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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
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