Speaking Of Shabbat...

If I already posted this from Yahoo! Answers before, please let me know. Nonetheless, a refresher always helps. On Shabbat especially, to talk about the different forms of Judaism would begin to give others—including Jews who don't know what the heck their own people do, and those who suspect that they are Jewish and would like to have an idea of what Jews do—an idea of what Jews do on Shabbat. Granted that this is basic, modified from the original Yahoo! post, and more for reference than anything else; but it should still give you an idea of what Jews do on Shabbat.

Conservative Judaism is the closest form of Judaism to Orthodox (really, Orthodox Pharisaic) Judaism. Conservative (Masorti) Judaism broke away from Reform Judaism in order to maintain Matrilineal Descent as the rue for "Who is a Jew?" and other traditions, although they do not believe in the inerrancy of Tanakh or the Talmud. The hierarchy is something along the lines of: 

1) Haredi ("Hasidi", "Chabad") Judaism (including Kabbalah) 2) Orthodox Judaism 3) Conservadox Judaism 4) Reformodox Judaism 5) Conservative (Masorti) Judaism 6) Reform (Liberal, "Progressive") Judaism 7) Reconstructionist Judaism 8) Renewal Judaism or Alternative Judaism 9) Humanistic Judaism 10) Atheistic Judaism 


There's also Karaite (Mikra'iti, Scripturalist) Judaism and Messianic (Christian) Judaism, neither of which are accepted by Pharisaic (Mainstream) Judaism.

Now that you have an idea of each of the forms of Judaism, you can pretty much guess what a Jew who affiliates with a given denomination of Judaism does on Shabbat. If you can't, keep reading...

1) Haredi ("Hasidi", "Chabad") Judaism (including Kabbalah)—will not work on Shabbat. "Work" certainly includes even writing, and may even include walking for the extremely-haredi Jew. For the Jew who does not even walk on Shabbat, he or she may sit in his or her home and privately worship (He or she would certainly not walk to shul.). If he or she has any light on in his or her dwelling, the light will come only from the Shabbat candles, as "work" includes turning on a light switch!
2) Orthodox Judaism—will not work on Shabbat. "Work" may include even writing for the more-Orthodox Jew (as opposed to the Modern Orthodox Jew, depending on what he or she is writing). He or she will usually walk to shul, and drive only if tikun ha'olam v'piku'ach nefesh (e.g., getting a disabled family member to shul) requires him or her to do so (He or she may hire a shabbos goy to drive the family member, however.). If he or she has any light on in his or her dwelling, the light will come only from the Shabbat candles, as "work" includes turning on a light switch!
3) Conservadox Judaism—will mix Conservative and Orthodox practices.
4) Reformodox Judaism—will mix Reform and Orthodox practices. 
5) Conservative (Masorti) Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being Orthodox or Reform. "Work" may include even writing for the more-Orthodox Conservative Jew (as opposed to the more-Modern-Orthodox Jew, depending on what he or she is writing). He or she will usually walk to shul, and drive only if tikun ha'olam v'piku'ach nefesh (e.g., getting a disabled family member to shul) requires him or her to do so (He or she may hire a shabbos goy to drive the family member, however.). If he or she has any light on in his or her dwelling, the light may come only from the Shabbat candles, as "work" may include turning on a light switch! 
6) Reform (Liberal, "Progressive") Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being more traditional or more liberal. "Work" may include even writing for the more-Orthodox Reform Jew (as opposed to the less-Orthodox Reform Jew, depending on what he or she is writing). He or she will usually drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all.  He or she will also likely turn on light switches.
7) Reconstructionist Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being more traditional or more liberal. He or she will write, usually drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and likely turn on light switches. 
8) Renewal Judaism or Alternative Judaism—may or may not work on Shabbat, depending on whether he or she leans toward being more traditional or more liberal. He or she will write, drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and turn on light switches.  
9) Humanistic Judaism—would not be opposed to working on Shabbat. He or she will write, drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and turn on light switches.  
10) Atheistic Judaism—would not be opposed to working on Shabbat. He or she will write, drive to shul—if he or she attends shul at all—, and turn on light switches. 


