What do Jews worship

just to add to what i wrote previously (i stopped for Maghrib):

another aspect of that ayah is a fascinating one. we see Jacob's descendants referred to as either Bani Israel or as "Jews", what's the difference? the term Jew didn't exist until the Babylonian captivity, thus "Jews" follow, "the Laws of Ezra", whilst Bani Israel refers to the tribes of Israel prior, who at times worshiped God, and at other times were polytheistic or just plain disobeyed God.

www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=174&o=2440

Where does the word "Jew" come from?
by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg
1. The majority of "Jews" today are descended from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin -- the two tribes who comprised the "Kingdom of Judea."1 The other ten tribes, the "Northern Kingdom," were lost (see Mystery of the Ten Lost Tribes) In Hebrew; the word "Jew" (Yehudi) is a clear derivative of the word Judah ("Yehudah").
2. As mentioned, the name "Jew" comes from the Hebrew word "Yehudi."
The Talmud (Megillah 13a) says that the name Yehudi applies to anyone who rejects idolatry and accepts the one true G-d. (The word "Hoda'ah," which is the root of the word Yehudi (and Yehudah), means to acknowledge). That's why Mordechai, a descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, was called a Yehudi (Esther 2:5).
All Jews, no matter their ancestry, are called "Yehudim" (Jews), because every Jew possesses a G-dly soul, which is characterized by an unwavering belief in G-d.
For a deeper explanation of the "Jew" phenomenon, go to Purim: The Holiday When We Became Jewish.


www.askmoses.com/article.html?h=529&o=2038538
Purim: The Holiday When We Became Jewish
by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg
One of the questions I frequently receive is regarding the name “Jew”. The word Jew is a derivative of the name Judah, Jacob’s fourth son; hence calling someone by this name would seemingly imply that the person is a descendant of that particular tribe. However, as is well known, Jacob bore twelve sons, all of whom are the antecedents of our great nation. Why, then, is the entire Israelite nation known as “Jews”?1
Perhaps this question can be cleared up by analyzing the very first individual to be dubbed Jew: “There was a Jewish man in Shushan the capital, whose name was Mordechai the son of Yair... a Benjaminite” (Esther 2:5). Yes, the first “Jew” was actually from the tribe of Benjamin!
An objective study of the Purim story reveals that the whole frightening episode was plainly avoidable. The entire incident was a result of Mordechai’s obstinate adherence to a code of behavior, which was clearly outdated and inappropriate for the times. Mordechai was an elderly rabbi who yet recalled days – more than half a century beforehand – when the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem and Torah Law was supreme. His snubbing of Haman might have been condign during that generation—but how dare he put his entire nation in danger of extinction by slighting the king’s favorite minister? Apparently someone neglected to inform this sage that the ability to conform is the trick to survival!
The entire incident was a result of Mordechai’s obstinate adherence to a code of behavior, which was clearly outdated and inappropriate for the times
Mordechai, however, thought otherwise; and he had a famous precedent supporting his “foolish” actions. Many years earlier, a powerful Egyptian ruler wished to take his ancestor, Benjamin, as a slave. Benjamin’s brother Judah wouldn’t hear of such a possibility. In what would be his proudest and most defining moment, Judah completely ignored all royal protocol, angrily approached the powerful ruler – who, unbeknownst to him, was actually their brother Joseph – and threateningly demanded Benjamin’s release.
Judah is the embodiment of the exiled Israelite who must walk a thin tightrope: While he must live at peace with his neighbors, follow the law and customs of the land, and “pray for the peace of the regime,” he has the courage of his convictions to stand up against all the powers that be in order to defend his ideals. “Only our bodies were sent into exile; not our souls!”
Mordechai “the Jew” was a proud student of his great-uncle Judah. He knew that Torah law forbids a Jew from bowing to Haman (and the statuette which dangled from a chain around his neck), and for him that was the final word. Indeed Judah’s and Mordechai’s actions were vindicated as events unfolded—no harm came to either of them as a result of their brave conduct.
Leading by example, Mordechai succeeded in implanting this sense of pride in the hearts of the masses. When Haman issued his decree of annihilation, not one Israelite even considered abandoning his religion in order to be spared death. At that moment, we all became “Jews”. Accordingly, the Megillah is the first place where our nation as a whole is referred to as Jews.
The grand story of history concludes in similar fashion as the Purim story: we are here to tell the tale and they aren’t...
The name stuck. Because the next 2500 years would repeatedly test our “Jewishness”. Under countless regimes – both friendly and, as was usually the case, hostile – we struggled against friends and enemies who wished to impose their will upon us at the expense of our relationship with G-d. Again and again we proved ourselves true to G-d, earning the name Jew through oceans of blood and tears.
The grand story of history concludes in similar fashion as the Purim story: we are here to tell the tale and they aren’t… The joy of Purim is greater than any other holiday because it tells the story of the nation who never allowed its soul to be shackled—the story of the Jew.

Peace and Love,

Sam

edit: that 1st link doesn't seem to be working. i've had those quotes for years, if i can relocate it, i will post it, in shaa Allah.