1. Divisions within contemporary Judaism

2. Cultural divisions within Judaism
The ethnic diversity among Jews has resulted in a number of cultural divisions within Judaism
It is important to understand these divisions as well as the challenges that face Israel
Where members of these groups have come to live together
Sephardic Jews
Ashkenazic Jews
Mizrahim Jews

3. Sephardic Jews
The name Sephardic comes from a mythic land of Sephar once thought to exist in the distant west of Israel and often identified with Spain
Sepharadim – “Spanish”
Originally from Andalucía, Spain,
after 1492 expulsion, moved to north Africa, other areas of Europe
Most spoke Ladino – Hebrew + Spanish
Music is Andalucian, in Ladino and Arabic
Food is north African, Mediterranean

4. Ashkenazim Jews The name Ashkenazic comes from Ashkenaz
A descendant of Noah
Ashkenazim refers to those Jews who at one time lived in or came from central Europe
Ashkenazim
Northern European Jews
Most spoke Yiddish – Hebrew + German
Food is German, polish – blintzes, bagels, pickled meats and vegetables
Ashkenazic culture ended in Europe with the Holocaust

5. Mizrahim Jews Mizrahim – “Eastern”
Lived in countries “east” of Jerusalem – Middle East: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Palestine, Jordan
Spoke Arabic or Persian
Music in the style of the Middle East
Food is “middle eastern”

6. Observance-Based Divisions
within Judaism, divisions exist based on variations in religious observance
Some Jews have held to traditional practices and other branches have developed out of the conviction that Judaism will continue to exist only if it reinterprets its traditions
Four branches have emerged:
Orthodox
Conservative
Reform
Reconstructionist

7. Orthodox Traditional Judaism is often called Orthodox
A branch of Judaism committed to retaining traditional practice and belief
Orthodox Jews are hesitant to discard any traditional practices
Even those not demanded by the Torah but simply revered as reasonable later developments that are said to “guard” the Torah from being lost or misinterpreted
Must conform to Torah because it is unchangeable
Often live in own communities to preserve tradition
Includes 1/10 of the US Jewish population
Hasidism is a branch of Orthodoxy

8. Orthodox practices Orthodox synagogues separate males and females
For service, there must be a quorum of ten Jewish men
Services are conduced in Hebrew and led by male rabbis
Only males celebrate the coming of age – bar mitzvah
Men at prayer use the talit and at weekday morning prayer use the tefillin
Males must keep their heads covered as a reminder that God is above all
Skullcap, prayer shawl, or hat

9. Orthodox practices cont.
Social roles are strictly separate
Men are the breadwinners of the family
Women are responsible for running the household
the hair of the beard and in front of the ears is sometimes left uncut by males
In response to a command in the Torah
Males wear a black hat and black coat (dress)
Married women cover their heads with a kerchief when outside the home
The hair is covered as an expression of modesty because a woman’s hair is considered to be seductive to men

10. Conservative Judaism
Jews who desire moderate change but protection of traditions as well
Sees change in religious understanding as necessary to keep up with modernity but adheres to traditional Jewish practices as much as possible
Liturgy is in Hebrew & dietary rules strictly followed
Women are allowed to become rabbis
Agrees with Zionism
Includes ½ of the Jews in the US

11. Reform Believe that Judaism changes with society
The goal is to modernize Judaism hoping that it will survive in the contemporary world
In reform synagogue worship, women and men sit together
Liturgy is spoken in English
Choirs and music are common
The use of the talit or tefillin has either been dropped or made optional
Traditional ways of dressing has disappeared
Women may become rabbis
Girls have coming of age ceremonies
Bat mitzvah
Includes 1/3 of the Jews in the US

12. Reconstructionist Judaism
Newest and smallest branch of Judaism
It grows out of the thought of Mordecai Kaplan
The founder
Came to the US as a child
Was influenced by American ideals of democracy and practicality
He promoted the vision that encourages Jews to become familiar with as many elements of traditional Judaism as possible but allows them the freedom of individual interpretation
Reconstructionism sees Judaism as a changing cultural force, with many elements and manifestations

13. Did you know?
Albert Einstein
Sigmund Freud
Abraham Maslow
Elie Wiesel