Karaite Judaism and Messianic (Christian) Judaism, meanwhile, accept few to no Orthodox practices as authoritative. Karaite and Messianic Jews, therefore, usually work on Shabbat except for in the ways which are prohibited by TaNaKh—for Messianics, TaNaKH ("H" stands for "[B'rit] Hadashah", or "New [Covenant] [or "New Testament"]"). Both Karaites and Messianics usually write, drive to shul, and turn on light switches.

I Can't Take Seriously a "Rabbi" Who Doesn't Believe That Homosexuality Is Wrong...

This is part of why Mattiyahu 23:8-10 specifically warns against calling anyone but Yeshua "Rabbi", by the way...

Nicole Czarnecki said...

Natalie Portman is a self-hating Jew. For examople, voting for John Kerry (a self-hating Cohen) and Barack Obama (a self-hating matrilineal Jew) and definitely taking some Anti-Jewish roles ("Cold Mountain" and a certain scene with Mia Kunis in "Black Swan" which violates Leviticus 18); Natalie Portman shows that she gives only lip service to Israel and Jewish values, and that she's a JIEO (Jew In Ethnicity Only).

1:33 AM

Anonymous said...

"...and a certain scene with Mia Kunis in "Black Swan" which violates Leviticus 18)"

Are you serious??? It's a movie...it's all pretend...it's nonsense like this why despite my great respect for Torah I will never become Orthodox.

And by the way even if her hubby is not Jewish, her kids will be and I am sure she will raise them that way. I am 87.5% Jewish which means my great grandmother on my father's side married and non-Jew, was cast out from her family and yet her child (my grandpa) was raised Jewish and married a Jewish girl (my grandma) and so did my father, and so did I. The result: a Jewish generation with improved genetic diversity, which is a plus.

2:41 PM

Rabbi Jason Miller said...

Nicole: You need to study Lev. 18 more in depth. You are not correct by any reading of the text.

2:54 PM

Now let's look at Vaykira 18 where homosexuality is talked about: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind; it is abomination." The converse applies: women shall not lie with each other as with men. That means that (for a lack of a better explanation) even pretend oral sex between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis was wrong.

You can look at Jason Miller's resume, by the way. I'm surprised that Shomrei Emunah let him teach at their congregation, since they are Orthodox P'rushim. Also by the way, you can Google that Barack Obama's mom was a Jew-- a fellow Jew told me that, and I thought that she was kidding until I Googled it for myself.

"Is Kirk Douglas a Messianic Jew?" Real Question and the Answer Thereto

Far from it. Kirk Douglas is a Conservative Jew, and the USCJ is very Antimissionary.

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Mormon Anti Semitism Which Makes One Wonder Why Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) Is Mormon

"EscapeNewJersey
 Reply to your comment on: SHOW OFF YOUR DEAD: MAUSOLEUMS @Nickidewbear Sorry to say, but Jews are materialistic in life and in death. Jews don't believe in the afterlife, they only believe in the here and now. That is why I'm a Mormon."

There are several problems with EscapeNewJersey's statement:

