Contemporary Jewish Life
Which is the largest Jewish denomination in the United States? What are some of the key aspects of that denomination?
Reformed Judaism is the most common type of Judaism in the USA. Reformed Jews emphasize ethical tradition over religious law. They are much less observant and follow the Torah much less closely than other denominations.
Reconstructionist
beliefs Judaism needs to keep evolving as the time moves on
Reformed
follows teachings of Torah least precisely
Conservative
follows teachings of Torah more closely than of reformed
Orthodox Judaism
follows the Torah teachings the most, traditional views
.What is an example of a Jewish lifecycle event? Explain how this event is celebrated differently by Jews living in different parts of the world.
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs are a huge part of Jewish life. In Israel the bar/bat mitzvah goes to the Western Wall while in America most Jews have their ceremony at temple.
What are the key differences between the Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist and Orthodox movements? Choose one specific issue and explain what the different movements would say about this issue.
-Reformed Judaism follows the rules of the Torah and the interpretations in the Talmud least precisely and they are accepting of anyone who identifies as jewish. -Conservative Judaism is the movement that follows the teachings of the torah more than the reformed movement but not quite as closely as the Orthodox movement. Conservative Jews believe that in order to be considered a Jew one has to have been born to a Jewish mother. -The Reconstructionist movement is more progressive than the reformed movement and thinks Judaism needs to continue to evolve with the changing times. Most Reconstructionists reject traditional Judaism. If you're Jewish you're Jewish -Orthodox Judaism is the movement that adheres most closely to the teachings of the Torah and the Talmud. Orthodox Jews believe that in order for someone to be considered Jewish they have to have been born to a Jewish mother.
