Jewish Streams Re-Explained (a Response to

[@SamAronow]

1. *UsefulCharts for Jewish history!* usefulcharts.com/collections/sam-aronow?aff=18 Don't worry, my regular videos are returning very soon! 2. I didn't include Humanistic Judaism, as Matt did, because I judged it not to be so much a stream as an organized form of Jewish secularism. 2. The American taboo against tattoos is more complicated than I made it sound. It is true that Jewish law forbids tattoos, but the US is unique in that there is a persistent rumor (untrue) that people with tattoos can't be buried in Jewish cemeteries. This rumor likely originates in 1759, when the leadership of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York _considered_ trying to enforce Jewish Law by refusing to bury people.

[@coe3408]

That rumour also exists in Brazil. If that was through the influence of the much larger and more influent American Jewish community, I can't say.

[@waynesworldofsci-tech]

Great work Sam. Fantastic explanation.

[@wickiezulu]

Is there any truth to the idea that what became Mandaeism originally started out as a since extinct stream of Judaism given they say their origin was in Roman Judaea? Then there is the idea that the Jewish Christian sect known as the Ebionites who resided in the Hejaz were said to have influenced early Islam to some extent.

[@BariNapach]

כדאי לעשות גרסה בעברית You should make a Hebrew version

[@waynesworldofsci-tech]

@@LordJesusChristisGodandSaviour Rejoice! The Eldest will replace your faith in gods for all time!

[@Pachico760]

A classic. 2 jews, 3 videos

[@mexicanstatue172]

hahahaha lmao

[@parsifal6094]

Bull's eye!

[@jhoughjr1]

All walk into a bar and the second video says ..

[@fernandoteitelbaum]

Hahahaha

[@RockSmithStudio]

😂

[@tehandroidmaster]

As a Sikh, I can't help but admire and envy the academic ethos that Jews have with documenting their own history and promoting historical research and critical academic scholarship of their traditions and customs. I came across your channel when I was looking up Iranian Jews, and I fell down a rabbit hole of Jewish history that scratched *so* many itches I've had for so long. Beta Israel, Central Asian Jews, Jews in China, Jewish traders in India that lived in the same time period as Saint Thomas and his legendary voyages to Kerala. Sam, your channel doesn't just benefit your own people - it's of immense value to non-Abrahamic gentiles like myself, who've always been puzzled by the relations between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Without hyperbole, your content is on par with creators like Filip from Let's Talk Religion and Andrew from Religion For Breakfast. In some areas, your content actually manages to eclipse theirs in the level of depth and specialisation you can go into. Keep up the good work, my good man!

[@Nous98]

It's not neccessarily the case tho. Jewish people's embrace of critical-scientific academic querry into their own religion and traditions and history rose from the same basic principle of European liberalism, secularism and the Age of Enlightenment. The Jewish participation in those are, as I understand, called "Haskalah" movement, and was mostly concentrated in the Western Europe. This "academic ethos" and the "historical research and critical academic scholarship of their traditions and customs" of the Jewish people is not neccessarily a Jewish thing. But it's a European Enlightenment thing. It is entirely normal for the religion/religious tradition and communities that does not have contact with the West and its scientific revolution to not be familiar with this kind of non-dogmatic approach, framework and methodology toward thier own religion. And even feel threatened by it. As I understand there still a lot of traditional Jewish groups and communities that would not accept the academic research that contradict their deeply held beliefs and traditions. Remember, even one of the most celebrated Enlightenment scholar like Baruch Spinoza still was excommunicated (which is a very rare thing in Jewish communities, reserved for a major and severe charges.) But the fact that there a lot of religious literacy content creators, educators and communicators is always very admirable. But like I mentioned above, it is from the Enlightenment value and ideal especially in the persuit of learning and truth which should be promote everywhere, for a better understanding of ourselves, our past and our humanity.

[@lisal5718]

@@Nous98I think that Judaism in general holds learning in a much higher regard than Christianity (especially conservative Catholicism) which until the reformation forbid lay people from reading in the Bible. And even under Protestants you can often find an obvious disregard for education, especially in more fundamentalist groups. There is the saying that you were able to find a school in the poorest stehtl. While their rural Christian neighbours weren’t really interested in education that exceeded what was strictly necessary to for example run a farm.

[@jonahblock]

Reform, othodox, modern othodox, conservatives, ashkinaz and tzfardeem don’t really acknowledge any other news like Iranian and most of us don’t even know they are still alive :(

[@jonahblock]

Go far down enough you will see that my people you used to be furtilaty nature worshiping indo european pagans who eventually subverted the matriarchy and used to sacrifice children :(. There is also no archeologcal evendemce for the Jewish versions of Abraham, Moses, Passover ect It’s as if someone magicly turned a bunch of local tribes into one fictional relgion around the time of shlomo ha meloch whom you might know as king Solomon

[@Anshulhe]

As a Sikh you must look into logic and reasoning in Indian religion's like naya school of philosophy, they will impress you beyond imagination With critical thinking, questioning, debating, proper instruments of knowledge, system of logic, interpretation, epistemology and many more

[@AncientAmericas]

Really enjoyed this! It's awesome to see the history you've covered (and will cover) presented in such a simple and visual way.

[@MyDj56]

Such a GOATed channel to have in the comment section. This is going to be my first Sam Aronow video, this gives me a lot of hope!

[@AncientAmericas]

@@MyDj56 You gotta go back to Sam's first Jewish History and watch them in order. You'll be gloriously binging for days.

[@dhtsoaedsdhtnadi9575]

ask 2 jews the same complicated question, you'll get at least three different answers. that's not an insult. rather it's a compliment aimed at studious culture.

[@ibnyahud]

As a Jewish Ethnographer myself, this chart is great! Although within "Haredi" there are so many "streams", they deserve their own charts. You guys should team up and make a Jewish historical atlas.... you'll definitely sell out the printings ...

[@RobespierreThePoof]

It is curious that this happens within the Haredim. They seem a bit like protestants in this way - obsessed with dividing over fairly small, if not minute differences. I'm sure a religious studies school has a good explanation about why.

[@rickwrites2612]

​what astute comparison but it makes sense

[@DrVictorVasconcelos]

​@@RobespierreThePoofPerhaps it's because that's what happens when you reject the authority of a tradition that's been building up organically and try to rely on a sacred text? You'll inevitably get many interpretations, and you'll all be convinced that your interpretation is uncompromisable as the *real* God-intended meaning.

[@tartarus1322]

@@RobespierreThePoofthey don’t divide over differences really. They each followed the rabbi of their town. Some were bigger or more diff than other towns.

