2.4 : Shema and Amidah

Question 1

What does the Shema emphasise?

Answer 1

• The oneness of God
• The need for Jews to love God
• The covenant which God has made with Jewish people
• The need to follow the Mitzvot and teach it to children
• The need to pray with tefillin and tallit
• The need for mezuzah

Question 2

When is the Shema said?

Answer 2

Three times a day (morning prayer, evening prayer and before sleep)

Question 3

What is the Shema written on?

Answer 3

• The first 2 paragraphs are written on mezuzah scroll and so are remembered when a Jew enters the house or moves from room to room.
• The first sentence is said whenever the Torah is taken from the Ark.

Question 4

Why is the Shema important?

Answer 4

• It is a prayer that expresses faith and trust in God, and is a declaration of the main points of the Jewish faith.
• The beleif that there is only one God who demands moral obedience is called* ethical monotheism* and is the basis of Judaism.

Question 5

What is the Amidah?

Answer 5

• The second most improtant prayer
• It is often known as ‘the standing prayer’

Question 6

What does the Amidah contain?

Answer 6

• 19 blessings which praise God and personal requests for forigveness of sins, healing of the sick, food for the world, the coming of the Messiah, peace, goodness, blessings, kindness and compassion

Question 7

How and when should the Amidah be said?

Answer 7

• It should be said standing, facing Jerusalem.
• The whole prayer is said for weekday daily prayers.
• The final section of the Amidah concludes with thanksgiving to God, asking him to grant peace, goodness, blessing and compassion to all.

Question 8

Why is the Amidah important?

Answer 8

• It fulfils the requirement of prayer set out by the great rabbis; peace, request, thanks.
• It asks God to fulfil all of Jew’s physical and spiritual needs.
• It is the major prayer in the siddur and so must be the major prayer for Jews.
• It helps Jews to fulfil their services to God

Question 9

What are the differences between Jewish worship and Christian worship?

Answer 9

• Jews should worship facing Jerusalem, wheras Christians can worship facing any direction.
• Orthodox Jews worship in Hebrew, whereas Christians worship in their native language.
• In Orthodox Judaism, men and women worship separately, wheres the sexes worship together in Chrisitianity.
• Jews should worship three times a day at set times, but Christians are only required to go to church on Sundays, but are expected to pray every morning and evening.
• Jews’ special day for worship is Saturday, whereas Christian’s special day for worship is Sunday.
• Christian worship usually has musical accompianment and often hymns, but Orthodox Jewish worship does not.
• Christian worship often has visual stimuli (crosses, stained-glass windows etc.), but Jewish worship does not.

Question 10

What are some ofthe similarities between Jewish and Christian worship?

Answer 10

• Worship involves readings from the scriptures in both faiths.
• Worship involves a sermon in both fsiths.
• Worship involves the ocngregation saying a prayer together in both faiths.
• Worship involves praying for the needs of others in both faiths.