The earliest known mention of the term Orthodox Jews was made in the Berlinische Monatsschrift in 1795. The word Orthodox was borrowed from the general German Enlightenment discourse, and used to denote … See more

Orthodox attitudes
Judaism never formulated a conclusive credo; whether it reflects a dogma remains controversial. Some researchers argued that the importance of daily practice and adherence to halakha (Jewish law) mooted theoretical … See more

Orthodox Judaism lacks a central framework and a common leadership. It is not a "denomination" in the structural sense, but a … See more

Haredim
The most recognizable sub-group is the Haredim (literally, 'trembling' or 'fervent'), also known as … See more

Modernity crisis
Until the latter half of the 18th century, Jewish communities in Central and Western Europe were autonomous entities, with distinct … See more

Intensity
A relatively thorough observance of halakha – rather than theological and doctrinal matters, which produce diverse opinions – is the concrete demarcation line separating Orthodoxy from other Jewish movements. As … See more

Professors Daniel Elazar and Rela Mintz Geffen, according to calculations in 1990, found there to be at least 2,000,000 observant Orthodox … See more