[@Hp-pm2of]

I was actually really excited as a religion nerd to learn about the connection between abu hanifa and karaite Judaism

[@no-nx3ip]

When he said karaite i thought he would talk about karaite jews being turkic

[@ZviJ1]

This rubbish is a Rabbinical canard. There is no Abbasid record of `Anan ben Dawid having been imprisoned, even though the Abbasids were meticulous in recording all matters brought before the Calif and who was imprisoned. The myth not only does not show up until the 10th (possibly the 12th according to Nemoy) century, it also has two different versions: one which said that ‘Anan had a brother name Ḥananyah who succeeded the Exilarch Shelomo ben-Ḥisdai, while in the other it says the brother’s name was Yoshiyah. However, both are fiction and bear no relationship with historical fact, since Shelomo ben-Ḥisdai was succeeded by Yiṣḥaq Iskawi I, who was succeeded by Yehudah Zakkai. There never was an Exilarch named Ḥananyah or Yoshiyah. The myth also claims that ‘Anan’s father was Shafaṭ and that he was only called ben-Dawid as a allusion to his Davidic descent. However, ‘Anan’s father was Dawid ben-Yehudah ben-Ḥisdai ben-Bustenai. ‘Anan ben-Shafaṭ disputed with the Exilarch Rav Huna II in the third century (Rav Huna II was Exilarch from 240 to 260), while the alleged imprisonment was supposed to have occurred in 769. The 10th/12th century myth records what it claims was a secret conversation between ‘Anan and the Muslim scholar Abu Ḥanifa an-Nu‘man ibn Tabit (ignoring the fact that Abu Ḥanifa died in 767, two years before ‘Anan’s alleged imprisonment) in which the Muslim convinces ‘Anan to say that he was not the head of the Jews but of a different religion. If there was such a secret conversation, how could the author of the myth be privy to what was said? None of the Rabbanite opponents of ‘Anan during his lifetime or that of his son or his grandson or great-grandson mention a dispute of the Exilarchate with a brother or him being imprisoned. If the things in the 10th/12th century myth were true, why is it that none of the opponents of ‘Anan or the Karaites mention it until the 10th/12th century? The Rabbanite Ga’on Naṭronai lived less than 90 years after ‘Anan, yet makes no mention of the alleged dispute over the office or imprisonment. Leon Nemoy in his “Karaite Anthology”, p. 6-7 says that Naṭronai tells us nothing “about the contest for the office of the exilarch which allegedly served as the immediate cause of his apostasy. It seems reasonable to assume that Naṭronai’s silence signifies that he knew nothing about it, for it would have been to his advantage, had he knowledge of `Anan’s disqualification for the high office, to set it forth in detail in order to demonstrate the more convincingly, from his own point of view, `Anan’s unworthy and ungodly motives. Moreover, Naṭronai lived in the very center of the scene of `Anan’s activity and belonged to the higher strata of Rabbanite society, where the alleged particulars of `Anan’s secession should have been known best, had they been true.” Someone who lived less than 90 years after ‘Anan would also know that the Exilarch Shelomo ben-Ḥisadai was succeeded by Yiṣḥaq Iskawi and he by Yehudah ben-Zakkai and that there was no Exilarch named Ḥananyah or Yoshiyah. Only someone from a much later time period could confuse the 3rd century ‘Anan ben-Shafaṭ and Rava Huna I with the 8th century ‘Anan ben-Dawid and a fictitious brother named Ḥananyah.

[@ZviJ1]

@@no-nx3ip If he didn't, he deserves credit for that, because many others constantly regurgitate this hogwash

[@kalraevyn7444]

I'm a black American and I've always felt a connection of our people experienced similar atrocities and the spirit of survival is strong in both. That being said, I'm a student at heart and love learning to learn. Hell, Between you and Matt (useful charts) as well as a few other political streams I've been able to identify historical patterns modern parallelisms that only became clear when historical context was added. You all have inspired me to start writing on what I'm learning. So thank you all.

[@jesusgonzalez-acton8045]

I take it you don’t put stock in the theories of some black scholars like Tony Martin?

[@mattjohnson9753]

The truth is that all ‘people’ have experienced atrocities. Humanity and the natural world have been brutal to ‘people’.

[@rebeccacuthbertson1271]

This was so good Sam! When Matt said you were going to do a response I got super excited. And you made posters together?!?!?!?! Going to need to grab them for my classroom when I start teaching Hebrew school again. Love that tidbit about Conservative Jews being your largest subscriber base among Jews. Glad to help be part of that statistic! Keep up the amazing work. It’s very much appreciated

[@noorhanisahabrahman4929]

Clicked as soon as i saw A sam aronow video!

[@KathrynsWorldWildfireTracking]

The Essenes - did not "disappear." Much sadder. They are thought to have all died, together with so many others, at Masada. (The desert plateau fortress of last resort.) Either by their own swords, or that of the Romans. That's why it is assumed the Dead Sea Scrolls were preserved. They were cached in safety, in a desert cave...until "victory day," that never came. A simple explanation why they were not retrieved: Not a single person was alive anymore, who knew where they were.

[@muhammadedwards8425]

They did not all die. It is likely that many survived into the immergence of Islam having some overlap with smaller Christians branches that were persecuted. They possibly merged into some of the monotheistic arabs

[@DeChatill0n]

​@@muhammadedwards8425more likely joined other jews and merged into their streams, the immergence of Islam started hundreds of years after their "extinction"

[@brianross9753]

I think it is fitting that Matt's chart showed Conservative Judaism as branching off from Modern Orthodoxy, while Sam Aronow's chart shows Conservative Judaism as branching off from Reform. There's truth to both. The intellectual underpinnings of Conservative Judaism can be viewed as a break off of Reform, though, in terms of Conservative Judaism as a separate stream, I think Matt's telling of it breaking away from Modern Orthodoxy is more correct. (And Sam’s description of Conservative Judaism as maintaining ritual only symbolically is a bit misleading). An intellectual precursor to Conservative Judaism was the Positive Historical school, developed by Zecharia Frankel in the 1840s. He was an early reformer of Judaism and attended the conferences of the other early reformers. However, he broke from other reformers chiefly over the question of whether to use Hebrew or the vernacular in prayer (Frankel favored Hebrew). His Jewish Theological Seminary in Breslau influenced the Jewish Theological Seminary in America, which later became a central institution of Conservative Judaism. However, up until the 1940s, it was not clear that "Conservative" Judaism was a separate stream from Orthodoxy but rather just represented the liberal wing within Orthodoxy. JTS in the US was founded as an Orthodox institution (one of its founders later went on to found the OU), though with some influence from Breslau and the "Jewish studies" movement. Schechter took over JTS in the 1900s, and liberalized it. This caused the Orthodox council of rabbis called the "Agudath Harabbonim" to denounce JTS, but the OU still recognized the institution. The left wing of the OU looked pretty similar to the congregations within Schecter's new "United Synagogue." It wasn't 'til the 1940s that it became clear that Conservative Judaism would become a distinct stream from Orthodoxy. The Jewish law committee of the Conservative Rabbinic Assembly passed several "takkanot" (decrees) with broke from established Jewish law, such as the "driving" responsa, which allowed driving to synagogue for certain people who didn't live within walking distance of a synagogue. Meanwhile, the OU started requiring member synagogues to have mechitzas (barriers between men and women) and to remove microphones on Shabbat. These divisions sharpened further in the 1970s and 1980s, when the Conservative movement started allowing congregations to count women in minyanim and started ordaining female rabbis. Meanwhile, Modern Orthodoxy took further steps to the right, generally distancing itself from critical biblical scholarship and the like.

