48
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
The Rema writes in the first Halacha of Shulchan Aruch (Partial Quote)
וְלֹא יִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי אָדָם הַמַּלְעִיגִים עָלָיו בַּעֲבוֹדַת ה' יִתְבָּרַךְ גַּם בְּהֶצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת.
And ...
- 4,245
42
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
There is not such a thing as "too orthodox", no. There can be such a thing as "too pushy" when people are too direct in trying to change others, but that's not the situation you've described. Never ...
- 56.4k
20
votes
Accepted
What do I do if I do not have nice clothes to wear when visiting an Orthodox synagogue?
You are a very responsible and respectful person for inquiring about whether wearing your current clothes would be disrespectful or not to the synagogue. I really have to hand it to you, not everyone ...
- 18.5k
18
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
You might be a source of inspiration for others that want to be more observant. Keep going.
- 305
12
votes
Can a person still be an Orthodox Jew and believe that the Torah contains narratives that are not scientifically correct?
The Rambam believed that the Torah is not intended to be history or science, but ethical teachings:
Those passages in the Bible, which, in their literal sense, contain statements that can be ...
- 20.7k
11
votes
Accepted
What does it mean to qualify Judaism with the term "Orthodox"?
Before I define the label "Orthodox", I want to spell out what kind of entity is being labeled.
The Enlightenment and the fall of the ghetto walls created a religious crisis for Ashkenazic ...
- 9,388
9
votes
Accepted
Who authored the Tanach?
According to the Talmud (Bava Basra 14b-15a), the authors were the following (order based on the Gemara there):
Torah (Pentateuch) - Moshe (Perhaps Yehoshua wrote the last 8 Pesukim)
Yehoshua (Joshua)...
- 20.9k
8
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
The word "Orthodox" is ambiguous. Technically, it is a sociological grouping. Because in practice, that group is of people trying to observe classical notions of halakhah, we think of "Orthodox" as ...
- 9,388
8
votes
Can a person still be an Orthodox Jew and believe that the Torah contains narratives that are not scientifically correct?
The Torah, the Talmud and Chazal do not use the artificial label "Orthodox" or recognize subcategories of Judaism, it is just one religion. And you remain as Jewish as the rest of us even if you ...
- 287
8
votes
What is the position of each of these Non-Orthodox groups regarding the Oral Torah presented by Orthodox Judaism?
I'd like to preface by saying I believe that the positions (1-5) laid out are a little overly simplistic and don't necessarily capture the minutia of these groups, and what we know about them.
I have ...
- 672
7
votes
Conversion to Orthodox Judaism
Depends what you mean by "true".
For millennia, Judaism believed roughly in the same things as what we now call Orthodox Judaism, and abided by roughly the same rules. So in that sense, yes, Orthodox ...
- 73.7k
7
votes
What are Orthodox arguments against Conservative Judaism?
One of the consistent promoters of Torah/Orthodox Judaism is Rabbi Avi Shafran.
Already in his first book, "Jewthink" published in 1977 he laid out very clearly the Orthodox perspective that ...
- 2,961
7
votes
Are the Conservatives and all who practice it considered non-Jews in the eyes of Orthodoxy
This is totally incorrect. Even if a Jew sins sufficiently to merit being punished with karet, he is still a Jew. An example would be those who succumbed to the Spanish in 1492 and converted to ...
- 42.9k
7
votes
Is Tanach Simanim reliable from an Orthodox point of view?
The Tanakh Simanim is based for the most part on the Aleppo Codex, and where this version is lacking, on the Leningrad Codex. (see footnote 9 here). As such it is an authoritative version that you can ...
- 47.9k
7
votes
Is the Book of Enoch part of Judaism?
3 Enoch is known in Jewish tradition under the name Sefer Hekhaloth. It is part of a wider body of texts known as Hekhaloth literature. This book is now considered one of the primary texts of kabbalah ...
- 1,497
7
votes
What do Orthodox communities do for profoundly-disabled 13-year-olds (bar mitzvah or similar)?
