What are the causes and effects of a religion splitting up into divisions or sects?
Ai) What are the causes and effects of a religion splitting up into divisions or sects?
Hasidism
The word Hasidism means `the pious` and best known for their spiritual devotion are the Hasidism Jews. Before the holocaust occurred the Hasidic Jews were in Eastern Europe and in the 17th century, when the Hassidic movement began many of the Hassidic Jews were forced into poverty.
The huge loss of life in Poland and the economic burden of those who survived were due to the Russian and Swedish invasions. From then on Jewish life was changed in Eastern Europe. Before the trouble started there were plenty of opportunities for talented young men and woman to come to the study of the Torah and Yeshivot. The Jews worked very long hours conscientiously for very little pay.
By the 18th century only the larger communities of Jews could actually afford to maintain Yeshivot. This severely controlled a fixed number of children to study. The majority of the children could not have an education. Many Jews grew up feeling like rejected Jews and felt that they weren't valued by God.
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, thought to be the messiah brought about the religious revival of the Jews in Poland. Rabbi Israel showed the ignorant people how to improve their standards of Jewish observance. He also showed them the Kabbalah and simplified it foe the mass and taught them the purpose of `serving` God was attachment to him. He told them that carrying out the commandments of God could do this and tries to for fill every single possible one with enthusiasm and praying with sincerity and also through the study of the Torah. He also said to them that an ignorant Jew was as much a part as a Jewish scholar and the poor had an advantage over these scholars as they could admit humility whilst the scholars let their pride get in their way. However the most important lesson from Rabbi Shem Tov was that you should have joy in serving God. His teachings helped raise the masses out of their misery and in believing this the Jews really felt God really loved them. Many scholars appreciated his methods when he showed them that the Kabbalah was the way of illuminating Judaism. However there were some who were opposed to the Hassidic movement. Two generations ago a man named Shabtai Zvi claimed to be the messiah and changed life in Eastern Europe. This made people think that Rabbi Baal was also a fake messiah. These non-believers were known as the Mitnagdim.
After Rabbi Shem Tov died the movement still went on under his disciple Rabbi Dov Baer of Mezritch and he have special attention to the pupils who were going to be the future leaders. When he died in 1772 all his disciples went to Poland, the Ukraine etc... The towns that they settled in became learning centers and people came to these towns for guidance and education.
There were several, million Hasidism in Eastern Europe. Today there are Hasidic towns all over the world. In the world they'll share schools, synagogues and yeshivot. Many still wear the same clothes, because Hasidism is a strict religion, which requires the laws of the Torah to be taken very seriously. However they take great pleasure in serving God and some services sing songs.
Reform
The Reform movement was people who believed that the religion should change and adapt to the changing circumstances prior to the modern day. 15% of Jews are reform Jews to this day. The reform movement began in the 19th century. It didn't want to change. What reform Jews think is a prime example from the Ten Commandments is "Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat to the Lord your God and in it you shall do no work." There are 39 types of work and driving, is one of them so if a reform Jew needs to go somewhere, which should only be the synagogue, they should walk to it however far away they are from it and this is one of the reasons Jews buy houses within a close distance from a synagogue. The freedom from restrictions and regulations (emancipation) took place during the 18th. The Jewish enlightenment began with a man named Moses Mendelsohn. He translated the bible into different languages and tried to encourage the children to have secular educations. His followers tried to implement this to the world. Many Jews converted to Christianity to be part of the society. This is when the reform Jews had felt that Judaism needed to adapt to the modern society. Mixed schools of Jews and Christians were opened and some of the prayers in the synagogue were read out in different languages e.g. German. After quite a while these ideas spread to other areas of Judaism, by reform Jews who tried to change people via the Talmud, unfortunately for them the Rabbis were too dedicated and traditional to be changed. After long periods of time though they had minor thoughts of the Talmud having no authority. A man called Abraham Geiger had a new movement towards Judaism. He thought that Judaism would change due to new circumstances and believed that Judaism could be reduced to monotheism. He had no intentions of following the messiah to the Holy Land or no need to pray for the restoration of the Jewish state. He thought the Rabbis should change the Torah accordingly to the modern day.
This made Reform Jews think the Talmud had no value and that Moses didn't write the Torah. Other more fanatic Reform Jews delved further into this event and moved Shabbats to Sundays and ceased circumcision. Today though Reform Jews are reintroducing Hebrew into services, but still believe that males and females are equal and have female Rabbis. They eat the same food and dress the same as Jews do.
Aii) What were the religious issues, which caused the origin and development of these two groups?
One of the main religious issues, which caused the origins and ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
This made Reform Jews think the Talmud had no value and that Moses didn't write the Torah. Other more fanatic Reform Jews delved further into this event and moved Shabbats to Sundays and ceased circumcision. Today though Reform Jews are reintroducing Hebrew into services, but still believe that males and females are equal and have female Rabbis. They eat the same food and dress the same as Jews do.
