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From Orthodox . . .

Until the early nineteenth century, virtually every Jew was an observant Jew as we would describe one today. A Polish Jew and a Persian Jew would follow similar rituals, even though the former might be described as Ashkenazic (originating from Eastern Europe) and the latter as Sephardic (originating from Spain, Southern Europe, the Near East, or North Africa (see “Ashkenazic and Sephardic Jews”).

Orthodox Judaism resists change of its beliefs and practices. A central tenet of Orthodox Judaism is that the law of God was given to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the Torah, therefore, is divine. Thus, no law derived from the Torah should be tampered with, regardless of modern lifestyles, needs, or changes in society. Because of this, Orthodox rabbis believe that rulings of other Jewish groups are based on a different set of guidelines and are therefore not valid.

As in any group, in Orthodox Judaism, there is a range of beliefs and teachings, from ultra-Orthodox (see “Hasidim and Hasidism”) to more modern or centrist Orthodox. However, the traditional body of Jewish writings and the codification of law and practice remain the basis for belief, practice, and decision making, regardless of changes in modern life or personal conscience.

There are many rules that govern the practice of Judaism. An Orthodox Jew must learn these rules, which is no simple task, and keeping a given rule is not optional; that person must decide how best to apply the rule.

Since Orthodox Jews traditionally do not travel by car on the Sabbath, their synagogues are generally located within walking distance of home. Thus, while the congregations may be small, there are a significant number of them. The Orthodox Union, founded one hundred years ago, serves as the central organization for affiliated member synagogues in North America. Besides serving as a central coordinating organization, the Orthodox Union provides educational and social services, programs, and activities. There are more than one thousand affiliated and independent Orthodox Jewish congregations in the United States.