[@williameubanks8078]

Conservative Judaism did infact branch from Reform Judaism. Look at the Treyfa Banquet. I'm surprised neither mentioned it.

[@itzhakbenelkabbed]

As a Conservative Jew, I would like to think (completely without evidence) that your popularity in our stream has to do with our tradition of free research. We like educational content, especially Jewish studies.

[@KosherCookery]

I think (optimistically, perhaps) it might also be that some Jews who are mostly or entirely non-practicing feel a greater philosophical connection to Masorti Judaism than to secularism and identify as such in channel surveys. Would be nice to get some of those hypothetical people to shul.

[@emr6153]

​​@@KosherCookeryit would be nice to go back to shul. Problem is, my childhood synagogue has all but shut down, and, much more importantly, my local synagogue (to which I have roots from the 1970's) was shot up by a madman, managing in the process to destroy the unique glue that held us together in October 2018. So, yes it would be nice to go back, you can't. You've just got to keep moving forward.

[@jhoughjr1]

As an outsider who notices patterns I’ve seen many Jewish people have a culture of learning and research. When id see discussions the rabbis would always stand out with their perspectives and thoughtfulness.

[@jhoughjr1]

@@emr6153look at what KZbin can do for learning and spreading information. Traditional schools can’t keep up in major ways.

[@itzhakbenelkabbed]

@@jhoughjr1 You’re absolutely right, education is huge in any stream of Judaism. The distinction in that regard between Orthodoxy and Conservatism is that Orthodoxy focuses heavily on Torah study in the rabbinic tradition- Which is great- But Conservatism is more open to secular scholarship and “Jewish Studies” in our interpretation of Judaism. Sam Aranow’s channel would fall more into the latter category.

[@royharel2147]

Honestly this has to be one of your very best works! its so useful, simple to process and informative. Thank you for making this wonderful guide to the perplexed :)

[@samwill7259]

These are the exact kinds of conversations that makes it so that my brother's Rabbi can rivet me to my seat once we start talking. (Your channel was one of the resources she gave me when I was asking for help being a good brother during my brother's conversion!)

[@thedemongodvlogs7671]

Small correction at 1:40, Western Ashkenazim or more specifically Yekkes in this case also have the minhag of not naming babies after living relatives. As a yekke, with a strong interest in genealogy and local history, this fact is very useful when locating names and relations!!

[@SamAronow]

That's surprising as I often come across Yekke fathers and sons who share the same name, especially around the late 19th/early 20th century period I'm currently covering.

[@thedemongodvlogs7671]

@@SamAronow Interesting. I suppose in the west where different schools of religious/cultural thought were more diverse, it might have varied more. From my personal experience, the tradition seems to be quite strong in Alsace and Baden as well as the small towns and cities of the lower Rhineland, as that is where most of mine and my family's genealogy and local history is concentrated and I am yet to come across a family or an example where this custom isn't observed. But I await your future videos eagerly and keep up the fantastic work!

[@bestaqua23]

I'm russian / Ukraine Jewish and we also don't name kids after living reletivis. But we are from the former USSR so mor information about our traditions was kind of wiped out

[@lisal5718]

@@SamAronowIt could probably be something that they adopted to become more like their Christian neighbours. During this time it was not uncommon in German families to have a set name for the first born boy and it was also common to name boys after German emperors who had not only an extremely limited gene pool but also a very short list of names (either Friedrich or Wilhelm) to pick from. In my family you at least find one Wilhelm in each generation and if the father is the oldest his oldest will of course share the same name.

[@willblasingame6441]

Thanks for clarifying that Paul taught that Jewish Christians should still follow Jewish law while non-Jews were not obliged… I’ve seen the idea that Paul taught Jewish Christians to disobey the law pop up often

[@jhoughjr1]

Interesting and makes sense to me. Most Christian’s wouldn’t lead with that info I think.

[@dmitrygaltsin2314]

Paul did not insist on the Jews who converted into the Christ movement continuing Judaic practice, but he never condemned it (and did himself perform a circumcision on a coreligionist). He viewed it as a custom and always stressed that after the advent of Christ "the Law" was no longer necessary, though it was still valid. The interpretations of Paul, however, vere often anti-Judaic if not anti-Semitic.

[@madisonkung8390]

I took a class on this, actually, and Paul considered Christ to be a path to salvation for gentiles, not necessarily as a replacement for the old law. The reason he was preaching against others was because he did not believe gentiles should be forced to follow Jewish law in order to go to heaven, whereas his rivals wanted the gentiles to follow Jewish customs. This has often been interpreted as him condemning Judaism as a whole, which is patently incorrect.

[@screamtoasigh9984]

Here are the major religious philosophies and beliefs that Paul “invented”: • Suspension of circumcision as a prerequisite for “conversion” to Judaism • Vicarious (or transfer of guilt) atonement through belief in the resurrected body of Jesus. • Abrogation of basic Jewish practices such as observance of the Sabbath and Holidays, Kashrut, and family purity laws. • Belief that one could not achieve the “Kingdom of Heaven,” through righteous deeds, unless one also believed in Jesus as the Messiah and god. • Concept of the Trinity or tripartite godhead that consists of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. • The claim that the Messiah had to die and be resurrected from the dead. These form the major tenets of most of Christendom to this day. Jews for Judaism

[@HoradrimBR]

Besides the New Testament, what primary sources do you guys have on Paul's thinking?

[@jas7256]

Awesome stuff! This almost feels like a recap episode of everything your channel has discussed before, which feels fitting considering we're entering into WWI and the start of the establishment of a Jewish state.

