Originally Posted by levite

I'm not sure there's any one single answer to this question, Hal.

Xazy's answer was excellent, and true, in that it represents the legitimate feelings of an Orthodox Jew who is also, as far as I can tell, a major-league mensch (Yiddish slang for a decent, good person). But this is something for which there is no universal doctrine, and each Jew will judge others as s/he will. I have heard similar sentiments from others, and heard much less tolerance in other cases, from any number of places on the spectrum of movements.

That said, while I do think that there are some (vocal) people on the left and on the right who just don't get where the other is coming from, and seem perfectly willing to write off (respectively) the Orthodox as all fanatical zealot ascetics, or the Reform and Reconstructionists as traitorous secularist maniacs, or the next best thing to apostates, I think most of us don't judge each other too hastily.

Part of why there is not as much mutual condemnation as there might be-- though still way more than there should be-- is that at least in theory, we are taught to be respectful of the opinions of others regarding halakhah and practice. It is deeply ingrained in our tradition.

For example, just this morning, I was telling my 9th grade class a famous story from the Mishnah (the older part of the Talmud, dating from the first two centuries CE), wherein there was a difference of opinion between the great first-century sages Hillel and Shammai, who were the chief of the Sanhedrin and the prince or president of the Jewish People in Israel at that time. The difference in what was the correct interpretation of a certain matter in halakhah grew so heated between them that the whole people were split. And at that point, a Heavenly Voice was heard, and it said, "These, and those also, are the words of the Living God. But the halakhah in this matter is according to Hillel's interpretation." And why was Hillel's opinion deemed worthy, the Mishnah asks? Because he taught his students to understand Shammai's opinion as well as his own, and even explained Shammai's opinion before he taught his own, comes the answer. From this story, we teach two things: first, that we must honor and respect differences of opinion as being both natural and potentially holy; second, that our respect for different opinions must not prevent us from picking an opinion to side with, and going with that choice.

We try-- although it seems these days we often fail-- to always remember teachings like that, and to respect the ways that other Jews make halakhic decisions and choices of practice that are not like ours, because they have the right, and none of us can be certain of having a monopoly on interpreting the words of Heaven. In my experience, most Jews I know are reluctant to do more than talk some shit about those they disagree with. Actual confrontation is comparatively rare, and public insults or hate speech, though sadly not unknown, are not predominate in our inter-denominational discourses, though I don't pretend the polite relations are always friendly.

Unlike Xazy, I have met many Orthodox folks who are quite vigorously condemnatory of anyone not Orthodox, and in no uncertain terms. And, I must confess, also some Reform, Reconstructionist, and fringe lefties who anathemize Orthodoxy pretty wholly. I wish it weren't so, and I don't count any such among my friends, but I have seen it, and seen it more often that I've wished....