From ancient origins to contemporary times, there are many varieties of Orthodox Judaism such as the Hasidism of Poland, the Neo-Orthodoxy of Germany, the Yeshivas of Lithuanian, and the American Centrist or “modern” orthodoxy. So, too, we must include the Anti-Zionist groups, the Sepharadic Orthodoxy, and Messianic Zionism. Perhaps these varieties have evolved over time more than for any other reason than for the description of Judaism of Asher Zvi Ginzburg in the late 1800s presented by Joseph Blau in Modern Varieties of Judaism “Judaism mean[s] the entire spiritual and intellectual life of the Jewish people of which the Jewish religion was but one expression” (160). We see that for Ginzburg, practice was but one component of Judaism and not nearly as significant as nationality “It was impossible for one to be a Jew in the religious sense without acknowledging nationality, yet it was possible to be a Jew in the national sense without accepting many things in which religion requires belief” (Blau 160).
We see in this interpretation many of the complexities facing modern Judaism. Gentiles and others who adopt Jewish practices into their experience are not Jews because they practice Jewish religious practices. However, Jews who abandon these practices do not cease being Jewish, they have merely ceased practicing Judaism. Yet, these complexities have been incorporated in Judaism since ancient times which were characterized by explicit monotheism. This analysis will discuss some of the varieties of Judaism throughout history, including the reasons why Judaism often underwent fragmentation and change.
Only one god or Yahweh, devotion to Jerusalem, and devout belief in the future arrival of a savior or messiah figure (a descendant of King David); these are hallmarks of ancient Orthodox Judaism. Yet, even though messianic hope has been a pillar of Jewish belief and identity since ancient times, following false messi...