High Holy Days

Question 1

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 1

The Jewish new year/head of the Year. It is a time of repentance and preparation for the new year.

Question 2

When does Rosh Hashanah take place?

Answer 2

Between early September and early October. Jewish holidays follow a lunar calendar.

Question 3

How long is Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 3

2 days.

Question 4

What is the festival that takes place 10 days after Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 4

Yom Kippur.

Question 5

What do Jews do in the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?

Answer 5

They go and apologise to those they have wronged.

Question 6

What instrument is blown on Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 6

The Shofar.

Question 7

What does Teshuvah mean?

Answer 7

Spiritual Realignment.

Question 8

What type of food is eaten on Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 8

Sweet food. A common example is apples dipped in honey.

Question 9

What does Yom Kippur mean?

Answer 9

Day of Atonement.

Question 10

What are some restrictions for Jews on Yom Kippur?

Answer 10

They fast and cannot work or wear white.

Question 11

What do Jews do on Yom Kippur?

Answer 11

They apologize to those they have wronged and ask for forgiveness from God. This is their final chance.

Question 12

What is the meaning and significance of Yom Kippur?

Answer 12

Jews believe God writes their fate in the Book of Life on Rosh Hashanah, but during the Ten Days, Jews have time for repentance for things in the previous year.
It is a day of self-denial.
They accept what they have done wrong and focus on the importance of God’s judgement.

Question 13

What does Pesach mean?

Answer 13

It is Hebrew for Passover.

Question 14

How long is Pesach?

Answer 14

8 days.

Question 15

What is the origin of Pesach?

Answer 15

Moses tried to free the slaves from Egypt but when Pharaoh refused, God sent 10 plagues. The Israelites put blood of a sacrificed lamb on their doorposts and their children were saved.

Question 16

What are three foods often on the Seder plate and their significance?

Answer 16

Matzah (unleavened bread) - represents the hurriedness of the Israelites escape from Egypt as they had no time to let the bread rise and so they ate unleavened bread.
Salt water -a representation of the slaves’ tears during captivity.
Maror (bitter herbs) - represents the bitter life the Israelites endured as slaves.

Question 17

What is the significance of the Seder meal?

Answer 17

To remember and reflect on the Exodus story and the first Pesach and to be grateful to God for sparing them. Jews also celebrate the beginning of the Jewish nation and thank God for all he has done in their lifetime.

Question 18

What is done in preparation for Pesach?

Answer 18

The house is cleaned of Chametz (food with leaven). People may also receive new clothes, donate to charity, and get out the Pesach silverware.

Question 19

What are the five areas of focus of the people during Pesach?

Answer 19

Memory, optimism, faith, family, and responsibility to others.

Question 20

What is Kabbalat Shabbat?

Answer 20

A ceremony that takes place just before sundown (often performed by the women of the house) and involves the lighting of at least two candles and singing.

Question 21

What is the blessing that is sung over a full cup of wine (traditionally by the man of the house) called?

Answer 21

Kiddush.

Question 22

When is the Shabbat meal?

Answer 22

Friday night.

Question 23

What do we learn about the importance of family in Judaism from the Shabbat rituals?

Answer 23

Family is one of the main pillars of Judaism as the rituals involve all members of the family. The mother performs Kabbalat Shabbat, the father does Kiddush, and the children sing songs during dinner.

Question 24

Why could Kabbalat Shabbat be considered the most important Shabbat ritual?

Answer 24

• Begins Shabbat, without it Shabbat cannot properly begin, sets the tone for the rest of Shabbat.
• Celebrates the mother of the house who is an extremely important family member.
• Sets an example for the children for how to properly welcome Shabbat into the home.

Question 25

When is Shabbat?

Answer 25

Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.

Question 26

What is Shabbat?

Answer 26

The Jewish day of rest.

Question 27

Which holy day is specifically commanded in the 10 commandments?

Answer 27

Shabbat.

Question 28

What is the structure of a 7-mark question?

Answer 28

• Explain 3 reasons in detail
• Explain, Evidence/Development
• Use because and examples/evidence for each point.

Question 29

What are some sentence starters for the 6-mark question?

Answer 29

I would argue that…
The first reason to support this opinion is…
A counter-argument to this view could be…
However, another argument to support my view is…

Question 30

Why do Jews have Shabbat?

Answer 30

It was written in Genesis to reflect God but it was also given to the Jews in the 10 commandments to allow them a day of rest after their years in slavery. They can be grateful to God for freeing them from the constant labour.

Question 31

What prayers are not said on Shabbat and why?

Answer 31

Prayers of petition because that would be asking God to work.

Question 32

What does Sukkot mean?

Answer 32

Tents/Shelters. Sukkot is the Feast of Tabernacles.

Question 33

What is a verse from the Torah about Sukkot?

Answer 33

” Ye shall dwell in booths seven days”

Question 34

What does Pesach remember?

Answer 34

God’s covenant with Moses.

Question 35

What are the three pilgrim festivals?

Answer 35

Sukkot, Shavuot, and Simchat Torah.

Question 36

Why do Jews celebrate Sukkot?

Answer 36

It is meant to be a reminder of the temporary tents the Israelites lived in during the harvest as well as the tents the Israelites lived in during the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

Question 37

What is the seventh day of Sukkot called and what happens on this day?

Answer 37

Hoshana Rabbah which means ‘Great Supplication’. Special synagogue services happen on this day.

Question 38

What are Jews commanded not to do on Shavuot?

Answer 38

Work.

Question 39

Why do Jews consume dairy products on Shavuot?

Answer 39

To symbolize the land of milk and honey described in Exodus. Another explanation is that at Sinai the Israelites were considered to be like newborns, who drink milk.

Question 40

What festival does Simchat Torah follow?

Answer 40

Sukkot.

Question 41

What does Simchat Torah mean?

Answer 41

Rejoicing the Torah.

Question 42

What is typically completed on Simchat Torah?

Answer 42

The yearly cycle of reading the Torah. They prepare for the new cycle to be started.

Question 43

What are 2 key practices that take place on Simchat Torah?

Answer 43

• Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark and processed 7 times around the synagogue.
• Children sing and dance and are given sweets.

Question 44

List the seven foods on the Seder plate.

Answer 44

Bitter herbs, salt water, unleavened bread, lamb bone, roasted egg, charoset, parsley.