Why are there different groups within Judaism?

Answer 1

In ancient times, there were up to 4 sects of Judaism:

The Pharisees

The Saducees

The Essenes

the Nazarenes

In modern times, there are more than 4 different groups within Judaism:

Ultra-Orthodox

Haredi

Modern Orthodox

Conservative

Masorti

Reform

Progressive

Liberal

Reconstructionist

Renewal

Humanist

Cultural

Also groups by ethnicity:

Askhenazic

Sefardic

Mizrahi

Beta Yisrael

Answer 2

Judaism is divided into 2 main geographic groupings: Ashkenazim & Sephardim.

Ashkenazim are the ones that are subdivided into Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, & even Humanist Judaism.

There also a few smaller Jewish sects besides Ashkenazim & Sephardim: Karaites & Samaritans.

Answer 3

Orthodox

Sephardi { Mizrahi

Ashkenazi

Haredi

{ Conservadox

Conservative { Masorti

Reform aka Liberal

Reconstructionist

NB Sephardi / Ashkenazi are grouped according to location during the diaspora, Ashkenazi in Eastern Europe, Sephardi from Spain until persecution forced them to move; Mizrahi, from the Middle East, is broadly equal to Sephardi in practice;

Answer 4

First of all, it should be stressed that all Jews have the same Torah.
Jews may be classed according to lifestyle, geography, or outlook.

Lifestyle: there are Jews who are more stringent (Orthodox) or less stringent (Conservative, Reform) in their observance of the Torah's commands.

Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah must be fully observed (Deuteronomy 13:5). They keep the laws of Judaism as codified in the Shulchan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law), which lists the laws of the Torah and Talmud. Torah-study is seen as very important (Deuteronomy 5:1); and the modern world is seen as subservient to the Torah (Talmud, Nedarim 32a), not the other way around.
Other Jewish groups (Conservative, Reform) adapt, curtail or change the Torah-laws in contemporary life, to a greater or lesser degree.

• Link: Modern challenges for observant Jews
  

Geography: there are Ashkenazi (Western) Jews and Sephardi/Mizrahi (Eastern) Jews. In Medieval times, the Ashkenazim were in France and Germany, the Sephardim were in pre-expulsion Spain, and the Mizrahi (Edot Hamizrach) were in North Africa, Turkey and Iraq. (There are others too, such as Yemeni and Romaniote (Greek Jews), but the above are the largest groups.)

Outlook: among the religious Jewish communities, there are the Yeshiva (Litvish) community, Hassidim, and Modern Orthodox. (Hassidim are the ones who wear long frock-coats.)

Answer 5

There are many different levels from orthodox to those who acknowledge they are Jewish but make little or no attempt to follow their religion.

Answer 6

Orthodox, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Reform, Sephardim, & Chassidim(an Orthodox subdenomination).