COMPARATIVE JUDAISM

Reform Judaism

Conservative Judaism

Neo-Orthodox Judaism

Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism A – History

Started between 1810 and 1820Started by Israel JacobsonPopularized by Abraham Geiger who

expanded Jacobson’s ideas

Israel Jacobson

Reform Judaism A – History – Why did it start?

Many Jews were converting to Christianity10% in Germany, 50% in BerlinOnly option was to be Orthodox or convertReform was a new optionReform let Jews participate

in a secular culture and still be Jewish

Abraham Geiger

Reform Judaism B – Torah

God and Humanity

interact with each otherOngoing processIndividual must decide

which commandments are meaningful to follow

Reform Judaism C – God

Concept of God up to the individualGod ranges from a “puppet master” to a

“force”

Reform Judaism D – Services

A lot of music (first time instrumental music since destruction of 2nd Temple.)

Mostly in English

Shorter service than Conservative or Orthodox

Reform Judaism D – Services continued

Men and women sit togetherRabbi or Cantor may be male, female,

gay, or heterosexualBoys and girls may read TorahBoth become a bar/bat mitzvahMen and boys choose whether

to wear kippah and/or tallit

Reform Judaism E – Shabbat

Choose whether to observe Shabbat

May use electricityKabbalat Shabbat is a

“Revised version”

Reform Judaism F – Women’s role

Egalitarian – women and men areviewed as equal

Reform Judaism G – Intermarriage

Rabbis may perform intermarriageIt’s going to happen – we can’t stop itNeed to make sure interfaith couples feel

welcome and can still celebrate JudaismPatrilineal and Matrilineal descentEither parent may be Jewish

and the children are Jewish.

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism A – History

Founded by Zecharias Frankel Middle of 19th Century

Thought Jews needed a middle road between Orthodox and Reform

Zecharias Frankel

Conservative Judaism B – Torah

God wrote the Torah

The Torah changed as it was copied and recopied

Only the community as a whole, (the rabbis) can make changes

The community determines which laws people follow

Conservative Judaism C – God

It is up to the individual, however God is definitely an active presence

Conservative Judaism D – Services

Music is mostly not permittedMen and women sit togetherService is mostly in HebrewRabbi or Cantor

may be male or femaleWomen and girls may

read TorahBoth may become a

Bar or Bat Mitzvah

Conservative Judaism E – Shabbat

Shomer Shabbas(keeping Shabbat)

May only drive to attend services

Conservative Judaism F – Women’s Role

Women and men areviewed as equal

Conservative Judaism G – Intermarriage

Rabbis will not perform an intermarriage

Matrilineal descent only

Neo-Orthodox Judaism

Neo-Orthodox Judaism A – History

Founded in the mid 1800’s

Samson Raphael Hirsh

Knew Judaism had to change

But only within strict guidelines set by Torah

Neo-Orthodox Judaism B – Torah

Everything in the Torah

is written by God

Nothing can be changed

Neo-Orthodox Judaism C – God

God is a force who can influence or act upon humanity

Neo-Orthodox Judaism D – Services

Men and women sit separately

Services are all in Hebrew

They include every prayer

Only boys may read Torah

Only male Rabbis

Rabbis do not face thethe congregation whileleading prayers

Neo-Orthodox Judaism E – Shabbat

Shomer Shabbos(Strictly keeps Shabbat)

Neo-Orthodox Judaism F – Women’s Role

To focus on the home and familyPrepare Shabbat dinnerKeep kashrut

Neo-Orthodox Judaism G – Intermarriage

Rabbis will not perform intermarriageMatrilineal descent only