CMike
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Orthodox Judaism is one of the three major branches of Judaism. Orthodoxy can roughly be classified into Modern Orthodox Judaism and Haredi Judaism (Hasidic Judaism is a subgroup within Haredi Judaism). It is characterized by:
* Strict adherence to Halakha (code/s of Jewish law).
* A range of beliefs towards modern culture which vary from careful acceptance of some parts of modernity, to outright rejection of parts of modernity considered immoral.
* A range of beliefs towards modern forms of historical scholarship and text study. Haredi and some Modern Orthodox Jews hold that almost all such forms of learning are forbidden and heretical (no they don't. These jews have nothing against historical scholarship). Other Modern Orthodox Jews hold that modern forms of historical scholarship and text study may be used in some or all areas of Jewish thought. Nothing wrong with studying history
* A traditional teaching and acceptance of the Jewish principles of faith.
Origin and definition of the name "Orthodox"
While many Orthodox Jews accept the label "Orthodox", others reject and are critical of it (as it was never traditionally applied to Jews in ancient times or the Middle Ages) and prefer to call their faith "Torah Judaism". Use of the "Orthodox" label seems to have begun towards the beginning of the 19th century. Rabbi Isaac Leeser seems to have been the first to use the term in the US in his journal "The Occident," whose target audience was the more "traditional" or Orthodox Jew. The word "orthodox" itself is derived from the Greek orthos meaning "straight" and doxa meaning "opinion".
The development of Orthodoxy
Like all modern denominations of Judaism, Orthodoxy is not identical in practice to the forms of Judaism that existed in the times of Moses, nor even identical to the Judaism which existed in the time of the Mishnah and Talmud. This is incorrect. Orthodox jews do believe that it's the same judaism as the time of Moses. Obviously, technology and circumstances of changed However, many Orthodox Jews maintain that contemporary Orthodox Judaism maintains the same basic philosophy and halachic framework that existed throughout Jewish history.More than the frameword and basic philosophy.
Orthodox Judaism, as it exists today, is considered by historians to have begun developing as a response to the Enlightenment in the late 1700s and early 1800s.That is rediculous. Orthodox judaism started with Abraham and was given more of a framework when they got the Torah, and had more detailed guidelines.
That it was started because of the enlightenment is utterly absurd This response was characterized by a continued strict adherence to Halakha, and it this commitment to Jewish tradition which distinguished (and distinguishes) Orthodox Judaism from other Jewish groupings at the time.Nonsense
In the early 1800s, elements within German Jewry sought to reform Jewish belief and practice in response to The Enlightenment and the emancipation. In light of modern scholarship, they denied divine authorship of the Torah, declared only those biblical laws concerning ethics to be binding, and stated that the rest of halakha (Jewish law) need no longer be viewed as normative (see Reform Judaism).That's not orthodox judaism
At the same time, there were those German Jews who actively maintained their traditions and adherence to Jewish law while simultaneously engaging with a post-Enlightenment society. This camp was best represented by the work and thought of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. Hirsch worked to reconcile traditional Judaism with the social realities of the modern age, which he termed "Torah im Derech Eretz". While insisting on strict adherence to Jewish beliefs and practices, he encouraged secular studies, including history and modern philosophy; he also encouraged limited integration into the non-Jewish community. This form of Judaism was termed "neo-Orthodoxy", which later developed into Modern Orthodox Judaism.What?
A larger segment of the Orthodox population disagreed, and took a stricter approach. Their motto was "Anything new is forbidden by Torah". Rediculous
For them, all innovations and modifications within Jewish law and custom come to a near halt. This form of Judaism is termed Haredi Judaism, or (controversially) Ultra-Orthodox Judaism.I am not Haredi, but calling them ultra orthodox is insulting. However, many adherents of Rabbi hirsch considered themself part of the Haredi world and joined Agudat Israel, but today that party is identified with the stricter approach.
Both approaches have proved resilient. It is estimated that presently there are more Jews studying in Yeshivot and Kollelim than at any other time in history. In 1915 Yeshiva College (later Yeshiva University) and its Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Rabbinical Seminary was established in New York City for training in a Modern Orthodox milieu.Yeshiva College is my alma mater Eventually a branch school was established in Los Angeles, CA. A number of other smaller but influential Orthodox seminaries, mostly Haredi, were also established throughout the country, most notably in New York City, Baltimore, Chicago. The Haredi yeshiva in Lakewood, New Jersey is the largest institution of its kind. There are similairly hundreds of Yeshivot in Israel, both Haredi and Modern Orthodox as represented by the Religious Zionist "Hesder" Yeshivot. There are also several important Haredi yeshivot in the United Kingdom. In general, a city with a sizeable Jewish population will today support at least one Yeshiva.
Beliefs
Orthodox Judaism is composed of different groups with intersecting beliefs, practices and theologies, and in their broad patterns, the Orthodox movements are very similar.
Orthodoxy, collectively, considers itself the only true heir to the Jewish tradition; most of it considers all other Jewish movements to be unacceptable deviations from tradition. Most Orthodox groups characterize non-Orthodox forms of Judaism as heresy; see Torah Judaism.Nonsense. They do not.
