Belief and Controversy in Judaism
The Jewish People's Many Voices of Change and Faithfulness
Judaism is often categorized as comprising three main groups: Orthodox Jews believe the Tanach was written exactly as dictated by God and this group strictly maintains rituals and observances in keeping with ancient traditions; Conservative Jews ascribe to some of the precepts of the Orthodox Judaism, but have introduced more liberal aspects into their traditions; and Reform Jews are thought of as being at the opposite end of the spectrum from Orthodox Jews in their practices and acceptance of biblical history.
In truth, the individuals and communities that make up the Jewish people range diversely in their perspectives and spiritual allegiances. Put another way: It can be argued that there are many different degrees and kinds of Orthodoxy in Judaism, just as there are many different degrees and kinds of Reform Judaism
Traditional Orthodox, Neo-Orthodox and Modern Orthodox Beliefs
Orthodox Judaism has remained the backbone of Jewish Talmudic and spiritual thought for thousands of years. When people want to know the origin of a Jewish tradition, or the proper way to do something, such as daven (pray) or maintain kashrut (handle and prepare food in the kitchen), they will often seek the Orthodox viewpoint.
Yet through the centuries Judaism’s earliest traditions and perspectives have been exposed to change. Dramatic examples of this include the emergence of Hasidism under the tutelage of the Bal Shem Tov during the 18th century in Eastern Europe and, at the opposite end of the Orthodox spectrum, Neo-Orthodoxy, a movement that gained popularity in Western Europe during the 19th century.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, greatly respected for his Talmudic teachings and writings, is credited as the father of the Neo-Orthodox movement. He proposed that science, and other modern precepts had a place in Jewish outlook and life, a concept that reflected remarkable changes in Jewish theological thinking during the 1800s.
Yet while Hasidism and Neo-Orthodoxy would appear to be worlds apart, Hirsch’s teachings weren’t the end to the evolution of Orthodox Judaism. Modern Orthodox Judaism in North America furthers Hirsch’s statement by embracing “Torah Umadda,” or Torah with Knowledge/Science, in which the role and authority of secular science isn’t outwardly rejected. In Israel, this centrist position is manifested further in an acceptance of religious Zionism, something to which not all Jews ascribe.
Reform, Renewal and Reconstructionist Beliefs
Perhaps the greatest evidence of Judaism’s diverse range of perspectives is the fact that Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Judaism can differ greatly in religious practice from country to country. Many Reform movements in the United States have integrated English and Hebrew transliteration into their services in deference to congregants who do not read Hebrew. In Canada, some Reform congregations maintain Hebrew as the dominant language, and do not provide transliteration for most of their prayers.
Other unaffiliated congregations, such as the Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation in Chicago, Illinois do not see themselves as part of any of the above groups, but accept a mixture of Orthodox and more liberal traditions in their services. Sephardic populations maintain their own unique traditions as well, quite apart from the more predominant European Ashkenazi congregations throughout North America.
Judaism as a Changing Religion
To the outsider, all Liberal congregations may seem to be one and the same as well. Yet the strengthening of the Reconstructionist, Renewal and Humanist movements during the last 40-50 years underscore the dynamic nature of Judaism.
Historically, their growth and change are interlinked. Each movement expresses a human perspective about another movement and strives to “better” its understanding of what it is to be a Jew in a diverse, ever-changing secular world.
Taken together, all of Judaism’s movements reflect a common thread: Jewish identity and thought aren’t single points of view or divergences, but evidence of an ever-changing definition that, through common dialogue and joint exchange, expresses the Jewish perspective of human experience.
Readers may also enjoy Rural Jews: Today's Jewish Pioneers.
Sources:
- Answers.com
- JewFAQ.org
- BethShalomBZ.org
- MyJewishLearning.com
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