Judaism is one of the oldest religions on the planet and has today developed into two to three sects. Two of the most followed ones are Orthodox and Reform Judaism. Although both essentially refer to the same religion, they differ in their beliefs and how they practice their religion. The differences are as such.

Orthodox vs Reform Judaism

The main difference between Orthodox and Reform Judaism is that they differ in how the two groups practice the religion. Orthodox Jews tend to stick to the principles of the religion as they were first developed. Whereas Reform Judaism allows people to make many of their own decisions about how to practice their religion.

 Orthodox Judaism is a group of related movements within Judaism that seek to adhere to the doctrine and customs of Judaism as it is generally understood by Orthodox Jewish practice. The Orthodox Jewish practice emphasizes strict observance of Jewish Law, as codified in the Talmud and Maimonides. Orthodoxy considers Halacha, as codified by these authorities, as both binding and infallible.

Reform Judaism is an approach to Judaism that emerged in the nineteenth century in Germany and the United States. Its primary focus is to take a rational, progressive approach to Jewish life. This includes a relatively liberal set of beliefs, a focus on the idea that Judaism is a religion instead of a race or ethnicity, and a desire to make sure that Jewish values are relevant to the modern world.

Comparison Table Between Orthodox and Reform Judaism

What is Orthodox Judaism?

Orthodox Judaism is a branch of Judaism that believes that the Torah is the word of God, with both religious and moral law, and that the Oral Law was transmitted with it. It believes that both the Written and Oral laws are divine in origin, but not human composition. An Orthodox Jew believes that the Messiah is yet to come.

Orthodox Judaism is the most practised form of Judaism, describing 90% of all adherents to Judaism. It is most commonly associated with the Charedi movement. Orthodox Judaism is based on the belief that the Torah was given by God to Moses and contains all the necessary and sufficient commandments and laws for the Jewish people today. Orthodox Jews believe in the principle of the Oral Law, which states that the Torah must be studied and understood with the aid of the oral teachings of the prophets and the rest of the Jewish tradition.

Orthodox Judaism is a branch of Judaism that follows the Torah and the Talmud as the ultimate authority in Jewish life. The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, and the Talmud is a collection of teachings and commentary on the Torah. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah and Talmud were divinely inspired, and they consider them to be the sole and final legal authority for all Jews and the ultimate and supreme expression of God’s will for Jews and Judaism.

Traditional Judaism and Orthodox Judaism share a similar history and belief in the importance of the Torah and the importance of the Land of Israel. Orthodox Judaism is also bound by a core set of laws and commandments. No radical changes in their beliefs have been made over time, like changes in language or practice.

What is Reform Judaism?

Judaism is a religion that is based on the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. In Judaism, there are three main branches of religious practice. Reformed Judaism, Conservative Judaism and Orthodox Judaism. According to the Pew Research Center, in the United States in 2015, there were 1.9 million Jews who identified as Conservative and 1.6 million Jews who identified as Reform.

Reform Judaism is a sect within Judaism that believes in progressive social change. Drawing from the Torah, Prophets and Talmud, Reform Jews believe in a personal and evolving relationship with God, and they put a large emphasis on individual autonomy. This sect is largely is known for its advocacy of civil rights and gender equality, and they also tend to follow more traditional rituals and ceremonies than other mainstream sects. Reform Judaism is very popular in the United States, and there are thousands of synagogues and affiliated communities that follow this sect.

Reform Judaism is a branch of Judaism that was started in the 19th century. It started when a man named Zacharias Frankel decided that Jews needed to fully accept that Jesus Christ was the messiah. A lot of Jews were getting less religious and mixing their traditions with Christianity, so Frankel decided to start a new branch of Judaism that focused on parts of the Torah that weren’t Christian.

The branch started by focusing on the idea that Judaism is about the people, not the laws. Local languages and different formats of Shabbat and prayers are accepted in this form. Also, they are more acceptable to technology and tolerant towards non-classical sexuality and intermarriages with non-Jews.

Main Differences Between Orthodox and Reform Judaism

Conclusion

The term Judaism derives from the word Yehudi, which means “from the Tribe of Judah.” It is the religion that was born when the Hebrews were freed from slavery in Egypt. On Mt. Sinai, Moses received the Law from God, the Torah. This comprises the first five books of the Old Testament called the Pentateuch. The rest of the Old Testament contains narratives of Israelites and stories about prophets, including Elijah and Elisha.

The New Testament is the story of Jesus Christ, written in the last century B.C. The Talmud is a collection of commentaries on the Torah, compiled during the Jewish exile in Babylon in the sixth century A.D. Judaism emphasizes the responsibility to improve its members, their community, and the world. In changing times, Judaism also changed to adapt to their environment.

References

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