[@logicaredux5205]

Not Jewish. But as someone who has tried to understand the various streams of thought within the history of Judaism and their origins, this chart was most useful. Thank you, sir! Oh yes, and greetings from one former Chicagoan to another.

[@yerom1]

Jewish Renewal is definitely tiny in terms of actual synagogues and members, but at least here on the West Coast, it is incredibly influential in reform/recon/progressive congregations. I'm surprised you had trouble researching it. There are two anthologies from Ariel Mayse at Stanford and a whole chapter on it in Shaul Magid's book American Post-Judaism.

[@KostyaT]

Thanks, this is the first time I understood the essence of Reconstructionist Judaism, and I find that it resonates with me

[@wenchbyatt]

I'm not Jewish, but the explanation on the Zealots made a lot of things make more sense for me from my days in Catholic school. Especially "render unto Caesar". Also, I live in Poland, and I can see traces of the former Jewish life everywhere, so your channel helps fit those into their larger context when I encounter them

[@silentrift63]

As a secular jew raised in the conservative Jewish tradition I feel seen

[@yelix2]

I'm genuinely overwhelmed with each new video by the breadth and depth of the research, the quality of the visuals, and the clarity of the script. And I love how you manage to balance staying true to mainstream interpretations of history and giving us your own angle, which i mostly agree with you on. I really only discovered this channel a few months ago and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites. So, just, kudos. Oh and as a fellow Tel Avivi, I'm always down to collab on translating your content or even just to hang out.

[@miramavensub]

This was really good! I would like to note I've seen a rumbling of a new movement forming in the United States from different people scattered about. Unlike most of the older shifts this shift seems to be less geographically linked and more linked to cultural experiences and opposition to Romanization/Hellinization and a return to ancient practice. It's been mostly queer people especially queer women and transgender jewish people who seem to be fitting into the new movement. I'm deliberately not being too specific about it or trying to name it because it's very individual - I don't think anyone I've met fully thinks of it as a stream yet - but I'll do my best to summarize the key things that the people I've met seem to hold to: 1. Practicing Judaism as a religion which is not monotheistic but either Monalatrist or Henotheistic 2. Practicing folk magic, ritual, and making offerings to forces (angels, demons, ancestors, etc.) as part of practice. 3. A strong belief in the unity of the Jewish people, and of the idea that the spiritual and material coexist together. 4. A disinterest in or lack of belief in an afterlife distinct from the material world. Relatedly a belief in an immortal spirit which is a part of the world we inhabit. 5. A rejection of traditions against tatoos, piercings, or other markings - instead interpreting the restrictions to be related to adopting cultural markers and aesthetic assimilation to the normative non-jewish culture in the region.

[@alterklausner3885]

Tattoos are mentioned in the Torah Leviticus 19:28 see Rashi where he clearly understands it as a modern tattoo

[@valmarsiglia]

I think it's going a bit far to say that Catholicism and Protestantism can be seen as different religions. Protestantism especially is such a big tent that it's not really possible to generalize about it that way. Some forms of Protestantism (eg High-Church Anglicanism) would be practically indistinguishable from Catholicism to a non-Christian. And in the US at least, there's a broad feeling of "We're all Christians" among Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox despite differences in theology, doctrine, and practice.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

the differences between Catholicism and Anglicanism aren't particularly visible to Christians either. or even to the Catholics and Anglicans themselves. if i remember correctly, the two have actually been drifting closer recently, and while i doubt they will ever reunite, it does look like they are building ties.

[@valmarsiglia]

@@darrylviljoen6227 Yeah, I was raised Catholic, but I was confirmed Anglican (Episcopalian as it's called in the US) because my mom and stepdad, both being remarried, needed to get some special dispensation from the local bishop to be allowed to take communion, so they basically said "Screw that, we'll just become Episcopalian, it's practically the same anyway." I guess both churches can fight over my soul when I'm dead, lol.

[@lemokemo5752]

High-Church Lutherans are also very close to Roman-Catholicism, many issues closer to the Vatican than they are to Evangelicals and Free Churches. Real Precense, veneration, baptism, liturgy, saints etc etc.

[@darrylviljoen6227]

@@valmarsiglia "I guess both churches can fight over my soul when I'm dead" LoL that made my evening.

[@itzhakbenelkabbed]

Not really disputing that point, but there are definitely a lot of Evangelicals who will consider Catholics distinct from Christians.

[@jennapeed]

Very much enjoyed this breakdown and very much enjoy Matt from Useful Charts. About 15 videos deep into the Jewish History playlist. Videos are thorough an well explained. Good job Sam!

[@michaelbettinger3486]

I learn so much through you. Thank you for all your videos. This one though incorporates so much of Jewish history and the structure of Judaism. I especially liked the line where you say being Jewish is more about practice than ritual. I agree. It's how you live your life that makes a big difference. I was bar mitzvahed in 1958, an unusual time in Jewish history just thirteen years after the Holocaust. I was taught to be careful about expressing my Judaism. So much else got lost in the process and your videos, this one included have helped me too reclaim my Judaism identity.

[@adammarktaylor]

I'd love to see you and Matt Baker collab on a family tree chart, and history of, the Jewish Exilarchy.

[@israelilocal]

Great response Sam Will you make a video explaining Edot in the future? I think it's an important topic to know especially when talking about the state of Israel and Mandatory Palestine What stream of Judaism would you consider yourself a part of? I assume secular? I really like the different yet familiar style of video btw also and this isn't that related but either you or Matt (hopefully with your help) should do a video about Hasidic dynasties and their evolution into what they are today I feel like this topic is always Chabad dominated last question and I don't mean to be impatitiant but when do we start world war I? I am very hyped for it

[@SamAronow]

I am indeed secular, though I attended a Reform synagogue from ages 7-13 and of all the religious streams I find myself most sympathetic to the Conservative and Reconstructionist philosophies. And the Great War is coming very soon.

[@joshualeonpearl3724]

@@SamAronowEvery religious Jew who watches this video realizes very quickly that you're a secularist.

[@larsulrich2761]

Paul wanted both Jews and Gentiles to abandon the law. Peter wanted everyone to keep the Law. It was James the Just that made the decision for only the converted Jews to continue following the Law.

[@samuelmithran5586]

False... Paul wanted Jews to remain under the law while maintaining that Gentiles shouldn't have to.

[@larsulrich2761]

​@@samuelmithran5586 False, James wanted Jews to remain under the law and was convinced by Paul to let the Gentiles only follow the Noahide laws. Paul actually wanted everyone to abandon the laws but settled for only the gentiles. Paul himself a Jew did not follow kosher law unless he was around Peter or James.

