Questions tagged [orthodox]

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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 ...
Rebecca Burns's user avatar
23 votes
4 answers
5k views

Orthodox Visits to Other Denomination Sanctuaries

Why is it that some people won't set foot in another's sanctuary, even if it was for a non-prayer function? Can an orthodox person be in a reform style temple sanctuary for a lecture or concert? I ...
user avatar
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 ...
Warren P's user avatar
  • 341
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 ...
A.Concerned.Lurker's user avatar
13 votes
6 answers
637 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 ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
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. ...
Mikie's user avatar
  • 163
10 votes
1 answer
2k 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 ...
ag415's user avatar
  • 385
10 votes
4 answers
20k views

Modesty: What is the difference between Conservative and Modern Orthodox?

What are the differences between female Modern Orthodox/Modern Orthodox Liberal Jews and Conservatives in terms of women's modesty? My question applies both to dress and social interaction - shaking ...
Malka S's user avatar
  • 2,149
10 votes
1 answer
364 views

Are there any restrictions about a chazzan if there are questions about his orthodoxy?

If someone comes up to daven as a chazzan, and you have questions about how kosher they are or whether they're truly shomer shabbos, are you allowed to still use him as a chazzan, or are there ...
Barry Hammer's user avatar
  • 1,896
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

What should a conversion candidate expect at an Orthodox beit din?

This question about conversion before a Reform beit din made me wonder about other cases: what does the examination of a prospective ger by an Orthodox beit din look like today? Does the beit din ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
9 votes
6 answers
2k views

Is there any benefit for a gentile to convert through one denomination versus another?

Despite being raised Conservative, it has been my impression that the only conversion that "counts" is an Orthodox one. I suspect this is the case for making aliyah, but under what other ...
Meliorate's user avatar
  • 767
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 ...
user19166's user avatar
  • 107
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". (...
Jay's user avatar
  • 587
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 ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
8 votes
3 answers
1k views

Observance of the convert

Are converts expected to be more observant than the community they are joining? For example, if most married women in a community don't don a wig or head scarf, would this be acceptable behaviour for ...
Malka S's user avatar
  • 2,149
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 ...
Gabriel12's user avatar
  • 4,576
8 votes
1 answer
546 views

Does Orthodox Judaism have a generally held position on American politics? [closed]

The Pew Research Study on Jewish Americans says in part: On these measures (partisanship and ideology), the only other U.S. religious groups that are as conservative and Republican as Orthodox Jews ...
Yishai's user avatar
  • 31.8k
7 votes
3 answers
2k views

Does an Orthodox rabbi have to have semicha?

I have heard that in the Orthodox world rabbis that teach are referred to as "Rabbi" even though they might not have semicha. Even several roshei yeshivah might not have semicha. can this be true?
user2321's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
941 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 ...
Chiddushei Torah's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
4k views

How long is Orthodox Conversion?

How long is the conversion process into Traditional Orthodox and Modern Orthodox? What is the minimum time period in most cases? I know converts can spend years preparing until they actually finalise ...
Malka S's user avatar
  • 2,149
7 votes
1 answer
100 views

Agudath Israel not in the Conference of Presidents

Does anyone know why Agudath Israel of America is not a member of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations?
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
7 votes
1 answer
306 views

What opportunities do Orthodox women have to learn and participate in their communities outside the home?

I've visited several Orthodox communities but never been part of one. One of the things that has always been a stumbling-block for me is the role of women. Here are two things I've observed about ...
Monica Cellio's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
924 views

What forms of evidence do batei din accept to establish that someone is Jewish?

I am interested in the question, what forms of evidence do contemporary Orthodox batei din accept to establish that someone is Jewish? In particular, if you, your parents and grand-parents are non-...
Simd's user avatar
  • 355
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, ...
Adam Mosheh's user avatar
  • 5,953
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 ...
Kordovero's user avatar
  • 4,199
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

Do the Gemara and the Rema prohibit, or encourage, women putting on talit and/or tefillin?

An article in Ynet Judaism (in Hebrew) addresses the recent controversy regarding the prayer of Women of the Wall at the western wall. And claims the following claims: אף אחד גם לא הקריא להן את ...
SIMEL's user avatar
  • 163
6 votes
2 answers
563 views

Who authored the Tanach?

