The philosophies of various American Jewish communities differ over how a mitzvah becomes a mitzvah, and conversely what makes any behavior a transgression. Reform theology regards each individual Jew as the sole arbiter of what Jewish tradition demands of them. Orthodox and Conservative theologies regard the community’s rabbi as the authority. Reconstructionism regards the local Jewish community as the arbiter of what is (or is not) a mitzvah. But Reconstructionism does require the community to reach certain conclusions. For example, identical roles for men and women is a fundamental tenet of Reconstructionism. It was this movement that first introduced the public Bat Mitzvah celebration.
Most American Jews identify themselves as Conservative. But most of these Jews are not observant of Conservative halacha and are unfamiliar with it. This is the most significant practical distinction between Orthodox and Conservative. Thus, most American Conservative Jews practice Reform Judaism in deed and philosophy, but join Conservative synagogues because that is the style of service they prefer. Their affiliation has become a matter of community more than a matter of philosophy or of forms of observance.
