4 - Judaism Practices Flashcards
Synagogue
Building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction
Use and importance of synagogue
Assessmbly, house of prayer, study hall. Important because its where Jews learn about their faith, congregate and pray to god and where they feel safe and keep their relationship with god
Prayer hall
The hall in which the congregation and the host of the service will pray and and worship God
Ark
Holiest place in synagogue, where Torah scrolls are kept
Ner Tamid
Eternal light is kept which lights above the Ark
Bimah
Platform where the Torah is read from
How often are Jews supposed to pray
3
Importance of prayer
Enables them to build a stronger and deeper understanding of God
2 prayers
Shema, Amidah
Sabbath
Day where Jews are meant to do nothing but worship
Sabbath preparations
Buy or cook food needed, clean the whole house ready for God’s presence
Torah
First 5 books of Jewish holy book. Jews believe the Torah is how Jews should live their life
Tenakh
Jewish holy book
Talmud
Ancient text containing Jewish saying, ideas and laws. Said to be the centre of Jewish cultural life.
Dietary laws
Permitted food = kosher.
Non premitted food = trofar
2 dietary laws
They can eat animals with a divided hoof or chew cud. Can’t eat animals that eats their prey
Rites of passage
Ceremonies that mark important transitional periods in a persons life
4 main rites of passage
Birth, bar/bat mitzvah, marriage, death
Quote about birth
Be fertile and increase in numbers
Naming ceremony
First shabbat of Jewish girl’s life. Father recites Torah, girls name is announced and the girl is introduced to community and God.
Brit milah
8 days after birth. Baby is placed in empty chair symbolising Elijah. Father recited Torah. Trained circumciser blessess and circumcises the baby.
Redemption of first born son
31 days after birth of first born son, traditional for them to give 5 silver coins to redeem them from service in the temple. Orthodox Jews believe God requires first born son to serve in the temple this ceremony dissmisses them from this
Ways to prepare for bar/bat mitzvah
Studying laws, ceremonies, food laws, Jewish history…
What does completing the bar/bat mitvah enable them to do
Responsible for food laws, praying, fasting. Boy can now take part in Minyan and they are now adults in the eyes of the Jewish communitu
Jewish belief of Marriage
Believe that Marriage is a way of experiencing holiness in everyday life. They believe it creates a spiritual connection between 2
Quote about marriage
“A man should leave his mother and father and cling to his wife so they can become one”
Step 1 to a marriage
period of engagement where the couple are promised to eachother. This is called betrothal and it usually lasts 12 months. It is a part of Jewish law so can’t be broken. During this period, the couple do not live together, but they do plan for their future lives together.
Stage of hearing about a death
Tear their clothes symbolising the death has ripped a whole in their life.
Story supporting ripping of clothes
Jacob tore his clothes … and observed mourning for many days (Genesis 37:34)
How many periods of mourning ?
4
First period
24 hours, stay with (do not believe soul has left) close family allowed to grieve
2nd period of mourning
Shiva (7 days) - begins on day or burial. Stay at home, sit on low stools, no leather shoes, cut of shave of hair. No makeup, work or mirrors. Prayer services held at home. And they wear the clothes that they tore
3rd period of morning
30 days - normal life resumes , no activites not in spirit of mourning eg parties.
4th period of mourning
11 months- no parties and stops after anniversary of death
3 features of funeral
Within 24 hours of death. Placed in simple coffin showing everyone is equal in death. Meal of condolence after funeral with bread and eggs - symbols of new life
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish new year
Quote for Rosh Hashanah
“In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing trumpets, a holy convocation.”
Clothes of Rosh Hashanah
New clothes, haircuts, white symbolising a new start
Practice of Rosh Hashanah
Bread crumbs thrown into river and they flow away showing sins flowing away as it is a new year. Another is blowing of Shofar showing the sacrafice Abraham made for Jews
What do Jews do on the 10 days of pentinence
Throughout these ten days all Jews should put aside evil ways, and by performing good deeds and acts of charity it is possible to truly repent.
When is the 10 days of pentinance
Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
What is yom kippur and when
Day of atonement and 10th day of pentinence
What happened on the 10th day of pentinence
The 10th of Tishri was the day when Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two new tablets of stone to replace the ones he had smashed when the Israelites made the Golden Calf.
It is on this day that God makes his final and unchangeable decision about the fate of every person.
Practices Yom Kippur
No food or liquid. 5 prayer services
Pesach
8 day festival celebrated in spring time
Meal of passover
Seder
Special order of the Seder and what story it tells
Hagadah tells the story of the Exodus
Why is Pesach called passover
Reminds the Jews of the final plague that God sent over the Egyptians and when the angel of death passed over and killed the first born son of the Pharoah
2 features of the pesach (passover) meal and what they symbolise
- the egg = eaten in memory of the daily temple sacrifice which is no longer offered. Also a symbol of new life and springtime
- shank bone = reminder of the lamb whuch was killed so its blood could be out on the door posts
2 stages of a marriage
- kiddushin (berothal ceremony) = couple promised to eachother
- nissuin = the marriage
