Expert: Rabbi Barry Dov Lerner - 5/10/2004

Question
Thanks for your answer.  Let me get more specific then.  What are the key differences between the Reform, Orthodox, and Conservative Judaism groups; and what % of each are there in the U.S.?

Thanks again.  Chris


Followup To
Question -
I am teaching a class on world religions in our church and (while I have read Huston smith's material), I wanted to make sure I include key information during our two hour talk on Judaism.  What would you suggest I cover during this time.  This is an ELCA Lutheran church in Grafton, WI.
Thanks.  Chris Beloin
Answer -
Dear Chris,

Thanks for writing.

I wish that I could provide even an outline, but you are speaking of a tradition that has been "summarized" in key points in the Encyclopedia Judaica in 16 volumes! :-)

There is also "Judaism" as an entry in the jewishencyclopedia.com on-line.

Smith does a reasonably good job, but it is certainly hard to cover in 2 hours a 4000 year old tradition, practiced in six continents, under the influence of hundreds of cultures, writing and tgeaching multiple languages, publishing literally tens of thousands of books, etc.

Perhaps one of the more useful approaches would be to read Trude Weis Rosmarin's "Judaism and Christianity: The Differences" and your church class would at least have a sense of the beliefs of Judaism vis a vis your own.

Another brief book would be Milton Steinberg's "Basic Judaism," very very brief but may point you toward the major issues and themes.

Best of luck

Rabbi Dov

Answer
Dear Chris,

Thanks for the specificity.

Let's understand that the movements per se are only in the past 150 years, at most, and thus are current developments.

Percentages I could only estimate and hesitate to do so, as there are those who affiliate with congregations and then those who don't but identify themselves as "  ".

Roughly 35% Reform and Conservative each, 20% Orthodox - although a bit generous - and the remainder Reconstructionist and secular, humanist, etc.

http://shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/  is a URL that should provide most of what you are asking.

Good luck once again.

Rabbi Dov