[@zjzr08]

@larsulrich2761 All I can say is Jesus himself said that He didn't abolish the law so I don't think the "abandoning" is the correct term (I think it's more making the law recommended for those under Mosaic Law but is not required IMO).

[@clagos2203]

Actually Shaul (Paul) never spoke against the Torah only against the Oral Torah/ Talmudic traditions of the Rabbis as did Yahshua himself (Mark 7:1-13). In 2 Peter 3:15-17 Peter states that the things Shaul writes are hard to understand for those who are untaught and unlearned . That they twist his words as they do scripture to justify lawlessness. But he warns us against that error. The confusion comes in especially in the book of Galatians from the use of the Greek word “nomos”. This is the generic word for “law” and could refer to any law. It could refer to the Torah, man made laws, or anything that is established or followed. So when determining what “law” Shaul is referring to, context is essential. In the book of Galatians chapter 1 he begins by telling us about his conduct in Judaism and how ardent he was for the “ traditions of my Fathers”. That is a direct reference to the Oral Torah/ Talmudic traditions of the rabbis that were being taught as if they were commandments from the actual Torah Moshe (Moses) received on the mountain. It was that “law” Shaul spoke against. So when he said by the works of the “law” no flesh shall be justified, the “law he was speaking about was the the Oral Torah / Talmudic traditions.

[@AniBAretz]

Sam Aranow, thank you so much for all of this!

[@LinguarumFautor]

Thanks for doing this. This is the first I’d heard of Epikursim. I think you are underestimating how much the stream model matches the history of Christian denominations, especially in Protestantism. But even my Anglican pastor ancestors (including the Methodist black sheep) would be appalled at how many Catholic elements my Episcopal church has readopted. And one must always remember that the loudest voices always come from the groups that say “We are the only real X; everybody else is wrong” rather than “There are nine and sixty ways of constructing tribal lays, and every single one of them is right!”

[@eudora3205]

yes, a different approach from Matt, equally informative and engaging ...liked and subscribed!!

[@Innomenatus]

I think these divisions should be seen like literal streams, like that of a river, converging and diverging in times. Sarmatianism, for example appears to share elements with Judaism due to the fact that elements of both appeared to have a common ancestor agreeing with both traditions, and likely remained united until political divisions later, likely as a result of differing identities previously existing. The Elephantine community likely represents a Judahite and/or Samarian isolate that remained Polytheistic, possibly indicating either the very late emergence of monotheism, and/or the late survival of Polytheism after the emergence of Monotheism.

[@BeneRomi753]

Great episode as always, and I can’t wait to see some of the figures from “the future” in future episodes. But wasn’t the bat mitzvah already introduced by reform Jews in Germany? There’s even an account of a bat mitzvah ceremony in what was otherwise an orthodox synagogue in Verona in 1844

[@octavianova1300]

incredible how you managed to summarize basically your entire series in a half hour, without it feeling rushed or painfully truncated, u are incredible A+

[@thedemongodvlogs7671]

I've been waiting for this one since UC's video!!

[@singam7436]

Honestly, from your description of radical reform, it kind of sounds like the Hindu Brahmo Samaj in India. And ironically, the Brahmos have met the same fate as radical reform, practically dead except for some tiny pockets (except this time in Bengal and not the US). I wonder if that says something about this particular mode of doing religion.

[@salvadorromero9712]

I'm an American Catholic, and a rather traditionalist one; I also grew up next to a Hasidic neighborhood so have been very philo-Semitic and interested in Judaism (somewhat but not atypically of us). I was surprised and impressed to read in the Baltimore Catechism (held in enormous awe by traditional American Catholics), "Why did the Jewish religion, which up until the birth of Christ was the true religion, cease at that time to be the true religion?" My Jewish professors of religious history at a liberal secular university always said specifically that "Rabbinic" or "Modern" Judaism was to be thought of as a completely distinct (though obviously descended and closely related) religion from "Biblical Judaism," the same way one might refer to the Vedic religion as distinct from Hinduism and so forth. They even explicitly described Christianity as another, descended from the Jewish milieu of its time. Catholicism could have taken advantage of the rapid changes and factionalization of those centuries to say that modern Judaism has no more right to continuity with the Judaism of the Old Testament than Christianity does. Instead, it does not do that and concedes that continuity to Judaism, and sets up its apologetic task in a more difficult way.

[@jhoughjr1]

I think both are an effect of crap the temple is gone which is interesting.

[@marianopesa298]

It does have more right of continuity than Catholicism does though. By a long shot.

[@screamtoasigh9984]

the same idea about atonement as Christendom continues to preach today (e.g. Molech). They would joyfully offer a child into the fires of their sacrificial offering in order to expiate their sins and appease the gods. Why would a child sacrifice be used in this pagan ritual rather than an adult? The reason is that a child is a moving portrait of one who is innocent of sin. A child, they reasoned, could not have committed iniquity and thus mirrored the animal sacrifice which also had to be unblemished. The Torah therefore condemned human sacrifices,

[@screamtoasigh9984]

The Bible prohibited sacrificing any animal that was maimed or blemished in any way (Leviticus 22 :19-22, Deuteronomy 17 :1). However, prior to being crucified, Jesus was beaten and scourged (Matthew 27 : 26, Mark 15: 15-19) which would render him unfit to be a sacrifice. In addition, he was circumcised in the flesh (Luke 2:21), which according to Philippians 3:2 is considered to be a form of mutilation. As well, the Passover sacrifice most certainly could not have been a human being! The Bible strongly condemns and forbids human sacrifice over a dozen times. The actual meaning and significance of the Passover lamb is, in fact, a total repudiation of Christianity. Four days prior to the Exodus, the children of Israel were instructed to set aside a lamb that they would eat on the evening prior to leaving Egypt (Exodus 12 :3-6). This was a tremendously risky act of defiance because the Egyptians worshiped the lamb (Exodus 8:22 / 8:26 in a non-Jewish Bible). The slaughtering of the Paschal lamb was a dramatic renunciation of idolatry. It was a statement that the people inside those houses worshiped God alone. The blood on their doorposts was a brave protest against the prevailing beliefs and a forceful rejection of the worship of any created being. Our Passover today continues to serve as a rejection of the deification of any human being. Jews for Judaism

[@Yakovolf]

1. Hillelism and Shammaism are not "streams" or "denominations." They are just two schools of thought in the interpretation of Jewish law. They didn't differ theologically. And the claim that Christianity is an outgrowth of "Hillelism" is absolutely ludicrous. 2. "Epikursim" is a general term mentioned in the Talmud meaning "Heretics", it's not a separate stream or theology, it's just a general name for heretical Jews. 3. Anti-Maimonideanism is, again, not a stream of Judaism. Not every Legal dispute should be viewed as a schism. Legal disputes like those of Hillel-Shammai, Abaya-Rava, Maimonides-anti, etc. etc. happen all over Jewish history.

