Jewish religious movements

Jewish religious movements, sometimes called "denominations", include diverse groups within Judaism which have developed among Jews from ancient times, including Karaite Judaism and the majority group, Rabbinic Judaism. Samaritans are also considered ethnic Jews by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel. However, experts frequently classify them as a sister ethnicity practicing a separate branch of Yahwism. Today in the West, the most prominent divisions are between traditionalist Orthodox movements (including Modern Orthodox Judaism and the ultratraditionalist Haredi Judaism) and modernist movements such as Reform Judaism originating in late 18th century Europe, Conservative Judaism originating in 19th century Europe, and other smaller ones, including Reconstructionist Judaism and Jewish Renewal movements, which emerged later in the 20th century in the United States.

In Israel, variation is moderately similar, differing from the West in having roots in the Old Yishuv and pre-to-early-state Yemenite infusion, among other influences.

For statistical and practical purposes, the distinctions are based upon a person's attitude to religion. Most Jewish Israelis classify themselves as "secular" (hiloni), "traditional" (masortim), "religious" (dati) or ultra-religious (haredi).

The western and Israeli movements differ in their views on various issues (as do those of other Jewish communities). These issues include the level of observance, the methodology for interpreting and understanding Jewish law, biblical authorship, textual criticism, and the nature or role of the messiah and the Messianic Age. Across these movements, there are marked differences in liturgy, especially in the language used in services, with the more traditional movements emphasizing Hebrew. The sharpest theological division occurs between traditional Orthodox and the larger number of non-Orthodox Jews adhering to other movements (or none), so that the non-Orthodox are sometimes referred to collectively as the "liberal" or "progressive streams".

Other divisions of Judaism in the world reflect being more ethnically and geographically rooted, e.g., Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews), and Bene Israel (among the ancient Jewish communities of India).

Normatively, Judaism excludes certain groups that may name or consider themselves ethnic Jews but hold key beliefs in sharp contradiction, for example, Messianic Judaism, a branch of Protestant Christianity. Historically, the split between Jewish Christianity versus Judaism and Samaritanism became significant with the adoption of Christianity as the Roman state religion.