I am a charadi yid living in NYC. I can describe what I did for my severely disabled (non verbal, non mobile, blind) son. [He had a stroke as a result of side effect to a medication at 2.5 years].
On ...
- 71
6
votes
Seeking Sources on Living Piously in a Secular World
Neither were Abraham, the holy matriarchs, Josef, Jethro, and even Mosses brought up in the best of surroundings, and the Midrash even says that Abraham worshiped idols in his youth, yet heaven ...
- 3,197
5
votes
What does it mean to qualify Judaism with the term "Orthodox"?
I have used the word "Orthodox" and "Observant" in my questions, so perhaps I can answer, but I can only speak for myself, not anyone else on the site or for the site. You should note 1) I just ...
- 199
5
votes
Accepted
What do Orthodox communities do for profoundly-disabled 13-year-olds (bar mitzvah or similar)?
You've asked an interesting question. I've seen several Bar Mitzvah affairs done on Shabbat for cerebral palsy kids and those with all kinds of disabilities.
I have a close friend who has an autistic ...
- 70k
5
votes
Is there an authoritative source on the similarities and differences of the denominations?
The Economist had a good report on Judaism and the Jews - alive and well. They used the following illustration to describe some key denominations of Judaism.
- 47.9k
5
votes
Are there Orthodox Jews who do not consider the Zohar’s validity?
Rabbi Yiḥyah Qafiḥ, his grandson, Rabbi Yossef Qafiḥ.
From wikipedia:
The work for which Rabbi Qafiḥ is most well known is Milḥamot HaShem
(Wars of the Lord, which takes the same name as earlier ...
5
votes
Accepted
Seeking Sources on Living Piously in a Secular World
Repentance is the biggest cleanser of the soul; and there is no sin that can't be forgiven, if a person truly repents.
The first step of repentance; is regret, which you've amply expressed.
The second ...
- 4,892
4
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
Yes. One is "too Orthodox" when one judges others for shortcomings other than sheer evil; when one hates people (for the group they belong to); when one no longer feels or acts like a part of humanity;...
- 19.6k
4
votes
Is there such a thing as "too Orthodox"?
No there isn't..
Truth is truth..No name can change it..If it is changed then it doesn't remain truth..So if one one obeys the truth,people's remarks does not matter..
It happens just because people ...
4
votes
Are Samaritans viewed as adherents of Judaism?
Samaritans are not Jews.
R Yosef Eisen at chabad.org explains why
When the Assyrians exiled the Ten Tribes, the conquerors brought in a
foreign people called Cutheans to populate the vacated ...
- 47.9k
4
votes
Good books for non-Jews who are interested in understanding Judaism, especially branches of Orthodox judaism
I highly suggest you read The Non-Orthodox Jew's Guide to Orthodox Jews by David Baum. It is exactly what it sounds like. You will understand a lot about traditional Judaism from this book.
- 18.5k
4
votes
Good books for non-Jews who are interested in understanding Judaism, especially branches of Orthodox judaism
Gateway to Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Becher
"Based on years of answering thousands of challenging inquiries, Becher's work blends elements of Jewish philosophy and law with an intensely practical ...
- 21.1k
4
votes
Modesty: What is the difference between Conservative and Modern Orthodox?
My experience (of the American scene) is that there are numerous shades of Jewish observance, but that there is a particularly significant split between Conservative and Orthodox denominations with ...
- 19.6k
4
votes
Is doctrinal unity enforced in Judaism and if so, How?
Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, known as Maimonides, was a great Jewish philosopher who lived during the 12th and 13th centuries, CE. He composed thirteen principles of Jewish faith, that, in his opinion, ...
- 18.5k
4
votes
Different siddur?
You mentioned that you prayed from an Orthodox Portuguese siddur. I am not an expert in the customs of Portugal, but I'm going to assume your siddur was in some form of Nusach Sepharad. (And possibly ...
- 18.5k
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