A writer on Judaism once said, “Judaism is about argument. For as long as anyone can remember, Jews have been arguing about how to be Jewish, why to be Jewish and what to have for lunch. In the exact middle of the Torah (Leviticus 10:16) we read an account of an argument between Moses and his brother Aaron. The Talmud (oral law codified between 200 and 600 CE), the basis for Jewish law, records arguments between rabbis and scholars about the practice of Judaism.”
Ancient Times:
During the time of Jesus (4 BCE – 29 CE) the Jews had at least four different movements to choose from to follow! Please read “Return to Jerusalem” in LR, pages 248-252.
1. Sadducees: Religious and political elites of Jesus’s time. They were very conservative, holding to the written Torah.
2. Pharisees: They are a populist movement, liberal, promoting interpretation and adaptation of the Mosaic laws to the times. Believed in oral traditions.
3. Essenes: They are anti establishment. They are a part of an ascetic community with an eschatological outlook. Some believe the ancient library known as Dead Sea Scrolls unearthed in 1947 in Qumran belongs to this group. John the Baptist, a cousin and a contemporary of Jesus, perhaps belonged to this! May be even Jesus was a Jew from this group!
4. Zealots: Extremely anti-Romans even promoted an armed rebellion against Rome. You can briefly read about their different rebellion in LR p. 252.
Today:
Today we do speak of two Jewish groups – not movements or branches, as further below:
a. Sephardim – Jews of Spanish ancestry!
b. Ashkenazim – Jews of East European ancestry!
There are four “Movements”, or “Branches” or some may use the term, “Denominations” of Judaism. Please read on “Contemporary Judaism” in LR, pages 283-291.
1. Orthodox: In opposition to the increasing trend in secularization the Orthodox Jews have insisted on standing by the Torah. Modern Orthodoxy, however, is not opposed to secular knowledge or integrating with non-Jewish communities. It is dedicated to “the national and religious significance of Israel and to Jewish law as divinely given”. According to a 1990 survey 7% of the American Jews are Orthodox Jews. They reject the reforms introduced by the reform movements and stand by traditions – prayers, ceremonies, dietary laws and so on. The North American Orthodox Jews are organized into the Orthodox Union that spends significant part of its resources to certify 660, 000 products as kosher food!
2. Reform: Some call this the Liberal movement. This began in the 19th century in Germany in opposition to the rigidity of the Orthodox movement. According to a survey in 1990, 42% of the American Jews consider themselves as member of the Reform movement. The Jews of this movement consider synagogues as places “for spiritual elevation”. Sabbath services are shortened and translated into vernacular. Returning to Zion and animal sacrifices are dropped. Segregation of male and female are absent. The theology here is more inclusive and members of this movement involve themselves in inter-faith dialogue.
3. Conservative: This group or the movement tries a middle path between the “extremisms” of the above two! They like to preserve some of the traditions and also permit some amount of modernization. Zecharias Frankel (1801-1875) is one of the founder leader of this movement. He actually broke away from the Reform movement arguing that Jewish traditions have not become “non-essentials”, accepting both the Torah and the Talmud. They observe the Sabbath and use a modified version of the dietary laws. Like in Reform movement they permit women to perform leadership roles in the synagogue. They uphold the Jewish nationalism and encourage the study of Hebrew language.
4. Reconstructionism: It is is a modern American-based movement guided by the ideas of the Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983). For Kaplan Jewish community is a progressively evolving community. This movement has permitted a substantial theological diversity. Jewish religious laws are not considered as binding. They are treated as a valuable cultural remnants and are upheld unless there is reason for the contrary. Blessings and goodness of modernism are greatly emphasised. “Reconstructionists find traditional theistic views found in Judaism to be incompatible with modern thought.” Generally for the reconstructionist Judaism the contemporary Western secular morality has precedence over Jewish law and theology.
Useful Sources to Consult:
Ancient Times:
During the time of Jesus (4 BCE – 29 CE) the Jews had at least four different movements to choose from to follow! Please read “Return to Jerusalem” in LR, pages 248-252.
