Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism is a stream of Judaism that treats traditional Jewish law as binding and interprets and observes it in changing circumstances.

Halakha: Jewish law, derived from scripture, rabbinic interpretation, and established practice. Orthodox Judaism centers on the binding authority of this legal tradition.
Reform Judaism: A modern Jewish movement that emphasizes ethical monotheism and allows substantial adaptation of Jewish practice. Its approach to the authority and observance of halakha differs from Orthodox Judaism.
Moses Maimonides: A medieval Jewish philosopher and legal scholar whose works became central to Jewish thought and law. His codification and philosophy remain influential across Orthodox traditions.
Modern Orthodox Judaism: A movement within Orthodox Judaism that combines traditional observance with engagement in modern society and secular learning. It demonstrates one influential way Orthodox communities navigate modern institutions.
Torah: The foundational Jewish teaching, especially the Five Books of Moses and their interpretive tradition. Its commandments and interpretation anchor Orthodox religious obligation.
Conservative Judaism: A Jewish movement that treats Jewish law as binding while permitting its development through historical and rabbinic interpretation. It shares commitment to law but differs over how legal change is authorized.
Vilna Gaon: An eighteenth-century Lithuanian rabbi and scholar renowned for Talmudic learning and opposition to Hasidism. His scholarship helped define a major non-Hasidic Orthodox legacy.
Haredi Judaism: A set of Orthodox Jewish communities emphasizing strict religious observance and strong rabbinic authority. Its communities express Orthodox commitments through distinctive social boundaries and institutions.
Talmud: A foundational compilation of rabbinic discussions of Jewish law, ethics, and interpretation. Its debates supply major sources for later Orthodox legal reasoning.
Reconstructionist Judaism: A Jewish movement that understands Judaism as an evolving religious civilization and tradition. Its view of inherited authority contrasts with Orthodox claims about binding law.

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