Questions tagged [heterodox]
General questions about non-Orthodox Jewish practice and ideology.
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The 'No True Scotsman' Fallacy and Judaism
I don't know if this has been asked before, perhaps with different terminology.
There is a well-known fallacy, that in the realm of religious debates, comes up often especially with regards to "...
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Does Sefaria, as a resource, conform to Orthodox standards? [closed]
Sefaria.org has emerged as a very convenient and popular place to find hundreds of important Torah texts in Hebrew and English.
Many people rely upon the site for study and for the generation of ...
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Looking for a compilation of heresies
Is anyone aware of a book/essay/website/other that compiles all Chazalic sources that refer to heresies, heterodox ideas, minut, etc? Things such as the stories about Jesus, Mishna Megillah 4a, and so ...
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Sefardi/Mizrahi rulings on non-Orthodox denominations
I'm aware why Chatam Sofer and R Feinstein had such harsh and castigating stances on associating/celebrating with non-Orthodox Jews or entering those prayer spaces, as they were actively fighting the ...
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Is there a Karaite answer to the Kuzari?
According to Wikipedia, the Kuzari was originally written as a reply by Rabbi Yehudah Halevi to a heretic, likely a Spanish Karaite.
Indeed, sections of the book are dedicated to refuting the Karaite ...
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Usage of honorifics for non-Orthodox authorities
When speaking or when referring to a non-Orthodox Jewish authority, for example, a Reform rabbi (whether male or female), should one use their title of "rabbi" - maybe for דרכי שלום or ...
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What is the connection or relationship between the two vocalizations of ערב?
What is the connection between the two vocalizations of ערב?
This word ערב in Exodus 12:38 is latinized as "eirev" or "erev" or "eruv" and
is the exact same Hebrew ...
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How does Reform Judaism regard converts who leave Judaism?
I've come to understand over time that if an Orthodox convert leaves Judaism/stops practicing all or some of Judaism, the status of their Jewish identity is decided on a case-by-case basis by the ...
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Is Reform conversion recognized by the Conservative movement?
Are people who have converted to Reform Judaism recognized as Jews by the Conservative movement?
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Why does the Reform Siddur cut out most of Krias Shema?
I noticed recently that for Krias Shema, Reform Jews only say the first paragraph (V'ahavta) and the last couple verses of the third paragraph
(for an example: scroll down to page 18).
I know the ...
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What exactly is the Mussar movement and how does it differ from mainstream Judaism?
I've been hearing the term "Mussar Movement" being used a lot more often as of late and I even saw some advertisements for it on other Jewish forums. I'm speaking to a specific movement, not just the ...
user15672
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How observant were Jews throughout most of history?
This question relates to what we know about Jewish observance since the exile. I was curious if we knew for certain how observant most Jews were throughout most of history and if that observance ...
user15672
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What will happen to secular unafilliated Jews in the time of Mashiach?
What will happen to Conservative, Reform and unaffiliated Jews in the Messianic era?
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What's the origin of the Conservative recititive?
I've noticed that people who learned to daven in the Conservative movement have a particular recititive which they use for weekday nusach and another for Shabbat nusach (this is among those who ...
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Are the Conservatives and all who practice it considered non-Jews in the eyes of Orthodoxy
From what I understand, the Orthodox declared all within the German Reform movement as karet, cut off, non-Jews, and they don't recognize any Reform Jew as Jewish to this day. However, some of these ...
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Was Solomon Schechter shomer shabbos?
I heard anecdotally that the early JTS president Solomon Schechter was not, but I have been unable to find a citation either way on this claim.
Schechter was allegedly one of the most accomplished ...
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Conservative procedures for avoiding intermarriage?
Conservative rabbis are prohibited from performing intermarriages (e.g.,
http://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/public/ethical_guidelines/Code%20of%20conduct-2011-public.pdf).
Is ...
