Orthodox Judaism is the approach to religious
Judaism which subscribes to a tradition of mass
revelation and adheres to the interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the
Torah as legislated in the
Talmudic texts by the
Tanaim and
Amoraim. These texts were subsequently developed and applied by later authorities, known as the
Gaonim,
Rishonim, and
Acharonim. Orthodox Judaism generally includes
Modern Orthodox Judaism and ultra-Orthodox or
Haredi Judaism, but complete within is a wide range of philosophies. Although Orthodox Judaism would probably be considered the mainstream expression of Judaism prior to the 19th century, for some Orthodox Judaism is a modern self-identification that distinguishes it from traditional pre-modern Judaism.