| Torah, given to Moses and the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. Commitment to these laws contained in the written and oral Torah transcends time, place, or circumstance, unless specifically provided. The ever living God and Infinite Creator is both transcendent and immanent; He is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. He hears prayer, and the pure in heart may commune with Him directly without any intercessor. Man is free and not tainted with Original Sin. Judaism affirms life as good and seeks to endow it with spiritual and moral worth. The Jewish affirmation of faith that emphasizes God's unity is expressed in the Sh'ma: "Hear, O Israel, O Israel, The Lord Our God, The Lord is One." Authoritative Jewish literature includes the Bible, the Talmud, the Responsa literature, and the Codes. The most authoritative Code is the Shulhan Arukh by Joseph Caro. PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: Judaism is a religion of deed rather than creed. The deeds required of a Jew are both ritual and ethical, the former in relation to God and the latter in relation to one's fellow man. Ethics is inseparable from religion in Judaism, and the deepest concern of the Torah in its broadest sense is morality, both individual and social. In addition to the Sabbath, religious holidays include the three biblical pilgrimage festivals Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles, the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). All holidays except the Day of Atonement are observed for two days. The first two and last two days of Passover and Tabernacles are days on which work is forbidden. All manner of work is forbidden on the Sabbath as well as on holidays. The preparation of food is prohibited only on the Sabbath and the Day of Atonement. Hanukkah and Purim are post Biblical holidays, and do not include a prohibition against work. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: The majority of Orthodox Jews are organized locally rather than nationally. However, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations represents about 1,000 member congregations and was founded in New York City in 1898. Among other Orthodox Institutions are Yeshivas, Seminaries of Torah Study, including the Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary and Yeshiva University;the Hebrew Theological College in Chicago, the New Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, Yeshiva Torah Vadath, and Hayim Berlin in New York. Orthodox rabbis are represented by the Rabbinical Alliance of America and the Rabbinical Council of America and other established rabbinical associations. ROLE OF MINISTERS: A rabbi is the appointed spiritual leader who guides and represents the congregation. In addition, there are elected lay leaders, both in the congregation and in the Jewish community. WORSHIP: What is distinctive about Jewish worship is its congregational or group character. There are fixed times for public worship, three times daily morning, afternoon, and evening. Congregational worship has certain prerequisites, such as the "minyan" or quorum of ten men who constitute the minimum number for public worship. When the minyan is not available, individuals must worship privately, offering thanks and praise to God. A Jew must approach God with clean hands and a pure heart, with prayers prompted by a sincere and devoted heart. Items for worship include the Torah or the Scroll of the Law and its accouterments, prayer books, Hebrew Bible, skull caps, prayer shawls, and tfilin (phylactories), which are to be worn by males at morning prayer (except on the Sabbath). (Male Jews are required to keep their heads covered.) Every synagogue contains the ark which houses the Torah and adequate storage space for worship equipment. In the event a synagogue is not available and some other building is used instead, non Jewish symbols should be absent from the facility, at least while it is being used for worship by Jews. DIETARY LAWS OR RESTRICTIONS: Dietary laws, beginning with Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14, contain prohibitions against animals that do not have split hooves and chew their cud, sea food without fins and scales; cooking milk and meat together, and certain fowl. These laws are amplified by the oral law to include the complete separation of milk and meat, including the use of separate utensils for each. All permissible fowl and cattle must be ritually slaughtered. FUNERAL AND BURIAL REQUIREMENTS: The purpose of Jewish funeral and burial requirements is both to honor the deceased and to provide comfort to the mourners. The requirements include ritual cleansing of the body, clothing the body in white shrouds and prayer shawl, male only, and the use of a simple wooden coffin. The funeral service is simple and prescribed by Jewish law. Following the burial, close relatives observe a mourning period (shiv a) which is seven days. Anyone in the presence of a dying person may guide him in the expression of Vidui (confession) and the affirmation of faith (the Sh'ma), but the presence of a rabbi is important both for guidance and consolation. Autopsy is not permitted except in very unusual circumstances (e.g., promoting justice), because of prohibition against mutilation of the body and disrespect for the dead. A rabbi should be consulted before autopsy. Cremation is prohibited; burial in the earth is required. MEDICAL TREATMENT: No restrictions. Jews consider physicians as instruments through whom God can effect a cure. Medical treatment is viewed as one means to help achieve good health. OTHER: While the basic philosophy of Judaism is the sanctification of life, it recognizes the necessity to preserve and defend one's country, without which the "sanctification of life" becomes a meaningless phrase. In every U.S. war, Jews have served in the armed forces as a necessary act of defending their country and of helping to maintain it free and strong. Throughout its venerable history, Judaism has come into contact with many peoples, religions, and creeds. It has both influenced and been influenced by these; yet it has ever retained its religious and cultural uniqueness and has remained true to the principles of ethical monotheism. Judaism does not seek to supplant other religions, but rather to labor with them in honorable fellowship to bring about the universal peace and justice on earth, and the light of God to the hearts of all men. GENERAL SOURCE BOOKS: Belkin, S. In His Image. New York: Abelard Schuman, 1961. Berkovits, Eliezer. God Man and History. New York: Jonathan David,1979. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: The Orthodox Jewish community is represented by several rabbinical and congregational associations which may be contacted. Rabbinical Alliance of America 156 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10011 or Rabbinical Council of America 275 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10001 (212) 807-7888 or Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America 45 W. 36th Street New York, NY 10018 (212) 563-4000 or Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada 235 E. Broadway New York, NY 10002 (212) 964-6337 |
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| Black Rose Spiritual Center, Inc : Belief Systems |
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| Orthodox Judaism |
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| ADDRESS: Rabbinical Council of America 275 Seventh Ave New York NY 10001 (212) 807-7888 LEADERSHIP: Following the common Jewish pattern, Orthodox Jewish congregations are independent and autonomous, and both rabbis and congregations freely associate in various associations. However, leading rabbinic authorities are looked to for direction. MEMBERSHIP: Not reported. HISTORICAL ORIGIN: The early history of Judaism is chronicled in the Bible and its subsequent development is detailed in the vast, post Biblical rabbinic literature. Of the three major branches of Judaism today, Orthodox Judaism is that which subscribes to the belief in the Divine Revelation of Torah Law and its principles through Moses and insists upon strict adherence to these laws as codified in the Shulhan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) and their application to contemporary life as interpreted by leading rabbinic authorities. Judaism came to the U.S. with the first Jewish settlers as early as the first quarter of the 17th century. In 1730, the first synagogue was built in New York and others followed soon after. These early synagogues followed the Sephardic rite. In 1801, however, the first synagogue to follow the Ashkenazic rite was organized as Rodef Shalom in Philadelphia. Until 1824, when Reform Judaism began in Charleston, South Carolina, all congregations were Orthodox. BASIC BELIEFS: Based on belief in one God, Creator of the universe, who revealed His divine pattern for life for all mankind through the |
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