• Only Reform and more-Liberal Jews do not believe in an afterlife. Conservative and Orthodox P'rushi, Kara'i, and Messianic Jews do believe in an afterlife. However, some Reform and other Liberal Jews do believe in an afterlife. Directly from the URJ Website FAQ:
• "Reform Judaism, while not taking any "official" position on the matter, has for the most part ignored the question, and tended towards the belief that there is no such thing. The attitude of Judaism might best be summed up as "We really do not know, but if there is a life after this one, and a reward for what we do, then surely it will be dependent upon the kind of life we have lived - therefore, let us strive to follow God's path for us as closely and as enthusiastically as possible, for then we will surely know all manner of rewards, especially the one of seeing a world that is a better place for our efforts"."
• From FAQs.org: "That said, traditional Judaism does address this question. To put it shortly, our beliefs in resurection and afterlife vary widely. Some believe it is part of the Messianic era. Some consider it an era ofits own, after the messianic one. It's a matter of debate in Jewish tradition as to whether the post resurection life is permanent, or temporary."
• At surface value, materialism would not be consistent with Democratic or liberal (Classical Conservative) values-- which many Jews hold-- or with Republican, conservative (Classical Liberal), charitable values. Both Jewish Democrats and Republicans, and other Jews take seriously tikun-ha'olam-- even if we interpret it in different ways. Tikun ha'olam is defined as, for instance, "Correcting the world, repairing the world; an action promoting social justice [H[ebrew]]".
• At least in Christianity (including Messianic Judaism), ha'olam haba is not focused on avodah tovah v'avodah zarah-- good and bad works--, although there will be rewards and losses for each. The afterlife is about Elohim, with focus on that we received yeshuat from and thus give toda v'kavod to Yeshua with Yehovah Ha'Av v'Yehovah Ha'Ru'ach-HaKodesh. For, "¹ [t]herefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

If Jews Ran Hollywood, Hollywood Wouldn't Be As Secular or Anti Israel...

And the Jews that do have clout and power in Hollywood aren't Kara'i or-- toda el HaShem-- P'rushi haredi Jews at all. For example, my fashion designer cousin Marcela J. "Mia" Danilowicz, who may still be gaining prominence as a fashion designer if my boycott against her antithesis-of-humble and rude behavior doesn't work, is Non-Evangelical Roman Catholic, seriously doesn't care about our Jewish heritage anymore (if she ever did), and takes great pains to hide that she's even from our meshuge mispoche-- which is part of her arrogance (and anyone in our family who tries to look good in the world's eyes tries to hide that they're from that Rusnak, Fosko, Gaydos, Danilowicz, or other associated-with-me crazy family. And that's why Mia called me "fucking psycho"-- how dare that I'm actually honest that our family is imperfect).

As for other Jews who clout and hold power Hollywood-- e.g., Natalie Portman, Kirk Douglas, and Ben Stiller--, they're all very Democrat, secular (ranging from only-ethnically Jewish to P'rushi Masorti), and even Anti Jewish and Anti Missionary in some cases. For example, Natalie Portman voted for John Kerry, fornicated with her now- (who was someone else's) fiance Benjamin Millipied, and was livid with her dad for suggesting that anyone of her partners undergo brit milah:

"“A priority for me is definitely that I’d like to raise my kids Jewish, but the ultimate thing is to have someone who is a good person and who is a partner,” she said.

"Natalie was born in Israel, but her family moved to America when she was just three. Her father is still very much in touch with his Jewish roots, and apparently tries to encourage non-Jewish boyfriends like Gael to convert.
"“He always makes this stupid joke,” admitted Natalie. “He says, ‘It’s just a simple operation’.”"

As for examples of P'rushim Masortim, who-- like Reform Jews-- do not take Tanakh as the Word of G-d, one is Kirk Douglas. As the SCJFAQ section of Shamash.org states:

"Conservative Judaism hold that the laws of the Torah and Talmud are of divine origin, and thus mandates the following of Halakha (Jewish law). At the same time, the Conservative movement recognizes the human element in the Torah and Talmud, and accepts modern scholarship which shows that Jewish writings also show the influence of other cultures, and in general can be treated as historical documents."

There is no human element in Tanakh, Torah or otherwise-- Tanakh was written down davar l'davar by soferim who heard and listened to Ruach HaKodesh; and P'rushim Masortim like Kirk Douglas do not believe that. As for Talmud Bavli, Jews ranging from Natalie Portman to Kirk Douglas ascribe something to it-- unlike Kara'im and many Meshichim, who know that Talmud Bavli is an outright revisionist attempt to specifically break the mitzvah not to add or take from Tanakh.

Besides; Hollywood has many Non-Evangelical Catholics like Mel Gibson and Martin Scorsese, Atheists, and other gentiles (We include Jewish Catholics and Atheists, and other Jews in Natalie Portman, Kirk Douglas, and other Jews in Hollywood). So, trust that clout and power-- not Jews-- run Hollywood.