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BRANCHES  OF  JUDAISM
Reconstructionist  Judaism

Religious Program Specialist 3 & 2, Module 01-Personnel Support
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adherence to these laws which are prescribed in the Shulhan Aruch or Code of Jewish Law. Orthodox Jews believe themselves to be the most determined guardians of Jewish tradition and adhere rigidly to the traditional rituals and practices, resisting any significant changes. Orthodox groups insist that their members  adhere  strictly  to  the  dietary  and  Sabbath  laws,  that  men  and women  be  segregated  in  the  synagogue,  that  practices  such  as  covering  the head  during  services  and  the  donning  of  phylacteries  be  observed,  and  that the use of the Hebrew language predominate in the worship services. Adherents  of  Orthodox  Judaism  can  be  divided  into  three  groups  based on  the  geographical  areas  from  which  they  come: THE  SEPHARDIM.—The  Sephardic  Jews  are  those  who  lived  in  Spain (“Shephard”  is  a  Hebrew  term  for  Spain).  The  descendants  of  the  Spanish Jews have preserved their own customs and religious rituals. THE   ASHKENAZIM.—The   Ashkenazic   Jews   are   those   who   lived   in Germany   (“Ashkenaz”  is a Hebrew term for Germany). Their customs and religious  rituals  differ  in  some  ways  from  the  Sephardim. ORIENTAL   JEWS.—The   Oriental   Jews   are   more   varied   in   their religious  customs  and  traditions  and  have  settled  in  the  countries  of  the Middle  East  and  North  Africa. Reform Judaism Reform  Judaism  began  in  19th-century  Germany  as  a  result  of  Jewish liberation, the breakdown of the ghetto walls, and the attempts of the people to  meet  the  demands  of  modern  life  by  introducing  modifications  in  tradi- tional  Jewish  thought  and  practice.  The  Reform  groups  believe  that  the spiritual  and  ethical  values  of  Judaism  cannot  be  changed;  however, practices  are  secondary.  Customs  which  no  longer  have  an  impact  on  the worshipper  may  be  abandoned  and  new  ones  may  be  fashioned.  Their  prac- tices  are  typified  by  saying  prayers  not  in  the  original  Hebrew,  but  in  the native language. They use musical instruments in worship services. Practices such as covering the head during services, dietary restrictions, the donning of phylacteries,  and  other  traditional  customs  and  laws  have  been  abandoned. In  1924,47  members  of  Congregation  Beth  Elohim  in  Charleston,  South Carolina,  requested  reforms  in  the  ritual  and  the  introduction  of  English prayers in the worship service. The congregation rejected the request, and a group   of   members   withdrew   and   founded   “The   Reformed   Society   of Israelites”  on  November  21,  1924. Conservative  Judaism Conservative  Judaism  originated  in  the  middle  of  the  19th  century.  The conservative movement in the United States began as a reaction against the radical  stand  of  the  Reform  rabbis  at  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1885. Conservative Jews oppose extreme changes in traditional practice but permit certain  modifications.  In  addition  to  being  a  20th-century  phenomenon,  the “Conservative”  movement  seeks  to  provide  a  middle  ground  and  meeting place  for  the  Orthodox  and  Reform  Jews  who  represent  widely  divergent 2-45







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