Askmoses-A Jews Resource
What is the procedure for blessing children on Friday night?
Browse our archives

The Scholar is ready to answer your question. Click the button below to chat now.

Scholar Online:

Type in your question here:

Click the button below to either CHAT LIVE with an AskMoses Scholar now - or - leave a message if no Scholar is currently online.

CHAT or LEAVE A MESSAGE

I am not sure to what form of Judaism I belong

by Rabbi Shlomo Chein

  

Library » Jewish Identity » Jewish "Labels" | Subscribe | What is RSS?

PRINT EMAIL COMMENT

Question:

Is it better to be an observant Reform Jew or an occasional Conservative one?

Answer:

It is better to be a better Jew!

In other words: a Jew should never restrict him/herself to a human definition or movement.

Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, these are names of movements. But a Jew is not a movement; s/he is a Jew chosen by G-d to represent Him in this world. Every Jew received the whole Torah at Sinai, and every Jew should at every moment try to fulfill as much of that Torah as s/he can.

If today s/he was good, and tomorrow s/he has an opportunity to be better, by all means be better. What will be the next day? S/he will deal with that when it comes.

So a Jew should simply strive to be better, rather than try to fit into a definiton. 


ADD A COMMENT

Please email me when new comments are posted (you must be  logged in).

COMMENTS

Which Form of Jewish do I belong

Posted by: Manny Blanco, Moreno Valley, CA, 92557 on Dec 23, 2008

In studying with Rabbi XXXXX of Chabad I have learned to realize that there are no such boundaries as Forms or divisions among our people. A Jew is a Jew is a Jew and we ara all one regardless of which Temple we go to or even if we do not attend Temple.

RELATED CATEGORIES

Jewish Identity » Who/What is a Jew?
Jewish Identity » Jewish "Labels" » Orthodox
Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.