Jewish
Denominations
5/24/18 3:06 PM
Largest Denominations USA
1. Reform (Progressive) Judaism - 35%
a. Major Institutions: Union for Reform Judaism, Hebrew Union College-
Jewish Institution of Religion, Religious Action Center, Central Conference
of American Rabbis
b. Originally formed in Germany as a reaction to modernity, stresses
integration with society and a personal interpretation of the Torah
2. Conservative (Masorti) Judaism - 18%
a. Originated in Germany in the 19th century, but became institutionalized in
the United States. After the division between Reform and Orthodox
Judaism, the Conservative movement tried to provide Jews seeking
liberalization of Orthodox theology and practice with a more traditional
alternative to Reform Judaism. It has spread to Ashkenazi communities in
Anglophone countries and Israel.
b. Major Institutions: Jewish Theological Seminary, United Synagogue of
Conservative Judaism, Rabbinical Assembly, Ziegler School of Rabbinic
Studies
3. Orthodox Judaism - 10%
a. Modern (Centrist) Orthodox
i. Major Institutions: Yeshiva University, Rabbinical Council of America,
Orthodox Union.
b. Haredi (Ultra) Orthodox
i. Hasidic (mystical, charismatic, ecstatic prayer, joy in worship)
1) Major Institutions: Chabad, Satmar, Ger and Skver.
ii. Yeshivish (emphasis on intellectual aspects - rigorous Talmud study)
4. Reconstructionist Judaism/Jewish Renewal/Humanistic Judaism - 6%
a. The Reconstructionist movement, found primarily in the United States
began as a liberal movement within Conservative Judaism and formally
separated in the 1940s.
b. Jewish Renewal is Hasidic Judaism in style, but progressive in theology
c. Humanistic Judaism denies God & divine inspiration, works primarily
through rationalist, human-centered ethics
5. Non-denominational or trans denominational Judaism - 30%
Prior to the 18th century, Judaism was unified. Hebrew was the sacred language
unifying the entire Jewish community.
In the late 18th century Europe, and then the rest of the world, was swept by a group
of intellectual, social and political movements that taken together were referred to
as the Enlightenment. These movements promoted scientific thinking, free thought,
and allowed people to question previously unshaken religious dogmas.
In response to the challenges of integrating Jewish life with Enlightenment values,
German Jews in the early 19th century began to develop the concept of Reform
Judaism, adapting Jewish practice to the new conditions of an increasingly urbanized
and secular community. This lead to the breaking up of the Jewish community similar
to the Protestant Reformation. Oddly enough - also in Germany.
Development of denominations or movements has been primarily a phenomenon
among Ashkenazi Jews who have immigrated to Anglophone countries. Much of the
literature of these denominations is in English, not Hebrew. Their development can
be seen as both a response to the western Enlightenment. This is why there is much
more plurality amongst Jews in the USA in comparison to Israel.
Outside North America, the non-Orthodox streams of Judaism play a less significant
role. In Israel the vast majority of synagogues and other Jewish religious institutions
are Orthodox, even though most Israeli Jews do not identify as Orthodox. While in
the USA, the separation in Jewish community is (unsurprisingly) between
denominations, in Israel the difference in the Jewish community is primarily between
the Orthodox Jews vs Secular Jews. So USA is characteristic of religious plurality
while Israel is characteristic of 1 more or less established religion and those who don't
really care about religion.
It is important to note that Reform & Masorti Judaism are centralized and organized
(like Catholic Church) so there is no real major theological diversity within those 2
denominations like there is within Orthodox Judaism and the rest. Regardless,
Orthodox can be divided into Modern Orthodox & Haredi Orthodox.
Christian Parallels - imperfect but relevant
• Modern Orthodox - Catholic Church
• Reform Judaism - Mainline Protestants
• Masorti Judaism - Anglican Church
• Haredi Orthodox Judaism - Fundamentalist Christians
○ Hasidic - Pentecostal
○ Yeshivish - Baptists
• Reconstructionist/Renewal/Humanistic - UCC, Unitarians
• Non-denominational - same