Last week my wife was watching a Jewish dating show on Netflix called Jewish Matchmaking. I was reading a book as is often the case when my wife watches such shows and I’m trying to ignore what is going on, I became intrigued as the “matchmaker” would interview new clients. She self described as a “frum” Jew, a Yiddish word meaning devout, religiously observant Jew. What I found interesting in her interviews was when she asked about their religious observants. The responses was everything from orthodox (frum), to secular, and everything in between.

As the “matchmake” asked the questions, there was no hint of judgment as many of the clients were much less observant than she was. Some did not observe kosher eating, one only observed kosher at home, but not outside the house. Some only went to temple on the High Holy Days, and others went weekly. Some never read the Tora, and others read and studied it every day.

There are five levels of religiosity in the Jewash community.

Orthodox Judaism: Adheres strictly to traditional Jewish law, believing the Torah (both written and oral) is divine and immutable. It includes Hasidic and Modern Orthodox sub-groups.

Conservative Judaism: Seeks to balance traditional Jewish law with modern life, considering Jewish law binding but evolving.

Reform Judaism: Emphasizes the ethical aspects of Judaism over strict adherence to ritual law, viewing Torah as a growing, inspired document rather than literal divine law.

Reconstructionist Judaism: Views Judaism as an “evolving religious civilization” rather than just a religion, focusing on community and cultural tradition.

Secular Jew: A person who identifies with Jewish culture, history, and heritage, often described as “peoplehood”, rather than with its religious beliefs or rituals. They may not believe in God, keep kosher, or attend synagogue, yet they maintain a strong connection to Jewish identity. It is an identity based on ancestry, community, and culture.

Interesting side note, the Jews have the Mormon equivalent to Born in the Covenant (BIC).They say “Frum from birth” (FFB)

The Matchmaker saw each of the clients as Jewish, regardless of their observance. I found that fascinating, and contrasted it with the Mormon faith tradition. I can see a Mormon equivalent to each of the above categories, encompassing everything from the fundamentalist polygamy groups, the mainstream LDS church, and the cultural Mormons. But what I don’t see in the Mormon tradition is the acceptance across the groups of each other like I see in the Jewish community.

Am I trying to compare apples and oranges hear (they are both fruit!)? Because a Jew is an ethnic group and a religion, does that make it different from Mormons? Yet I would argue that Mormons from the Utah/Idaho area (myself included) meet the definition of an ethic group: Ethnicity refers to the cultural expression and identification of people of different geographic regions, including their customs, history, language, and religion.

I am an ethnic Mormon. I was born in Logan Utah, my history includes relatives that marched across the plains, and I pronounce creek different than my California friends (heck ya!).

What is different in Judaism that lets the various sects get along so well? I don’t see the Orthodox Jews trying to convert the reform Jews, they all get along. Is it too much to expect that one day all the various flavors of Mormonism will get along and just be Mormons?

Your thoughts?

How do you pronounce “creek” ?