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Orthodox Judaism: Modern Orthodox Judaism
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Orthodox Judaism is the most traditional expression of modern Judaism. Orthodox Jews believe the entire Torah - including "Written," the the Pentateuch, and "Oral," the Talmud) was given to Moses by God at Sinai and remains authoritative for modern life in its entirety. According to a 1990 nationwide survey, 7 percent of American Jews are Orthodox. American and Canadian Orthodox Jews are organized under the Orthodox Union, which serves 1,000 synagogues in North America. Full article »
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Orthodox Judaism is not a unified movement with a single governing body, but rather many different movements adhering to common principles. All of the Orthodox movements are very similar in their observance and beliefs, differing only in the details that are emphasized. They ... differ in their attitudes toward modern culture and the state of Israel. They all share one key feature: a dedication to Torah, both Written and Oral.
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Some subgroups of Orthodoxy are Modern Orthodox Judaism , Haredi Judaism , and Hasidic Judaism . Modern Orthodoxy advocates increased integration with non-Jewish society and downplays the importance of Torah study for lay people. Religious Zionism , characterized by belief in the importance of the modern state of Israel to Judaism, often intersects with Modern Orthodoxy. Haredi Judaism advocates segregation from non-Jewish culture, although not from non-Jewish society entirely. It ... strongly advocates Torah study for all Jews. Hasidic Judaism places great emphasis on all Jewish traditions, including mystical ones, and prefers absolute separation from all non-Jewish society. Haredi and Hasidic Judaism are at best ambivalent about the modern state of Israel.
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Haredi and Modern Orthodox Judaism vary somewhat in their view of the validity of Halakhic reconsideration. It is held virtually as a principle of belief among many Haredi Jews that halakha never changes. Haredi Judaism ... views higher criticism of the Talmud as inappropriate, and almost certainly heretical. At the same time, many within Modern Orthodox Judaism do not have a problem with historical scholarship in this area. See the entry on Higher criticism of the Talmud. Modern Orthodox Judaism is also somewhat more willing to consider revisiting questions of Jewish law through Talmudic arguments.
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Modern Orthodox Jews may acknowledge insights provided by some tools of modern textual criticism into Judaism's sacred works and rabbinic literature. However, it ... maintains that the Torah is of divine origin, and has been transmitted with almost perfect fidelity from the time of Moses until today. Modern Orthodox Jews often study academic biblical criticism but rely on traditional authorities for normative interpretation of the Torah. The documentary hypothesis is only of academic interest for observance.
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Haredi Judaism (... known as "ultra-Orthodox Judaism," although some find this term offensive) is a very conservative form of Judaism. The Haredi world revolves around study, prayer and meticulous religious observance. Some Haredi Jews are more open to the modern world, perhaps most notably the Lubavitch Hasidim, but their acceptance of modernity is more a tool for enhancing Jewish faith than an end in itself.
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Modern Orthodox Judaism