Jewish American Assimilation

Through assimilation into the American society the religion, culture, beliefs, and rituals of the Jewish people have changed. Within this alteration into a different society, Jewish Synagogues, or Shuls, where they pray, have an “Americanized” appearance to them. In this “Americanized culture there are four main movements in Judaism: Orthodox, Hassidic, Conservative, and Reform. Each of these four are known as being Jewish, but the rules and rituals followed in each Synagogue are very different.
In an Orthodox service there are many differences from that of Conservative or Reform. In these Orthodox services the men and women are seated separately. Most commonly found, the women are seated behind a Mechitza, a curtain to split men from the women. This is mainly for one reason; it is the men’s obligation to pray. Any distractions from the women; for example seeing or hearing them, takes away from the men’s concentration in prayer. As always, women are dressed appropriatel...