The Jewish population has a deep and important history. Today over 1,138,200,000 people all over the world identify as part of the Jewish community. The Jewish religion is constantly growing and developing to coincide with modern times. As the world changes, more controversial questions arise in the Jewish faith. Through these concerns, Judaism is encouraged to evolve with the modern times, and, through this development, two different types of Judaism emerged: reform and orthodox Judaism. Reform Jews follow a less stringent way of life and have more modern views on life. While, Orthodox Judaism strictly follows the Hebrew Scriptures and the biblical way of life. The Jewish faith has evolved over time, but the biggest modern evolution in the …show more content…
“Reform Judaism developed out of a need for internal religious changes and because of wider factors operating in society at large” (Romain). In the origin of Reform Judaism, many ideas presented were controversial and highly debated, such as women’s rights and homosexuality. Many Jewish beliefs arose from the literal reading of the scriptures, but, with Reform Judaism, the scriptures are read with a more interpretive and open viewpoint, so the scriptures can coincide with contemporary beliefs (Romain). This interpretive reading helps solve the controversial and debated questions that arise in Judaism. As Reform Judaism grew, it spread further into civilization and intermingled with those who were not Jewish. Historically, the marriage of non-Jewish and Jewish individuals was prohibited, but Reform Judaism paved the way for more liberties in marriage (Ellenson). Also with the spread into further civilizations, many Jews did not learn Hebrew, and, therefore, Jewish ceremonies were “no longer conducted solely in Hebrew, but in a mixture of Hebrew and English” (Romain). Ceremonies were also conducted in different ways, such as “omitting sections of the liturgy if they no longer corresponded to what Jews believed. Out went prayers for the restoration of animal sacrifices” (Romain). Because of its open ideologies and lenient restrictions., Reform Judaism is the most popular branch of Judaism
Dawidowicz suggests that, “Despite the recurrent cycles of disaster that marked their history, the Jews have been committed to a fundamental and abiding optimism grounded in the teachings of Judaism. All creation, Genesis declares, is good. Whatever God does, the tradition teaches, is for good.” (Dawidowicz, The War Against the Jews, 342). This is a fact, which shows that despite their tragedy, they still tried to continue on with religion and succeeded.
Marriage in Judaism is recognised as a very blessed tradition. This sacred bond is actually called a Kiddushin, which translates to ‘purification’ or ‘commitment’. The dedication of marriage demonstrates that the couple now have a select relationship and they are “one spirit in two bodies”.
Oxtoby, Willard Gurdon. "Jewish Traditions." World religions: western traditions. 1996. Reprint. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2011. 127-157. Print.
I chose to write about Jewish-Americans after my mother, who was raised Christian, chose to identify herself as Jewish. In my reading I examined Jewish culture and how it is in American society. I looked at how Jewish-American culture has become a prominent component of American society. I looked at the historical forces that have shaped Jewish-American experience in the United States. I looked at demographics of where most Jewish-Americans live. I examined how Jewish-Americans have contributed to our culturally pluralistic society in the United States.
The official doctrine of the Sephardis does not for example prohibit polygomy, whereas it hasn't been allowed in the Ashkenazi law since Middle Ages. Although the Ashkenazi traditions are somewhat stricter than those of the Sephardim, a greater percentage of Ashkenazi Jews have over the past century and a half stopped observing these traditions, becoming either "secular Jews", atheists, like the American Freethinkers, or simply converting. An even greater part have chosen to follow only a part of the traditional, or "oral", laws, forming widely popular Reform and Conservative movements. This phenomenon, if present within the Sephardic community exists on such a small scale that it can be discounted.
Judaism." Proc. of 1999 Pittsburgh Convention Central Conference of American Rabbis. A Statement of Principles for Reform Judaism - CCAR. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.
The Jewish Community. Publication Society, 1996. http://www. Wiesel, Elie. A.
Einstein, Stephen. & Kukoff, Lydia. (1989). Every Person's Guide to Judaism. New York: UAHC Press.
