Different Types of Jews.

AS and A Level Religious Studies & Philosophy

Different Types of Jews

Although there are only approximately 10 million Jews in the world, today the
religion is split up considerably. All Jews come under the strands of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) and Sephardi (Spanish) referring to their origin, however these only change customs and traditions. There are two divisions within Judaism that significantly differ: Orthodoxy and Reform Judaism, from which has stemmed Liberal, Conservative and other different types. There is also a division under the Orthodox label with ultra-orthodox and Hasidic Jews. I am only going to explore Orthodox, Reform, Liberal, and Conservative Judaism because they are the most substantial divisions and most widely followed in Britain. This divide between different types of Judaism has caused a lot of tension and is possibly one of the reasons for Judaism's rapid decline and assimilation into the Diaspora. I think that is a topic of great interest and in this essay; I have outlined the different characteristics of the four types of Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism

This is the religion of those Jews who adhere most strictly to traditional
beliefs and practices. Orthodox Jews refuse to accept the position of Reform
Judaism that the Tenakh and other writings do contain valid moral principles
but also Laws, which are only in place due to the time of writing and so, may
be legitimately discarded in modern times. In Orthodox Judaism, therefore,
both the Torah and the Oral Law are adhered to completely.
Orthodox Jews keep all the laws which other Jews see as unnecessary today such
as practices like daily worship, abiding by dietary laws, traditional prayers
and ceremonies, regular study of the Torah, and separation of men and women in
the synagogue. It also follows strict observance of Shabbat and
religious festivals.
Many Orthodox people feel that other types of Jews aren't essentially Jews and
some don't believe reform marriages for example, are legitimate.
There are divisions within Orthodoxy, with Ultra-Orthodox Jews who
can be seen as responsible for some of the conflict within Israel at the
moment and Hasidic Jews who strongly believe in Kabbalah, the mystic side
of Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism is the same religion that was practised by Jews in
times after the second temple and before. There have been no changes to the
laws, apart from more Rabbinical decrees as 'fences around the law' and
Orthodox Jews see themselves as the only people who practice Judaism as it was
intended to be, as a fundamentalist religion.
Before the introduction of Reform Judaism there was only 'Judaism', however
the religion then called 'Judaism' was changed to become Orthodox Judaism -
the original faith.

Reform Judaism

This is a preview of the whole essay

Reform Judaism

This is a denomination of Judaism that has modified or abandoned many
traditional Jewish beliefs, laws, and practices to adapt Judaism to the modern
world, which has undoubtedly changed a lot since biblical times. Reform
Judaism sets itself against Orthodox Judaism by challenging the practice and
use of ritual, laws, and customs set down in the Tenakh and in other sets of
books.
The movement began early in the 19th century, in Germany, when Jews were
liberated from their ghettos. Many Jews began to question their allegiance to
such laws as kosher, prayers in Hebrew, and the wearing of special outfits
that set them apart as Jews. Many felt that Judaism would lose Jews to other
religions if steps were not taken to bring Judaism into the 19th century.
Nowadays, Reform worshippers are no longer required to cover their heads or
wear atallit. Daily public worship has been abandoned, Sabbath
restrictions completely changed - often the Rabbi (sometimes a woman) driving to synagogue on a Sabbath, and Kashrut declared obsolete. During service music can be played, men and women can sit together and both boys and girls take part in a 'conformation' ceremony, instead of a Bar mitzvah. All mentions of the Messiah and the resurrection of the dead have been omitted from the liturgy. Reform Jews believe that Judaism should 'move with the times' and many laws do not apply in a culture completely different from Biblical times. They feel that Judaism must be a living, constantly developing faith, compatible with the modern world, whilst still keeping the ideological beliefs and moral principles.
At a time Reform Jews were told to no longer look forward to a return to Palestine. The question of Zionism, support for an independent Jewish nation, was controversial within the Reform movement until the establishment of Israel in1948. Within Reform Judaism, women are allowed into the Rabbinate and positions on various modern issues have been altered such as homosexuality.
Orthodox Jews look at Reform Jews as having 'watered down' Judaism to make life easier for themselves and making assimilation even more of a threat.
Liberal Judaism
Liberal Judaism is Orthodox Judaism brought up to date. It combines respect
for Jewish heritage with positive acceptance of modern knowledge and due
regard for the realities of the world in which we live. Liberal Jews do value
tradition, but truth even more, so when discussing scientific matters for
example, they may take a view contrary to that of an Orthodox Jew in order for
them to search for truth instead of what they believe are bible stories there
for pre-modern man.
The reason for the Liberal movement's creation was that people thought that
the Reform Movement made too many demand son people. It is therefore similar to Reform Judaism however suited for an even more secular congregation.
Liberals believe in the full equality and participation of men and women in
every sphere of religious life. They allow conversions easily (compared to the
orthodox method) and believe in sexual equality. They also emphasise ethical
conduct above ritual observance, as they believe each person can choose how much they want to conform to the written laws and customs. One Liberal Jew may choose to keep Kosher as a moral discipline and another may dismiss it as unnecessary in modern society. They hold this belief on the fact that they don't think that God ever revealed himself to any of the prophets including Moses, but made himself felt in their minds.
Liberal Jews are not at all fundamentalist. They hold as part of their
ideology that Judaism, its beliefs, values and customs, is open to change and
there is scope to modify them whilst still keeping the heritage. Liberal Jews
value human needs and comfort above customs and handed down laws. This means that they wouldn't restrict themselves in the way Orthodox Jews doing regard to food, the Sabbath or any other law, which according to Liberals, isn't
applicable in our society.

Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is the opposite of Liberal Judaism. They believe that the Reform Movement has gone too far away from the original Orthodox Judaism whereas the Liberals thought that it hadn't gone far enough. Conservative Jews believe that they keep all the traditional laws and customs as Orthodox Jews do, just without outdated beliefs, such as equality for women, as they reinterpret the law to fit the modern times in which we
live. However, Orthodox Jews would disagree with them and say that they don't keep the Torah appropriately and they don't recognise Conservative conversions, marriages and vehemently disagree with their position over women being able to take services etc. Conservatives do follow Orthodoxy to a degree as they insist on the sacredness of the Sabbath. Also, dietary laws are respected and observed, but with modifications when necessary such as wine not
needing to be kosher. Certain Conservatives have drawn further away from Orthodoxy by ordaining women rabbis. Many Conservatives encourage the study of Hebrew and support the secular Zionist movement, as they believe that it is inseparable from Jewish culture. A major section of Conservative Judaism is the Masorti Movement. They believe that God didn't give the Torah at Mount Sinai but that it has evolved from different writers' religious experiences. Even though this belief causes doubt as to the maintenance of the halakhot, Masorti Jews continue to do so as they believe that they are part of being Jewish and have been followed for generations and should continue as a force that lives throughout the ages. Individual Masorti synagogues are divided over some issues such as seating arrangements, which is an illustration of the indecision in Conservative Judaism over the 'grey area' in between Reform and Orthodox Judaism. Despite different opinions within the movement, Conservative Jews have a common bond by keeping with the past unlike the other two unorthodox branches. However, ultimately Conservative Jews spend a lot of time in between Orthodoxy and Reform Judaism in terms of practice more than theology.