1. COMPARATIVE JUDAISM Reform Judaism Conservative Judaism Neo-Orthodox Judaism

2. Reform Judaism

3. Reform Judaism A – History Started between 1810 and 1820 Started by Israel Jacobson Popularized by Abraham Geiger who expanded Jacobson’s ideas Israel Jacobson

4. Reform Judaism A – History – Why did it start? Many Jews were converting to Christianity 10% in Germany, 50% in Berlin Only option was to be Orthodox or convert Reform was a new option Reform let Jews participate in a secular culture and still be Jewish Abraham Geiger

5. Reform Judaism B – Torah God and Humanity interact with each other Ongoing process Individual must decide which commandments are meaningful to follow

6. Reform Judaism C – God Concept of God up to the individual God ranges from a “puppet master” to a “force”

7. Reform Judaism D – Services A lot of music (first time instrumental music since destruction of 2 nd Temple.) Mostly in English Shorter service than Conservative or Orthodox

8. Reform Judaism D – Services continued Men and women sit together Rabbi or Cantor may be male, female, gay, or heterosexual Boys and girls may read Torah Both become a bar/bat mitzvah Men and boys choose whether to wear kippah and/or tallit

9. Reform Judaism E – Shabbat Choose whether to observe Shabbat May use electricity Kabbalat Shabbat is a “Revised version”

10. Reform Judaism F – Women’s role Egalitarian – women and men are viewed as equal

11. Reform Judaism G – Intermarriage Rabbis may perform intermarriage It’s going to happen – we can’t stop it Need to make sure interfaith couples feel welcome and can still celebrate Judaism Patrilineal and Matrilineal descent Either parent may be Jewish and the children are Jewish.

12. Conservative Judaism

13. Conservative Judaism A – History Founded by Zecharias Frankel Middle of 19 th Century Thought Jews needed a middle road between Orthodox and Reform Zecharias Frankel

14. 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

15. Conservative Judaism C – God It is up to the individual, however God is definitely an active presence

16. Conservative Judaism D – Services Music is mostly not permitted Men and women sit together Service is mostly in Hebrew Rabbi or Cantor may be male or female Women and girls may read Torah Both may become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah

17. Conservative Judaism E – Shabbat Shomer Shabbas (keeping Shabbat) May only drive to attend services

18. Conservative Judaism F – Women’s Role Women and men are viewed as equal

19. Conservative Judaism G – Intermarriage Rabbis will not perform an intermarriage Matrilineal descent only

20. Neo-Orthodox Judaism

21. 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

22. Neo-Orthodox Judaism B – Torah Everything in the Torah is written by God Nothing can be changed

23. Neo-Orthodox Judaism C – God God is a force who can influence or act upon humanity

24. 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 the the congregation while leading prayers

25. Neo-Orthodox Judaism E – Shabbat Shomer Shabbos (Strictly keeps Shabbat)

26. Neo-Orthodox Judaism F – Women’s Role To focus on the home and family Prepare Shabbat dinner Keep kashrut

27. Neo-Orthodox Judaism G – Intermarriage Rabbis will not perform intermarriage Matrilineal descent only