Chapter 4: Judaism Practices Flashcards
Mezuzah
People touch the mezuzah on the doorpost of multiple door of the house. They contain a piece of the Torah.
Synagogoue
Beit knesset- house of assembly
Beit tefilah- house of prayer
A place for jewish public prayer, study and gathering
Where do u face when praying in the synagogue
Jerusalem
What is the menorah
A seven branched candle stick, it remembers the seven days of creation
Rabbi’s seat/ pupil
From where sermons are delivered
Minyan
A group of ten men that make jewish worship valid
Menorah
Seven branched candle. Represents the light of god and the seven days of creation
Chanukah
A holdiaday which lasts for 8 days and nights because the candles burned for eight days instead of one
Star of david
A symbol of judaism, said to represent the shield of king david, who ruled israel in the tenth century
Bimah
A platform in the torah where the torah is read
Aron hakodesh
The ark-The holiest part of the synagogue from where the Torah scrolls are kept
Rabbi
A jewish religious leader and teacher
Ner tamid
Eternal light, a light that is kept burning in the synagogue above the ark
Orthodox jews
Jews who emphasise the importance of following the laws and guidance in the torah, they believe the torah was given directly bu God to Moses so should be followed as closely as possible
Reform Jew
Jews who believe the laws and guidance in the torah can be adapted for modern times, they believe the torah was inspired by God but written by humans so can be interpreted to the times
Cantor (chazzan)
A person who leads or chants prayers in a synagogue
Tallit
A prayer shawl
Tefillin
A small leather box containing extract from the torah, strapped to the wearers arm and forehead for morning prayer
Amidah
Also know as the ‘standing prayer’, it is the central prayer for jewish worship
Shabbat
The jewish holy day of the week, a day of spiritual renewal starting shortly before sunset on Friday and continuing to sunset on Saturday
Tenakh
The 24 books of jewish scriptures
Torah
The five books revealed by God to Moses
The first section of the tenakh and the jewish written law
Nevi’im
The second section of the , the prophets
Ketuvium
The third section of the tenakh, the writings
Mishnah
The first written version of jewish oral law, part of the talmud
Gemara
A commentary on the mishnah, part of the talmud
Talmud
A commentary by the rabbis on the torah, it consists of the mishnah and gemara together in one collection
Rituals
Religious ceremonies that are performed according to a set pattern.
Brit milah
Ceremony of male circumcision, the removal of the foreskin for religious reasons
Bar mitzvah
Celebration of a boy coming of age at 13, literally ‘son of the commandment’
Bat mitzvah
Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12 in reform synagogues, literally daughter of the commandment
Marriage
A legal union between a man and a woman or man and man or woman and woman in a relationship
Mourning
A period of time spent remembering a person who has died
Shiva
An intense period of mourning which lasts for seven days
Kaddish
A prayer said by jewish mourners that praises God and asks for peace