Questions tagged [orthodox]

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15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Are Samaritans viewed as adherents of Judaism?

In Judaism, particularly from an Orthodox perspective, are Samaritans seen as fellow Jews? Sometimes I see their religion referred to as 'Samaritanism', sometimes as Judaism. Also, is it halachically ...
0 votes
1 answer
92 views

Orthodox Lieberman clause

Have there been any Orthodox Rabbis who recognize the Saul Lieberman clause in a Ketubah or something similar to it? I understand originally there was working together between Joseph B. Soloveitchik ...
3 votes
0 answers
220 views

Have any Orthodox rabbis or rabbinic organizations called for a communal fast on Thursday, October 12, 2023?

In response to the current war in Israel, and the current situation (as I write this: hundreds of Israelis held hostage by terrorists, including children and the elderly), the organization Hadar has ...
13 votes
6 answers
640 views

What do Orthodox communities do for profoundly-disabled 13-year-olds (bar mitzvah or similar)?

I occasionally hear (in the US) about a community celebrating a bar mitzvah for a child with profound cognitive disabilities (cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, etc). All such cases I've heard about ...
0 votes
2 answers
247 views

Seeking Sources on Living Piously in a Secular World [closed]

In today's society, where secular influence is prevalent, many individuals are navigating the balance between religious observance and worldly engagements. This leads to the question: How does ...
9 votes
4 answers
871 views

What's "Modern Orthodox(y)"?

Is there a definition[1] of "Modern Orthodox(y)" that either has wide acceptability[2] or has the support of an expert (say, a renowned rabbi some consider Modern Orthodox, or an ...
4 votes
2 answers
299 views

How do members of a given denomination understand what happens on events from other denominations?

I watched a UsefulChart video on Jewish denominations, which I found very educative as an atheist interested in history. It was not clear however whether the various denominations can share/understand ...
1 vote
3 answers
155 views

What are the spiritual(mental), mystical, practical, realistic, religious social benefits of refraining from all perversions and immodesties?

I should refrain from impure thoughts, licentious ruminations, immodesty and improper sex. I must guard my eyes, tongue and mouth from perversion and sexually improper 'things'. I must no watch porn, ...
0 votes
0 answers
82 views

Where can I find dialogue between Orthodoxy and Conservative?

I am looking for dialogue between Orthodox and Conservative. Surprisingly, despite spending some time searching on Google, I didn't find anything useful online. (Preferably not a book that I would ...
3 votes
1 answer
335 views

What is the position of each of these Non-Orthodox groups regarding the Oral Torah presented by Orthodox Judaism?

From my vague general knowledge (without studying this in depth), there are 6 general “mathematical” (potential) positions available for groups regarding the Orthodox Oral Torah; G-d never Gave ANY ...
1 vote
2 answers
215 views

Where can I find polemics between Reform and Orthodoxy?

I am looking for polemics between Reform and Orthodoxy. Surprisingly, despite spending some time searching on Google, I didn't find anything online. (Preferably not a book that I would have to buy in ...
11 votes
2 answers
3k views

What happens at an Orthodox Bat Mitzvah?

My cousins are Orthodox (black-hat/yeshivish/live in Passaic) and one of them is having a Bat Mitzvah in November. I have never attended an Orthodox Bat Mitzvah, so I don't really know what to expect. ...
3 votes
2 answers
325 views

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 "...
2 votes
0 answers
386 views

Have any rabbinic organizations taken a public position on Rabbi Daniel Landes's Yashrut institute?

Have any mainstream Orthodox rabbis or rabbinical bodies, either in Israel or the United States, expressed an opinion (pro or con) on the Yashrut institute, established by Rabbi Daniel Landes? I am ...
24 votes
12 answers
6k views

Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?

When my family started attending the local synagogue we stuck out like a sore thumb. We moved from a Jewish area of Toronto to a small town with one Synagogue. I cover Everything, my husband was the ...
5 votes
0 answers
408 views

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 ...
0 votes
0 answers
100 views

Community of R' Menachem Elon

Rabbi Menachem Elon is described all over the web as an "Orthodox Rabbi." However, while he seems to be very respected in the academic world, I have been unable to find a single record of R' ...
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is a child born to a Jewish father and non-Jewish mother, considered a non-Jew in the same regard as a child born to two non-Jewish parents?

