1. Judaism

2. Jewish Branches
Reform Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Orthodox Judaism

3. Jewish Branches Reform Judaism
Personal decision on which laws/traditions to follow
More focus on ethics rather than laws
35% of Jewish people
Conservative Judaism
Jewish law required
Interpretation of laws more flexible
Midpoint on spectrum of observance
18% of Jewish people
Orthodox Judaism
Traditional following of practices
Based on centuries old interpretations
Least likely for people to leave faith
More subgroups than other branches
10% of Jewish people

4. Jewish Branches Conservative Judaism Jewish law required
Reform Judaism
Personal decision on which laws/traditions to follow
More focus on ethics rather than laws
35% of Jewish people
Conservative Judaism
Jewish law required
Interpretation of laws more flexible
Midpoint on spectrum of observance
18% of Jewish people
Orthodox Judaism
Traditional following of practices
Based on centuries old interpretations
Least likely for people to leave faith
More subgroups than other branches
10% of Jewish people

5. Jewish Branches Orthodox Judaism Traditional following of practices
Reform Judaism
Personal decision on which laws/traditions to follow
More focus on ethics rather than laws
35% of Jewish people
Conservative Judaism
Jewish law required
Interpretation of laws more flexible
Midpoint on spectrum of observance
18% of Jewish people
Orthodox Judaism
Traditional following of practices
Based on centuries old interpretations
Least likely for people to leave faith
More subgroups than other branches
10% of Jewish people

6. Holidays Passover: 8-day celebration commemorating Exodus from Egypt
Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year; marks beginning of 10-day atonement leading to Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur: Holiest day of the Jewish year
Fast for the day
Pray for forgiveness
Spend the entire day in the synagogue
Hanukkah: 8-day Jewish holiday
Commemorates the “Miracle of Oil”
Only enough oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple of Jerusalem to last one day
Oil burned for 8 days, long enough to prepare new oil
Likely became popular due to being in the same time frame as Christmas
Yom HaShoah: Day of commemoration for the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust

7. Holidays
Passover
Celebration of the Jewish exodus from slavery in Egypt

8. Holidays Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year
Beginning of a 10 day atonement leading to Yom Kippur

9. Holidays Yom Kippur Holiest day in Judaism
Day of rest, atonement (Teshuva), and prayer

10. Holidays Hanukkah Commemorates defense of 2nd Temple against invasion
Only enough oil to keep Eternal Flame alight for one day; lasted 8 instead
Rise in popularity due to season of celebration

11. Holidays Yom HaShoah Memorial Day of the Holocaust
National memorial day in Israel