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Judaism -what is it and who are the Jews.

Cooky

Veteran Member
I would like to learn everything about Judaism, because I've been spending a lot of time in Hollywood, and am very intrigued by the Jewish neighborhoods I've been driving through that google maps seems to love detouring me through. I find the Jewish people very interesting, and so I have a lot of questions to ask.

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Cooky

Veteran Member
How many sects are there in Judaism? Also, are sects related to differences in hats?
 

Tumah

Veteran Member
The small one in the first picture, although I guess it's technically a hat, we don't really look at it that way and it's quite normal to wear a regular sized hat (such as the following two) on top of the first one.
The first one is called a kipah. The Talmud links head covering to increased seriousness towards G-d. So a requirement developed to have the head covered. Different communities developed the requirement differently. Currently in Orthodox communities, it's generally accepted that it's required to be worn at all times.
The other hats are simply because wearing hats used to be accepted practice, and once it became part of the traditional dress, it wasn't altered. In communities that modernize and drop the traditional dress, you'll generally not find these hats.
 

Tumah

Veteran Member
How many sects are there in Judaism? Also, are sects related to differences in hats?
There's three main sects, Orthodox, Conservative and Reform. There are also smaller ones like Reconstructionist and Humanist. Within Orthodoxy, there are two main divisions: Modern Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox. It's the Ultra-Orthodox that you'll generally find to wear these hats. Within Ultra Orthodox, there are a multitude of sub-sects, generally grouped around country of origin, and that will generally determine the style hat that is worn.
 

RachelS

New Member
Almost any question you have can be found on the "Chabad" website. There are no ads, and they do not proselytize.

I usually search with google. Example: try googling: "Chabad Why do Jews cover their heads?"

and the first result is:

Why Do We Wear a Kippah?
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Almost any question you have can be found on the "Chabad" website. There are no ads, and they do not proselytize.

I usually search with google. Example: try googling: "Chabad Why do Jews cover their heads?"

and the first result is:

Why Do We Wear a Kippah?
As good as Chabad generally is, I would like to suffix this by saying that they first and foremost represent Chabad, and they have some variance from other Orthodox and Charedi groups and even between themselves. Things that come to mind generally are Chassidic / non-Chassidic differences; peyos, which Chabadniks usually have short like regular sideburns; their view of Noachide observance; street outreach to other Jews and so on.
 
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RachelS

New Member
As good as Chabad generally is, I would like to suffix this by saying that they first and foremost represent Chabad, and they have some variance from other Orthodox and Charedi groups and even between themselves. Things that come to mind generally are Chassidic / non-Chassidic differences; peyos, which Chabadniks usually have short like regular sideburns; their view of Noahide observance; street outreach to other Jews and so on.

I think the information on their website is written for the masses. :)
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
The small one in the first picture, although I guess it's technically a hat, we don't really look at it that way and it's quite normal to wear a regular sized hat (such as the following two) on top of the first one.
The first one is called a kipah. The Talmud links head covering to increased seriousness towards G-d. So a requirement developed to have the head covered. Different communities developed the requirement differently. Currently in Orthodox communities, it's generally accepted that it's required to be worn at all times.
The other hats are simply because wearing hats used to be accepted practice, and once it became part of the traditional dress, it wasn't altered. In communities that modernize and drop the traditional dress, you'll generally not find these hats.

Interesting... I've seen people wearing all of the above hats out on the street -conversing, and carrying on. Very cool, IMO.

 

Tumah

Veteran Member
Interesting... I've seen people wearing all of the above hats out on the street -conversing, and carrying on. Very cool, IMO.
There's a pretty good chance of that if you live near a Hassidic community. The people that wear hat #2 , generally wear that one during the week and hat #3 on the Sabbath
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
Honestly, since my childhood I have felt a kind of relationship with Judaism. As if, maybe I might perhaps have some distant Jewish ancestry. I'm even allergic to shrimp.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
Honestly, since my childhood I have felt a kind of relationship with Judaism. As if, maybe I might perhaps have some distant Jewish ancestry. I'm even allergic to shrimp.
I love Judaism too, as you can tell.

The difference between us is I eat shrimp and especially black pudding like it's going out of style :D
 

RabbiO

הרב יונה בן זכריה
@Landon Caeli -

"Branch", "movement", "denomination", even "type" are terms you'll hear way more often than "sect" when describing the different groups within Judaism.
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
I love Judaism too, as you can tell.

The difference between us is I eat shrimp and especially black pudding like it's going out of style :D

Um... You do know that shrimp is basically the cockroach of the sea, right? ;)
 

RachelS

New Member
The information is written in a style for a mass audience, but @Rival is correct about the biases on the website. It is natural that the site would reflect the Chabad perspective. There is nothing inherently wrong with it. It is just something one should be aware of.

Respectfully, would you please share a specific example of the bias you refer to on their website?
 

Cooky

Veteran Member
So, what aspects of Judaism strike you as especially profound..? Anyone?

Personally, I find the sense of diversity in the communities intriguing. With that, there also seems to be a sense of brotherhood there at the same time.
 
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