I thought to myself it must be, in general, considered differently in Judaism, but I haven't found written sources for that yet. Is the first considered differently in the Torah than the second?
8 votes
1 answer
6k views

Is the Book of Enoch part of Judaism?

The Book (or Books) of Enoch is a collection of works purportedly made by Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noach, before the flood. I read that they are not part of the Tanach, even though they contain ...
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are Orthodox arguments against Conservative Judaism?

What are arguments that Orthodox Jews have published (not on Mi Yodeya) that Conservative Judaism is an invalid form of Judaism? Have any Orthodox authors written articles or books that made such ...
19 votes
8 answers
5k views

Good books for non-Jews who are interested in understanding Judaism, especially branches of Orthodox judaism

I have found that the first thing to do when you want to learn something about a subject, is to start with the idea that you know absolutely nothing. I understand, for example, that Judaism has ...
1 vote
0 answers
104 views

Has the majority of Jews followed the decrees of the sages by the 7th century? [closed]

Can we say that the majority of Jews followed the decrees of the sages by the 7th century? Maybe earlier? Any proofs?
4 votes
4 answers
2k views

Are there Orthodox Jews who do not consider the Zohar’s validity?

Knowing that the Kabbalistic movement started among the Sephardic Jews it spread to the Ashkenazim much later. Although the Hasidic movement is very Kabbalah oriented. Many important rabbis especially ...
9 votes
5 answers
723 views

What does it mean to qualify Judaism with the term "Orthodox"?

I notice that quite a few questions include "Orthodox" in the title. I wonder if people could clarify what it means to be an "Orthodox" Jew relative to another Jew that is not considered "Orthodox". (...
2 votes
1 answer
462 views

Is it true that Yerushalmi Briskers pronounce Ayin as a velar nasal when they daven?

I read a post in a forum that Briskers, apart from following the conventional Yeshivish pronunciation of Hebrew including oy for cholam, pronounce Ayin as a velar nasal. I just want to get this ...
0 votes
1 answer
104 views

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 ...
6 votes
3 answers
692 views

Why isn't there confirmation outside the Reform Movement?

Why don't synagogues of movements other than Reform conduct a Confirmation ritual during the Holiday of Shavuot? Although it is an innovation, it doesn't per se seem so halakhically problematic, ...
1 vote
1 answer
339 views

Chasam Sofer on innovation

There is a famous quote of the Chasam Sofer, in which he applies the principle stated in Mishna 'Orlah 3:9 (החדש אסור מן התורה בכל מקום) to the question of innovation within Judaism. Rather than ...
9 votes
4 answers
1k views

Can a person still be an Orthodox Jew and believe that the Torah contains narratives that are not scientifically correct?

I am taking the position that perhaps the Torah does contain narratives that are not scientifically correct, such as the creation and early human history narratives found in the first 11 chapters of ...
5 votes
1 answer
399 views

Practical Issues with a Shulchan Aruch style conversion

Assuming a proselyte in the US is sincere and already identifies with the Jewish people and already keeps the main lifestyle mitzvot (kashrut, 3 daily prayers, tallit gadol, tefillin, Hebrew and Torah ...
5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there an authoritative source on the similarities and differences of the denominations? [closed]

Background After asking a similar question on Christianity.SE, I was curious about the equivalent phenomenon in Judaism. Question Is there a chart, or graph, or other resource that accurately ...
0 votes
0 answers
99 views

Why are women not allowed to read from the Torah in conservative Judaism? [duplicate]

I'm not Jewish myself, but my wife is and per my understanding of Jewish tradition, this means our children are as well. My wife's preference is for either Reconstructionist or Reform denomination ...
1 vote
0 answers
147 views

Where to convert? Please help [closed]

My name is Caleb and I am a former Celtic Pagan who wishes to convert to Orthodox Judaism. I want to convert more than anything. My soul yearns for it. I'm not content being a Noahide, and even though ...
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

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 ...
7 votes
4 answers
943 views

How should an Orthodox Jew respond to questioning by Conservative/Reform Jews?

