- Orthodoxy: While there are many branches of orthodoxy, all orthodox groups adhere strongly to the commandments as set out by the Torah and Talmud.
- Conservative/Masorti: Conserves many, but not all of the commandments. Considered a middle ground between Orthodoxy and Reform.
- Reform/Progressive/Liberal: These movements generally do not require adherence to the laws between man and G-d, only between man and man.
- Hasidism: A branch of orthodoxy that follows that teachings of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov.
- Reconstructionism: Believes that Judaism is a civilization that is constantly evolving.
- Pharisees: A predecessor sect to today’s rabbinic Judaism.
- Sadducees: Contemporaries of the Pharisees, did not believe in the divinity of the Oral Law.
- Essenes: Small splinter movement that believed in abstinence from worldly pleasures. Many believe that they wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls.
- Karaism: Splinter religion from mainstream Judaism that follows only the written Torah, and not the Oral Torah (Talmud). Some believe they have their roots from the Sadducees.
- Samaritanism: This splinter religion has a slightly different version of the Torah. They claim they are the original Israelite religion before the Babylonian Exile.
Learn about the different Jewish sects in in this book.
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