Rabbinic Judaism
Rabbinic Judaism or Rabbinism (or in Hebrew "Yahadut Rabanit" - יהדות רבנית) was the continuation of the Pharisees after was subsequently codified in the Mishna and Gemarah, and is interpreted by subsequent rabbinic decisions and writings. Rabbinic Jewish literature is predicated on the belief that the written law can not be properly understood without recourse to the oral law. Much Rabbinic Jewish literature concerns specifying what behaviour is sanctioned by the law; this body of interpretations is called halakha (going/travelling). Until the Jewish enlightenment halakha had the universal status of required religious practice, which remains the prevailing position among orthodox and conservative Jews. Reform Jews do not generally treat halakha as binding.
Although there are now profound differences between the streams of Rabbinic Judaism with respect to the binding force of halakha and the willingness to challenge preceding interpretations, all identify themselves as coming from the tradition of the oral law and the Rabbinic method of analysis. It is this which distinguishes them as Rabbinic Jews, in comparison to the Karaite movement.
See also
Categories
Judaism | Jewish history