The ethnic diversity among Jews has resulted in a number of cultural divisions within Judaism

It is important to understand these divisions as well as the challenges that face Israel

• Where members of these groups have come to live together

1. Sephardic Jews2. Ashkenazic Jews3. Mizrahim Jews

The name Sephardic comes from a mythic land of Sephar once thought to exist in the distant west of Israel and often identified with Spain

Sepharadim – “Spanish”• Originally from Andalucía,

Spain, • after 1492 expulsion, moved to

north Africa, other areas of Europe

• Most spoke Ladino – Hebrew + Spanish

• Music is Andalucian, in Ladino and Arabic

• Food is north African, Mediterranean

The name Ashkenazic comes from Ashkenaz• A descendant of Noah

Ashkenazim refers to those Jews who at one time lived in or came from central Europe

Ashkenazim• Northern European Jews• Most spoke Yiddish – Hebrew

+ German• Food is German, polish –

blintzes, bagels, pickled meats and vegetables

Ashkenazic culture ended in Europe with the Holocaust

Mizrahim – “Eastern”• Lived in countries

“east” of Jerusalem – Middle East: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Palestine, Jordan

• Spoke Arabic or Persian • Music in the style of

the Middle East• Food is “middle

eastern”

within Judaism, divisions exist based on variations in religious observance

Some Jews have held to traditional practices and other branches have developed out of the conviction that Judaism will continue to exist only if it reinterprets its traditions

Four branches have emerged: 1. Orthodox2. Conservative3. Reform4. Reconstructionist

Traditional Judaism is often called Orthodox

A branch of Judaism committed to retaining traditional practice and belief

Orthodox Jews are hesitant to discard any traditional practices

• Even those not demanded by the Torah but simply revered as reasonable later developments that are said to “guard” the Torah from being lost or misinterpreted

Must conform to Torah because it is unchangeable

Often live in own communities to preserve tradition

Includes 1/10 of the US Jewish population

Hasidism is a branch of Orthodoxy

Orthodox synagogues separate males and females

For service, there must be a quorum of ten Jewish men

Services are conduced in Hebrew and led by male rabbis

Only males celebrate the coming of age – bar mitzvah

Men at prayer use the talit and at weekday morning prayer use the tefillin

Males must keep their heads covered as a reminder that God is above all• Skullcap, prayer shawl, or hat

Social roles are strictly separate• Men are the breadwinners of the

family• Women are responsible for running

the household the hair of the beard and in front of

the ears is sometimes left uncut by males• In response to a command in the

Torah Males wear a black hat and black coat

(dress) Married women cover their heads with

a kerchief when outside the home• The hair is covered as an expression

of modesty because a woman’s hair is considered to be seductive to men

Jews who desire moderate change but protection of traditions as well

Sees change in religious understanding as necessary to keep up with modernity but adheres to traditional Jewish practices as much as possible

Liturgy is in Hebrew & dietary rules strictly followed

Women are allowed to become rabbis

Agrees with Zionism Includes ½ of the Jews in

the US

Believe that Judaism changes with society

The goal is to modernize Judaism hoping that it will survive in the contemporary world

In reform synagogue worship, women and men sit together

Liturgy is spoken in English Choirs and music are common The use of the talit or tefillin has

either been dropped or made optional

Traditional ways of dressing has disappeared

Women may become rabbis Girls have coming of age

ceremonies • Bat mitzvah

Includes 1/3 of the Jews in the US

Newest and smallest branch of Judaism

It grows out of the thought of Mordecai Kaplan• The founder• Came to the US as a child• Was influenced by American

ideals of democracy and practicality

• He promoted the vision that encourages Jews to become familiar with as many elements of traditional Judaism as possible but allows them the freedom of individual interpretation

Reconstructionism sees Judaism as a changing cultural force, with many elements and manifestations

Albert Einstein Sigmund Freud Abraham

Maslow Elie Wiesel