Peeling Back the Layers: What Do the Different Levels of Judaism Really Mean?

When individuals mention levels of Judaism, they are usually speaking to the various ways Jewish people experience their faith, identity, and traditions. For some, Judaism is very much a religion – an experience centered around prayer, Torah study, and fulfilling mitzvot (the commandments). For others, Judaism is more a cultural or spiritual experience – an experience about community, ethics, and the feeling of membership. 

There is no correct level of Judaism. Judaism is a very rich, layered experience that enables each person to be at home in a way. Like a journey of a lifetime, discovering Judaism is not so much a set of rules – it is often a process of discovering where your heart feels best. 

Rony Dayan conveys this idea nicely in his book, The Journey to the Light, which recognizes that every person seeking something spiritually has their own journey towards understanding, meaning, and belonging – similarly, each individual experience of Judaism is unique.

The Spiritual Core of Judaism: A Light That Guides

Judaism fundamentally teaches that life is meaningful — which we sometimes describe as the soul having a spark of divine light. This light is not restricted to one group or form of practice; rather, it flows through study, acts of kindness, and self-awareness. The different branches of Judaism represent different faces of the light. A few, often the more traditional or observant expressions, develop the light through study and observance of rituals. Many people find that the light sparkles through acts of loving-kindness, singing, or engaging in other acts of compassion for the welfare of their community. The context of Jewish observance or ethics isn't as important as the shared goal, which is to bring to the world as much light as possible. 

Rony Dayan's The Journey reminds us that there is spirituality that goes beyond ritual; the ritual is weighted by intention. In the same way Judaism impresses upon us that every good deed (mitzvah) brings us closer to healing the world, Dayan notes that every infinitesimal step toward rationality brings us closer to our authentic self.

Modern Judaism: Tradition Meets Everyday Life

Today there is a lot of talk about whether tradition can coexist with modern life. The beauty of Judaism is that tradition has always been a malleable thing. From the ancient world to the modern urban environment, Jewish values have shaped family, community, and meaning. 

Some families connect with tradition by lighting candles, completely disconnecting from technology, and making the day more sacred. Others see Shabbat as a time to "unplug" from all the busyness of life, and to imprint, emotionally, on their family and friends. These differences of practice highlight that Judaism is diverse, but the faith is also unified on many levels. 

Dayan's The Journey to the Light articulates this balance brilliantly, and court-style urges us to remember that whatever challenges we experience issues of our modern life , are merely a call to re-engage timeless truths. Every challenge can be a spiritual mirror reflecting back who we have become and what we care about.

Learning and Growing: The Inner Work of Judaism

Judaism's emphasis on ongoing development — known as teshuvah or “return” — has an intrinsic, compelling value as a concept. Teshuvah isn't about guilt; it's about returning to the best version of oneself. Whether a person is richly observant or merely beginning to explore the ancient tradition of Judaism, each step taken is important.

The particular levels and stages of Judaism can be thought of as similar to stages in this work on the inside. Some individuals begin by learning about the stories or teachings that contain these important values. Others take it a step further by studying the written Torah or carrying out the rituals associated with the levels one has explored. Over time, the learning takes root, and a change takes place inside the heart and spirit versus merely the mind.

In Rony Dayan's The Journey, this same sense of inner work can be thought of as a metaphor of life's journey, moving through darkness and confusion toward meaning, light, and clarity. The concept of change and growth can be distilled into a simple message that is still profound: spiritually moving forward is not a race to the end; rather it is a unique rhythmic experience for each soul.

Finding Your Own Level: A Personal Path in Judaism

One of the greatest gifts of learning about the various expressions of Judaism is the audacity to know that yours doesn't show or look like another person's. You might discover your closest attachment to Judaism in prayer, in study, or in charitable deeds; what matters imitatively is how authentic you can be doing what brings you ease and meaning.

This is what resonates so heavily for us in Rony Dayan's message from Journey to the Light. The journey to the light is not about reaching our destination and becoming perfect but using our journey to learn to embrace the process. Just as no two expressions of Judaism look the same, no two reader's journey is not also sacred, valid, and necessary.

If you are seeking to better understand how you fit into this tradition that is ancient but always changing, start small. Ask questions, read, reflect and listen. The more you unravel, the more comfortable you will become and discover the light you were searching for has been within you this entire time.

Embrace Your Journey Toward Light

The varying levels of Judaism are not about separation – they’re about depth. Everyone is walking the same pathway, whether they’re the most observant in every detail of Jewish law or whether they’re living the spirit of Jewish law through kindness every day. 

As Rony Dayan elegantly states in her book The Journey to the Light, as human beings we are not about comparing or contrasting paths, but rather taking our own path with meaning and conviction. Every moment of awareness, compassion or gratitude is a step closer to the divine.

👉 Want to know more? That is to continue reading the book The Journey to the Light by Rony Dayan and take your next step in understanding your own spiritual journey.