Download Variants in Judaism - Year 11-12 Studies of Religion 2Unit 2013-4

Variants in Judaism
The three major variants of Judaism are
Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism (often
called “Liberal” or “Progressive”) and
Conservative Judaism. The Australian
Jewish community is a united, but
pluralistic, community, which includes
groups and sub-groups from all of the major
streams. However the majority of Jews in
Australia, whether strictly observant or not,
are affiliated to orthodox synagogues.
Variants in Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism defines itself as the only
authentic Judaism. One distinguishing
feature of orthodoxy is its maintenance of
the traditional forms of worship in the
Hebrew language, and of the traditional
observances as prescribed by the Law.
Variants in Judaism
The “Ultra-Orthodox”
The long black coats, flowing beards and picturesque hats
seen in the news films of Jerusalem and in some streets of
Sydney, represent various minority groups within orthodox
Judaism, these originated in Eastern Europe of the 18th
century. Some, but not all, of these movements are
Chassidic. Chassidism bears some ideological
resemblance to charismatic Christianity in its search for
ecstasy in prayer, its interest in medieval mysticism, and its
emphasis on the possible imminence of a Messianic era.
The Chassidim represent a very small, but very active,
minority within Orthodox Judaism.
Variants in Judaism
A new element entered the Jewish world in
the early nineteenth century, a movement
which is variously described as Reform,
Liberal, or Progressive Judaism.
Whilst Orthodoxy sees the Torah as
subject to very limited processes of
interpretation, the Liberal view regards the
“sacred heritage” as evolving and adapting
over the centuries and continuing to do so.
Variants in Judaism
The English language is used for parts of the
Reform service, which often features a mixed
choir, and the service is adapted and shortened
and is conducted with somewhat more decorum
than the usual Orthodox services, which often
accommodate individual praying and occasional
conversation. Men and women sit together in the
Temple, both participate in all aspects of the
service, and women Rabbis may officiate
Variants in Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism fosters the practice of traditional
Judaism among Jewish men and women while embracing
modernity. It comes midway between Orthodoxy and
Reform, intellectually liberal in matters of belief, but
conservative in matters of religious practice. It attempts to
“combine a positive attitude to modern culture, acceptance
of critical secular scholarship regarding Judaism’s sacred
texts, and also commitment to Jewish observance”.
Variants in Judaism
Ashkenazim and Sephardim
The difference between Ashkenazi Jews and
Sephardic Jews lies in the cultures developed in
the countries in which they have lived. The
Ashkenazi culture originated in the Franco German
region in Western Europe and developed in
Eastern Europe and Russia. In contrast, the
formative experience of the Sephardim originates
in Spain, North Africa and the Middle East.
Public Worship
Public Worship
The emphasis on the detailed code of conduct and the
following of each individual and community of these codes
is a form of daily worship. Therefore, all of life is a liturgy
(public worship).
Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews are in
agreement that life should be seen as a ritual to honour the
Creator. The difference lies in what the definition of the
word “ritual” should be.
For the Orthodox tradition, there is a heavy emphasis on
the precise recitation of specific prayers in specific
situations. According to the Torah, there are specific
prayers for waking and before eating for example.
Public Worship
For the Conservative Jew, the approach to worship
is less formal than the Orthodox, but it is still
guided by tradition.
The Conservative movement holds to the
view that ritual is an expression of values like
loving God and helping others. Ritual is not
particularly a commitment to make specific prayers
for every conceivable situation.
For Reform Jews, the practicing of some specific forms of
daily religious worship does not have to be found in
scripted responses to daily activities.
Public Worship
It would be impossible to speak about Judaism without mentioning the
Jewish Dietary Laws. The adherence to these food laws are another
form of worship for the Jewish people.
The rules were set out in the Hebrew Bible. Food laws broadly are:
• Kosher meat comes from an animal that chews a cud and has
cloven hoofs (sheep and cows for example). The meat must be
killed in accordance to special rules and the meat must be prepared
in such a way that all blood is removed.
• Seafood is Kosher if the animals have scales or fins.
• Poultry is kosher if it follows the special rules of slaughter and
preparation.
• It is prohibited to consume dairy products at the same time or shortly
after a meal which included meat products.
• Separate utensils are required for dairy and non-dairy meals.
Public Worship
Synagogues are the names of Jewish
places of worship. Group prayer is extremely
important. The prayers vary depending on
the hour of the day, the day of the month
and the branch of Judaism. During services
Jewish males are required to wear yarmulke
(skull caps).