According to traditional Jewish thought, who authored the twenty-four books of the Tanach?
user50746's user avatar
  • 163
6 votes
2 answers
2k views

Are Orthodox Jews opposed to women singing in public, particularly if the woman is singing to a fussy baby in an attempt to soothe it?

My sister lives in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York City, and the neighborhood has a large population of Orthodox Jews and, I think, Hassidim (I don't really understand the difference, but that is a ...
Wad Cheber's user avatar
  • 2,062
6 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the difference between Orthodox, Reform and Conservative? (Re: Theology)

I'm asking purely in a da ma l'hoshiv context. I grew up frum (Orthodox) and currently work for a Jewish organization that hires a lot of non-jews as well as Conservative and Reform Jews. One of the ...
shachna's user avatar
  • 1,095
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 ...
isakbob's user avatar
  • 153
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 ...
Avrohom's user avatar
  • 51
5 votes
1 answer
398 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 ...
יהושע ק's user avatar
5 votes
0 answers
406 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 ...
LFE's user avatar
  • 413
5 votes
0 answers
125 views

Going into Reform Synagogues [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Orthodox Visits to Other Denomination Sanctuaries I have noticed that in the two years that I have spent in the Jewish community, that Orthodox Jews say that they would never ...
Ger's user avatar
  • 600
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 ...
Yehoshua Shalom Halevi Segal's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
170 views

Why do some synagogues offer kidush and others not?

Some (orthodox) synagogues in the United States offer kidush after Shabas-morning services every week; others do not. Is this division roughly along 'type' of synagogue? For example, do most Young ...
msh210's user avatar
  • 73.7k
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 ...
TheIronKnuckle's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
474 views

Is Tanach Simanim reliable from an Orthodox point of view?

I know that Judaism (or at least Orthodox Judaism) relies on the Masoretic Text. I saw that the publisher of the Tanach Simanim is Feldheim. I don't know if it is from an Orthodox point of view and if ...
mil's user avatar
  • 1,953
4 votes
2 answers
298 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 ...
WoJ's user avatar
  • 216
4 votes
3 answers
312 views

What is the "Minimum" of beliefs to be considered Orthodox?

In trying to understand Orthodox Judaism better, I would like to know what constitutes the "minimum" or most basic collection of beliefs. As I understand, agreeing with the 13 Principles of Maimonides ...
Yochanan Michael's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
299 views

Jewish Person Selling Non-Kosher Product

At a local convenience store near my work, they stock all sorts of non-Kosher products. However at the cashier's desk is a guy obviously orthodox Jewish (Curls down from the side, Black Clothing ...
tekiegreg's user avatar
  • 247
4 votes
1 answer
242 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 ...
user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are donations typically expected from the person receiving an aliyah?

Is it the normal practice of Orthodox shuls to expect a donation from a person who received an aliyah, even if there is no formal system of reminding or requiring the person to give a donation?
Kordovero's user avatar
  • 4,199
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 ...
Words_of_Wisdom's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

May Conversative man "up-convert" to marry Orthodox girl?

I'm writing a story where a young man raised in a devout Conservative family risks suicidal odds to rescue an Orthodox girl who fell onto the subway tracks hurting her ankle, who is about to be ...
eternalsquire's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
561 views

What siddur do Open Orthodox people use?

Do followers of Avraham Weiss’s Open Orthodoxy have their own siddur or use someone else’s? I’d be curious about any ways their liturgy might differ from the mainstream.
Jon Mitchell's user avatar
  • 1,497
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 ...
Tzvi K's user avatar
  • 153
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?
A-F1222's user avatar
  • 41
3 votes
2 answers
324 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 "...
Harel13's user avatar
  • 24.8k
3 votes
2 answers
435 views

When did upsherins become part of standard American Orthodox practice?

According to Rav Wikipedia, the upsherin is a custom that was brought from Muslims to Palestinian Jews to Tzfat Sephardim to Chasidim. Recently, I've noticed mainstream (non-charedi) Orthodox Jews ...
Charles Koppelman's user avatar