10 Minute Topics: Modern Sects of Judaism

The next in a weekly series of 10 minute topics teaching about various topics within Judaism. This week's topic is: Modern Sects of Judaism. Orthodox Judaism (also known as Traditional Judaism) is the oldest sect of Judaism - and in fact, was the only sect until Reform Judaism came into being in 19th century Germany. Conservative Judaism grew out of the tension between Orthodoxy and Reform. It was formally organized as the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism by Dr. Solomon Schechter in 1913, although its roots in the Jewish Theological Seminary of America stretch back into the 1880s. Reform Judaism can trace its origins back to the thoughts of Leopold Zunz who suggested that Jews study their history and learn of the great achievements of the past. While Zunz was implementing his ideas, a movement began to make religious services better understood, by incorporating music and the local language. Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern American-based Jewish movement based on the ideas of Mordecai Kaplan. The movement views Judaism as a progressively evolving civilization. It originated as the radical left branch of Conservative Judaism before it splintered. Sources: Orthodox Judaism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Judaism) Conservative Judaism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conservative_Judaism) The Origins of Reform Judaism (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/The_Origins_of_Reform_Judaism.html) Reform Judaism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Judaism_(North_America)) Reconstructionist Judaism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconstructionist_Judaism)