The Table below is a faithful verbatim reproduction of a lead article appearing in NEWS FROM ISRAEL, (Midnight Call
Ministries, SC) - December 1977, pages 14-17, entitled Jewish Viewpoints [Original source: Jews For Jesus]. The
purpose of this expanded model on contemporary Jewish belief positions is not for a doctrinal trilogy per se, rather as
working source material for evangelical witnessing and understanding of "the three main streams of Jewish religious
thought and how they differ"*. The ever expanding inter- national importance of Israel, the coming Restoration of the
Jewish Nation, and fulfillment of Prophecy for the Jewish people must be recognized, understood and assimilated
into any Christian Eschatology, in order to have a 'full and complete' revelation of His Coming. Sadly, the at-large
Christian church has been sorely remiss in teaching much about our Jewish heritage through Christ, and seldom if ever
teaches about contemporary Jewish faith and practices, in part or whole.
Ministries, SC) - December 1977, pages 14-17, entitled Jewish Viewpoints [Original source: Jews For Jesus]. The
purpose of this expanded model on contemporary Jewish belief positions is not for a doctrinal trilogy per se, rather as
working source material for evangelical witnessing and understanding of "the three main streams of Jewish religious
thought and how they differ"*. The ever expanding inter- national importance of Israel, the coming Restoration of the
Jewish Nation, and fulfillment of Prophecy for the Jewish people must be recognized, understood and assimilated
into any Christian Eschatology, in order to have a 'full and complete' revelation of His Coming. Sadly, the at-large
Christian church has been sorely remiss in teaching much about our Jewish heritage through Christ, and seldom if ever
teaches about contemporary Jewish faith and practices, in part or whole.
JEWIISH VIEWPOINTS
| ORTHODOX |
| CONSERVATIVE |
| REFORMED |
| HISTORY |
Orthodoxy dates back to the
days of the Talmud (2nd -
5th centuries). It was the
only form of Jewish practice
prior to the 18th century and
the emergence of Reform
Judaism. Orthodoxy today
seeks to preserve classical
or traditional Judaism.
days of the Talmud (2nd -
5th centuries). It was the
only form of Jewish practice
prior to the 18th century and
the emergence of Reform
Judaism. Orthodoxy today
seeks to preserve classical
or traditional Judaism.
Conservative Judaism
emerg-ed in 19th century
Germany as a reaction to the
extreme as-similationist
tendencies of Re-form
Judaism. It tried to be a
middle ground, attempting to
maintain basic traditions
while adapting to modern life.
emerg-ed in 19th century
Germany as a reaction to the
extreme as-similationist
tendencies of Re-form
Judaism. It tried to be a
middle ground, attempting to
maintain basic traditions
while adapting to modern life.
Reform Judaism emerged
following the emancipation
from ghetto life in the late
18th century. It sought to
modernize Judaism and
thus stem the tide of as-
similation threatening
Ger-many Jewry.
following the emancipation
from ghetto life in the late
18th century. It sought to
modernize Judaism and
thus stem the tide of as-
similation threatening
Ger-many Jewry.
| TERMS |
Traditional or Torah Judaism
Historical Judaism
Liberal or Progressive
| PERSONS |
Samson Raphael Hirsch,
Moses Sofer, Bernard
Revel,
Moses Sofer, Bernard
Revel,
Solomon Schechter, Louis
Ginzberg, Zachariah
Frankel, Isaac Leeser
Ginzberg, Zachariah
Frankel, Isaac Leeser
Moses Mendelsohn, Isaac
Mayer Wise, Abraham
Geiger, Samuel Holdheim
Mayer Wise, Abraham
Geiger, Samuel Holdheim
| USA MEMBERS |
| (est. 1992) |
820,500 (14%) (10%
non-affiliated, 1% other)
non-affiliated, 1% other)
2,340,000 (40%)
2,050,000 (35%)
| VIEW OF SCRIPTURE |
Torah is truth, and man
must have faith in its
essential, revealed
character. A true Jew
believes in revelation and
the divine origin of the oral
and written Torah.
must have faith in its
essential, revealed
character. A true Jew
believes in revelation and
the divine origin of the oral
and written Torah.
The Bible is the word of
God AND man. It is not
inspired in the traditional
sense, but rather
dynamically inspired.
Revelation is an ongoing
process in the evolutionary
sense.
God AND man. It is not
inspired in the traditional
sense, but rather
dynamically inspired.
Revelation is an ongoing
process in the evolutionary
sense.
Revelation is a continuous
process. Torah is a human
document preserving
history, culture, legends,
and hope of a people. It is
valuable for deriving ethical
insight.
process. Torah is a human
document preserving
history, culture, legends,
and hope of a people. It is
valuable for deriving ethical
insight.
| VIEW OF GOD |
God is spirit rather than
form. He is a personal God:
omnipotent, omnipresent,
omniscient, eternal, and
compassionate
form. He is a personal God:
omnipotent, omnipresent,
omniscient, eternal, and
compassionate
Concept of God is
non-dogmatic and flexible.
There is less atheism in
Conservative Judaism than
in Reform, but most often
God is considered
impersonal and ineffable.
non-dogmatic and flexible.
There is less atheism in
Conservative Judaism than
in Reform, but most often
God is considered
impersonal and ineffable.
Reform Judaism allows a
varied interpretation of the
"God concept", with wide
room to naturalists,
mystics, supernaturalists,
or religious humanists. It
holds that "The truth is that
we do not know the truth".
varied interpretation of the
"God concept", with wide
room to naturalists,
mystics, supernaturalists,
or religious humanists. It
holds that "The truth is that
we do not know the truth".
| VIEW OF MAN |
Man is morally neutral, with
good and evil inclination.
He can overcome his evil
bent and be perfected by
his own efforts in
observance of the LAW.
good and evil inclination.
He can overcome his evil
bent and be perfected by
his own efforts in
observance of the LAW.
The group tends toward the
Reform view, though it is
not as likely to espouse
humanism. Perfectibility
can come through
enlightenment. Man is in
"partnership" with God.
Reform view, though it is
not as likely to espouse
humanism. Perfectibility
can come through
enlightenment. Man is in
"partnership" with God.
Man's nature is basically
good. Through education,
encouragement, and
evolution, he can actualize
the potential already
existing within him.
Mankind may be God.
good. Through education,
encouragement, and
evolution, he can actualize
the potential already
existing within him.
Mankind may be God.
| VIEW OF SIN |
Orthodox Jews do not
believe in "original sin".
Rather, one commits sin by
breaking the
commandments of the LAW.
believe in "original sin".
Rather, one commits sin by
breaking the
commandments of the LAW.
Conservative Jews do not
believe in a sin nature. The
individual can sin in moral
or social actions.
believe in a sin nature. The
individual can sin in moral
or social actions.
Reform Jews do not believe
in "original sin". Sin is
reinterpreted as the ills of
society.
in "original sin". Sin is
reinterpreted as the ills of
society.
Page one of Jewish Viewpoints
Amen Ministries of Austin
P.O. Box 27683 Austin, Texas 78755
P.O. Box 27683 Austin, Texas 78755
