Conservative Judaism
Middle-ground Jewish movement
Conservative Judaism is a branch of Judaism that occupies a middle ground between Orthodox and Reform movements.
It maintains that Jewish law and tradition are binding but can evolve through careful scholarly interpretation to address modern circumstances.
The movement emerged in 19th-century Germany and became especially prominent in 20th-century America.
Conservative Jews typically observe Shabbat and kashrut while permitting practices like mixed-gender seating and women's ordination that Orthodox Judaism prohibits.
Philosophy of universal equality
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
- mitzvotJewish religious commandments
- ordinationClergy appointment ceremony
conversion · intermarriage · denominational · centrist · affiliation
Rabbinic law compilation
- MidrashRabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
Torah study · biblical criticism · academic · theology · ethics · rabbinical school · ordination · Kaplan
Jewish day of rest
- tefillinJewish prayer boxes worn daily
- mezuzahCased scripture on doorframe
- tallitFringed Jewish worship garment
- kippahTraditional Jewish head covering
Torah reading · minyan · Kiddush · Havdalah · bar mitzvah · bat mitzvah · Pesach · Sukkot
Jewish house of worship
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- shulJewish house of worship
- rabbiJewish spiritual leader
- cantorLiturgical music leader
membership · sisterhood · brotherhood · youth group · Hebrew school · day school · dues · board
Surprising disclosed truth
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- chosennessState of being selected
- traditionCustom passed through generations
- modernityBeing of present times
evolution · adaptation · pluralism · divine · commandment · obligation · interpretation · continuity
egalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- TorahJudaism's core scripture
- mitzvotJewish religious commandments
ordination · conversion · intermarriage · denominational · centrist · affiliation
Talmud
Rabbinic law compilation
- MidrashRabbinic biblical commentary tradition
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
hermeneutics · Torah study · biblical criticism · academic · theology · ethics · rabbinical school · ordination · Kaplan
Shabbat
Jewish day of rest
- tefillinJewish prayer boxes worn daily
- mezuzahCased scripture on doorframe
- tallitFringed Jewish worship garment
kippah · Torah reading · minyan · Kiddush · Havdalah · bar mitzvah · bat mitzvah · Pesach · Sukkot · Rosh Hashanah
synagogue
Jewish house of worship
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- shulJewish house of worship
- rabbiJewish spiritual leader
cantor · membership · sisterhood · brotherhood · youth group · Hebrew school · day school · dues · board
revelation
Surprising disclosed truth
- covenantBinding formal pledge
- chosennessState of being selected
- traditionCustom passed through generations
modernity · evolution · adaptation · pluralism · divine · commandment · obligation · interpretation · continuity · change
Conservative JudaismReform Judaism
Progressive Jewish religious movement
Orthodox Judaism · secular Judaism · Chabad · Hasidism · religious fundamentalism
conservative, conservatively, conservatism, conserve, conserved, conserves, conserving, conservation, conservator