Orthodox Jew Term Paper

Orthodox Judaism

There is great variation in the ways orthodox Jews practice their religion, and in what they believe. Many of the variations depend on cultural factors, as Jews are scattered all over the world. However, the basic tenets of the religion are all rooted in monotheism (belief in only one supreme God). The principles of the religion also include a firm belief in the Torah (Hebrew Bible) as being the word of God. This means interpreting the Torah in a manner that impacts daily life choices and lifestyle, including the observance of Kosher dietary habits and the Sabbath day. The practice of Orthodox Judaism emphasizes ritual and tradition, family and community life.

Life is sacred, but there are no hard rules about when life begins. Regarding abortion, "even among Orthodox Jews it may be construed as 'a personal matter," ("What do Orthodox Jews think about abortion and why?" 2000). Some would permit abortion under certain circumstances, and others outright. However, it seems that most if not all Orthodox Jews strongly believe that abortions are preferable to the death of the mother. Thus, abortion is "not only permissible but mandatory" when the mother's life is in danger (Donin, 1991, p. 141). Regarding what happens after death, there is also a lack of clear consensus. Orthodox Jews are not obsessed with the afterlife and are free to conceptualize. However, "Judaism firmly believes that death is not the end of human existence," (Rich, 2011).Orthodox Jews may believe in heaven and hell, or they might believe in reincarnation (Rich, 2011).

3. Rituals and traditions are central to Orthodox Jewish life. Male births are always accompanied by a circumcision ceremony called a bris, performed exactly eight days after the birth. A rite of passage called a bar mitzvah accompanies passage from childhood to adulthood. In Orthodox Jewish practice, only the boy receives this rite, whereas many non-Orthodox Jews also perform the ritual for female children. In Orthodox Jewish tradition, marriages are considered part of the fundamental social order, and the express purpose of marriage is procreation (Donin, 1991). The Jewish calendar is a lunar one, and cultural/religious holidays are celebrated regularly, about once per month. All holidays and the Sabbath begin at sundown. Lighting candles is often a component of Jewish holiday celebrations. The Sabbath is strictly observed, beginning with the ritual lighting of candles just before sundown on Friday, followed by an evening meal including bread.

4. There are a few specific health-related rituals in Orthodox Judaism. Ultra-Orthodox Jews might perform ritual cleansing rituals regularly in accordance with the Torah (Donin, 1991). This includes anything from the mikvah ritual bath to the meticulous cleaning under the nails. Jewish dietary law is strictly Kosher, which is rooted in health practices related to the sanitation of meat production. Although performed more….....