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Source for story about the Maskilim's play mocking what the "orchei hamilchama" would look like according to chazal
Does anyone know of a reliable source for the story about how the Maskilim made a play to mock what a milchama would look like according to the torah/chazal, in which they depicted only the Chofetz ...
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Can a secular Jew drink non mevushal wine that he touched?
If a secular (non-observant) Jew touches wine that isn't mevushal does that render it not kosher for him to drink?
Nafka Mina: gifting non-mevushal wine to a secular friend.
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Non-Orthodox converts and Olam Ha-Ba
Would a Gentile who converted through a non-orthodox movement be judged as a Gentile or a Jew in Olam Ha-Ba?
In regards to the judgement, would his/her action of converting and living a "Jewish" ...
user7069
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What does it mean for atheists to raise their children 'Jewish'?
I was reading the book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom by Amy Chua. In this book she mention that her Jewish husband is not religious in the slightest but still when they got married insisted that the ...
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Does Orthodox Judaism Recognize Reform Conversions?
If a person converted into the Reform or Conservative (Masorti) Movements, would Orthodox Jews consider them to be Jewish in the first place?
This is also assuming the person keeps basic Kosher (not ...
user7069
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Witnesses and the Ketubah
I heard from a chief rabbi of an Israeli city, who was officiating at a wedding I was at, that a Ketubah must be signed by two witnesses who are shomer mitzvos. What is the legal definition of this ...
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Criteria to be considered a gentile for the purposes of selling chametz?
I understand that for some tasks or jobs (particularly those relating to kashrut), Judaism ritually requires more than the criteria of matrilineal descent to qualify as a Jew. E.g., as I understand it,...
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Renting digital services to Jews who are known to work on Shabbes
Given the following scenario:
A Jew is the sole owner of a digital business which rents its services (a digital platform that does not require human intervention from part of the owner) for a monthly ...
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A Less-Observant Jew Leading Prayers
Can a Jew who does not observe Shabbat act as a shaliach tzibur (to lead prayers on behalf the congregation)? I know that many are lenient and find reasons to count a mechalel shabbat for a minyan, ...
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Mother was adopted into Jewish family and raised Jewish, and she raised me as a Jew... Will my children be Jewish? [duplicate]
My mother was adopted, raised as a reform Jew and became Bat Mitzvah, continued with her Jewish studies through Confirmation...but I do recall her finding out one day that her parents never officially ...
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What is the Reform view of the origin of the Torah?
I recently attended a community Torah study hosted by a Reform rabbi. As we were discussing the weekly Torah portion, many of those in attendance (Reform Jews) kept referring to "the men" who wrote ...
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Are non-Orthodox marriages recognized by Orthodox rabbis?
Let's suppose a couple was married by a Reform rabbi in a standard reform ceremony (with egalitarian ketubah, and many other modifications to traditional kiddushin). If the couple later become baalei ...
user5540
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May a halachically 'Jewish' Atheist work as a 'Shabbat goy'?
I am aware that in Judaism, adherents are forbidden from performing many types of work on the Sabbath/Shabbat/Shabbos.
Although it has come to my attention that some consider the employment of a '...
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Non-observant Jew making kiddush
Can a Jew who does not observe Shabbat say kiddush for others?
user3318
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Is there really evidence that the Rabbis changed the day's beginning from sunrise to sunset? [closed]
The writing of the two Rabbis quoted below state that the Rabbis changed the start of the day from sunrise to sunset. Rabbi Drazin wrote that "we know for certain that the day began in the Temple ...
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The Orthodox approach to R. Benamozegh's theology?
R. Elijah Benamozegh was a 19th century rabbi and kabbalist, who wrote many works of biblical commentary and Jewish responsa, but is chiefly known in the non-Jewish world for his book on religious ...
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Are there Jews not following the rabbinic laws?
Trying to learn about Judaism more I have been reading this StackExchange for the past few months. As a non-Jew using the correct terminology is a bit hard, so please do feel more than free to edit ...
