Editing Jewish diaspora (section)

====Karaite Jews====
[[Karaite Judaism|Karaim]] are Jews who used to live mostly in Egypt, Iraq, and [[Crimean Karaites|Crimea]] during the [[Middle Ages]]. They are distinguished by the form of Judaism which they observe. [[Rabbinic Jews]] of varying communities have affiliated with the Karaite community throughout the millennia. As such, Karaite Jews are less an ethnic division, than they are members of a particular branch of Judaism. [[Karaite Judaism]] recognizes the [[Tanakh]] as the single religious authority for the Jewish people. Linguistic principles and contextual exegesis are used in arriving at the correct meaning of the Torah. Karaite Jews strive to adhere to the plain or most obvious understanding of the text when interpreting the Tanakh. By contrast, [[Rabbinical Judaism]] regards an [[Oral Law]] (codified and recorded in the [[Mishnah]] and the [[Talmud]]) as being equally binding on Jews, and mandated by God. In Rabbinical Judaism, the Oral Law forms the basis of religion, morality, and Jewish life. Karaite Jews rely on the use of sound reasoning and the application of linguistic tools to determine the correct meaning of the Tanakh; while Rabbinical Judaism looks towards the Oral law codified in the Talmud, to provide the Jewish community with an accurate understanding of the Hebrew Scriptures.

The differences between Karaite and Rabbinic Judaism go back more than a thousand years. Rabbinical Judaism originates from the [[Pharisees]] of the Second Temple period. Karaite Judaism may have its origins among the [[Sadducees]] of the same era. Karaite Jews hold the entire Hebrew Bible to be a religious authority. As such, the vast majority of Karaites believe in the [[resurrection of the dead]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.karaite-korner.org/karaite_faq.shtml|title = Karaite FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Karaism}}</ref> Karaite Jews are widely regarded as being halachically Jewish by the Orthodox Rabbinate. Similarly, members of the rabbinic community are considered Jews by the Moetzet Hakhamim, if they are patrilineally Jewish.{{citation needed|date=October 2009}}