The term “Orthodox” is a term actually pejoratively applied to us by the Reformers. Rabbi Gifter, zatsal, eschewed its use, because it is an external label thrust upon us (it is Greek for “correct belief,” which is a misnomer, because Judaism is a religion more concerned with actions than beliefs. We are not, le havdil, Catholics, who profess a creed, as the yud gimmel ikkarei haemunah are not ironclad and indeed, there are varying shitot. See the Sefer HaIkkarim for an alternate formula of Jewish belief and Professor Shapiro’s “The Limits of Orthodox Theology” for further exploration). The ikkar is to be halachic, to be bound by normative halachic hermeneutics, based first and foremost in the Gemara and the Shulchan Aruch, and to be shomer mitzvot, be ameil batorah, and to believe in Torah min ha shamayim.
