Orthodox Judaism? Similarities and differences between Orthodoxy and other Jewish branches?

Progessive: They embrace pluralism, modernity, equality and social justice as core values and believe that such values are consistent with a committed Jewish life. Because the progressive movement believes in the continuous integration of Jewish tradition and non-Jewish insights, the specific beliefs and practices of Progressive Judaism have changed over time.[30] The commitment to personal and congregational autonomy also means that standards of belief and practice can vary widely from region to region, from congregation to congregation, and even from individual to individual

Reform: maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the surrounding culture. Many branches of Reform Judaism hold that Jewish law should be interpreted as a set of general guidelines rather than as a list of restrictions whose literal observance is required of all Jews which is was Orthodox Jews believe.

Masorti Judaism (Conservative): Like Orthodox they wish to conserve Judaism not change nor abandon it but yet still make it compatible for Jews to live in a society that is not majority Jewish.

All three allow more conversion with or without the bris for males whereas Orthodox is very strict and if they do let you convert then males must have a bris.

"Progressive" is the name in Engliand for the group that in America is called "Reform"

In Israel both terms are used.

All three streams of Judaism you mention believe that the Torah was obtained by Moses at Sinai and became the law of Israel and that the Talmud is the legal documents which contain the discussions, case law, etc.

All three look to the same rabbinic tradition.

However, in the 19th century, Jews living in Western Europe and seeking to blend better with the Europeans started the idea that the distinctive laws were in the present time not obligatory.

In fact, early Reform went so far as to reject many of them as outdated.

(Note: since WWII, the Reform movement changed their official position from considering the laws "outdated" to simply being less than obligatory -- in the 80ies the official possition was to respect, if not positively encourage, more observance)

This was the Refrom movement and it was the Reform that created the term "Orthodox" to refer to those Jews who continued traditional practice.

"Conservative" was a breakaway from the Reform after a number of Reform-trained rabbis found it inapropriate to serve specificaly unkosher food at a rabbinical graduation dinner.

The Conservative movement therefore tried to return to some notion of continuing obligation to Jewish law -- though today it is much more free about interpreting legal precedents than the "Orthodox".

Until maybe 20 years ago, many Conservative synagogues hired Orthodox rabbis.

--------------

Note: the "formal" Refrom and Conservative position is to believe in the revelation of Sinai but there are some Reform and Conservative rabbis who have publicaly expressed the position that this is less than a completely literal event.

---------------------

@Kaja - regarding Brit Millah (circumcision) for conversion - Conservative require Brit Millah.

Because Reform/Progressive does not have a formal set of guidelines many rabbis in these movements require Brit Millah and defend that require as basic, some rabbis do not. I believe the formal current position IS to require it.