4 TYPES OF JUDAISM

Instructions
• Use the information presented here to fill
in the chart that you copied down
yesterday Orthodox
Hasidic Jews
in class. Conservative Reform Jews
Jews Jews
HASIDIC JEWS
Origin - 18th Century Europe

Founder - Ba’al Shem Tov

HASIDIC JEWS

Focus - Communion
with God through
prayer, charity,
humility and JOY!

Religious Leaders –
Rebbe (Male only)
HASIDIC JEWS

Torah – God’s word

and literally
interpreted.

Everyday Life
– Tend to live
separately from
secular society.
HASIDIC JEWS
Everyday Life OPRAH?
– Unique/Modest
I will explain later

Dress
HASIDIC JEWS
Everyday Life
– No Television/Internet
- No mixing between the sexes until
marriage.
- Eat Kosher and observe the
Sabbath
CLICK HERE

Oprah Interviews a Hasidic Family

ORTHODOX JEWS
Origin – Response to Reform
Judaism

Founder – None

Focus – Strict observance of

Jewish Law and practice.
ORTHODOX JEWS
Religious Leaders –
Rabbi (Male Only)

This is Rabbi Eliezer.

He is the Rabbi for the
Orthodox Jewish
community in London!
ORTHODOX JEWS

Torah – God’s word and

literally interpreted.

Everyday Life
– Live a Jewish lifestyle but
live
in the modern world.
– Only Hebrew is used in
worship.
ORTHODOX JEWS
Everyday Life
– Eat Kosher and observe the
Sabbath
- Men cover head all the time.
- Women dress modestly
- Men and women worship
separately
ORTHODOX JEWS
Everyday Life
–Men and women worship
separately
Men typically
sit on the first
floor and
women sit up
in the balcony.
CONSERVATIVE JEWS
Origin – N/A
Founder – N/A
CONSERVATIVE JEWS

Focus
- Middle ground between
Orthodox and Reform.

- Positive attitude toward modern

culture and commitment to
 CONSERVATIVE JEWS
Religious Leaders – Rabbi (Male or
Female)

Rabbi Catherine Clark

is the Rabbi for the
Conservative Jewish
community in London!
CONSERVATIVE JEWS
Torah – God’s inspired word but
use a contextual approach.

Everyday Life
– Traditional dress at worship services.
– Uses more Hebrew than English at
synagogue.
– No separation of men and women in
the synagogue.
CONSERVATIVE JEWS

Everyday Life
– No separation of
men and women in
the synagogue.
– Follow most of
the Torah laws.
REFORM JEWS
Origin – 19th Century in Germany

Founder – None

Focus – Jewish traditions should be

modernized for today's world.
Torah laws are guidelines and
should not be taken literally.
 REFORM JEWS
Religious Leaders – Rabbi (Male
or Female)
* first to allow female rabbis

This is Rabbi Debra

Dressler.
She is the Rabbi for the
Reform Jews in
London!
REFORM JEWS
Torah – Not considered to be divine
or the word of God.

Everyday Life
– No dress code during worship.
– Use more English in the synagogue.
– No separation of men and women in
the synagogue.
– Use contemporary music and
instruments during services.
Reflection Question:
• Answer the following question in your notes.
• You should write a minimum of 8-10 sentences.
• Submit your response at the end of the period today.
• Make connections to the information presented to you
yesterday and today.

If you were a young Jewish person, which branch or

type of Judaism would appeal to you and why?