[@brandeh49]

As far as I know, the meaning of "prushim" is "separatists" as in "lifrosh". I found that explanation in Hebrew Wikipedia as well

[@antonivsfortis]

Lmfao he nailed Baker's cadence in that opening

[@UsefulCharts]

ikr!

[@ianinachaninah]

Very comprehensive chart, thank you! I hope you'd also do something on other streams of Judaism found outside the West (most specifically in Israel) though, like the Dati Leumi.

[@IbexWatcher]

I can lend another voice to the consensus of Conservative Jews loving your channel! Growing up in (and still very involved with) a mostly Conservative Jewish community in the US, I can see elements of both Reform and Modern Orthodox philosophies and practices in our traditions

[@adrianomorenoweinstein9620]

Enriquecedora perspectiva. Muchas gracias. Estimulante complementaridad entre Useful Charts y Sam Aronow. Por supuesto que hay planteamientos que el auditor tiene que ponderar y documentar; pero de eso se trata. Hay que caminar el camino y sustanciar. Así crecemos todos.

[@ayrsine]

This video has been necessary for a very long time. Thank you, thank you

[@TobyG123]

Hey Sam, great video. As a Jew from the American Midwest, I was surprised by the mention of radical reformist communities in the region. I had never heard anything about this. Where did you learn about this, and what (if any) scholarship exists on this subject?

[@SamAronow]

I mentioned in my second video on Jews in the US, "Minhag America," and got my information from Jonathan Sarna's _American Judaism._

[@stephenfisher3721]

I live in a small town in the Midwest. Until this year we did not have a full-time rabbi so things may now be changing. For many years we had a student rabbi conducting services on one Friday night each month during the school year. Every Friday night service with a student rabbi also had a paid Gentile soloist and a paid Gentile organist. Music was straight out of the Union Hymnal. Each year we would have a different student rabbi and some tried to bring in new music but met resistance by influential members. Yom Kippur has always featured a paid mixed choir, all Gentile and is the Congregation's most Reform service. I have attended other Reform Temples which embraced Classical Reform but changed over the years. Ironically, while Reform is supposed to be the most democratic, I have seen the changes steamrolled. Older members were aghast: Why a change in prayer book? Why so much Hebrew? Why a change in music? Why a yarmulke? Where is confirmation? Where is social action? What is tikkun olam? In many Reform congregations, Reform Judaism became unrecognizable to older members who were not consulted but as they die off no one cares or remembers.

[@screamtoasigh9984]

​@@stephenfisher3721it's no longer Judaism, they are cosplaying.

[@MrStevos]

I've subscribed to UsefulCharts for many years... How Wonderful you guy got together to do these, including some new Charts which I'll will check out soon ! Thx++

[@SamAronow]

Unfortunately, the order ran out at the end of 2023 and they're no longer in production.

[@MrStevos]

@@SamAronow Since they are no longer available to buy... Perhaps you can post them on your site so we can at least look at & check them out ??

[@Pratchettgaiman]

I feel like a lot of non-Orthodox Diaspora Jews (especiallly ones in areas without huge Jewish populations) these days practice a mishmash of Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Renewal, and secular traditions, which gets inaccurately depicted by both the Orthodox and gentiles as being kinda wishy-washy, but it’s more that we develop our own personal and/or synagogical identity

[@plaidpvcpipe3792]

I agree. I think that, while Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist are good labels to use, most Jews and Synagogues that "belong" to those streams are much more "non-denominational" than one might imagine. The ideas of each are so similar that unlike the slightly more, for lack of a better word, schismatic Orthodoxy (both Haredi and Modern Orthodox), agree very easily.

[@stephenfisher3721]

When I first moved to a small town which had only one Jewish congregation I wrongly assumed that the student rabbis would have a broader Jewish knowledge than they did. It turned out that their knowledge was limited to Reform and even that was deficient, not being knowledgeable about the history or development of their movement. I knew it was pointless to discuss Reconstructionist or Jewish Renewal with Orthodox Rabbis but I found these Reform Rabbinical students knew even less. They only seemed to know about something if was in a class they had. One member of the Congregation was on his journey to Orthodoxy and until he moved away he and his wife influenced our congregation to be a bit more pluralistic. According to our by-laws, our kitchen was not kosher but there was to be no pork or shellfish products - what some call "Biblically Kosher". No one really cared and after the more observant family left, kosher deteriorated mostly due to ignorance. People knew to avoid "CAUTION : CONTAINS PIG" but did not know about hechshers and that without a hechsher shortening could be anything. One woman thought she was being generous by bringing shrimp and was completely shocked when told it was not allowed. She was , in fact, not Jewish at all but married to a Jew. You would think that when there is only one congregation, it is a blend; it could be; but obviously not always.

[@RodrigoPerez-zu7qb]

Where are you from if not from the US? Argentina doesn’t have the term but it is surely mainstream (orthodox)

[@screamtoasigh9984]

And I should point out I'm in a very Jewish area, the local shuls are just that bad.

[@ShalemAhava]

This is one of the best videos I've see on this topic! Well done

[@gemmamoon5998]

Part of the reason Conservative Judaism is rapidly shrinking is because Reform and Conservative practices have merged into each other a lot. There are still liturgical differences, and the philosophical reason they’ve converged come from different schools of thought, but to the average congregant they are quite similar. One thing you failed to mention is that the contemporary Reform movement is almost unrecognizable from the Classical Reform movement of R. Isaac Mayer Wise. The URJ no longer fully rejects Jewish ritual, and in fact encourages it. Where the Reform & Conservative movements differ now is primarily on patrilineal descent (URJ says they’re Jewish, USCJ does not), interfaith marriage (URJ allows, USCJ does not), conversion practices, adherence to halacha (URJ says it’s all optional, USCJ amends the halacha while knowing that a lot of congregants don’t strictly follow halacha), and liturgical differences. Those small deviations are likely what makes Reform Judaism more popular than Conservative-while both are relaxed about halacha and have similar services, people who are accepting of interfaith marriage, patrilineal Jews, etc. will gravitate towards the Reform movement, and those who care more about halacha will lean towards Modern Orthodox.

[@TheAndrewSchneider]

So very helpful, thanks! Really helps me make sense of all the intellectual history in the regular videos!

[@parsifal6094]

Thanks Matt, for making Sam release a new video!