Aii) What were the religious issues, which caused the origin and development of these two groups?
One of the main religious issues, which caused the origins and development of these two groups, were their attitudes towards the Torah. Doubts like, where it the Torah came from. Most Jews would consider this the most important aspect of Judaism, but will view it in different ways. The Orthodox Jews see it as being written by Moses as God dictated it. Reform Jews thought man wrote it and that it would remain timeless. Orthodox Jews believe, that Moses via God wrote it, so that every word of the Torah is divine and that every word should be taken seriously. They thought that as it was God's words, the laws would be timeless and could never be changed to suit the modern day. They would consider it a sin if they changed or disobeyed it as they were given by God to the people to follow. The Torah was used by God to reveal himself to the people. Moses was also considered very importantly, as he is the one who they believe took down all the words, letter by letter from God. This is considered very important, as through times of trouble the Jews still managed to obey the words of God. An important reason for why they split is the enlightenment (haskalah), which meant Jews became less religious. This all came about because different people had different views of how the Torah came to be.
They came to these different conclusions because of different reasons. One of these reasons were the people began to question if all the five books were really written by Moses. Another reason was the scientific discoveries of evolution, which contradicted what was said in the Torah. Another reason was people started to doubt the Torah, for it had different languages within it. There was a different use of language e.g. God is referred to as "Yaweh" or "Elohim". The Reform Jews argued that if Moses and only Moses was the actual writer of the Torah that it should have only been written in one language. All these accounts made Reform Jews to come to the conclusion and that was that several different men wrote the Torah at different times in history and so leading on they believed that if Moses did not write the laws then they were only relevant at the time they were written. Jews keep some of the laws even today to help reinforce the Jewish community. Hassidim believes totally the opposite. They believe Moses received the Torah in the forty days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai. While reading the Torah they should have joy and enjoy reading it. They don't want influence about the "modern day". They dress traditionally. They believe what's written in the Torah are the words of God and that they are divine, serious, should never ever be changed and should stay timeless regardless of "the modern day".
B) In what ways have the religious issues, which caused the groups to develop,
affected the moral behaviour, attitudes and social practices of their
adherents?
The laws, which the Orthodox and non - Orthodox Jews follow, can affect their lives in many different ways. Many religious issues, which affected the social practices, moral behaviour and attitudes include the role and position of woman, morality, marriage, living conditions, only kosher meat as an edible meat source, practicing the 613 commandments, mixing with non - Jews, converting to Judaism, language of the services and dress.
The clothes that the Hasidic and the Orthodox wear would be different. The men who are Hasidic are bearded and wear side curls, which are twisted and tucked behind their ears. They are regularly dressed in large black hats with plain black jackets, shoes and socks. Their shirts are white, buttoned up to the neck and are worn without a tie. The ritual fringes, which are attached to the undergarments, are from their trousers. Jewish females, dress less distinctively. Their skirts cover their knees and their sleeves extend over their elbows. The married woman wears wigs, because when woman become married they are not allowed to show their hair, for temptation to other men. The Reform Jews will often wear normal clothes, like jeans and a T-shirt. Jews are encouraged not to wear clothes, which are offensive or `flashy`. To dress modestly, they will wear a tallit katan (four-cornered garment made of wool, with a hole for the head). On each corner are eight fringed tassels called tzizit. Orthodox Jews will also wear kippahs. This reminds them that there is another intelligence far greater than them. Another factor is the role woman plays in the Hasidism community. Women are not allowed to become rabbis and aren't allowed to pray with men and therefore pray separately. On the Shabbat the woman have to stay at home and prepare for the Shabbat. This is different in reform, where the men and woman would pray together and woman can become rabbis and lead some services. This would affect their life of Jewish women, in that she might feel that the religion does not give women a fair life. They might think that God preferred the men, but in Reform, they are made to feel equal.
Education is also an important point. Orthodox Jews are expected to study the Torah on the Shabbat and other festive activities. Woman used to stay at home, cook and clean, but now they will often go to school. Hasidism will follow a set pattern of prayers whilst then reform can pray when they want to. In the synagogue the women and men will not sit together in Hasidic synagogues. The men would sit in the central part of the sanctuary, whilst the women would be in a gallery. The prayers in the synagogue would be read out in Hebrew, whilst in a Reform synagogue they would most likely be read out in English. Women are also not allowed to pray as much as men and so don't attend as much as men.
In Reform synagogues men and women are encouraged to attend as much as each other. Hasidic Jews believe, they all should live in a close community or return to the Holy Land. This can affect their lives in a big way.
