Topic > Essay on Judaism - 719

Mendelssohn's followers believed that many of Judaism's practices were out of place if they were to be part of Western civilization (Hopfe, 191). In 1843, a group of German Jewish leaders decided that it was time to separate modern Judaism from historical Judaism in order to better adapt it to modern societies (Hopfe, 191). That decision then became the basis for the creation of Reform Judaism in which Jewish practices changed to “use more vernacular and less Jewish in their worship; their synagogues were called temples; Kosher food laws were relaxed; choirs and organs were introduced” (Hopfe, 191). Subsequently, Orthodox Judaism is a denomination of Judaism that is very similar to Historical Judaism. Orthodox Jews go to great lengths to maintain traditional Jewish culture, resist the secularizing elements of modernity, maintain kosher dietary laws, strictly observe the Sabbath, have men and women on separate sides during worship, and both must cover their heads during worship and speaking Hebrew during worship. (Hopfe, 194). And finally, Conservative Judaism is the other denomination of Judaism. In Conservative Judaism, they are similar to Orthodox Judaism, however they distinguish themselves by placing greater attention on the historical and critical study of the Bible and rabbinic material (Hopfe, 194). In their worship, the vernacular is used more than Hebrew, they tend to pray on Saturday mornings, the men cover their heads with the traditional yarmulke during worship, and many of them try to respect the biblical and Talmudic laws regulating food and they especially observe the Sabbath. during important religious events of the Jewish calendar (Hopfe,