Foundations Of A Major World Religion - Judaism - Practices And Ritual Events Flashcards
When does circumcision happen and what happens?
- 8 days after the boy is born
- small medical procedure, foreskin at tip of penis is removed
- carried out by a Jewish doctor in a special ceremony symbolising that the male is entering into the covenant with God
What happens at the special ceremony for circumcision?
- father says a blessing over son after the operation
- given a Hebrew name and one from the country he’s from
- Hebrew name will be used at other religious occasions throughout his life
- party afterwards
What does the term ‘Bar Mitzvah’ mean?
‘Son of the commandment’
At what age will a boy have is Bar Mitzvah and how will he prepare for it?
- 13
- he will have studied hard
What will a boy wear on his Bar Mitzvah?
- the tallit (the prayer robe/shawl worn by Jews during morning prayer)
- he will learn how to put on tefillin (two leather boxes containing biblical verses worn on the head and arm)
What is a Bimah?
A raised platform where the Torah is read from
What does the boy do on his Bar Mitzvah?
- is called up to read from the Torah for the first time
- will have had to study it before, as its read in Hebrew
- father says a blessing as boy goes to the bimah
- big party afterwards
- boy is now ready to take part fully in all aspects of his faith
What does Bat Mitzvah mean, and what age are girls when they celebrate it?
- ‘daughter of the commandment’
- 12
What do girls do on their Bat Mitzvah?
- learn about their role as women in Jewish ceremonies
- I’d the family is non-orthodox, the celebration is much the same as they boy’s one
What is marriage in Hebrew?
Kiddushin (holy)
What does the man do before the wedding?
Signs a marriage contract called the Ketubah, promising to always take care of his wife
Where do wedding ceremonies usually take place?
- under a huppah (canopy), can be in the synagogue or outside
- canopy represents their home, but is open on al, four sides to show they’re still connected to their community
What are the first three things that happen at a Jewish wedding?
- seven blessing are said/sung
- couple take a sip of wine from the same glass
- man places a ring on the woman’s finger, reads out the promises he made in the Ketubah
What happens next at a Jewish wedding?
- man takes the wine glass, wraps it in cloth and stamps on it
- symbolises the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, reminds everyone life is fragile & there will always be bad times as well as good
- all the guests shout ‘MAZAL TOF!’ (Good luck)
- wedding reception after ceremony, commitment is the most important thing in a Jewish marriage
How soon after someone Jewish dies is their funeral, and why?
Less than 24 hours and so the grieving/mourning can begin
