CHAPTER 1:
Defining “Orthodox Judaism”
"Chadash assur min hatorah"
– Rabbi Moses Sofer (Chasam Sofer)
"The Law, both Written and Oral, was closed with Moses."
– Rabbi Samson Rafael Hirsch, Horeb
Before we can address the claims Orthodoxy makes for itself, we first have to define “Orthodoxy.” Orthodox Judaism spans mystically-inclined Kabbalists and rationalistic Maimonideans; insular Chareidim and popular-culture-embracing Modern Orthodox; believers in hashgacha pratis and believers in an apophatic God. Despite the differences, these individuals and communities share the “Orthodox” label, and there are generalizations that can be made. Orthodoxy as such came into existence at a particular moment in history, and its subgroups share beliefs about themselves, Judaism, and the world that make them “Orthodox.”
Orthodoxy: A Definition
Orthodoxy is that subset of Judaism that holds that its version of Judaism is the sole legitimate version, that its version of Judaism is mandatory for all Jews, and that halacha and hashkafa should be the primary factors in determining all of one’s decisions and actions. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah is the literal word of God which was dictated to Moshe Rabeinu along with an oral interpretive tradition. This tradition is believed to have been passed down through the generations essentially unchanged, and to be eternally binding.[i] Consequently, all Jewish people are required to follow the dictates of halacha, which includes detailed instructions for every aspect of life. Orthodox Jewish observance involves meticulous adherence to these instructions, which govern everything from minutia like how to get dressed to daily observances like davening to to lifecycle events like weddings and funerals.
The authority of halacha comes not (or not only) from personal acceptance of it, but from tradition, community, and ultimately, from God. It is something imposed from outside oneself – though it may be gladly accepted – not something derived from personal values. [ii] Whether to obey halacha is not a personal choice, it’s a requirement, and one’s actions in relation to halacha affect not only oneself, but the community and even the world.
The term “Orthodox” dates to the 1800s, and was first used by the emerging Reform Movement as a disparaging term for the traditionalists.[iii] Though they did not choose it, the name is an apt description of its members’ beliefs about themselves. The word “orthodox” comes from the Greek word “orthodoxia,” which means "right opinion.”[iv] Orthodox Jews believe that the Judaism they practice is the right one, the one practiced by all Jews throughout history who practiced Judaism correctly. They believe that Orthodoxy, and only Orthodoxy, is the Judaism that was given by God and passed down through the generations.[v]
Orthodoxy can be divided into subgroups, and those subgroups further divided,[vi] to differentiate between the variety of communities that the term is broadly applied to. The exact parameters of these subgroups differ in different countries, most notably between the United States and Israel, but there are broad similarities. We will be using American definitions for the subgroups since those are the ones I’m most familiar with.
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