The Orthodox Judaism Movement

For many, the singer Matisyahu has become the contemporary face of Orthodox Judaism.

Outsiders tend to think of Orthodox Judaism as a monolith -- a singular, rigid movement based on a set of unquestioned beliefs. This is a misconception, however. More a heading than a movement, the cornucopia of Jewish beliefs, customs and philosophies subsumed under the umbrella of Orthodoxy is in fact as diverse and colorful as the people who base their lives on them.

History

While Orthodox Judaism claims to be the one legitimate continuation of the chain of Jewish tradition going back to the Revelation on Mount Sinai, Orthodoxy as it is today really formed as a reaction to and rejection of the Reform movement in Europe in the 1800s. As Reform did away with ancient Jewish traditions and ways of thinking to keep up with modernity, traditionalists responded by clinging more strictly to traditional ways and becoming more insular than they otherwise might of been, lest they be suspected of being Reform.

Beliefs

While Orthodox Jews are a varied lot, they all share the same basic belief that the Torah was dictated to Moses on Mount Sinai 50 days after the Exodus from Egypt and has been passed down through the generations until today almost entirely intact. Orthodox Jews believe this is true not only for the written Torah text, but also for the "Oral Torah," or Mishna, the traditional explanations and interpretations of the text of Written Torah. The divinity and authenticity of the tradition mean that all its laws are binding for all time.

Denominations

Within the basic structure of Orthodox belief are a spectrum of different philosophies and lifestyles ranging from Ultra-Orthodox movements that believe Jews should have as little contact as possible with the outside world and secular knowledge, to Modern Orthodoxy, which advocates engagement with the outside world and application of secular knowledge to Jewish values and life. Within these broad categories are further differences: Ultra-Orthodoxy is split between Chasidic Jews, who emphasize mysticism, and "Yeshivish" Jews who emphasize ethics; Modern Orthodoxy is equally divided on where to draw the line on engagement with the outside world.

Practices

While much of what makes Orthodox Jews distinctive is based on their strictness with Jewish law, every sect has its own distinct traditions that, over time, have gained the force of law for its members. This is perhaps best seen in styles of head coverings. While Jewish law stipulates men and married women must cover their hair, the way Orthodox Jews follow this commandment is shorthand for what sect they affiliate with: Ultra-Orthodox men wear black hats and thick black yarmulkes, while Modern men wear often colorful knitted yarmulkes; Ultra-Orthodox women usually wear wigs in public, while Modern ones usually prefer head scarves.

References

• Judaism 101: Movements of Judaism
• My Jewish Learning; "Orthodox Judaism"; Rabbi Louis Jacobs