Within orthodoxy, the various groups maintain significant social differences, and differences in understanding halakha due to their varying attitudes concerning (a) the role of women in Judaism, (b) relations with non-Orthodox Jews, (c) attitudes toward modern culture and modern scholarship, and (d) how to relate to the State of Israel and Zionism.
Practices are largely standardised. All Sephardic Orthodox Jews base most of their practices on the Shulkhan Arukh, the 16th century legal index written by Rabbi Joseph Karo; All Ashkenazic Orthodox Jews base most of their practices on the Mappah, a commentary to the Shulkhan Arukh written by Rabbi Moses Isserles. In the postwar period, the Mishnah Berurah (a commentary on the "Orach Chayim" section) has become the authoritative halakhic guide for much of Orthodox Ashkenazic Jewry.Seriously? Who wrote this nonsense. All orthodox jews base their practices on what the Torah says, not regarding who wrote what shulchan arukh
Orthodox Judaism affirms monotheism, the belief in one God. Its members have varied beliefs about the nature of God, and no one understanding of the Deity is mandated. The belief about the understanding of G-D is pretty uniform.Among the beliefs affirmed are: Maimonidean rationalism; Kabbalistic mysticism; Hasidic panentheism. A few affirm limited theism (the theology elucidated by Gersonides in "The Wars of the Lord".) Religious naturalism (Reconstructionist theology) is regarded as heretical.
Orthodox Judaism maintains the traditional understanding of Jewish identity. A Jew is someone who was born to a Jewish mother, or who converts to Judaism in accordance with Jewish law and tradition. That is correct.Surprisingly Orthodoxy thus rejects patrilineal descent. Similarly, Orthodoxy does not allow intermarriage. Intermarriage is seen as a deliberate rejection of Judaism, and an intermarried person is effectively cut off from most of the Orthodox community.That is not true However, some Chabad Lubavitch and Modern Orthodox Jews do reach out to intermarried Jews.
Since there is no one unifying Orthodox body, there is no one official statement of principles of faith. Rather, each Orthodox group claims to be a non-exclusive heir to the received tradition of Jewish theology, usually affirming a literal acceptance of Maimonides's 13 principles as the only acceptable position. Some within Modern Orthodoxy take the more liberal position that these principles only represent one particular formulation of Jewish principles of faith, and that others are possible.
this is absurd. Maimonidies 13 principles is not the centerpiece of orthodox judaism.
Whomever wrote this did so from a very liberal bias.
The vast majority of this is factually untrue.
Orthodox Judaism is one of the three major branches of Judaism. Orthodoxy can roughly be classified into Modern Orthodox Judaism and Haredi Judaism (Hasidic Judaism is a subgroup within Haredi Judaism). It is characterized by:
* Strict adherence to Halakha (code/s of Jewish law).
* A range of beliefs towards modern culture which vary from careful acceptance of some parts of modernity, to outright rejection of parts of modernity considered immoral.
* A range of beliefs towards modern forms of historical scholarship and text study. Haredi and some Modern Orthodox Jews hold that almost all such forms of learning are forbidden and heretical (no they don't. These jews have nothing against historical scholarship). Other Modern Orthodox Jews hold that modern forms of historical scholarship and text study may be used in some or all areas of Jewish thought. Nothing wrong with studying history
* A traditional teaching and acceptance of the Jewish principles of faith.
Origin and definition of the name "Orthodox"
While many Orthodox Jews accept the label "Orthodox", others reject and are critical of it (as it was never traditionally applied to Jews in ancient times or the Middle Ages) and prefer to call their faith "Torah Judaism". Use of the "Orthodox" label seems to have begun towards the beginning of the 19th century. Rabbi Isaac Leeser seems to have been the first to use the term in the US in his journal "The Occident," whose target audience was the more "traditional" or Orthodox Jew. The word "orthodox" itself is derived from the Greek orthos meaning "straight" and doxa meaning "opinion".
The development of Orthodoxy
Like all modern denominations of Judaism, Orthodoxy is not identical in practice to the forms of Judaism that existed in the times of Moses, nor even identical to the Judaism which existed in the time of the Mishnah and Talmud. This is incorrect. Orthodox jews do believe that it's the same judaism as the time of Moses. Obviously, technology and circumstances of changed However, many Orthodox Jews maintain that contemporary Orthodox Judaism maintains the same basic philosophy and halachic framework that existed throughout Jewish history.More than the frameword and basic philosophy.
Orthodox Judaism, as it exists today, is considered by historians to have begun developing as a response to the Enlightenment in the late 1700s and early 1800s.That is rediculous. Orthodox judaism started with Abraham and was given more of a framework when they got the Torah, and had more detailed guidelines.