Hasidic Judaism is a branch of Orthodox Judaism established in Eastern Europe during the 1800’s that put spirituality and a connection with God through mysticism at the forefront of its beliefs. In order to understand Hasidic Judaism, one must understand that Judaism is not only a religion; it is also a philosophy and a way of life for the Jewish people. One of the oldest monotheistic religions, Judaism has evolved over the years since the time of the founding fathers. Like any culture or religion, however, Jews have never been without conflict or disagreement amongst its people. Schisms amongst Jews over long periods of time have led to a branching out of sects and Jewish institutions. What led to the separation of denominations within was a fundamental disagreement on the interpretation and implementation of Halakah (Jewish religious law). Before the 18th century there was little differentiation between sects of Judaism; Jewry was based on Talmudic and Halakhic study and knowledge. Constructed as an overly legalistic religion before the 18th century, the Hasidic movement popularized by Rabbi Israel Ben Eliezer sought to spread Judaism through the common man’s love of and devotion to God.
...f society. The second point of view held that Jews were inherently bad and can never be salvaged despite any and all efforts made by Christians to assimilate them. These Christians felt that there was absolutely no possibility of Jews having and holding productive positions in society. All the aforementioned occurrences lead to the transformation of traditional Jewish communities, and paved the way for Jewish existence, as it is known today. It is apparent, even through the examination of recent history that there are reoccurring themes in Jewish history. The most profound and obvious theme is the question of whether Jews can be productive members of their country and at the same time remain loyal to their religion. This question was an issue that once again emerged in Nazi Germany, undoubtedly, and unfortunately, it is not the last time that question will be asked.
If one were to ask a New York resident in the 1950’s how many people he or she would expect to be living in New York sixty years from now, he would most likely not say 20 million. Among those 20 million, it is even more unfathomable that an estimated 1.7 million Jews reside within New York City, making New York home to over a quarter of the Jews living in America today . Amongst those Jews however, how many of them consider themselves religious? Seeing that only an estimated 10 percent of Jews today classify themselves as observant, how and when did this substantial dispersion occur? The period post World War II in America presents the many different factors and pressures for Jews arriving in America during this time. Although many Jews believed America would be the best place to preserve and rebuild Jewish presence in the world, the democracy and economic opportunity resulted in adverse effects on many Jews. The rate of acculturation and assimilation for many of these Jews proved to be too strong, causing an emergence of two types of Jews during this time period. Pressures including the shift to suburbanization, secular education into professional careers, covert discrimination in the labor market and the compelling American culture, ultimately caused the emergence of the passive and often embarrassed ‘American Jew’; the active ‘Jewish American’ or distinctly ‘Jewish’ citizen, avertedly, makes Judaism an engaging active component of who and what they are amidst this new American culture.
For more than two thousand years anti-Semitism has plagued the Jews, however, the term has only been around for about thirty years (Strack 594). Due to the hateful accusations and of those who did not understand their religion, Jews, as a scorned people, gradually became more exclusive and intolerant of other religions. Because of Judaism’s strict adherence to their own beliefs and unwillingness to consider any alternatives, Muslims and Christians have scorned and persecuted Jews.
Judaism 101: Expressions and Greetings. Web. 9 Sep. 2011. . “Intermarriage Q&A.”
In this essay, I will explain how religion is sometimes used to mobilize against LGBT people, how some people’s religious and personal doctrines conflict regarding LGBT issues, and how religious belief and community can be a positive force for the LGBT community. In history, mainstream Abrahamic religions have had a negative relationship with LGBT persons. Beginning during the Hebrew exodus of Egypt, the purity codes documented in the Hebrew Bible’s Book of Leviticus explicitly stated a slew of rigid rules that attempted to keep a new Israelite nation “clean”. As William Countryman argues in the article “Dirt, Greed, & Sex”, the Bible sets a precedent for what is “clean” and pure as well as what is “dirty”. In this sense, dirty means where something doesn’t belong, or is out of place.
Not all Jewish communities continued on their faith with YHWH. Before the exile, many communities began to scatter all over the Middle East, Egypt and Babylon; however, the exile...