ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Open Orthodox

Open Orthodox is a type of Judaism that encourages people to question and interpret Jewish laws and customs in a new and sometimes different way. It's like going on a treasure hunt to find new ideas and understandings of what it means to be Jewish.

For example, Orthodox Jews typically believe that men and women should have different roles in prayer services and in the synagogue. But Open Orthodox might ask, "Why can't women lead prayer services?" They might find a new way to interpret old Jewish texts to support this idea.

In Open Orthodox, people are encouraged to make their own decisions about how to live as a Jew. This means that they might choose to follow some parts of tradition, but not others. They might choose to eat differently, dress differently, or practice different customs, based on what they feel is the most meaningful or relevant to them.

In summary, Open Orthodox is a way of being Jewish that encourages people to think and question, find new ideas and interpretations, and make their own choices about how to live their faith.