these aspects, in an effort tio acheive the ultimate hope of pleasing God and maintaning their covenant with Him.