Someone asked me why there is so much conflict and bad feelings between the different sects of Judaism. How can I answer her question? I fall in between a conservative and orthodox ideology so it would be preferred that the answer reflect this.

The question of divisions within Judaism is a painful one, but one that is real and should be addressed. The basic difference in the major Jewish groups is whether the Torah is eternal (Orthodox), a permanent bond between the Jewish people and their Maker, or if it is adaptable, amendable, as desired by the generations (Reform; Conservative is somewhere in between).While these disagreements are very, very significant, it is important to note that we nonetheless recognize that we share the same history – and the same destiny.

Cordially,
Yaakov Rosenblatt