8.5 Ritual And Ceremony

Question 1

Importance of ritual for Jews today

Answer 1

Observance shows gratitude to God
Provides a sense of Jewish identity
Brings God into everyday life

Question 2

What is a mikvah?

Answer 2

Ritual bath for purification

Question 3

About the Mikvah

Answer 3

Ritual bath for purification
Mother has after she has finished bleeding
—> not before 7 days if they had a boy
—> not before 14 days if they had a girl

Question 4

Baby boy is born

Answer 4

cannot touch anything sacred for 7 days plus 33 days
Mikvah after 7 days
Given a Hebrew name
—> also an English name

Question 5

Baby girl is born

Answer 5

Cannot touch anything sacred for 14 days plus 66 days
Mikvah after 14 days
Officially given their name after her father takes a reading from the Torah (Aliyah)
Given Hebrew and English name

Question 6

Brit Milah

Answer 6

Covenant of circumcision
One of the most observed mitzvot in Judaism
Done by a Mohel

Question 7

What is the name of the ritual performed by Orthodox Jews for their firstborn sons? (with extra details)

Answer 7

Pidyon ha-ben or ‘Redemption of the Son’
Historically the first born son provided service to the Temple
Now they pay a small sum to redeem their child

Question 8

Bar and Bat Mitzvah

Answer 8

Boys: aged 13
Girls: aged 12 (Orthodox)
13 in Reform and Liberal

Question 9

What does the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony do?

Answer 9

Boys can lead the synagogue service/take an active part in services
Be in a minyan and read as a part of service

Question 10

What are young Jews expected to do before their Bar/Bat Mitzvah?

Answer 10

Study and prepare carefully
They will read various texts (boys often called to read the Torah scroll)
Girls: learning, volunteering, charitable tasks (baking challah bread for Shabbat) emphasis important role in the Jewish home
Reform and Liberal: boys and girls read from Torah, boys sometimes do the tasks

Question 11

Kiddushin

Answer 11

Engagement ritual

Question 12

Nisuin

Answer 12

Full marriage ceremony

Question 13

How long is the ceremony for? (Marriage)

Answer 13

Around half an hour - including a message to the bride and groom from a Rabbi

Question 14

Reform Jews (marriage)

Answer 14

Both exchange rings
Both men + women wear a ring
2 Jewish adults for witnesses
Anyone can get married (same sex marriage allowed)

Question 15

Orthodox Jews (marriage)

Answer 15

Plain metal ring - traditionally placed on the brides right forefinger
Only women wear a ring
2 male men are witnesses
Men and women can get married (same sex marriage is not allowed)

Question 16

Chatan

Answer 16

Groom

Question 17

Kallah

Answer 17

Bride

Question 18

What is Sheva Brechot?

Answer 18

‘Seven blessings’
Recited in the presence of guests or the Rabbi

Question 19

What does the groom do (marriage)

Answer 19

Stamp on a small glass
—> symbolises the destruction of the Temple
Gives object of value to the bride

Question 20

Canopy

Answer 20

Represents their new home

Question 21

Challah

Answer 21

Plaited bread prepared before Shabbat begins

Question 22

What do mourning ceremonies aim to do?

Answer 22

Help the mourners return to normal life after the loss of a loved one

Question 23

Jewish word for mourning

Answer 23

Avelut

Question 24

What do many Orthodox Jews do upon hearing the death of a loved one?

Answer 24

Make a tear in their clothes
—> following the example of Jacob

Question 25

Quote 1 (Mourning - tear in clothes, Genesis 37:34)

Answer 25

“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days”

Question 26

What might Reform Jews do? (Mourning)

Answer 26

Wear a torn black ribbon or cut a tie

Question 27

Shiva

Answer 27

The first seven days of mourning; the day of burial is day one

Question 28

What do Jews do after the funeral?

Answer 28

Return to their home where ritual mourning will take place to eat a ‘meal of consolidation’
—> traditionally a hard boiled egg and a beigel (circular roll - symbolises the circle of life)

Question 29

Eulogy

Answer 29

Speech of praise and remembrance for someone who has died

Question 30

What do Jews leave at a grave

Answer 30

Stones or pebbles
Not flowers (symbolises life)

Question 31

What do mourners do during Shiva?

Answer 31

Stay at home sitting on low stalls or the floor
Do not wear leather shoes, shave or cut hair, wear cosmetics or work
Don’t do things that bring comfort or pleasure
Usually wear the clothes they wore to the funeral
Pray three times daily with friends family and neighbours making up the minyan

Question 32

Sheloshim

Answer 32

First 30 days following burial; the complete morning period except when morning a parent

Question 33

Yahrzeit candles

Answer 33

Are lit to remember the dead

Question 34

Are Jews buried or cremated?

Answer 34

Traditionally buried within 24 hours of death
Some Reform and Liberal Jews permit cremation

Question 35

Funeral (5 points)

Answer 35

Candles are lit and the body is never left alone
The body is washed and wrapped in a line shroud
Men are wrapped in their talent the tassels are cut off being unnecessary
Plain coffins are used to show a quality in death
Funeral takes place at the cemetery (Jews consider synagogues as places for the living)

Question 36

Features of Jewish funerals

Answer 36

Wash hands without drying (symbolises leaving death + re-entering life)
Can’t talk to immediate family
No flowers
No open casket
Mourners put 1 or 3 shovels of dirt on top of the coffin in the ground
—> keep the shovel in the ground rather than passing it (a mitzvot)
Two parallel lines for family to walk between to show support
—> say ‘may God comfort you’
—> to comfort + support the family