Download Denomination

Jewish Denominations
!
Orthodox Judaism
!
Orthodox Jews believe that God gave Moses the whole Torah (Written and Oral) at Mount
Sinai. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah contains 613 mitzvot (commandments) that
are binding upon Jews. Modern Orthodox Jews strictly observe halakhah (Jewish Law),
but still integrate into modern society. Ultra-Orthodox Jews, which includes Chasidic Jews,
strictly observe Jewish laws and do not integrate into modern society by dressing
distinctively and living separately.
!
Orthodox Judaism believes that the Torah is of divine origin containing the exact words of
God without any human influence.
!
Beliefs
Maimonides’s (also sometimes called Rambam because his whole name is Rabbi Moshe
ben Maimon) 13 Principles of Faith are an excellent summary of the core beliefs of
Orthodox Judaism.
!
Practice
In terms of practice, Orthodox Jews strictly follow the Written Torah and the Oral Law as
interpreted by the Medieval commentators (Rishonim) and codified in the Codices (Rabbi
Joseph Karo's Shulhan Arukh and Rabbi Moshe Isserlis's Mapah). From the time they get
up in the morning until they go to bed at night, Orthodox Jews observe God's
commandments concerning prayer, dress, food, sex, family relations, social behavior, the
Sabbath day, holidays and more.
!
Movement
The term "Orthodox" Judaism only emerged as a result of the growth of new branches of
Judaism. Orthodox Judaism views itself as the continuation of the beliefs and practices of
normative Judaism, as accepted by the Jewish nation at Mt. Sinai and codified in
successive generations in an ongoing process that continues to this day.
!
It follows that Orthodox is not a unified movement with a single governing body, but rather
many different movements that all strictly observe Judaism. While all orthodox movements
are similar in their beliefs and observance, they differ in the details that are emphasized and
in their attitudes toward modern culture and the State of Israel. Modern Orthodox tend to
be a bit more liberal and more Zionistic. Ultra-Orthodox, including Yeshivah movements
Page !1
and the Hasidic sect, tend to be the least open to change and the most critical of modern
society.
!
Hasisdism, founded in Europe by Ball Shem Tov, believes that acts of kindness and prayer
could be used to reach God, as opposed to the older view that one could only become a
righteous Jew through rigorous learning. The word Hasid (Chasid) describes a person
who does chesed (good deeds for others). Hasidic Jews dress distinctively, live separately
from modern society, and are dedicated to strict observance of Jewish Law.
!
!
Conservative Judaism
!
Conservative Judaism maintains that the ideas in the Torah come from God, but were
transmitted by humans and contain a human component. Conservative Judaism generally
accepts the binding nature of halakhah (Jewish Law), but believes that the Law should
adapt, absorbing aspects of the predominant culture while remaining true to Judaism's
values.
!
The idea of flexibility is deeply rooted in Conservative Judaism, and can be found within
their own Statement of Principles, Emet ve-Emunah.
!
Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, identifies and explores
seven core values of Conservative Judaism in his monograph, "The Sacred Cluster: The
Core Values of Conservative Judaism." According to Schorsch, the core values of
Conservative Judaism are:
1. The Centrality of Modern Israel
2. Hebrew: The Irreplaceable Language of Jewish Expression
3. Devotion to the Ideal of Klal Yisrael
4. The Defining Role of Torah in the Reshaping of Judaism
5. The Study of Torah
6. The Governance of Jewish Life by Halakha
7. Belief in God
Schorsch explains, "Whereas other movements in modern Judaism rest on a single tenet,
such as the autonomy of the individual or the inclusiveness of God's revelation at Sinai
(Torah mi-Sinai), Conservative Judaism manifests a kaleidoscopic cluster of discrete and
unprioritized core values. Conceptually they fall into two sets - three national and three
religious - which are grounded and joined to each other by the overarching presence of
God, who represents the seventh and ultimate core value."
!
The Conservative Movement in Israel is called the Masorti (Masorti is the Hebrew word for
"traditional") Movement. According to the Masorti Movement Web Site, the ideology of the
Masorti Movement is based on three primary principles:
Page !2
1. Torah and Mitzvot
2. Tolerance and Pluralism
3. Zionism
Today there are about 800 congregations worldwide, representing some 1.5 million
members, affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
!
!
Reform Judaism
!
Reform Judaism believes that the Torah was written by different human sources, rather
than by God, and then later combined. While Reform Judaism does not accept the binding
nature of halakhah (Jewish Law), the movement does retain much of the values and ethics
of Judaism as well as some of the practices and culture.
!
American Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish movement in North America, was founded
by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise over 125 years ago. Though its early classical period was in
Germany and Central Europe, Reform (Progressive) Judaism has undergone its greatest
period of growth and development in the United States.
!
Progressive Judaism is rooted in the Bible, especially in the teachings of the Hebrew
Prophets. It is founded on authentic manifestations of Jewish creativity, ancient and
modern, particularly those that stress inwardness and desire to learn what God expects
from us; justice and equality, democracy and peace, personal fulfillment and collective
obligations.
!
The practices of Progressive Judaism are anchored in Jewish thought and tradition. They
seek to extend the range of observance by granting full equality to all Jews, irrespective of
gender and sexual orientation - while challenging laws that are contrary to Judaism's
fundamental principles.
!
One of the guiding principles of Reform Judaism is the autonomy of the individual. A
Reform Jew has the right to decide whether to subscribe to a particular belief or practice.
!
The Movement accepts that all Jews -- whether Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist,
or Orthodox -- are essential parts of the worldwide community of Jewry. Reform Judaism
maintains that all Jews have an obligation to study the traditions and to observe those
mitzvot (sacred acts) that have meaning today and that can ennoble Jewish families and
communities.
!
Reform Judaism differs from more ritually observant forms of Judaism in that it recognizes
that the sacred heritage has evolved and adapted over the centuries and that it must
continue to do so.
Page !3
Reform Judaism:
• Reform Jews are committed to a Judaism that changes and adapts to the needs of
the day
• Reform Jews are committed to the absolute equality of women in all areas of
Jewish life
• Reform Jews are committed to social justice
• Reform Jews are committed to the principle of inclusion, not exclusion
• Reform Jews are committed to a true partnership between the rabbinate and the
laity.
!
!
Humanistic Judaism
!
Humanistic Judaism, founded in 1963 in Detroit, Michigan by Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine,
offers a nontheistic alternative in contemporary Jewish life. Humanistic Jews believe in
creating a meaningful Jewish lifestyle free from supernatural authority, in achieving dignity
and self-esteem, and in reviving the secular roots of Judaism. Humanistic Judaism
embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines the celebration of Jewish culture
and identity with adherence to humanistic values.
!
Page !4