That it was started because of the enlightenment is utterly absurd This response was characterized by a continued strict adherence to Halakha, and it this commitment to Jewish tradition which distinguished (and distinguishes) Orthodox Judaism from other Jewish groupings at the time.Nonsense
In the early 1800s, elements within German Jewry sought to reform Jewish belief and practice in response to The Enlightenment and the emancipation. In light of modern scholarship, they denied divine authorship of the Torah, declared only those biblical laws concerning ethics to be binding, and stated that the rest of halakha (Jewish law) need no longer be viewed as normative (see Reform Judaism).That's not orthodox judaism
At the same time, there were those German Jews who actively maintained their traditions and adherence to Jewish law while simultaneously engaging with a post-Enlightenment society. This camp was best represented by the work and thought of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch. Hirsch worked to reconcile traditional Judaism with the social realities of the modern age, which he termed "Torah im Derech Eretz". While insisting on strict adherence to Jewish beliefs and practices, he encouraged secular studies, including history and modern philosophy; he also encouraged limited integration into the non-Jewish community. This form of Judaism was termed "neo-Orthodoxy", which later developed into Modern Orthodox Judaism.What?
A larger segment of the Orthodox population disagreed, and took a stricter approach. Their motto was "Anything new is forbidden by Torah". Rediculous
For them, all innovations and modifications within Jewish law and custom come to a near halt. This form of Judaism is termed Haredi Judaism, or (controversially) Ultra-Orthodox Judaism.I am not Haredi, but calling them ultra orthodox is insulting. However, many adherents of Rabbi hirsch considered themself part of the Haredi world and joined Agudat Israel, but today that party is identified with the stricter approach.
Both approaches have proved resilient. It is estimated that presently there are more Jews studying in Yeshivot and Kollelim than at any other time in history. In 1915 Yeshiva College (later Yeshiva University) and its Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Rabbinical Seminary was established in New York City for training in a Modern Orthodox milieu.Yeshiva College is my alma mater Eventually a branch school was established in Los Angeles, CA. A number of other smaller but influential Orthodox seminaries, mostly Haredi, were also established throughout the country, most notably in New York City, Baltimore, Chicago. The Haredi yeshiva in Lakewood, New Jersey is the largest institution of its kind. There are similairly hundreds of Yeshivot in Israel, both Haredi and Modern Orthodox as represented by the Religious Zionist "Hesder" Yeshivot. There are also several important Haredi yeshivot in the United Kingdom. In general, a city with a sizeable Jewish population will today support at least one Yeshiva.
Beliefs
Orthodox Judaism is composed of different groups with intersecting beliefs, practices and theologies, and in their broad patterns, the Orthodox movements are very similar.
Orthodoxy, collectively, considers itself the only true heir to the Jewish tradition; most of it considers all other Jewish movements to be unacceptable deviations from tradition. Most Orthodox groups characterize non-Orthodox forms of Judaism as heresy; see Torah Judaism.Nonsense. They do not.
Within orthodoxy, the various groups maintain significant social differences, and differences in understanding halakha due to their varying attitudes concerning (a) the role of women in Judaism, (b) relations with non-Orthodox Jews, (c) attitudes toward modern culture and modern scholarship, and (d) how to relate to the State of Israel and Zionism.
Practices are largely standardised. All Sephardic Orthodox Jews base most of their practices on the Shulkhan Arukh, the 16th century legal index written by Rabbi Joseph Karo; All Ashkenazic Orthodox Jews base most of their practices on the Mappah, a commentary to the Shulkhan Arukh written by Rabbi Moses Isserles. In the postwar period, the Mishnah Berurah (a commentary on the "Orach Chayim" section) has become the authoritative halakhic guide for much of Orthodox Ashkenazic Jewry.Seriously? Who wrote this nonsense. All orthodox jews base their practices on what the Torah says, not regarding who wrote what shulchan arukh
Orthodox Judaism affirms monotheism, the belief in one God. Its members have varied beliefs about the nature of God, and no one understanding of the Deity is mandated. The belief about the understanding of G-D is pretty uniform.Among the beliefs affirmed are: Maimonidean rationalism; Kabbalistic mysticism; Hasidic panentheism. A few affirm limited theism (the theology elucidated by Gersonides in "The Wars of the Lord".) Religious naturalism (Reconstructionist theology) is regarded as heretical.
Orthodox Judaism maintains the traditional understanding of Jewish identity. A Jew is someone who was born to a Jewish mother, or who converts to Judaism in accordance with Jewish law and tradition. That is correct.Surprisingly Orthodoxy thus rejects patrilineal descent. Similarly, Orthodoxy does not allow intermarriage. Intermarriage is seen as a deliberate rejection of Judaism, and an intermarried person is effectively cut off from most of the Orthodox community.That is not true However, some Chabad Lubavitch and Modern Orthodox Jews do reach out to intermarried Jews.
Since there is no one unifying Orthodox body, there is no one official statement of principles of faith. Rather, each Orthodox group claims to be a non-exclusive heir to the received tradition of Jewish theology, usually affirming a literal acceptance of Maimonides's 13 principles as the only acceptable position. Some within Modern Orthodoxy take the more liberal position that these principles only represent one particular formulation of Jewish principles of faith, and that others are possible.
this is absurd. Maimonidies 13 principles is not the centerpiece of orthodox judaism.
Whomever wrote this did so from a very liberal bias.
The vast majority of this is factually untrue.
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