1. Sadducees: Religious and political elites of Jesus’s time. They were very conservative, holding to the written Torah.
2. Pharisees: They are a populist movement, liberal, promoting interpretation and adaptation of the Mosaic laws to the times. Believed in oral traditions.
3. Essenes: They are anti establishment. They are a part of an ascetic community with an eschatological outlook. Some believe the ancient library known as Dead Sea Scrolls unearthed in 1947 in Qumran belongs to this group. John the Baptist, a cousin and a contemporary of Jesus, perhaps belonged to this! May be even Jesus was a Jew from this group!
4. Zealots: Extremely anti-Romans even promoted an armed rebellion against Rome. You can briefly read about their different rebellion in LR p. 252.
Today:
Today we do speak of two Jewish groups – not movements or branches, as further below:
a. Sephardim – Jews of Spanish ancestry!
b. Ashkenazim – Jews of East European ancestry!
There are four “Movements”, or “Branches” or some may use the term, “Denominations” of Judaism. Please read on “Contemporary Judaism” in LR, pages 283-291.
1. Orthodox: In opposition to the increasing trend in secularization the Orthodox Jews have insisted on standing by the Torah. Modern Orthodoxy, however, is not opposed to secular knowledge or integrating with non-Jewish communities. It is dedicated to “the national and religious significance of Israel and to Jewish law as divinely given”. According to a 1990 survey 7% of the American Jews are Orthodox Jews. They reject the reforms introduced by the reform movements and stand by traditions – prayers, ceremonies, dietary laws and so on. The North American Orthodox Jews are organized into the Orthodox Union that spends significant part of its resources to certify 660, 000 products as kosher food!
2. Reform: Some call this the Liberal movement. This began in the 19th century in Germany in opposition to the rigidity of the Orthodox movement. According to a survey in 1990, 42% of the American Jews consider themselves as member of the Reform movement. The Jews of this movement consider synagogues as places “for spiritual elevation”. Sabbath services are shortened and translated into vernacular. Returning to Zion and animal sacrifices are dropped. Segregation of male and female are absent. The theology here is more inclusive and members of this movement involve themselves in inter-faith dialogue.
3. Conservative: This group or the movement tries a middle path between the “extremisms” of the above two! They like to preserve some of the traditions and also permit some amount of modernization. Zecharias Frankel (1801-1875) is one of the founder leader of this movement. He actually broke away from the Reform movement arguing that Jewish traditions have not become “non-essentials”, accepting both the Torah and the Talmud. They observe the Sabbath and use a modified version of the dietary laws. Like in Reform movement they permit women to perform leadership roles in the synagogue. They uphold the Jewish nationalism and encourage the study of Hebrew language.
4. Reconstructionism: It is is a modern American-based movement guided by the ideas of the Mordecai Kaplan (1881-1983). For Kaplan Jewish community is a progressively evolving community. This movement has permitted a substantial theological diversity. Jewish religious laws are not considered as binding. They are treated as a valuable cultural remnants and are upheld unless there is reason for the contrary. Blessings and goodness of modernism are greatly emphasised. “Reconstructionists find traditional theistic views found in Judaism to be incompatible with modern thought.” Generally for the reconstructionist Judaism the contemporary Western secular morality has precedence over Jewish law and theology.
Useful Sources to Consult:
Raphael, Marc Lee, Profiles in American Judaism: The Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist Traditions in Historical Perspective, San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1984. You should find this in the reserve shelf.
Hirsch, Ammiel, Yosef Reinman, and Yaakov Yosef Reinman, A Reform Rabbi and an Orthodox Rabbi Explore the Issues That Divide Them, Schocken Books, 2003. This is not to be found in the University of Alberta library.
Question to Explore:
Explain the different Jewish movements found in North America. Which of these movements are open to contemporary concern for feminism. Explain your answer with examples. To answer this question please read a little more than the class notes and Fisher’s LR.
