ISRAEL.- For nearly 2,000 years, the Jews were without a homeland of their own and were scattered through all parts of the world. Although the Jews embraced many practices of their new lands, spoke the languages, and made many major contributions, their religion gave them a bond with Jews living everywhere else in the world. A bond they also shared, however, was the absence of a Jewish homeland. In 1948, the state of Israel was set up as a modern homeland for the Jews.

Figure 1-11.-Jewish religious literature.

BRANCHES OF JUDAISM

Today, the Jewish religion has developed into the following three branches of Judaism:

1. Reform

2. Orthodox

3. Conservative

In the following paragraphs, let's take a brief look at each of these branches.

Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism began in Germany in the 1840s and spread to the United States and Canada. Because Reform Jews believe that some of the ancient laws should be changed to fit the times, they are not so strict in

Figure 1-12.-The Jewish calendar.

observance of the Sabbath and the dietary laws mentioned in the Bible. They also believe that women should have a Iarger role in synagogue worship. Reform Judaism is also known as Liberal or Progressive Judaism and is the source from which some Navy chaplains received their theological training.

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism is a term applied to the religious beliefs of the Jews who have traditionally opposed changes to the laws and practices of their religion. Orthodox Judaism reflects the beliefs and practices of those Jews in central and western Europe who, from the 18th century on, opposed changes to their religion, including the changes endorsed by the Reform movement.

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism exists between the tenets of both Orthodox Judaism and Reform Judaism. Conservative Jews believe in some changes, but they neither believe in change as extremely as the followers of Reform Judaism nor are they opposed to a strict interpretation of Jewish law. For the past century, Conservative Judaism has endeavored to reconcile tradition and change. It has also maintained a continuity of ideology, ritual, and practice.