2.5a : Rituals and Ceremonies

Question 1

What happens at a Brit Milah ceremony?

Answer 1

• A Jewish baby boy is circumcised at 8 days old at the hospital/the home/the synagogue.
• The mohel (circumciser) performs the operation, blesses the child and names him.
• The kvatters carry the baby on a cushion to the sandrek (usually the grandfather)
• The father syas a blessing that remembers that God commanded circumcision.

Question 2

Why is Brit Milah ceremonies important, and what do some Reform Jews believe?

Answer 2

• The ceremony marks a Jewish males’ entry into the covenant.
• Circumcision is a part of the 613 Mitzvot.
• Some Liberal/Reform do not circumcise their sons because they believe the covenant with Abraham was purely spiritual.

Question 3

What happens at a Brit Bat ceremony?

Answer 3

• A ceremony takes place for Jewish baby girls in the synagogue on the Shabbat after the birth, for Liberal/Reform Jews.
• A rabbi usually leads the ceremiony and says a blessing of welcome.
• The rabbi names the child, which is followed by a meal to celebrate.
• The rabbi names the child after the Kiddush is said over wine. A few drops may be given to the child and the cup is given to the parents before the festive meal.

Question 4

Why are the birth ceremonies important?

Answer 4

• They bring a child into a community of Judaism and are important in giving parents the promise of support in the Jewish community in bringing up new life in the Jewish faith

Question 5

SOWA: Genesis - God said to Abraham…

Answer 5

“This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep. Every male among you shall be circumcised.”

Question 6

What is a Bar Mitzvah and what happens after it?

Answer 6

• The coming of age ceremony for Jewish boys, when a boy becomes an adult, at age 13.
• He may not be ready for marriage/children, but he must take responsibility for his religious actions.
• The boy must now use tefillin for morning prayers.
• The boy can now join a minyan
• The boy must observe the days in full, and may be called up to read the sidra in the synagogue.
• It takes place on the first Shabbat after the boys 13th birthday.

Question 7

What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Answer 7

• The coming of age ceremonies for Jewish girls.
• Orthdox Jewish girls have theirs at aged 12
• Liberal/Reform Jewish girls have theirs aged 13.
• They do not assume the same duties as men.
• Often girls who are all the same age will be jointly addressed by the rabbi, and each will read a passage of their choice from the Tenakh.
• This ceremony is also called Brit Chayit (Daughter of Worth) for Orthodox Jews.

Question 8

What happens at a Bar Mitzvah?

Answer 8

• The rabbi gives a talk to the boy, his family, and the community.
• The boy may also give a talk to the community.
• He reads a passage from the Torah.
• He puts on tefillin for the first time
• The boys fatehr recities a prayer of thanks to God for bringing his boy to maturity.

Question 9

Why are the coming of age ceremonies important to Jews?

Answer 9

• The ceremonies are important as they give a young Jewish person the oppourtunity to take upon the responsibility of being a Jew, and enseure continuity of the Jewish faith.

Question 10

SOWA: The Midrash says….

Answer 10

As soon as he comes of age, Jewish fathers will bring him into the synagogue and school in order that he may praise the name of God.