J4 - family and rites of passage Flashcards
define rites of passage
ceremonies after a child is born
define Brit Milah
name of the ceremony which circumcision takes place to fulfil the command of circumcision of Abraham and his desendents
define mohel
professional person who does the circumcision on brit milah
Which 2 verses show the importance of circumcision
-Genesis 17: 11
“You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between Me and you”
-Genesis 17: 13-14
“My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
How does the naming ceremony go
Orthodox
-baby is blessed on the first Shabbat after their birth
-father recited Torah blessing
-Girl’s name is announced and get prayer of thanks, Sometimes, they are welcomed with the Zeved Habat ceremony
Reform
-same but both parents take part in it
define of Zeved Habat
means gift of the daughter
What is the significance of the naming ceremony
-the baby is formally introduced into the community and God
-It is a celebration of children as a gift from God
How does the Brit Milah go
-when baby is 8 days old, as soon as possible if ill health
-at home or synagogue
-A family member (Sandek) has the baby on their lap and a chair is left empty for Elijah to be present
-baby is passed to the Mohel who has the honoured of role of being the “companion of the child”
-Father says the blessing over wine and the baby is formally named
-there is a celebratory meal
What is the significance of the Brit MIlah
-recalls the covenant made with Abraham in Genesis where God said that the circumcision would “be the sign of the covenant between Me and you”
-lifelong reminder to baby that they are one of God’s chosen people
How does the Redemption of the first born son go
Some Orthodox Jews:
-31 days after first born son’s birth, some money is given to ‘redeem’ him from temple services ( even though the temple no longer exists)
-5 silver coins are given to a Kohen (a descendent of the priests who worked in the temple)
-prayer are said to the child
What is the significance of the Redemption of the first born son
-tradition comes from the command in Numbers 18: 15-16
“But you shall have the firstborn of man redeemed…take as their redemption price…the money equivalent of five shekels”
define Bar Mitzvah
rite of passage for boys which means “Son of the Commandments”
define Bat Mitzvah
rite of passage for girls which means “Daughter of the Commandments”
How does the Bar Mitzvah go
-First Shabbat after their 13 birthday, he read the Torah in the service and wears the Tallit and Tefilin for the first time
-He usually lead part of the service- reading from the Torah, say prayers and make a short speech
-He will prepare and practice his reading in advances as he has to learn Hebrew- can take up to 1 year
-Father thanks God for making son mature and declares he is now responsible for his own actions
-Celebration after meal
How does the Bat Mitzvah go
Reform:
-service similar to a Bat Mitzvah
Orthodox:
-Marked by a family meal and small religious gifts
-she will read a special prayer
-usually celebrations happens at home
5 importance of Bar/ Bat Mitzvah
-Its when a jew becomes an adult in religious terms
-preparing for it brings you closer to God and the community
-It’s when they are expected to strictly follow the Jewish law and be responsible for themselves
-It’s when they chose to accept that they are the chosen people of God
-When Boy is allowed to be part of the Minyan (girls too) and take part in synagogue services. He can wear the Tefillin.
What does the Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Bat Chayill signify
the boy or girl being subjected to Jewish law
define Bat Chayill
rite of passage of girls that do not do the Bat Mitzvah and it means “Woman of Valour”
How does the Bat Chayill go during and after
-It’s a community ceremony but not the same kind of service like a Bar Mitzvah
-She’ll talk about a topic related to Judaism but not read form the Torah
-After ceremony, she is expected to observe Jewish religious rules for women and learn how to keep a good home
why is Bat Chayill different than Bar Mitzvah in Orthodox
-Orthodox Jews interoperate roles of men and women differently
-Girls will not play an active role in the synagogue like boys
what will some orthodox jews do instead of a Bat Mitzvah
Bat Chayill
What is the significance of rites of passage for the child, community and covenant
-Child: stronger faith because they are fully part of the covenant now/ responsible for themselves
-Community: more closer because they prepare for it together/ introducing a new adult in their community
-Covenant: They introduce a new adult who takes full responsibility of themselves
define Kashrut
Dietary laws that restrict what and how Jewish people eat
define Kosher
clean or acceptable
Define Treyfah
unclean or forbidden
Where is the Kashrut found
Torah
what did people originally think Kashrut was
-for health and hygiene reasons
-some animals were more valuable than others
Why do orthodox Jews follow the kashrut strictly
-believe the laws come from God
-to test their obedience
-mark Jews as different from others
why do some reform Jews not follow the Kashrut
