What is the major difference in worship between orthodox and reform Jews?

Answer 1

Reform synagogues often have a service on Friday evenings, but not one on Saturday morning. Some may do both, but the ones I've been in have only had the Friday service. Orthodox synagogues will always have a substantial Saturday morning service, usually 3 hours long, with some worshipers staying this whole time, and others coming in later or leaving at various times.

The Orthodox service is primarily in Hebrew. The Reform service may have some Hebrew but will be mostly in the vernacular (local language). The Reform prayer book usually has a line of Hebrew, with the English translation directly under it, while Orthodox prayer books (siddurim) have a page of Hebrew, and the facing page in English.

The sexes are divided in an Orthodox synagogue. In some, there will be a mechitza (dividing wall) equally down the middle, with men on one side and women on the other. In others, the women may be behind the men, usually on a level above them so that they can see the service below.

Dress is more formal in an Orthodox synagogue. The women will be expected to dress modestly, wearing skirts or dresses that are long and not too revealing. Married women usually cover their head, and men also wear yarmulkes (Hebrew: kippah) on their heads. The men also wear tallit (prayer shawls).

In a reform synagogue, there will be varying degrees of formality, but in general, the attendants do not feel the need to dress as modestly and observe all the mitzvot regarding religious attire.

Friday evening reform services usually take place at the same time each week, rather than varying according to the time of sunset. Candles are lit at the beginning of the service, without regard to whether the Sabbath has actually begun yet or not. This would not be done in an Orthodox synagogue because candles are not allowed to be lit once the Sabbath has already begun. So the Friday night Sabbath service in an orthodox synagogue will be held at varying times according to the time of sunset. Women typically bring in the Sabbath at the home, while men are more likely to attend the Friday service. At a Reform synagogue, men and women equally attend the Friday service. However, as many women as men tend to participate in the Sabbath morning service in Orthodox synagogues.

Answer 2

Reform and Orthodox services follow the same general set-up, but Orthodox services tend to be more traditional. While many prayers are shared between both denominations of the faith, Orthodox services are usually longer and there are more prayers used.

In an effort to drawn in families who don't know Hebrew or haven't been to synagogue in a while, Reform siddurim usually have prayers translated into English, and transliteration available. In Orthodox services, the rabbi would probably lead the service completely in Hebrew.

This English is used in the service to make it easier for assimilated Jews to follow along and participate. Also, in Orthodox services gender-based laws are held more strictly. Usually, women are still not allowed on the bimah in Orthodox services, to read from the Torah, and they are seated separately from the men.

Another difference is that the Reform movement has been known to use music throughout their services. Because there is a heavy emphasis on the importance of community, music and different tunes are often used in more joyful Reform services, like on Shabbat.

Answer 3

Reform is more liberal and gender-sensitive and they like to do some holidays and stuff, but Orthodox Judaism is more according to the Torah. Like, they keep the Sabbath, they go to shul every day of the week. Everything has to go with the Jewish law! Reform people are NOT fanatical like that. Thanks!

Answer 4

In Orthodox synagogues, men and women sit separately to avoid "inappropriate" behavior and to achieve total concentration while praying. The services are in Hebrew. In Reform synagogues, men and women sit together and the services are in BOTH Hebrew and the language of the country you live in. The reading of the prayer book and the singing is at a steady pace, with the mentioning of the pages you'll be reading in the book. I'm Reform myself, and I can't stand sitting and standing with the book open and hearing Hebrew read and sung so quickly and not know which page I'm on!

Answer 5

An Orthodox Synagogue is much stricter where formal temple procedure are concerned. Among the rules, I think every man has to wear a tefilin, the women have to walk in with their head down and they can not wear obscene clothes in other words no showing of the goods. Absolutely no talking when the Rabbi is chanting, and the women need to keep their head down throughout the ceremony. Additionally, within the synagogue itself, women who are in their menstrual period may not go. Some ceremonies allow only men. A reformed synagogue certainly won't like it if a woman shows up in a thong, but they will not label, oh, a female business dress for example, as "obscene." Given all the sexual harassment suits out there, business attire for women makes it a point to hide curves anymore, nevertheless Orthodox Jews take it to such extremes that just the showing of the calves is considered an obscenity. Additionally, reformed synagogues welcome non-Jewish visitors, in Orthodox synagogues however non-Jews are not allowed.

Answer 6

Answer

Both Orthodox and Reform Jews have a deep-rooted attachment to G-d, Israel, and the Torah, though they interpret these things in different ways. Both use basically the same Hebrew prayers, though wording of some of them varies, and both are deeply committed to the principle of Tikkun Olam, or making the world a better place.

Answer

About 603 commandments. The Orthodox will try to follow every mitzvah which it is possible to keep today (since some could only be preformed when the Temple was in existence). The Orthodox Jew will pray 3 times a day, keep the laws of Shabbat, and keep kosher. The Reform Jewish movement was created to modernize Judaism. A Reform Jew will use electricity on Shabbat, usually won't wear a tallit, tefillin, or kippah, and will call women up to the Torah. This doesn't mean the Orthodox are better than reform Jews, it just means they have different outlooks.

Answer

Orthodox is to a follow a way or custom the way it was always followed. Nothing would change.

Reform is to change something or to improve something

Answer 7

The most noticeable difference is that Orthodox synagogues have separate seating for men and women. This is so that worshipers can concentrate on the prayers instead of on the opposite sex. The separate seating is an ancient practice (Talmud, Sukkah 51b), so it is the Reform congregations that have broken away from tradition.

Answer 8

Reform and Conservative congregations generally have very few differences, and the gap is growing smaller every year.

Reform services generally have more musical intruments and some of the wording of the prayers are different.

Conservative synagogues are more likely to have a kosher kitchen.

Answer 9

The most noticeable difference is that Orthodox synagogues have separate seating for men and women. This is so that worshipers can concentrate on the prayers instead of on the opposite sex. See also the Related Link.

More about Jewish worship

Answer 10

There are many differences between the two services; at the Orthodox service, men and women have to sit apart and it has quite a formal dress code. The Reform services have some lines in Hebrew and some in English whereas the Orthodox service is mostly in Hebrew. At a Reform synagogue, the men and women equally attend a Friday service and may have organs playing along with the hymns but the Orthodox synagogue has no instruments allowed.