1. What do you remember about Judaism?
Signposting learning

2. Thursday, 20 September 2018
Driving Question: How do Jewish people express their identity?
Warm
I can describe some differences between Orthodox and Reform Jews.
Hot
I can explain with examples, the differences between Orthodox and Reform Jews.
Scorching
I can evaluate the reasons for differences between Orthodox and Reform Jews.
Level 4, Level 5, Level 6
Challenge Question: Why do Jews not share their identity?

3. Turn to the person next to you and find out who they are!
What is your identity?
What makes you who you are?
Turn to the person next to you and find out who they are!
You could ask them:
Where were you born?
Where do your family come from originally?
Where do you live now?
What is your ethnicity and race?
What is your faith?
You will have to feed this information back to the rest of the class on behalf of your partner in 2 minutes.

4. Make a note of any SIMILARITIES or DIFFERENCES you can see.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE…
Who? What? Where? When? Why? Evidence?
Make a note of any SIMILARITIES or DIFFERENCES you can see.

5. You will then exchange your information.
Group Task…
Half the class will be given information about Reform Jews, Half will be given information about Orthodox Jews.
As a group you must SUMMARISE the key points about your specific Jewish Identity.
Write the summarised points in the appropriate section on the Venn diagram.
You will then exchange your information.

6. What are the differences?
Orthodox
Reform
Torah
“The Torah is God’s word and shouldn’t be changed”
“God gave us the Torah, but we need to make sure that it’s relevant”
Language
“We should use Hebrew, the language of our ancestors in our services”
“Not everybody understands Hebrew so lets use our own languages too”
Women
“In Orthodox Judaism men and women don’t sit together at services”
“In Reform Judaism men and women can sit wherever and with whoever they want”
Clothes
“I wear distinctive clothing like the Kippah and the Tallit”
“I sometimes wear distinctive clothing, but not always and I’m not made to either”

7. What are the similarities?
Orthodox Jews
Reform Jews ?
What are the similarities?

8. What do you believe about the relationship between God and the Torah?
Can you tell what your Jewish identity is from your appearance? Why? Why not?
How would an Orthodox Jew answer these questions?
How would a Reform Jew answer these questions?

9. Orthodox or Reform?

10. Shabbat is very important to me, and I believe that no work should be done at all, unless there is some kind of emergency!!
ORTHODOX

11. I think that some of the Jewish teachings are a bit outdated, in my synagogue the women and men can sit together.
REFORM

12. My friend thinks that the Torah was the last time that God’s word was revealed, but i disagree, i think it continues to be revealed all the time!
REFORM

13. I go to the Synagogue every Saturday morning to celebrate Shabbat
I go to the Synagogue every Saturday morning to celebrate Shabbat. Me and my Dad sit down stairs, and my Mum and auntie sit upstairs.
ORTHODOX

14. “All Jewish people believe the same things”
Do you agree? Give reasons for your opinion. (3)
Why might someone disagree with you? (3)
i) I agree/disagree because………………… I also agree/disagree with this statement because…………….. Finally, I agree/disagree because……………….. ii) Conversely, people may disagree with me because Furthermore, they may disagree because……………… Finally, they may disagree with me ………………………
How do we answer a question like this?
Can use the points people made in the continuum
Box sheet – For/Against/In my opinion.
Cream
I can give a simple reason for my own view and the view of others.
I can provide 3 points for my own view and 3 points for the views of others.
I can include a religious view in my response.

15. Orthodox Reform Traditional
The religion should not change and Jews should continue to follow all of the laws and teaching
No work AT ALL on the Sabbath
Men and women sit separately at the synagogue.
Only men take an active part in the service.
Some Jewish beliefs and practices are no longer relevant in today’s society
The word of God continues to be revealed today
Very important work can be done on the Sabbath
Men and women sit together in the synagogue, and women can become rabbi’s

16. Orthodox Jews
Reform Jews
Torah:
Language:
Sabbath:
Women:
Clothing:
Torah:
Language:
Sabbath:
Women:
Clothing:

17. Who is an Orthodox Jew?
Somebody who describes themselves as an Orthodox Jew will usually:
Have a very strong faith in the “God-given” Torah
And they believe it should be kept exactly the same as when it was given to Moses on Mt Sinai.
Wear distinctive clothing
Most Orthodox Jews have items of clothing which define them, and can look quite strange to us.
Use the Hebrew language a lot more
In almost all types of worship, Orthodox Jews try to use the language of their ancestors, Hebrew.

18. Who is an Orthodox Jew?
Way over half of the Jews in Britain would class themselves as Orthodox.
So what does an Orthodox Jew dress like?
This man is a Hasidic Jew (these are VERY Orthodox Jews)
Beard
Kippah (Head covering)
Teffilin (Prayer box)
Tallit (Prayer shawl)
Suit

19. Who is an Orthodox Jew?
Orthodox Jews believe that the Sabbath is a day for total rest. The bible tells them that on this day they are not allowed to do ANY work at all!
That means anything like:
Cooking
Cleaning
Sewing clothes
Writing letters
Building
Baking
Walking too many steps
farming
Lighting a candle
For some very observant Jews that even means things like:
Turning on a light switch
Driving a car

20. What is distinctive about Orthodox?
Way over half of the Jews in Britain would class themselves as Orthodox Jews, so what makes them so distinctive?
The Torah is God’s word and should not be changed or interpreted in any other way.
The Sabbath day is for strictly for rest
Women are treated very differently to men, for example, they cannot become Rabbis
Food rules (called Kosher) are always kept
Orthodox
They wear certain items of clothes which makes them look different
Men and women cannot sit together at Synagogue

21. Who is a Reform Jew?
Somebody who describes themselves as a Reform Jew will usually:
Believe that the Torah is “God-inspired”
God inspired the writers, but didn’t write the law himself. Which means the law can change with the times
Have a very strong personal relationship with God
God guides the individual Jew in his/her own life
Try to say the prayers in their own laguage
Reform Jews don’t believe that you NEED to speak Hebrew to be a Jew. Our own languages are good enough.
Have a different approach to women in religious life

22. Who is a Reform Jew? Not very differently to us!
In the UK 20% of Jews call themselves Reform.
So how do Reform Jews dress?
Not very differently to us!
Most Reform Jews don’t wear the traditional dress of the Orthodox community. In fact this lady here is a rabbi, and she is just dressed smartly.
This doesn’t mean that they don’t wear any Kippahs or Tallits. Some Reform Jews still choose to wear one or even both. But Reform Judaism doesn’t require you to wear them.

23. What is distinctive about Reform?
So what is so distinctive?
Jewish faith should change with the times
God inspired the Torah, but that doesn’t mean it cannot be adapted for modern life.
Food rules (called Kosher) aren’t as important as prayer and community
Women the same right to become rabbis as men
Reform
It is hard to distinguish a reform Jew by their clothes.
Men and women CAN sit together at Synagogue
A mix of Hebrew and English is used for prayer.