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Partnership Minyan?
There are minyanim who self-identify as "partnership minyanim". Wikipdedia gives this definition of a partnership minyan:
[A] prayer group that is both committed to maintaining halakhic standards ...
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How does Orthodox Judaism view the Dead Sea Scrolls?
I'm trying to understand how Orthodox Jews view the Dead Sea Scrolls. Are they considered authentic representations of Judaism? If there are textual variants between our current Tanach texts and the ...
user5092
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Reform Conversion
I have a friend who is the daughter of a reform gioret (convertess) of conscience. She is very into Judaism. However, we know that, typically at least, a reform conversion process is not valid ...
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What is the religious significance of the existence of many denominations and sects?
For much of the past 2000 years, when most of contemporary Halacha was being formulated, there was only a single denomination\sect of Judaism. (Leaving aside Ashkenzi vs Sephardi, which is mostly a ...
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According to Conservative Judaism, is one permitted to use an umbrella on Shabbat?
According to Conservative Judaism, may one use - unfold, carry, and refold - an umbrella in an eruv-enclosed area on Shabbat? What if it is not raining?
I would appreciate a link or quote from an ...
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As an atheist, what awaits me after death?
I'm putting together a Pascal's wager piece of sorts, and wanted to see what modern religions think atheists deserve. So if Judaism pans out to be the one true religion, what'll happen to me (an ...
user5129
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Does Sim Shalom use orthodox text for maariv, and, if so, is it usable for maariv?
I was in a Jewish Community Center recently for a meeting, after which a bunch of people wished to say orthodox maariv. Someone went to the JCC's chapel to borrow sidurim (prayer books), and brought ...
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What afterlife awaits a Tinoq Shenishba who studies Torah but fails to observe major halacha?
Rambam says that one who does not believe even one of the 13 principles of faith does not get into Olam HaBa.
Here is my question: The same Rambam spoke about the concept of a Tinok shenishba bein ...
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Is kosher food cooked by an irreligious Jew Bishul Akum?
Assuming that one can ascertain that food cooked by an irreligious Jew is kosher, is the food still prohibited due to Bishul Akum?
Does this also apply in a case of need, such as one visiting an ...
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Does circumcision require an orthodox Mohel?
Consider a case of a Jewish-born child who was circumcised by a non-orthodox or non-Jewish person (say with a circumcision clamp by a doctor - where the doctor was just thinking about a surgical ...
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Did Sadducees consider themselves Jewish?
There are a few quotes where Sadducees try showing to the Rabbis how the Jews are bad people.
For example, Yoma 56b: " אמר ליה ההוא צדוקי לר' חנינא השתא ברי טמאים אתון דכתיב טומאתה בשוליה": "A ...
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Conservative Jews saying "amen" instead of saying Harachamans
I've noticed that among Conservative Jews, it seems to be a common practice that one person recites the harachamans after Birkat Hamazon and others are silent and only respond "amen". Now, after one ...
user3318
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Greeks' gas lamps
I once heard that there is a source that says the Greeks invented gas lamps or some sort of street lights which enabled the Jews to roam the streets at night and not be with their families. The plan ...
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requirement for Chabad shluchim to be married?
I heard that Chabad instituted a requirement for shluchim to be married because Zalman Schachter-Shalomi went off the derech. Is this historically accurate, and are Chabad shluchim required to be ...
user3318
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Conservative Kiddush Levanah
The version of Kiddush Levanah printed in the Conservative movement's siddur omits the verse "כשם שאני רוקד כנגדך..." I've heard that this is because the Conservative movement believes that in an age ...
user3318
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Going into a Reform synagogue to take a test
In the following question "Orthodox Visits to Other Denomination Sanctuaries" it discusses whether one may go into a Reform or Conservative synagogue for prayer and/or a wedding. Is one allowed to go ...
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