-they think it’s outdated and should be down to the person if they want to follow or not
What foods are considered kosher
-animals that have split hooves and several stomachs
-birds that are poultry
-fish with fins and scales
-all plants
What food are considered teryfah
-animals with paws and pigs
-birds that hunt
-prawn, muscles, shellfish
-insects
Who has to kill the animal
-a Jewish butcher has to kill it
How is an animal killed
-method is believed to be painless- causing pain to living things are against Jewish law
-animal must not see knife- it might upset it
-prayers are said during the killing
what does a Jewish butcher need and what does it do
-hechsher (certificate)
-so people know he kills correctly
which verse talks about why you must kill animals in a certain way
-Deuteronomy 12: 23
“but make sure you do not partake of the blood; for the blood is the life, and you must not consume the life with the flesh”
what are the restriction on meat and dairy
-they cannot be eaten 30 mins of each other
-kept separately during preparation, cooking, eating
verse talks about why you cannot consume diary and meat at the same time
-Exodus 23: 19
“you shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk”
define marriage
-legal joining of 2 people
-in religious terms- uniting of man and woman. They are elevated to a higher spiritual level before God during the wedding
what do jews believe marriage is for
-to experience holiness in everyday life as it creates a spiritual bond between couples and their souls are fused into one
verse describes the souls being fused into one
-Genesis2: 24
“Hence man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife so they become one flesh”
what are the 2 parts of a marriage
-betrothal
-marriage
define betrothal (kiddushin)
-when the couples are engaged or promised to each other
-lasts for 1 year
-has a legal statue in Jewish law
-only broken by death or divorce
-do not live together during this time- but prepare for their future lives together
what is done before the wedding
-couple may fast:
-to cleanse themselves sin
-come to the ceremony with the right attitude
define chuppah
-cloth canopy suspended from 4 poles that symbolises their home
-means they are officially married
What is done in the betrothal ceremony
-Bride joins groom under the chuppah
-they recite blessings over wine
orthodox:
-groom give ring
reform:
-both exchange rings
define the marriage contract (ketubah)
-signed in front of witnesses, read out and given to bride
-signed by 2 witnesses
-in Aramic
-states husband is not allowed to stop wife if she wants a divorce
Orthodox:
-covers husbands duties to his wife (legal rights)
reform:
-describes mutual hopes for the marriage (spiritual)
what happens during the marriage (Nisuin)
-7 blessings are recited
-rabbi makes a speech and blesses the couple
-groom breaks a glass under his foot
-congregation wishes the couple good luck
why does the groom break a glass under his foot
symbolises the destruction of the temple to remind that life involved hard times and joy
what happens in the wedding reception
-couple spends a short time together privately- symoblises their status as a married couple
-then recpetion
define kiddushin
-betrothal ceremony and first part of wedding
-means “holy/ santified”
define Nisuin
-the marriage itself
-finalises the marriage
order of marriage
-kiddushin (betrothal)
-Nisuin (marriage itself)
who are the rites of passage intended to support
bereaved family and friends
what is a dead person entitled to
as much respect as a living one
why is the dead body covered
-believed you should remember them as living not dead
why is a dead person’s eyes closed
-believed you cannot look into the afterlife and this world at the same time
-allows them to see the afterlife
where and why are canlels lit
-placed on head
-said in Proverbs
why is the body watched until burial
-believed soul only leaves at burial
-comforting to have someone
define Havrash kadishah
group of people that prepare the body for funeral and work at a funeral parlor
why do they stop when carrying the coffin and how many times
-7
-shows difficulty of it
-no desire to hurry and complete task
why is the Havrash kadishah important
-they follow the mitzvot when they prepare the body
-its kind because the dead cannot pay back the kindness
when and why are they burried
-not cremated
-as soon as possible but not on Shabbat or festivals
verse talks about why jews are buried and not cremated
-Genesis 3: 19
“man is formed from dust and returns to it”
define Keri’ ah
-ritual of tearing mourner’s clothes
-is a mitzvot
-represents sadness
-follow example of Jacob in Genesis 37: 34
when do orthodox and reform do Keri’ah
orthodox:
-straight after death
reform:
-no Keri’ ah- wear a strip of black cloth given at funeral in out clothes
how is the grave filled
-everyone takes turns and put shovel on ground after their turn
-symbolises not passing sorrow to others
define Se’ udat Harra’ ah
-first meal brought by family, friends or neighbors at home after funeral
what do men do during the funeral
-form 2 line and mourners pass through as they are consoled
which way is the head facing in the coffin
