COMPARATIVE JUDAISM Reform Judaism Conservative Judaism Neo-Orthodox Judaism

COMPARATIVE JUDAISM Reform Judaism Conservative Judaism Neo-Orthodox Judaism

Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism A – History l Started between 1810 and 1820 l Started by Israel Jacobson l Popularized by Abraham Geiger who expanded Jacobson’s ideas Israel Jacobson

Reform Judaism A – History – Why did it start? l Many Jews were converting to Christianity l 10% in Germany, 50% in Berlin l Only option was to be Orthodox or convert l Reform was a new option l Reform let Jews participate in a secular culture and still be Jewish Abraham Geiger

Reform Judaism B – Torah l God and Humanity interact with each other l Ongoing process l Individual must decide which commandments are meaningful to follow

Reform Judaism C – God l Concept of God up to the individual l God ranges from a “puppet master” to a “force”

Reform Judaism D – Services l A lot of music (first time instrumental music since destruction of 2 nd Temple. ) l Mostly in English l Shorter service than Conservative or Orthodox

Reform Judaism D – Services continued l Men and women sit together l Rabbi or Cantor may be male, female, gay, or heterosexual l Boys and girls may read Torah l Both become a bar/bat mitzvah l Men and boys choose whether to wear kippah and/or tallit

Reform Judaism E – Shabbat l Choose whether to observe Shabbat l May use electricity l Kabbalat Shabbat is a “Revised version”

Reform Judaism F – Women’s role l Egalitarian – women and men are viewed as equal

Reform Judaism G – Intermarriage l Rabbis may perform intermarriage l It’s going to happen – we can’t stop it l Need to make sure interfaith couples feel welcome and can still celebrate Judaism l Patrilineal and Matrilineal descent l Either parent may be Jewish and the children are Jewish.

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism A – History l Founded by Zecharias Frankel Middle of 19 th Century l Thought Jews needed a middle road between Orthodox and Reform Zecharias Frankel

Conservative Judaism B – Torah l God wrote the Torah l The Torah changed as it was copied and recopied l Only the community as a whole, (the rabbis) can make changes l The community determines which laws people follow

Conservative Judaism C – God l It is up to the individual, however God is definitely an active presence

Conservative Judaism D – Services l Music is mostly not permitted l Men and women sit together l Service is mostly in Hebrew l Rabbi or Cantor may be male or female l Women and girls may read Torah l Both may become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah

Conservative Judaism E – Shabbat l Shomer Shabbas (keeping Shabbat) l May only drive to attend services

Conservative Judaism F – Women’s Role l Women and men are viewed as equal

Conservative Judaism G – Intermarriage l Rabbis will not perform an intermarriage l Matrilineal descent only

Neo-Orthodox Judaism

Neo-Orthodox Judaism A – History l Founded in the mid 1800’s l Samson Raphael Hirsh l Knew Judaism had to change l But only within strict guidelines set by Torah

Neo-Orthodox Judaism B – Torah l Everything in the Torah is written by God l Nothing can be changed

Neo-Orthodox Judaism C – God l God is a force who can influence or act upon humanity

Neo-Orthodox Judaism D – Services l Men and women sit separately l Services are all in Hebrew l They include every prayer l Only boys may read Torah l Only male Rabbis l Rabbis do not face the congregation while leading prayers

Neo-Orthodox Judaism E – Shabbat l Shomer Shabbos (Strictly keeps Shabbat)

Neo-Orthodox Judaism F – Women’s Role l To focus on the home and family l Prepare Shabbat dinner l Keep kashrut

Neo-Orthodox Judaism G – Intermarriage l Rabbis will not perform intermarriage l Matrilineal descent only