Would someone please assist me in evaluating the influence of Sacred texts, Practices (circumcision, marriage, shabbat, and dress), Bioethics ( abortion, euthanasia, and genetic engineering) and Maimonides in explaining the Jewish religious traditions impact on the life of adherents?
any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you 
You're asking for a lot there... I will give you some basics which should be able to help you...
The impact of Moses Maimonides has endured despite his works being met with opposition during his lifetime - he is now acknowledged as one of the foremost Jewish thinkers and philosophers with his works considered a cornerstone of Orthodox Jewish thought and study and his ideas still widely debated.
Jewish scholars in the centuries that followed his life were characterised as 'Maimonideans' or 'anti-Maimonideans'. The most significant critique of his work was undertaken by the fourteenth century Jewish scholar, Hasdai Crescas, who completely refuted Maimonides' acceptance of the Aristotelian worldview. Regardless of this, Maimonides' views and principles are today widely held, even obligatory, among many modern Jews.
The commentary on the Mishnah is still widely quoted and
The 13 Principles of Faith are held as the cornerstone of belief for many Jews and appear in most Jewish prayer books.
The Mishnah Torah became a standard guide to Jewish practice while
The Guide to the Perplexed has proven immensely significant to Jewish Philosophers.
Jewish ethical teachings on bioethics have existed since the very beginnings of Judaism with discussions of medical ethics dating back to ancient sources such as the Bible and the Talmud. But the field only gained momentum in the contemporary era, when modern medical technologies raised challenges. Since the 1960s the issue of bioethics has become quite significant.
The preoccupation of Judaism throughout the ages has been to try and answer the question 'What does the Lord your God require of you?' Modern Jewish bioethics tries therefore to determine God's will in solving medical ethical dilemmas. Contemporary Jewish bioethics takes a duty-based approach, seeking to emulate the ways of God in the decision-making process while satisfying the obligations inherent within relationships.
In practice, providing there is no conflict with the perceived will of God, health care professionals seek to respect the wishes and concerns of Jewish patients. These may pertain to issues of modesty or the need to provide opportunities for ritual obligations. There is a large degree of diversity in the actual medical solutions posed by Jewish bioethics and this tends to reflect degrees of strictness in the interpretation of Jewish texts. Orthodox Jews tend to place extreme emphasis on the authority of God while Reform and Conservative contributors often exhibit more flexibility, though even within Orthodox Judaism there is scope for multiple interpretations of the same texts.
Underpinning all interpretations are three general principles: that human life has infinite value; that ageing, sickness and death are a natural part of life; and that improving the patients quality of life should be an ongoing commitment. All forms of Judaism place emphasis on the responsibility of the individual to respect and preserve their own bodies, which actually 'belong' to God.
The prohibitions contained within Jewish bioethics include abortion when the mothers life/health is not at risk; withholding or withdrawing treatment from patients; attempting to reverse or hinder the death process once it has begun; suicide and euthanasia. Some of these are medical practices that modern secular societies consider are the autonomous right of the patient/individual.
All Jewish societies are ruled by the legal systems of the countries in which they live so issues pertaining to bioethics tend to be guidelines and not legally binding or absolute. Many secular Jewish patients welcome the wisdom of their religious tradition in the decision-making process. The general procedure is to consult the rabbi who may then counsel both physician and patient as to the correct interpretation of Jewish law for the particular situation.
Marriage expresses the beliefs of Judaism through the teaching that it is divinely ordained state symbolising the sacred union of those created in God's image. It is believed to have parallels with God's covenant with Israel, to which it is often likened by the prophets, and is thus virtually obligatory among Jews. Rabbis are expected to marry.
Judaism understands marriage is serving three main purposes - companionship and love; procreation; and to establish the family as the basic social unit. Jewish marriage is monogamous, although this was not always so. Polygamy was permitted before being banned in the Middle Ages. The minimum age for marriage is 13 for boys and 12 for girls though an ancient rabbinic formulation recommends 18 as the ideal age.
There are many impediments to marriage contained within the Torah such as not marrying close blood relatives. All branches of Judaism refuse to accept the validity of intermarriage (a Jew marrying a gentile), though where conversion of the gentile to Judaism has occurred, the marriage is considered valid. Although marriage was considered a lifelong contract, Judaism reluctantly recognises that relationships break down and thus divorce is allowed. All that is required is mutual agreement between the two partners and the giving of the divorce document by the husband to the wife.
In Jewish tradition, marriage is preceded by a morally binding period of betrothal known as
shidduchin. As marriage is considered a holy state, the laws concerning purification must be observed. Very recently there has been a move amongst some sections of Reform and Conservative Judaism to sanction same sex unions. This is generally viewed as an enormous departure from traditional Jewish beliefs and attitudes, however, and is opposed by many adherents.
The significance of marriage for both the individual and the Jewish community stems from its reminder to adherents of their covenantal obligations to God. The adherence through the ages to specific patterns of tradition and ritual has helped Judaism to endure in the face of an ever-changing, often hostile world. It's insistence on custom and consistency means the past is preserved for future individuals and communities.
Jewish individuals and the community regard marriage as the cornerstone of society. The family is seen a the basic unit from which society stems. The myriad of impediments which are placed upon Jewish marriage have helped to preserve the purity of the religion over the millennia. Judaism considers marriage virtually obligatory and celibacy a thing to be avoided.
Hope this helps...
