Orthodox Judaism differs from other Jewish denominations in its commitment to the written Torah (the canon of the Hebrew Bible, or Tanach) and the Oral Torah, the tradition that explains the meaning of the written scriptures. Orthodox Jews believe that God gave the Scriptures to Moses and then taught him the oral tradition, which is passed down from generation to generation.
Origins
The origins of Orthodox Judaism can be traced to early 19th century Germany and German-Jewish immigrant communities in the United States. Orthodox Judaism is considered a reaction to the growing popularity of Reform Judaism.
Reaction against Reform Judaism
In the early 19th century, Jewish Reform Jews in parts of Central Europe and North America saw the need to adjust to changing times and turn to more modern, liberal Jews, changing traditional practices not only in synagogues but also in everyday life. They advocated integrating Jews into secular society in areas that were considered irrelevant to Jewish life, such as switching to local vernacular languages and relaxing strict kosher food laws. This influential movement became known as Reform Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism rejected many of the modernizations introduced by Reform Judaism, reaffirming the authority of ancient Jewish law and prescribing strict adherence to traditional Jewish practices. While the founders of Orthodox Judaism recognized the modern age and the need for Jews to be part of the larger community, they also believed that Jews could lead fully orthodox lives by strictly observing established Jewish law and ritual.
Founders and Supporters
One of the key founders of German orthodoxy was Rabbi Jacob Ettlinger. An ardent opponent of the Reform movement, Ettlinger was instrumental in organizing a group of like-minded rabbis in the region to protest against Reform. In 1845 he began publishing a weekly journal in German with a Hebrew supplement that disseminated orthodox ideas and opinions. Ettlinger was universally admired for his religious devotion and scholarship, and many students who graduated from his influential yeshiva (a school where Talmud and Jewish law are studied) took up prominent rabbinical positions. This helped to further spread the tenets of orthodox Judaism, which were already accepted in Western and Central Europe, as well as in German-Jewish immigrant communities in the United States.
Two of Ettlinger’s disciples, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch and Rabbi Asriel Hildesheimer, further deepened and expanded the practice of Orthodox Judaism. During their distinguished careers, both were instrumental in spreading orthodox thought in Germany and the rest of Western Europe. In the United States, Issac Lizer championed orthodox ideas in his influential periodical The Occident and American Jewish Advocate. Lieser gained notoriety in the American Jewish community for his opposition to Reform Judaism, especially the teachings and writings of prominent American Reform leader Issac Mayer Wise.
Fundamentals of Faith
Although there are many denominations classified as orthodox Judaism, they all share basic beliefs. One of the most essential tenets of the faith is that these groups, whether Haredi or modern orthodox, believe that the Torah is of divine origin and unchanging in light of changing economic and social conditions. The challenge for today’s Jewish scholars is to apply traditional Jewish law (halakha) to contemporary situations.