[@AryehShmuel]

Can’t say that I agree with a great deal of your opinions, especially in regard to ancient Judaism. But did glean a great deal of useful information overall, and thought your summary explanations of modern streams of Judaism were pretty accurate on an academic level. Thanks

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you for such a clear breakdown. A week ago I went to a Reform synagogue after mulling this Judaism thing over for 20 years. I will go back in a couple weeks. Seems like a beginning.

[@levykatzman842]

This is a truly terrific video. Thank you!

[@EricRosenfield]

Seems like the video could do with a section at the end that just sums up what all the currently surviving streams of Judaism are and where they're found.

[@gar4206]

I actually live in one of the few Jewish communities in which Conservative Jews are the majority and growing, Baltimore.

[@MenachemWeinstein]

Thoroughly enjoyed this, thank you, Sam!

[@VerbenaComfrey]

Thank you for nor including "messianic Jews" i.e. Christians in this.

[@daveunbelievable6313]

I wouldn't really say Protestantism and Catholicism could be seen as different religions, especially since Protestantism isn't really one identifiable group, but rather a spectrum of different groups which vary in their retention of Catholic theology and practice. Maybe some restorationist groups like Latter-Day Saints or more theologically liberal groups like Universalist Unitarians have a sufficiently different theological outlook to deserve a more firm distinction, but most Protestant churches ascribe to the same foundational creedal statements as Catholic and Orthodox churches do.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

As I see it the chief difference between Catholicism and the other Western Christian Sects is political. Catholicism is a ( or perhaps the ) universalist religion. It was organised to convert everyone to become a Catholic. In other to do that it needed the cooperation of state authorities to suppress other religions and other sects of Christianity ( which of course Catholics called heresy ). It had this political support from the conversion of Constantine to the Reformation ( and beyond in southern Europe) . With the loss of at least some political support at the Reformation , other Christian Sects could quickly emerge. Usually tied to a specific community.

[@hisStory-y2g]

I'm a leprechaun Jew an Irish Jew I daven on a rainbow next to a pot of gold while eating Lucky Charms with Kosher milk. Shalom

[@freedomclub6969]

Good job Sam! Wonderful video.

[@israelr2367]

Congratulations Sam...another high quality outstanding video very helpful for people like me who can't afford to read all the stuff you did

[@Stoneworks]

Very swag

[@SunflowerSocialist]

Just discovered this channel, and I’m hooked!

[@EladLerner]

Great work! Will you consider doing this sort of thing for Israeli political parties? I always wanted to see a clear timeline chart of who split from whom, and who merged with whom.

[@SamAronow]

No, there is too much. I'll almost certainly be covering the evolution of the larger parties over the course of my regular videos though.

[@RubelliteFae]

Useful Charts' video helped me understand things _I didn't previously get_ about *Jewish culture.* Sam Aronow's video helped me understand things _I didn't previously know_ about *philosophical differences.*

[@ShockHELL4]

I find it pretty weird as an Israeli Jew that all of these Jewish reforms streams were given such a big place in this video even though they all are really marginal streams in Israel. In Israel whether you’re Hiloni, Masorti, Dati Leoumi or Haredi you’ll always follow an Orthodox Judaism and thus regardless of being sefardic or Ashkenazi.

[@ZviJ1]

Just a minor niggling here -- there's a tiny minority numbering tens of thousands of secular Qaraite Jews in Israel and they do not follow Orthodox Judaism.

[@ShockHELL4]

@@ZviJ1 Yeah sure but they represent close to nothing here just like the reforms streams

[@ZviJ1]

@@ShockHELL4They can always be dismissed in some way (and unfortunately they don't always help the matter). But the most honest thing I'd do would be to concede my error, if I stated in so many words that all Jews here follow Orthodoxy. No matter how few "independents" or "non-denominationals" are in Israel, I'm one of them and also don't follow Orthodoxy. Factually Incorrect groupthink and narrowminded patterns of viewing Jewry is one of the reasons I've decided not to be Israeli even though I live here.

[@gtgodbear6320]

A Reform, a Conservative and a Orthodox walk into a bar....

[@erikasell4659]

I have a question/comment about you saying Samaritanism being an offshoot of Judaism, and that Samaritans take offence to that. I can understand where the Samaritans come from, because to me as an outsider it looks like rabbinic Judaism or their slightly earlier variants are as much of an offshoot as Samaritanism would be. It seems like if a tiger called lions offshoots from tigers, when it's likely that both just had common ancestors and evolution led to there being tigers and lions instead of just a proto-tiger/lion. Does that make sense? In any case, really appreciate your videos, in particular those on Beta Israel!

[@zjzr08]

@erikasell4659 Can the term be "Israelism" instead as the precursor as that's what the two tribes together were called (some use "Yahwism" but I feel it has been used by some as a term for it being one of the Caaninite gods with the same label so I'm not sure if I'd use it)? I guess the PoV that Samaritanism is an offshoot of Judaism is a question if Samaritans started with the same belief as Jews (i.e. worship in Jerusalem) and developed after 1st temple destruction (and decided to worship in Mount Gerizim), or if it was a dispute the moment they got to Canaan. From what I know Samaritanism only started during the United Kingdom of Israel split right?

[@ianpaulogonzaga4308]

Thanks again for a video like this... Highly informative... Looking forward to more videos...

[@Drekromancer]

This was an incredibly informative video. I feel much more connected to my history now that I see how my family's history fits into the greater Jewish tapestry. Thank you!

[@netahe]

It's a little frustrating that even in a video claiming to be less American centric, Zionist and Israeli streams are completely ignored

[@lionworkseliaselliot2161]

"aka *censored*" brilliant!

[@alexcarter8807]

My own temple is Reform, and it cracks me up that decades ago or even further back, Reform temples has organs. These days it's guitars, always a dang guitar. Now, the thing is that with guitars, strings can break or it can go out of tune. That would require repair/adjustment. That's the problem and let it be known that the fact that I'm sick and tired of guitars has nothing to do with this. Anyway, as a brass player myself (trumpet) I know that the chance of a trumpet breaking while being played is pretty much zero and they don't go out of tune. Thus, in the Reform temple our instruments should be a brass band. Q.E. freakin' D.

[@yuvalkeren7787]

I think you should have also talked about national religious stream even tough it is sort of just modern orthodox but political

[@_oaktree_]

That's more of a political ideology than a religious stream

[@dougearnest7590]

Perhaps in another video, because -- let's face it, trying to cram 6000 + years of the human experience, even if there were no divisions, into a 30 minute video - can be a challenge. Add to that the occasional migration (some voluntary, others not) to different parts of the world -- one needs to make the occasional editorial decision here and there.

