Festivals Flashcards
Describe the Origins and Meaning of Rosh Hashanah
-Rosh Hashanah is sometimes called the ‘birthday’ of the world as it is considered as the day God created the world.
-It is the first day of the Jewish year and a happy time to celebrate the beginning of a new world.
-Genesis states, “God saw all He had made and it was good.”
-This shows that God has made the world good so it is important for Jews to bring goodness into the world through their actions.
-It is also a serious time to remember how God made the world and acts as a judge. Jews think about their deeds over the past year and how they can do better.
Describe how Jewish People Prepare for Rosh Hashanah
-A month before, a shofar’s horn is blown every day in the synagogue to announce the coming of Rosh Hashanah.
-During the month before, special prayers are said asking for forgiveness. These are called selicot.
-On the final day before Rosh Hashanah special selicot are recited. The shofar is not blown on this day.
-At the sunset on the final day, Rosh Hashanah officially begins. All preparations are done before as no work can be done on the day. Candles are lit to mark the beginning.
-Fruit is bought before hand which has not been eaten for a while to symbolise renewal. This is eaten on the 2nd day of the festival.
Describe how Jewish People Celebrate Rosh Hashanah at the Synagogue
-The evening service at the synagogue to mark the start of Rosh Hashanah begins with the usual service, including Kiddush blessing over wine to sanctify the festival.
-God is referred to as a king sitting in judgement over the world He created.
-The theme of the prayers is focussed on asking God to accept kingship of the world for the coming year.
-The usual greeting on leaving the synagogue is L’shanah Tova (‘for a good year’).
-Services are longer than usual and prayers are said from the machzor (special holiday prayer book).
Describe how Jewish People Celebrate Rosh Hashanah at Home
-At home, the Kiddush is recited and slices of apple dipped in honey are eaten. This symbolises the hope for a sweet new year.
-A fish head may be eaten to symbolise the wish that good deeds will grow in number just as fish do.
-Pomegranates may also be eaten because they have many seeds. This reminds Jews of the 613 mitzvot they must follow.
-A challah loaf in the shape of a circle rather than straight will be eaten. This is as a reminder that the cycle of the year is just starting and last year has just finished.
Describe the Importance of Tashlikh on Rosh Hashanah
-Tashlikh involves the family going to a stream or river where there is flowing water. There they recite prayers.
-They may throw crumbs into the river to symbolise casting off sins.
-This is thought to have it origins in the Book of Micah: “You will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depth of the seas.
-Jews will wish each other to be inscribed in the Book of Life.
Describe the Importance of the Shofar Horn on Rosh Hashanah
-A shofar’s horn is blown 100 times on Rosh Hashanah. This represents the crying soul asking to be reunited with God.
-The Book of Numbers States: “On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a convocation… and blow trumpets.”
-Therefore, celebrating Rosh Hashanah and blowing the shofar are mitzvot.
-Commandments to sound the shofar are also found in Psalms.
Describe the Origins and Meaning of Yom Kippur
-Yom Kippur is often called the Day of Atonement and is considered the holiest day of the year. It is the end of the Ten Days of Return and a day of forgiveness.
-Many Jewish people will attend the synagogue on Yom Kippur even if they do not attend regularly. More observant Jews may spend the whole day at the synagogue.
-In Isaiah, Jews are told, “This is the fast I desire… to share your bread with the hungry.” Jews therefore must not only fast and pray, they must also do charity work.
-Leviticus states “Atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins.” This shows that Yom Kippur is about repairing your relationship with God. It is also a mitzvot.
Describe how Jewish People Prepare for Yom Kippur
-On the day before Yom Kippur, Jews will traditionally take food to the poor and give money to charities to help the poor.
-Jews ask people that they have wronged for forgiveness because they believe that God won’t forgive them unless they have asked for forgiveness.
-Some Jews visit the Mikveh for spiritual cleaning where they ask to be purified so they are spiritually prepared for the Day of Atonement.
-Jews will eat an early dinner so they can attend the synagogue before sundown.
-After the meal, the table is covered in books to show Yom Kippur is not celebrated with food but by fasting and prayer.
Describe the First Synagogue Service on Yom Kippur
-The first service on Yom Kippur is an evening service called Kol Nidre (all vows).
-This is a public apology for falling short of God’s expectations.
-During it, Jews will ask God to cancel any vows they make between themselves and God in the following year which they cannot keep.
-It is a reminder of the difficulties Jewish people have faced in their religion.
Describe the Day Services at the Synagogue on Yom Kippur
-Throughout the day, service is taken from the machzor (special holiday prayer book).
-Sins are confessed as a community, using the word ‘we’ rather than ‘I’. The service also includes a private confession (Vidui) which is said to cover every eventuality.
-The cloths and curtains in the synagogue are white. The Torah scrolls will also be dressed in white as a sign of forgiveness.
-Many readings are also recited such as the Story of Jonah and scapegoats from Leviticus. This story reminds Jews not to ‘run away’ from their duties of loving God and following mitzvot.
Describe the Final Synagogue Service on Yom Kippur
-The final service is called the Ne’ilah (closing gates). The door of the ark is kept open to symbolise the gates of the Temple so the congregation stands throughout.
-It is the last chance to make confessions before the ritual ends. The ark door is then closed to show God’s final judgement.
-The Yikzor (memorial service) takes place when family and friends who have died are remembered and charity is given in their name.
-At the end, the Shema is read and a long blast of the shofar symbolises the end of the fast.
Describe how Jewish People Celebrate Yom Kippur at Home
-When the temple stood, people sacrificed bulls and goats believing it took away sins. Today, the father of the house waves a chicken or fish 3 times over each family members head.
-Jews will wear white on Yom Kippur as a sign of purity. This is because Isaiah referred to sins becoming “as white as snow.” Men will wear a kittel (one they’ll be buried in).
-Jews will take part in a 25 hour fast, one hour longer than most to signify the day’s importance as they are told to, “add from the profane to the holy.”
-The rules of Shabbat apply on Yom Kippur.
Describe the Origins and Meaning of Sukkot
-Sukkot is also known as the Jewish Harvest Festival. It remembers the 40 year period when the Israelites were in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.
-“On the fifteenth day of the seventh month begin the Festival of Shelters for seven days.” - Leviticus
-Sukkot reminds Jews how God cared for and protected the Jews during their time in the desert. God instructed that Sukkot should be celebrated and remembered so it is a mitzvot.
-“You shall dwell in sukkot seven days so that generations will know how the Israelites lived.” - Leviticus
Describe the Importance of the Four Species During Sukkot
-The lulav is made of three species: a palm, myrtle and willow leaf placed in a wooden holder. An etrog is a citrus fruit.
-Some Jews believe the species represents the different types of people who should be united as a community.
-By bringing the four species together, it is a reminder the Jewish people should be united.
-Some Jews argue the lulav represents the body and the etrog is the heart, meaning Jews fulfil the Shema by loving God with all their heart and might.
-Jews are required to ‘shake’ the lulav in 6 directions to symbolise God’s omnipotence. There is also a lulav parade at the synagogue.
Describe the Importance of the Sukkah During Sukkot
-The roof of the Sukkah is made from plants matter (s’chach). The s’chach must be sparce enough to allow light in but thick enough to create shade.
-Seeing the sky and stars reminds Jews that God is their protector as He protected the Israelites in the desert.
-Light represents the presence of God. Just like the Sun, we cannot directly see God but we can see His greatness reflected in the actions of those in the world.
-The shade represent the clouds of glory which protected and guided the Israelites through the desert.
-The inside is decorated with fruit and pictures/signs showing the names of great Jewish forefathers such as Abraham.