Public Worship
The Jewish holy day is called the Shabbat
(meaning rest). The Shabbat begins at sunset on
Friday and continues until the first 3 stars appear
in the night sky on Saturday. Work is prohibited
during the Shabbat. On the Shabbat prayer
services are more detailed for all branches of
Judaism – Friday services can be anywhere from
half an hour to an hour and a half; and Saturday
morning services can be as long as three hours.
Public Worship
The sacred language of Judaism is Hebrew.
Hebrew would be used the most in an Orthodox
service, while it would be used the least in Reform
one. It is Jewish tradition that a communal service
requires something called a minyan (or quorum) of
at least 10 adults. For Orthodox Jews, this quorum
must consist of 10 men and the men and women
sit separately.
Public Worship
Services are conducted by Rabbis (Jewish
scholars or teachers) and a cantor sings and
leads the congregation in song.
Essentially a service consists of three parts:
– Amidah: Grateful salutations and prayers to
praise G-d.
– Shema: The pledge of faith.
– A public reading of a passage of the Torah.
Marriage
in
Judaism
Marriage In Judaism
 Marriage is considered to be the ideal state for everyone. The bible changed marriage from an option to a
mitzvah (good deed…literally a commandment) Tradition believes that G-d is the matchmaker for every
wedding, and the bride and groom are destined for each other from the time preceding their birth.
 Essentially both orthodox and reform marriage services are the same.
 There is a custom that the bride presents the groom with a tallit (prayer shawl) on the wedding day. One of the
reasons is that there are 32 fringes on it and this number is the numerical equivalent of the Hebrew word lev
(heart)…What a romantic notion!
 The kallah (bride) and chattan (groom) are not supposed to see each other for a period of time before the
wedding (anywhere from a day to a week). Observant Jews follow the law that bride and groom fast on the
wedding day until after the ceremony. In this way the holy day is compared to a day when we examine our past
actions with a goal of self-improvement and a day on which we commit ourselves to be better human beings in
the future.
Marriage In Judaism
 Before the ceremony there is a “veiling” called the ‘badeken’. The groom is
led to the room where the bride is seated and places the veil over her eyes.
The biblical basis for this is the story of Jacob where his father-in-law
Laban fooled him by switching Leah for Rachel before the wedding…the
moral to this story is that “A Jew may be fooled once, but for the next
thousands of years he’ll be sure not to make the same mistake again”
Marriage In Judaism
The ceremony begins with the signing of the wedding
document (called the KETUBAH) in front of two witnesses.
These witnesses are not to be blood relatives. In the Ketubah the
groom promises to support his wife and to provide for her if
they are divorced or he dies before her.
Marriage In Judaism
Marriage In Judaism
The ceremony itself takes place under a canopy called
a CHUPPAH. The chuppah symbolises the new home
about to be created. The chuppah is usually cloth or
floral and supported by four poles. It can be used
indoors or outdoors, and does not have to be in a
synagogue
An example of a chuppah…
And another…
Marriage In Judaism
 The bride circles the groom 7 times. In doing so, the bride demonstrates she is
entering the seven spheres of her beloved’s soul. She also shows she has captured
the heart of her beloved just as Joshua captured the city of Jericho by marching
around it 7 times.
 The round ring with its circular shape is a symbol of eternity. It is placed on the first
finger of the right hand.
 The engagement and the wedding are performed under the chuppah. Both involve
blessings over a cup of wine, (a symbol of joy and gladness). One blessing is for the
wine and the other is to bless the commitment the bride and groom make to each
other. Bride and groom drink from the same cup to show that their lives will now be
joined together and they will evermore share in whatever the cup of life has to offer
them.
Marriage In Judaism
 The breaking of the glass by the groom ends the ceremony. Some claim
it is the last time the husband will ever get a chance to put his foot
down now that he’s married! There are a couple of reasons for this…
1. the breaking of the glass reminds us that in rejoicing we must also
remember our people’s catastrophes. In modern terms no matter how
happy we are, we dare not forget the Holocaust.
2. the fact another generation has signaled its commitment to Jewish
continuity “shatters” the hopes of those who planned Jewish genocide.
Marriage In Judaism
 There is one last tradition which follows after the guests shout
“Mazeltov” and the bride and groom realise they are now husband and
wife. It is generally followed by the more observant Jews that instead of
mingling with guests, the mitzvah of Yichud (togetherness alone)
demands that the bride and groom go off to a private room to spend
some time with just each other. Judaism hopes to accomplish from this
ritual a sense of : Be concerned with your mate from now on more than
with others.
Mazeltov!