What IS the difference between ORTHODOX, REFORM, CONSERVATIVE, CHABAD & CHASSIDIC JEWS?!?

I’m not Jewish but I found this so interesting! Love learning new things… thank you for explaining!

We have a wonderful Chabad near us. We don't belong to the Chabad (we are Reform), but my children used to go to their summer camp and absolutely LOVED it. We also have gone to a lot of their community events like their community Chanukah menorah lighting and stuff like that. Since we are a very small Jewish community here, the Chabad and the reform synagogue work a lot together with promoting events and out-reach in the community.

Thank you for explaining all this. I live in an extremely Jewish (primarily Orthodox) area five minutes off the Philly boundary. Actually I live inside an eruv although I have never seen the boundary. Last summer we were evacuated from our apartment. We had two hours to pack our things and leave because it was at risk of collapse, and a few weeks after that my husband killed himself. My Jewish neighbors, especially one temple in particular, held fundraisers for us, and my they have been so so kind to my son and me. I love my neighborhood and my Jewish neighbors!

Thank you so much. Todah raba! I think this was wonderfully explained. I had recently read all of these things on Wikipedia, on some Jewish sites (like My Jewish Learning) and indeed in books, but it sounds terrific and more easily digestible when an actual Jewish person explains it in under 10 minutes. Good job! It's true that Chabad have community centers and rabbis in most countries around the world, and they are also very active on YouTube, a very big outreach.

Thank you soo much for explaining this! I am not Jewish by faith, but I Jewish by blood and I find it beautiful that you explained this for people to understand. I still celebrate Jewish holidays of course because it’s my heritage ❤️ You even helped me understand our people a lot more. Thank you so much!! 🥰

Thank you so much for this video! I found it so educational. I would love more videos on topics like this. Information breeds understanding!

Thank you for this very informative video! Love any videos with historical content! Thank you for explaining the differences between these! Please continue these!

Best explanation of the branches I’ve heard yet! Thank you so much!

Dear Marion, I find your video very interesting and clever. Addressing such a topic in less than 10 min. with clarity and your usual tolerance is brilliant ! I'll be waiting for your next video about Judaism. I really appreciate your work. Thank you.

Hi Marion! So this was very interesting :) As you might know I’m from Israel, I’m orthodox and we love watching your videos(for 4 years and going, woohoo!) I wanted to share a bit :) A little long, hope that’s okay. If you look at the Middle Eastern and North African Jewish communities around the same time, “Orthodoxy” you could say as keeping commandments in the Torah that are quoted as “you shall/you shall not” within talmudic guidelines was always around (One thing I love is how, if you go back a few hundred years and look at different diaspora communities around the world ago they had preserved the same or very similar prayers and customs, and those which we use today) within Europe too. Its likely that orthodox ashkenazi “culture/dress” was strengthened in Europe as result of not wanting to mix with Christian theology and other streams but orthodoxy as a whole did exist before in different areas of the world :) - An important clarification - the reason orthodoxy generally is so strict is because of a pasuk(quote) from the Torah that says to “build a fence” around that what’s precious to you(the commandments/mitzvot) so the sages in the Talmud and Rabbis later on added chumras (additional protective restrictions) that there would be no way to transgress a commandment and even more so depending on the particular stream. It’s worth nothing, that many Orthodox Jews, usually discreetly and with the guidance of a Rabbi will not keep certain chumras if the restrictions are difficult for them. (Or decide on their own) Some orthodox streams like the one my husband comes from would accept the community as a whole with varying observance levels.(it’s not the most common) A really beautiful example of this idea to safeguard the mitzvos is how around leading up to the temple period, there was a Torah law regarding when women should go to the Mikva, which had two different instances (one after 1 day of waiting, and the other after 7 days of waiting). Because the conditions were not totally clear, the women took it upon themselves an extra restriction to all wait 7 clean days before going to the Mikva in order to make sure they keep the commandment properly and also to be unified and not make others feel awkward. (I can link the source if anyone asks) - There are many streams within orthodoxy. The tradition that my husband comes from is based on “Torah Im derech eretz/with the way of the world” which means to go out into the world and work and be an active part of it, but still study Torah at least partially and keep Halacha. Some streams like Lithuanian Jews(litvish communities) believe in only being busy with studying the Torah deeply. Some say that it could be that we are reincarnations of different tribes from biblical times who had different jobs in the temple - and it sure feels like it!;) - My husband is orthodox and he doesn’t even own a black hat lol, and he only wears a kippa and colored work shirts/t shirts and pants sort of thing. (White shirt only on shabbat! No hat!) A lot of his friends and coworkers are the same. Many many women also try to look regular and cover their hair in a natural way. :) - Many secular Jews in Israel (who barely commit to Halacha) support the Rabbanut and the orthodox way of being because it’s their own way of valuing and keeping tradition. (Separate point: Not everyone agrees, that’s ok too.) I feel like in Israel there’s much less judgment, you’ll see girls all the time in pants and ladies with uncovered hair and dress attend challah bakes together with a Rabbanit, go to synagogue during holidays etc with no judgment whatsoever and it’s something that’s really positive overall and unifying. I haven’t seen that kind of mix so much in Canada and the US except for Chabad. - I’m speaking out as someone orthodox here but it’s important to clarify as someone who believes that each person has a special mission in life, secular/religious/Jewish/non Jewish. it was really valuable for me to write. Of course, there is an extremist minority in every society, and it’s sad that that’s what’s being focused on most times, but I truly hope there is a positive takeaway and space to connect judgment free.(Some things you said about orthodox people were a little tiny bit hurtful to me lol but I love you regardless) As always sending a lot of love and light from Israel♥️♥️

Thank you! I was just taking a look at the different synagogues in my city and this is helpful!

This was very informative Marion, thank you for doing this.

I’m learning about my Jewish heritage because I was never taught. I appreciate your videos so much and they teach me all of the stuff I never learned. THANK YOU!!!

I am a Reform Jew. I belong to the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation! I love my shul and the Rabbinical staff. We had a new cantor come in a few years ago. He is really making the congregation involved with the music and the tunes for our prayers.

Thank you so much, this is super helpful since I've got Jewish friends who belong to a couple of the communities you mentioned!!

Always finds these informative vlogs interesting, thank you 😊

LOVED this video. Would love to see a follow up. Love your channel and how you present things!

Hi Marion... thank you for a wonderful explanation...I watch the central synagogue service every Friday night and have learned some of their traditions like... lighting candles to welcome in Shabbat...I also watch Discovering the Jewish Jesus...every single day to receive the Aaronic blessing from Rabbi... looking forward to visiting Israel...

Great overview of a faith, people& culture that although I'm not a part of (disclaimer: non-practicing protestant by choice) I very much admire for their inclusiveness of all who identify as a part of it. Thank you for sharing & informing us!

Thanks for this segment. I would be interested in knowing more. I'm not Jewish but do try to keep Torah, try to keep kosher and keep the feasts. I'm loving your shabbat preps.