Religious Differences among Jewish People
Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people, but not all Jewish people practice Judaism. In fact, today there is a significant number of Jewish people who would identify as secular. For those who consider themselves religious, Judaism today consists of a variety of different branches, or streams. These branches agree on the Jewishness of their faith and that God is One, but differ on a diverse range of other topics – from how strictly the Torah should be observed to whether the Scriptures are even authoritative. Below, we will look at some major religious differences among Jewish people today, including the three major religious branches, smaller streams, and being secular in a Jewish context.
Some Statistics
In the United States, Jewish people who practice Judaism mostly belong to three branches, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center study: Reform (37% of Jewish Americans), Conservative (17%), and Orthodox (9%). Around one in three Jewish people don’t identify with any branch of Judaism (32%), and the remaining 4% belong to smaller branches, such as Reconstructionist or Humanistic Judaism.[1]
Large Branches of Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism is the largest denomination among Jewish people in the United States today. As a movement, it has its origins in 19th-century Germany. As the emancipation of Jewish people progressed in Europe, some leaders in the Jewish community came to see Judaism as a religion that had been, and was continuing to, evolve throughout history. To make Judaism more attractive and practical for Jewish people living in an increasingly secular environment, changes were made to modernize Judaism. For example, synagogues relaxed rules around gender-segregated seating and became less stringent about dietary laws.[2]
In the mid-1800s, the Reform movement was brought by Jewish immigrants from Germany to America, where it flourished. Reform congregations today generally hold to the centrality of God, Torah, and Israel. They believe Judaism needs to adapt to the needs of the Jewish community over time. Inclusivity and social justice issues are important concerns for Reform congregations. Unlike Orthodox Judaism, Reform Judaism does not consider the Torah, the Talmud, or halacha (Jewish religious law) to be binding.[3]
Conservative Judaism
This branch of Judaism serves as a middle ground between Reform and Orthodox Judaism. The Conservative movement doesn’t go as far as Reform Judaism in rejecting traditional laws and practices – it views halacha observance as essential – but it is more open to modifying Jewish observance than Orthodox Judaism is.[4]
Conservative Judaism tends to be internally diverse, with some congregations leaning more toward the Reform and others toward the Orthodox end of the spectrum, so it’s difficult to sum up its beliefs as a movement. It used to be the largest Jewish denomination in the United States, reaching its peak growth in the two decades after WWII, but has since seen a noticeable decline.[5] A 2021 Pew Research Center study found that, for every person who joined the Conservative movement, almost three people had left it.[6]
Orthodox Judaism
“Orthodox Judaism” is best thought of as an umbrella term that includes various groups within it, such as the Hasidim. These groups have one key thing in common: they believe that the Torah, both Written and Oral, is the word of God.
As Christians, we are familiar with the Torah as the five books of Moses, but within Judaism, these five books of the Bible are known as the Written Law. Rabbinic tradition teaches that there is an Oral Law, which God verbally revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. These laws were believed to have been orally transmitted until approximately the third century AD, when they were codified in the Mishnah. Together with the Gemara – a collection of rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah – these two books form the Talmud. Although there is no evidence that these teachings came from Moses or were inspired by God, Jewish people who belong to the Orthodox community consider the Talmud as equal to or even greater in authority than the Torah.
Orthodox Judaism has gained more adherents in recent years. This growth is partly because some Jewish people are being drawn toward traditional religious values, and partly because Orthodox Judaism has a very high birth rate. Orthodox Jewish groups can be divided broadly into two groups: Modern Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox, also known as haredim. Modern Orthodoxy maintains adherence to halacha while seeking a greater level of integration with modern society. In contrast, Haredi Jewish groups strive to maintain a level of separation from the surrounding culture. They are distinguished from other Orthodox groups for their strict devotion to the Torah, rabbinic tradition, and halacha.[7]
Secular Jewish People
Today, there are a growing number of Jewish people who identify as secular – this applies to nearly a third of Jewish people in America and 45% of Jewish people in Israel.[8] Secular Jews are ethnically Jewish but don’t practice Judaism. In many ways, they share the same values and lifestyle as their Gentile neighbors. While they may celebrate certain Jewish holidays and identify with Jewish culture and history, they are generally not part of a Jewish religious community. Many secular Jews have adopted religious beliefs outside of Judaism, including atheism, agnosticism, or the spirituality of eastern religions. Most of them are not familiar with Judaism’s texts and traditions – including the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud.
Smaller Branches of Judaism
Reconstructionist Judaism
Founded by Mordecai Kaplan in the early 20th century, Reconstructionist Judaism is similar to Reform Judaism in that it believes that Judaism has changed and adapted according to the needs of each generation of Jewish people. The Reconstructionist movement expands their idea of Judaism to include all aspects of the Jewish way of life, emphasizing congregational participation in determining what and how Jewish traditions should be practiced.[9]
Humanistic Judaism
This movement in Judaism began with Rabbi Sherwin Wine, who founded the first Humanistic congregation in Detroit in 1963.[10] Humanistic Judaism removes God entirely from the picture, focusing instead on human responsibility and rationality as capable of providing answers to the problems in the world. Humanistic congregations are made up of anyone who identifies with the Jewish people in some way, and tend to be very inclusive and social-justice oriented.[11]
Jewish Believers in Jesus
Though relatively few in number, some Jewish people believe that Jesus is the Messiah – they are part of the remnant of Israel that Paul writes about in Romans 11:5. The level of Jewish traditional practice varies among Jewish believers. Most are effectively indistinguishable from Gentile Christians, and usually attend typical evangelical churches. As Ephesians 2:14-16 explains, Jewish and Gentile believers are one in the body of Messiah, the church. Our desire as Life in Messiah is to see more Jewish people come to faith in Jesus and become part of this segment!
Conclusion
The religious beliefs among Jewish people today are incredibly diverse. As you can imagine, Jewish religious differences play an important role in how we reach out to Jewish people with the gospel. Having some understanding of the denominations and movements within Judaism is helpful, but it’s important to remember that an individual may not hold the same beliefs as the congregation or religious group they belong to. Be curious about what your Jewish friend or neighbor personally believes, and prayerfully engage with them, trusting God to work in their lives and provide opportunities for gospel conversations.
[1] See a breakdown of the stats here (note that the remaining 1% is not shown in the graph).
[2] Learn more about Reform Judaism here.
[3] This article describes Reform Judaism’s value for social justice.
[4] See this quick breakdown of Jewish denominations.
[5] Read up on the history of Conservative Judaism here.
[6] This article explains the trend toward Reform Judaism.
[7] Learn more about modern Orthodox Judaism here.
[8] See this breakdown of Israel’s population.
[9] Learn more about Reconstructionist Judaism here.