They would have to live close to a synagogue so they could walk there on a Saturday. The keeping of a kosher home is also very important. Hasidism Jews have to keep their houses kosher, as it is part of the Mitzvot. They would not be able to consume food, which was not kosher. Their cutlery would have to be different for different food products. Their kitchens would be laid out differently. The cupboards would be different for cutlery, meats and dairy products.
In the Leviticus it says, these are the animals, which you may eat... anything, which has a completely slit hoof and chews the cud. This can affect Jews' lives in a big way. They could only eat at kosher restaurants. Reform leaders once abandoned the dietary laws, but now the laws are looked upon synagogue premises. They would have to go to a school, which serves school meals, which were kosher.
Reform Jews believe that not all the 613 Mitzvot can't be kept. They think it's better to keep the important ones, e.g. traditionally it was taught that the 39 Melachot are forbidden on Shabbat.
Members of the Reform communities don't consider it wrong to drive their cars or turn on lights on this day. For them "work" means literally going to there shop, factory, or working for a profit. They don't need to locate nearer synagogues, as they'd drive to a synagogue whilst the Hasidic will not.
In Hasidism they will make sure that they bring their child up in a way that would please God and keep the Mitzvot. At the circumcision, they will promise to bring their child up and teach their children about the Torah.
Teffillin would be given at the age of three to six. They would often send their children to a Sunday school to learn more about the Torah. They may be stricter with them so that they would obey the Mitzvot, e.g. in the mornings an Orthodox Jewish girl would have to wash her hands and feet. She would do this as an act of purification and is a thank you, which is known as "modeh ani". However a Reform Jew would not do this in the morning, but would wake and wash straight away.
The laying of the teffillin was discarded by the Reform Jews, but is now coming back. Almost all the Hasidic will lay teffillin, because Jews would wear it after their Bar Mitzvah ceremony once they reach the age of thirteen.
They would wear it in the Morning Prayer each day except for Shabbat and festivals. It will consist of two black boxes, which are worn on the upper arm and on the forehead. They are very important symbols. It is very easy to appear righteous on the outside. What really matters is what is actually going on inside a person i.e. the thoughts and feelings of that person. The daily wearing of the teffillin reminds the worker to keep working hard to rid himself of the undesirable thoughts and feelings i.e. grudges, revenge.
They are very sacred and must be checked quite often by a scribe to see if the sacred texts have faded. The Hasidic will all wear them, but some Reform Jews wear them and some don't.
It was completely abolished before, but the Reform Jews are trying to wear them again. They will wear it because it is an instruction in the sherna that the lord tells the people of Israel to bind his words, "as a sign upon your hand... as frontlets between your eyes". This will help them to be better people by this showing them to have love and affection.
Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah won't be taken as seriously as an Hasidic Jew who, believes it's God instructing them. The marriage ceremony in the Reform synagogue is basically traditional. The laws of "family purity" are not followed. Fifty percent of the Reform Jews will marry into a mixed marriage and there is a serious concern among the Jewish community that if this trend continues then there will be no more Reform Jews left in the twenty first century. Reform Jew's marriages will be solely determined on love and how much the partners love each other. Whilst the Hasidic will marry only other Hassidic Jews and no one outside the religion.
The Reform would also have children because they'll also want to experience parenthood. Chassidics will also have children, as it is one of the orders of God to "go forth and multiply". The divorces for both are also very different. For the Reform Jews they can get divorced by the traditional giving of a "get". The other, used when the husband refuses to give a "get", consists of the Reform bet din issuing a document, which dissolves the marriage. This document is accepted as a "get" in reform congregations. This would mean that the women would not have to receive a "get" to remarry.
The Reform and Orthodox Jews also have different opinions on whether, they would mix, with gentiles or not. The Reform Jews would mix with them as they have always and are not forbidden. Hasidic Jews would send their children to Jewish schools, for don't wish to mix with gentiles.
The two divisions also have different opinions about the commandments. The orthodox believe, that God gave the commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai whilst the Reforms believe it is from man. This has a major effect on their lives. The Reforms consider it of little importance, so they keep the most important commandments and not the rest whereas the Hasidic Jews believe, the Torah has the words of God and every word is extremely important. These commandments will be abided by the 613 Mitzvot to the best of their abilities at all circumstances.
The Reforms believe that it's not directly from God. The Reform Jews don't take the commandments seriously and don't let the commandments affect their lives much. The Hasidim's will live life with the laws in everything they do. From the clothes they wear to the food they eat. They will only eat kosher food and their kitchens will only be kosher. The Reform Jews will eat at different restaurants, which gentiles would eat and wear clothes that gentiles would wear.
Sex is also very important for both groups. Orthodox Jews should not perform sex for enjoyment, but as an act to produce children. "Go forth and multiply," explains this. It is more for the fact that you are obeying one of God's orders by having sex. This means they should not wear contraception, because this prevents them from producing children.
