Orthodox Jew for Dummies

Now, imagine you're at a playground with your friends, and everyone wants to play a different game. Some kids want to swing, some want to slide, and some want to play on the jungle gym. Just like that, within the Jewish community, different branches have different ways of practicing their faith. Orthodox Jews are like those who prefer to play on the swings, while others might prefer to slide, or climb on the jungle gym.

When we say someone is an "Orthodox Jew," we are referring to a person who follows a specific way of practicing Judaism. Orthodox Jews believe in following the traditional Jewish laws and teachings very closely. They strive to live a life that aligns with the ancient Jewish teachings and customs.

So, think of a bookshelf where you have different books. Now imagine each book represents a different way people interpret and practice Judaism. On one shelf, you have the book of Orthodox Judaism, where people believe in keeping the Jewish traditions and laws exactly as they were thousands of years ago. They believe that these teachings should guide every aspect of their lives, from what they eat, how they pray, to how they dress. For an Orthodox Jew, keeping these traditions is very important and central to their identity.

Orthodox Jews may wear special clothing, such as a kippah (a small cap worn on the head) and tzitzit (a type of fringed garment), to remind them of their faith and to symbolize their commitment to the Jewish teachings. They also observe Shabbat, a special day of rest and worship that starts on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening. During this time, they refrain from doing certain activities and instead focus on spending time with family, praying, and studying the Jewish texts.

It's important to understand that there are other branches of Judaism too, such as Reform Judaism and Conservative Judaism, which have different interpretations and practices. They might have different ways of playing their "games" at the playground, just like your friends who prefer sliding or playing on the jungle gym.

So, to sum it up, an Orthodox Jew is someone who follows a traditional and strict way of practicing Judaism. They believe in upholding the ancient Jewish laws and teachings, and they often have special customs and rituals that remind them of their faith. Just like different colors in a crayon box or different games at a playground, the term "Orthodox Jew" refers to a group of people who choose to follow a specific set of Jewish traditions and beliefs.