-towards Jerusalem- believed dead is resurrected facing east to Jerusalem
what are said as the coffin is lowered
prayers eg. El Malei rachamin (prayer of mercy)
order of mourning
-announcement of death
-Anuit
-Shiv’ ah
-Sheloshim
-Avelut
-first year after death
what do you do at the announcement of death
-Keri’ ah
-says blessings that say God is the true judge- shows they accept God’s decision to take life
define the Anuit
-first period of mourning
-24 hours till burial
-dead is comforted by the living till burial
-family is excused form following most mitzvots
-family do not cut hair, wash clothes and celebrate festivals
define the Shiv’ ah
-second period of mourning
-1 week long
-for bereaved parents, children, siblings and spouses
-do not work and stay at home to have prayer services 3 times a day eg. Kiddish- praise God and ask for peace
-mirrors are covered so they do not focus on their apperance
-cant cut hair, shave, wear make up
define the Sheloshim
-third period of mourning
-30 days after death
-life resumes but cant cut hair, shave, listen to music and go to parties
-Men say Kiddish in synagogue
define the Avelut
-final period of mourning
-11 months
-don’t party
-children continue to say Kaddish for parents
what do you do at the first year after death
-for those who lost a parent- formal mourning ends after a year after death
-Sons recites Torah and make a Torah blessing if possible
-mark anniversary by lighting candle that burns 24 hours
why are gravestone important
-mitzvot to not forget the dead so gravestone makes dead impossible to forget
when is the unveiling ceremony
-when gravestone is placed
-first anniversary of their death
define Yahrzit
fasting on the anniversary of a dead parent to remember them
what is done on the anniversary of a dead parent
-Yahrzit
-special memorial candle is lit for 24 hours
-study torah
define Yizkdor
memorial prayer recited by mourners in synagogue at certain festivals
what is women’s clothing centered upon
modesty
laws on clothing
-don’t have Shatnez
-how strictly followed depends
define Shatnez
-mixing of wool and linen
define Sanctity of life
-God breathe life into humans
-life is sacred and holy as it is given by God and so only God can take it away
verse show sanctity of life
Genesis 2
what does Sanctity of life tell jews to do
-preserve life
-don’t do anything to quicken death
define Pikuach Nefesh
-obligation that Jews have to save a life even if they have to break the Jewish Laws
what does Pikuach Nefesh show
-how valuable human life is as it put human life over the Jewish law
verse talks about how you must not take life
-Sanhedrin 4: 5
“He who destroys one soul of a human being, the Scripture considers him as if he should destroy the whole world”
verse talks about respecting your elder
-Leviticus 19: 32
“In the presence of an elder, you shall rise and you shall respect an elder; you shall have fear of you God; I am Adonai”
which commandment talks about respecting elders
-fifth
“honour your father and mother”
-stated several times
how is old age viewed
-is a virtue
-wise - each year of life brings wisdom
verse talks about how old age is viewed as wise
-Genesis 24: 1
-said by Abraham
What must a Jewish family do for an elder
-take care of them in their home
how can jews take care of their elders when their living situation is not suitable
send them to Jewish retirement facilities
what is important when caring for an elder
the care demonstrates respect and dignity required by God in the Torah
3 mitzvots reserved for women
-preparing and separating Challah
-lighting candles on Shabbat
-Nidah - family purity
differences btw men and women
-women rest on Rosh Chodesh
-Women do Challah, Nidah and light candles
-Women sleep separately on period
-Women are expected to learn how to keep a home after Rite of passage
-Men & women sit separately at Synagogue
-Men are more active at Synagogue than women
why are women significant in teachings
-only they can do certain mitzvots
-keeps Jewish atmosphere at home
-her family is blessed by God based on her merits
why might some reform jews challenge teaching on views on women
-think men can keep the home too
-women may have ambitions
-stereotypes on women
-inequality
verse to show father must make sure child is circumcised
Genesis 17: 10-14
parent responsibilities
-father must make sure child is circumcised - Genesis 17: 10-14
-father must teach torah
-father must help sons find wives
-responsible for education of children - Deuteronomy 11:19
verse to show parents are responsible for education of children
Deuteronomy 11:19
significance of parents
-seen as partners of God in the creation of his children
-bringing up children in in Jewish faith shows God bringing his word to them
verse to show children duties to parents
-“Honour thy father and mother”
-Exodus 20
-seen as honouring Gid
children duties to parents
-honouring parents is seen as honouring God
-provide food, cloths & their mobility
-respect parents
-not sit/ stand in parent’s place
-not oppose parents
verse that shows importance of circumcision
“He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised.” - Genesis 17:12