Reform Jews have a different view on this. They would have sex for the enjoyment just as if they would for the children. The Hasidic also have strong feelings on sex. Sexual desire is one of the most powerful drives to a human. Sexual activity is necessary for the continuation of the human species and is also a God given way for a husband and wife to express their love for one another. Judaism only permits sexual intimacy within marriage. It strictly forbids adultery, incest, homosexuality and sexual relations with animals.
Both divisions have the same view on converting others and themselves to Judaism. They both feel that they do not have to convert other people to their religion.
They regard this as unnecessary. Jews believe that each person can reach God by whatever part they choose, but that they are the "chosen ones" via the covenant with Abraham. There are people, who wish to become Jewish and there is a procedure for converting them.
A bet din carries out conversion. When someone asks to be converted the dayanim (judges) try to find out why, he or she wants to become Jewish. Most people want to convert to Judaism, because they want to marry a Jewish partner. Once the dayanim decide to give someone permission to be converted, the person is given a course of instructions and is expected to start living as a Jew. Before the conversion takes place the convert is required to accept and keep the 613 Mitzvot of the Torah.
This is essential since a conversion cannot be cancelled and the dayim will want to be sure that the convert intends to continue to live like a Jew. Male converts are circumcised. The final stage is when the person is immersed in mikveh. Upon emerging from the water the convert is fully Jewish and will remain so for the rest of his life (unless he converts again).
C) Jews should try to overcome their differences and unite.
Do you agree? Give reasons to support your answer and show that you have
Thought about different points of view.
I think that there are many different responses to this question. I think that the Jewish people all around the world would love to unite and be one big community. I think that they would have too many differences and would ultimately not be able to agree on important issues.
I think that they should unite because if they did they would all be one big community. This would make the religion stronger as everyone would be doing the same thing. They could then learn from each other, in many different ways. The prayers would be the same so they would be doing the same things. After terrible events such as the Holocaust and the slavery, which they managed to escape from in Egypt, they should all stick together. If they united there would not be any internal fights. All the fights going on between them and it would be much more peaceful e.g. the situation in Israel can be seen from this. It would also make the religion much more bigger and seem more solid on the whole. If people see that the religion is one whole religion and not just a religion with so many parts to it, with people changing the law and worshipping in many different ways. It makes the religion make it seem that it is not completely true and a lack of trust in God. People would take the religion more seriously, if they were all one on the whole and had the same beliefs. It would show them and the people of the religion that they are solid and that they all believe in God and therefore the Torah. If they were all one then they could observe the festivals in the same way and do daily chores in the same way too, therefore strengthening the community. It could also be argued that God would want his "chosen ones" to be united in the way they worship. Divisions different could cause friction and argument so they could unite to solve this problem. Another argument is that they shouldn't all divide into smaller, divisions over small concerns e.g. whether you should drive or walk to the synagogue.
However the Jewish people argue in the modern world it would too difficult and wouldn't work. One reason for this is the Orthodox and Reform Jews are stricter about obeying the laws and would not simply give up some of the laws. If the Orthodox Jews decided that they were going to shift the Shabbat to Sunday instead of Saturdays, it could have serious repercussions. Previously they have always obeyed Mitzvot, which would have a negative effect on them. It would also mean all those times they obeyed Shabbat as Saturday would mean nothing if they're going to suddenly going to shift the "Holy Day".
If a Reform Jew would change to an Orthodox Jew, his/her life would be seriously affected. They would have to change the clothes they wear, the food they eat, and attend synagogues regularly. They would also have to obey the 613 Mitzvot to the best of his/her ability.
They would have to move house if they lived far away from a synagogue or would have to get a different job if it meant they had to work on Saturdays. This would be a huge change in their lives. They would have to learn to speak Yiddish, which would involve a lot of effort, which they previously would not have put in.
The Orthodox would say, "They are the right beliefs and do not need to change". The main obstacle, they would have to "jump" is their belief about the Torah.
The orthodox believe that God gave the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai, whilst the non-Orthodox Jews believe that it is from man. As the Orthodox believe that the Torah is from God they believe that everything in it should be kept, respected and not changed in any way.
If the religion has changed so much since it first started, then it would be impossible, to change every single person to the same divisions as people are more reluctant than that.
All the divisions of Jews should NOT unite, as the different traditions and the cultures would be almost impossible to clarify and if they tried to its almost as if they were bound to fail. People should be allowed to follow their personal beliefs, though Orthodox Jews would not accept this.
I can come to the conclusion that it would be good, for Jews to all unite into one big religion, but it would be difficult to accept the differences in all divisions. While the differences that seem so minor look small, the actual differences in the religion are important fundamental, differences in beliefs about the nature of the Torah.
Nixon Dhushantha 4A Religious Coursework