If a Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist Jew asks an Orthodox Jew, "What is the difference between Conservative, Reform or Reconstructionist and Orthodox Judaism? Who says that Orthodox Judaism ...
3 votes
2 answers
238 views

How do Haredim view Modern Orthodoxy?

I am curious if there is any documented opinion piece by any universally recognized Haredi gadol (universally recognized as being Haredi or right wing), about modern orthodoxy as an ideology. Also is ...
1 vote
1 answer
249 views

Sects within Judaism [closed]

I have seen several different categorical terms to describe Jewish people, but I'm unclear of the distinctions. Most notably, are there differences in theory and practice between Chasidic and ...
6 votes
2 answers
563 views

Who authored the Tanach?

According to traditional Jewish thought, who authored the twenty-four books of the Tanach?
10 votes
1 answer
3k views

What do I do if I do not have nice clothes to wear when visiting an Orthodox synagogue?

I would like to visit an Orthodox synagogue in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, I do not really have any "nice" clothes to wear or even a kippah, nor do I really have the money to purchase such ...
1 vote
1 answer
282 views

Different siddur?

I tried to follow a service with my orthodox Portuguese siddur at a conservative congregation service and I couldn't. What is the difference between a conservative and an orthodox Sidur?
5 votes
3 answers
372 views

Are there any living mainstream orthodox Rabbonim today that permit abortion for Tay Sachs etc

Are there any orthodox rabbis alive today that allow one to abort a fetus that has been diagnosed with a life threatening illness such as Tay Sachs? I have read the related posts that discuss the For ...
1 vote
0 answers
63 views

Can one attend a wedding ceremony where one partner had a non-Orthodox conversion? [duplicate]

I am unfamiliar with the nuances of what occurs in a non-Orthodox conversion. However, I have heard from a few Orthodox rabbis and friends that a non-Orthodox conversion is "invalid" and the convert ...
4 votes
3 answers
318 views

Is doctrinal unity enforced in Judaism and if so, How?

In Catholicism we have the concept of the Magisterium. The Magisterium is the official teaching office of the Church and consists of all the bishops who are united to the Pope. The Magisterium is ...
1 vote
1 answer
238 views

If one converts to Orthodox Judaism, will he or she be required to marry and have children?

I have recently spoken with a local rabbi, who happened to be sent from Chabad-Lubavitch, and he told me that one of the requirements of my life post-conversion would be to marry and have children. If ...
4 votes
0 answers
403 views

Are all conversions to Orthodox Judaism (Haredi, Hasidic and Modern) recognized in Israel?

I am ready to convert to Judaism, but I am curious about how conversions performed under Orthodox auspices are perceived in Israel. For example, I understand that the current Israeli government is run ...
2 votes
1 answer
491 views

Do some ultra-Orthodox Jews avoid handshaking all together - even one male to another?

It appears to me that some Jews try to avoid shaking hands (same gender handshake) and I vaguely remember hearing that some Hassidic sects frown upon the concept of shaking hands as a form of greeting....
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Birkat Hamazon: Chaverai vs Rabotai

When chanting Birkat Hamazon, I always thought it started Chaverai n'varech, but I have recently attended a Conservadox Bar Mitzvah, where they used Rabotai n'varech. Here are some images; I found the ...
-7 votes
1 answer
197 views

Dressing immodestly versus Violating Shabbos

Is it a greater sin for an orthodox Jewish woman to dress immodestly or violate Shabbos? From a halacha perspective, which one is more severe?
4 votes
1 answer
243 views

How does one interested in converting to Orthodox Judaism connect with an Orthodox community and find a conversion Rabbi?

I know that one needs to be in an Orthodox community in order to be immersed in the culture, practice and devotion of Jewish life. How does one connect with such a community? Does one find a ...
-9 votes
1 answer
244 views

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 ...