[@groman2k]

Love it! Thank you. Shalom!

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Very interesting! I'm glad I found this.

[@plaidpvcpipe3792]

Thanks, Sam, this is excellent stuff. Is the full chart from this video released anywhere?

[@TheOracleofClocks]

What an interesting video, thanks for putting it out

[@Taryag613]

Great video, but one small objection: The prohibition against Tatoos is a biblical one (Leviticus 19:28), not an American custom... at least according to the orthodox understanding of the phrase "k'tovet ka'akah" in Leviticus...

[@BitspokesV2]

The Torah has a proscription against **getting** tattoos, but there’s nothing in the Torah that says a Jew with a tattoo cannot be buried in a Jewish cemetery, which is what Sam is talking about - that is Minhag.

[@ZviJ1]

@@BitspokesV2 Dumpling, the narrator says nothing about the fact the Torah doesn't prohibit burying a Jew with some tattoo in a Jewish cemetery. In your eagerness to save Sam's face you just attempt to mislead readers that this is obviously what Sam meant.

[@jeremiahreilly9739]

Sam, fascinating presentation. A bit overwhelming to grasp. A buddhist guy in Switzerland..

[@mueezadam8438]

I learned a lot as always, thank you for your dedicated research and presentation

[@stephenhowell4404]

Did you ever consider doing anything about the Jewish life in the Czech lands? We have the Prague Golem, Franz Kafka, Hugo Bergman and during the early commie era there was the trial with Slánský, which was the proof of Stalinist anti-semitism and it made the American neo-nazi Francis Parker Yockey endorse the Soviet Bloc. Not the least important thing is that I really happen to genuinely like your channel, not only because this area of history is a very very interesting topic but also because this is just the right way to popularize history on the internet. Thank you for sharing this stuff here and keep up the good work!

[@TheMega300]

Thank you so much! I’m battling 7 day Adventist who disregard history. Will update you 😂

[@evanreinhart6436]

Really really great video Sam!

[@jasonoconner7863]

Subscribed! This was a amazingly good video!

[@d.k.1545]

Thanks!

[@SF2K01]

I'm unclear where you get the idea that the Shulchan Aruch set a new custom that "no future legal rulings could contradict it". While it is a popular conception that the S"A was the last word in Jewish law, despite that it was incredibly popular for its simplicity and ease of study a cursory examination reveals that it in no way set an inviolable standard that could no longer be innovated on. The point of all the commentaries on it (whether the Rema, the Shach, the Taz and so on) are the many ways in which various communities did not agree with (and thus reject) the S"A's legal conclusions and continued to innovate and promote their own ideas. Indeed, the idea that the S"A is the final word in halacha is itself a farce as it merely became the standard framing device for Jewish law rather than a dominant legal opinion. Arguably, you might as well have claimed that Maimonides did what you ascribe to the Shulchan Aruch in creating the Mishnah Torah, as he explicitly wrote in its introduction to the work that it is intended to be the only legal guide anyone would ever need aside from the Tanakh itself!

[@stephenfisher3721]

Recently I was talking to a Haredi rabbi about some halachic opinions I found on the Internet. His response to me was that you can't listen to anyone who deviates from the Shulchan Aruch. He told me that it is praise worthy to study the Rambam's Mishneh Torah but that is not how we decide Halacha. He also told me to disregard the decisions of Rabbi David Bar Hayim who believes that the return to the land of Israel requires halachic decisions freed from the restraints of exile (galut).

[@SF2K01]

@@stephenfisher3721 indeed, as I mentioned a popular conception, especially amongst the right wing which pretends nothing ever changes, but again it is demonstrably untrue, even in Haredi circles, hence a farce of a belief.

[@thedemongodvlogs7671]

Will a version of this video become a chart in the future?

[@sei_i_taishogun_luke_no_bona]

what are the historical sources used to make this video (I'm interested in learning more about this topic) ?

[@SamAronow]

Oof, 95% of this stuff is scattered across videos I've already made, so it'd probably just be easiest to look at the lists of sources in the end credits/descriptions for those.

[@sei_i_taishogun_luke_no_bona]

@@SamAronow Thank you

[@brianross9753]

There's a lot here that's highly speculative: the idea that Samaritans broke away from Judaism, or that the stories of Moses and Deborah were originally Samaritan, the idea the Christianity broke away from Hillelism, or that Essenes were a breakaway from Sadducees, or that Zealots broke away from Beit Shammai, or that Ramhal's lifestyle was queer. Informed speculation is fine, especially about ancient history when we are dealing with an incomplete historical record. But I recommend being a little more upfront about what is speculation, and what is more definitive.

[@ZviJ1]

It's a bit uncertain that the Essenes seceded from the Sadducees and the Zealots broke away from Beit Shammai, but these are good informed suppositions.

[@brianross9753]

@@ZviJ1But the idea that the Song of Deborah is of Samaritan origin is not a well informed supposition.

[@ZviJ1]

@@brianross9753 I mentioned only the suppositions that seem to have real merit to them.

[@brianross9753]

@@ZviJ1Right, some of these assertions are decent suppositions but several are not.

[@willnash7907]

Karate is by far the strongest. Plus, the bandannas are much better than the little hats, I hope we can all agree.

[@JacekJurewicz]

Nice, I knew you'd set it straight and fill in a lot of interesting details :) It's also a great summary of what you've already talked about in your main videos. I must admit I've been having trouble keeping track of the big picture. Ever since I caught up with fresh episodes, it's been tricky to remember the terms and people's names between one video and the next. BTW, what are those blue arrows coming from the right side of the "Haredim" box? Beta Israel merging back into the mainstream? Or some Sabbatean/Frankist influences?

[@ZviJ1]

Beta Yisra'el was never in the Jewish "mainstream", so it's illogical to describe it as returning to such.

[@JulesOfIslington]

This is itself very North American in describing modern movements of Judaism. In Britain, Reform Judaism is somewhere between Reform and Conservative Judaism, and can be seen as vaguely analogous to Reconstructionist Judaism. Liberal Judaism is the British equivalent of American Reform Judaism. Masorti Judaism is equivalent to Conservative Judaism, but very small in Britain.

[@thewebbie]

Loved the video but it ended abruptly without going into any detail about Chabad or Modern Orthodox. Maybe a follow up video?

[@rightclick7266]

It was quick but appears at 27:44 - 27:57

[@gringo1723]

Superb Historical construct! Your definitions of the various attributes of Jewish Society and It's relevant evolution throughout time ring true. Compliments! 😎