Editing Orthodox Judaism (section)

== Groups ==
{{refimprove section|date=August 2021}}
=== Haredim ===
{{Main|Haredi Judaism}}
The most recognizable sub-group is the ''[[Haredim]]'' (literally, 'trembling' or 'fervent'), also known as "strictly Orthodox", and the like. They are the most traditional part of the Orthodox. ''Haredim'' have minimal engagement with/wholesale rejection of modern society, avow precedence to religious values, and accept a high degree of rabbinic involvement in daily life. ''Haredi'' rabbis and communities generally accept each other, and accord them legitimacy. They are organized in large political structures, mainly [[Agudath Israel of America]] and the Israeli [[United Torah Judaism]] party. Other organized groups include the Anti-Zionist [[Central Rabbinical Congress]] and the [[Edah HaChareidis]]. They are easily discerned by their mode of dress, often mostly black for men and very modest, by religious standards, for women (including hair covering, long skirts, etc.).

The ''Haredim'' may be roughly classified into three sub-groups:

==== Hasidic ====
{{Main|Hasidic Judaism}}
[[Hasidic Jews]] originated in 18th-century [[Eastern Europe]], where they formed as a revival movement that defied the rabbinical establishment. The threat of modernity turned the movement towards conservatism and reconciled it with traditionalist elements. Hasidism espouses a mystical interpretation of religion. Each Hasidic community aligned with a hereditary leader known as ''rebbe'' (who is almost always an ordained rabbi). While the spiritualist element of Hasidism declined through the centuries, the ''rebbe''s' authority stems from the mystical belief that the holiness of their ancestors is inborn. They exercise tight control over their followers. Each of the hundreds of independent Hasidic groups/sects (also called "courts" or "dynasties") has its own line of ''rebbes''. Groups range in size from large ones with thousands of member households to very small. Courts often possess unique customs, religious emphases, philosophies, and styles of dress. Hasidic men, especially on the Sabbath, don long garments and fur hats, which were once a staple of Eastern European Jews, but are now associated almost exclusively with them. As of 2016, 130,000 Hasidic households were counted.

==== Litvaks ====
The second ''Haredi'' group are the Litvaks, or Yeshivish. They originated, loosely, with the [[Misnagdim]], the opponents of Hasidism, who were mainly concentrated in [[Grand Duchy of Lithuania|old Lithuania]]. The confrontation with the Hasid bred distinct ideologies and institutions, especially great ''[[yeshiva]]s'', learning halls, where the study of Torah for its own sake and admiration for the scholars who headed these schools was enshrined. With the advent of secularization, the Misnagdim largely abandoned their hostility towards Hasidism. They became defined by affiliation with their ''yeshiva''s, and their communities were sometimes composed of alumni. The prestige ascribed to them as centers of Torah study (after they were rebuilt in Israel and America, bearing the names of Eastern European ''yeshiva''s destroyed in the [[Holocaust]]) persuaded many who were not Misnagdic, and the term ''Litvak'' lost its original ethnic connotation. It is granted to all non-Hasidic Haredim of [[Ashkenazi]] descent. The Litvak sector is led mainly by heads of ''yeshiva''s.

==== Sephardic ====
{{Main|Sephardic Haredim}}
The third ''Haredi'' movement consists of the Sephardic ''Haredim'', who live mostly in Israel. There they are linked to the [[Shas]] party and the legacy of Rabbi [[Ovadia Yosef]]. Originating in the [[Mizrahi Jews|Mizrahi]] (Middle Eastern and North African Jews) immigrants to the country who arrived in the 1950s, most of the Sephardi Haredim were educated in Litvak yeshivas. They adopted their educators' mentality. Their identity developed in reaction to the racism they encountered. Shas arose in the 1980s, with the aim of reclaiming Sephardi religious legacy, in opposition to both secularism and the hegemony of European-descended ''Haredim''. While living in strictly observant circles, they maintain a strong bond with non-Haredi masses of Israeli Mizrahi society.

=== Modern Orthodoxy ===
{{Main|Modern Orthodox Judaism}}
{{POV section|date=November 2020}}
In the West, especially in the United States, [[Modern Orthodoxy]], or [[Torah Umadda#Centrist Orthodoxy|"Centrist Orthodoxy"]], is an umbrella term for communities that seek an observant lifestyle and traditional theology, while at the same time ascribing positive value to engagement (if not [[Torah Umadda#Synthesis|"synthesis"]]) with the [[Modernity|modern world]].<ref>Rabbi Saul J. Berman, [http://www.shma.com/2001/02/the-ideology-of-modern-orthodoxy/ The Ideology of Modern Orthodoxy]</ref><ref name="HelmreichShinnar">William B. Helmreich and Reuel Shinnar: [http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/jl-383-helmreich.htm Modern Orthodoxy in America: Possibilities for a Movement under Siege] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080229025428/http://www.jcpa.org/cjc/jl-383-helmreich.htm |date=2008-2-29 }}</ref>

In the United States, the Modern Orthodox form a cohesive community, influenced by the legacy of leaders such as Rabbi [[Joseph B. Soloveitchik]], and concentrated around [[Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary|Yeshiva University]] and institutions such as the OU or [[National Council of Young Israel]]. They affirm strict obedience to Jewish Law, the centrality of Torah study, and the importance of positive engagement with modern culture.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.myjewishlearning.com/beliefs/Theology/Thinkers_and_Thought/Jewish_Philosophy/Philosophies/Modern/Joseph_Soloveitchik.shtml |title=Rabbi Soloveitchik}}</ref>

=== Religious Zionism ===
{{Main|Religious Zionism}}
In Israel, [[Religious Zionism]] represents the largest Orthodox public and are fervent [[Zionists]]. Religious Zionism supports Israel and ascribes an inherent religious value to it. The dominant ideological school, influenced by Rabbi [[Abraham Isaac Kook]]'s thought, regards the state in messianic terms. Religious Zionism is not a uniform group, and the split between its conservative flank (often named "[[Chardal]]", or "National-''[[Haredi]]''") and more liberal elements has increased since the 1990s. The [[National Religious Party]], once the single political platform, dissolved, and the common educational system became torn on issues such as gender separation in elementary school or secular studies.

=== European Centrist Orthodoxy ===
In Europe, "Centrist Orthodoxy" is represented by organizations such as the British [[United Synagogue]] and the [[Israelite Central Consistory of France]], both the dominant official rabbinates in their respective countries. The laity is often non-observant, retaining formal affiliation due to familial piety or a sense of Jewish identity.

=== Israeli Masorti (traditional) ===
{{Main|Masortim}}
Another large demographic usually considered Orthodox are the Israeli ''[[Masortim]]'', or "traditionals". This moniker originated with [[Mizrahim|Mizrahi]] immigrants who were secularized and reverent toward their communal heritage. However, Mizrahi intellectuals, in recent years, developed a more reflective, nuanced understanding of this term, eschewing its shallow image and not necessarily agreeing with the formal deference to Orthodox rabbis. Self-conscious ''Masorti'' identity is limited to small, elitist circles.