What are the three forms of Judaism?

Answer 1

Judaism has only two major sects. However, they have very different perceptions of each other and these are the Torah Jews and the Liberal Jews. The main divisions between these sects is the ability to use non-Judaic source content to abrogate and modernize Jewish teaching and practice. Torah Jews believe that such things represent a deterioration of Jewish identity and purpose whereas Liberal Jews see Jewish Identity to be more internal or ethnic and the religious aspect to be secondary. As a result, Torah Jews believe Liberal Jews to have "lost their way" and Liberal Jews see Torah Jews as being antiquated and "out of sync" with the modern world. Regardless of whether a person is a Torah Jew or a Liberal Jew, that person may also practice rites derivative of his ancestral region such as Eastern European customs, Iberian customs, North African customs, etc. These customs do not affect other Jews as perceiving him as Jewish and these rites are all co-equal.

Within the Torah Judaism Sect there are a number of movements distinguished by their level of integration with the non-Jewish World, their styles of prayer, and their level of conservatism. The Modern Orthodox are typically seen as the more liberal branch of Torah Judaism and typically wear Jewish paraphernalia (such as a Kippa and Tzitzit) although they will dress in a typical business-suit and work in Western companies. On the more conservative side are the Hasidim and Ultra-Orthodox who wear unique vestment at all times and are recognizable by their payyot (sideburn-curls).

Within Liberal Judaism there are a number of movements also distinguished by their level of integration with the non-Jewish World, their styles of prayer, and their level of conservatism. At the most liberal are Secular Jews who may make Jewish foods and sing Jewish songs, but rarely attend synagogue services and do not perform the daily acts required of Torah Jews. In Liberal Judaism there is a question as to how much Hebrew and how much Vernacular should be used in a Synagogue Service. Conservative Jews, on the more conservative side typically prefer more Hebrew, whereas Reform Jews prefer more Vernacular. Liberal Jews are often well-acclimated to non-Jewish society and may have many non-Jewish friends and contacts.

Answer 2

orthodox, conservative, and reform

Answer 3

There is Sephardic Judaism (the diaspora of Jews expelled from Spain), Mizrachi Judaism (the Judaism of Iraq and Iran), Yemenite Judaism, Romaniot Judaism (the descendants of the Jewish communities of Italy and Greece who have been there since Roman times) and Ashkenazic Judaism (Jews who went north of the Alps about 1000 years ago). Each of those has old liturgical differences. More recently, in the 18th century, Hassidic Judaism emerged in the Ashkenazic world. In the 19th century, Reform Judaism emerged, and then Conservative Judaism. It is noteworthy that there are some Sephardic Reform communities, notably in the French-speaking Jewish world as well as Ashkenazic ones, mostly English speaking. Even before any of the above became distinct, there was Karaite Judaism, which broke off in the late first millennium (there are still perhaps 42000 Karaite Jews in the world).