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Orthodox
Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres
to a relatively strict interpretation and application
of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic
texts ("Oral Torah") and as subsequently
developed and applied by the later authorities known
as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim.
Orthodox Judaism is characterized by:
- Belief
that the Torah (i.e. the Pentateuch) and its pertaining
laws are Divine, were transmitted by God to Moses,
are eternal, and are unalterable;
- Belief
that there is also an oral law in Judaism, which
contains the authoritative interpretation of the
written Torah's legal sections, is also Divine
- having been transmitted in some form by God
to Moses along with the Pentateuch - and has been
passed down to and expounded by various authorities
from Moses to the Talmudic period. This oral law
is embodied in the Talmud, Midrash, and innumerable
related texts, all intrinsically and inherently
entwined with the written law of the Torah;
- Belief
that God has made an exclusive, unbreakable covenant
with the Children of Israel (the descendants of
the Jewish patriarch, Jacob, whose other name
was Israel) to be governed by the Torah;
- Adherence
to Halakha. This includes acceptance of codes,
mainly the Shulchan Aruch, as authoritative practical
guidance in application of both the written and
oral laws. It also incudes acceptance of halakha-following
Rabbis as authoritative interpreters and judges
of Jewish law. New Halakhic rulings can be made
by Orthodox authorities, but such rulings cannot
contradict or remove previous accepted Halakhic
rulings, which are considered more authoritative;
- Belief
in a Jewish eschatology, including a Jewish Messiah,
a rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem, and a resurrection
of the dead; and
- Near
universal belief in the thirteen
Jewish principles of faith as stated by the
Rambam (Maimonides).
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