Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utcsrgv.UUCP Path: utzoo!utcsrgv!dave From: dave@utcsrgv.UUCP (Dave Sherman) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: Denominational differences? Message-ID: <3505@utcsrgv.UUCP> Date: Sun, 11-Mar-84 23:21:09 EST Article-I.D.: utcsrgv.3505 Posted: Sun Mar 11 23:21:09 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 12-Mar-84 08:38:08 EST References: <516@uofm-cv.UUCP> Organization: The Law Society of Upper Canada, Toronto Lines: 32 Yes, Don Winsor, you're missing something. Andy was referring to the differences between Ashkenazim and Sephardim among Orthodox (i.e., traditional) Jews. These differences are comparatively minor. The differences between Orthodox, Conservative and Reform are indeed major. However, from Andy's (and my) point of view it is only the Orthodox practices which are under discussion. Conservative and Reform Judaism are *not* the practice of Judaism which has existed largely unchanged for a couple of thousand years. On the whole, "Conservative" and "Reform" Jews are Jews who simply are not (as) observant - that is, they do not follow or attempt to follow many of the precepts of the Torah and commandments which affect Jews' daily lives (simple examples: keeping kosher; observing the Sabbath; daily prayers). The Conservative and Reform *movements* are something else. They at least have a philosophical base, which I can respect but disagree with. However, the vast majority of Conservative and Reform Jews do not rely on such philosophical bases as justification for being less observant. They are simply less observant. The majority of non-Orthodox Jews have never lived as observant Jews and thus are not qualified to reject Orthodoxy. Hence, within the context of a discussion of the practise of what both Andy and I (and history) regard as the proper practise of Judaism, the differences between the various "nusachs" of Ashkenaz and Sepharad are indeed minor. Dave Sherman Toronto -- {allegra,cornell,decvax,ihnp4,linus,utzoo}!utcsrgv!dave