J4 - Rites of Passage Flashcards
What is Brit Milah? [2]
- naming ceremony
- circumcision takes pace
What does circumcision fulfill? [1]
- the covenant commanded of Abraham and his descendants
What is a Mohel? [1]
the person who is trained to do the circumcision
What are the two verses that refer to circumcision? [2]
- Genesis 17:11
- Genesis 17: 13-14
When are Orthodox boys and girls blessed on their naming ceremony? [1]
the first Shabbat after their birth
What does the father recite in the naming ceremony? [1]
a Torah blessing
What is the Zeved Habat ceremony? [2]
- when girls are welcomed and their name is announced
- means the gift of a daughter
What happens in Reform synagogues during a naming ceremony? [2]
- both parents take part in the ceremony
- practices have been developed to make the birth of a daughter just as important as the son’s
What are the significances of the naming ceremony? [2]
- baby is formally introduced to the community and God
- celebration of children as a gift from God
When does the brit milah happen? [1]
- when the baby boy is 8 days old
Where does brit milah happen? [1]
at home or in synagogue
Who takes the baby in their lap during brit milah? [1]
Sandek (a family member)
What does the baby’s father do before it is circumcised? [1]
father blesses the baby
What happens after the baby is circumcised? [2]
- blessing said over wine and baby is formally named
- family and friends enjoy a celebratory meal
What is the significance of the brit milah? [1]
- provides a lifelong reminde to a male Jew that they are one of God’s chosen people
What does bar mitzvah mean? [1]
son of the commandments
What does bat mitzvah mean? [1]
daughter of the commandments
When does a bar mitzvah take place? [1]
first Shabbat after the boy’s 13th birthday
What does the boy do in the synagogue during his bar mitzvah? [3]
- reads the Torah for the first time
- wears Tallit and Tefillin for first time
- says prayers and makes a short speech
What does the father do at the bar mitzvah? [12]
- thanks God for bringing his son to maturity
- declares he’s now responsible for his own actions
What happens after the bar mitzvah? [1]
usally a celebration with a meal
What do reform Jews do for a bat mitzvah? [1]
- have a service very much like the bar mitzvah service
What do Orthodox Jews do for a bat mitzvah? [3]
- a family meal
- small religious gifts
- read a special prayer
Where do the celebrations for a bat mitzvah in Orthodox Judaism happen? [1]
at home
What are 4 importances of bar and bat mitzvah? [4]
- Jewish young person becomes an adult in religious terms (can become part of the minyan and boys can wear tefillin when he prays)
- preparing for it brings you closer to God and community
- the child is choosing to accept their role as a part of God’s chosen people
- when they’re expected to strictly start following Jewish laws
What does Bat Chayill mean? [1]
woman of valour
Are bodies in Judaism buried or cremated? [1]
buried ALWAYS
What is bat chayill? [1]
Orthodox traditions when a girl doesn’t do bat mitzvah
Where in the Torah does it talk about being buried? [1]
Genesis 3:19
What does bat chayill symbolise? [1]
the girl becoming subject to Jewish law
When does burial happen? [1]
as soon as the death happens
What will the girl do during bat chayill? [2]
- talk about a topic related to Judaism
- she will NOT read from the Torah
what is marriage? [3]
-the legal joining of 2 people
-but in religious terms, its the uniting of a man and woman
-the man and woman are elevated to a higher spiritual level before God during the wedding
Why is bat chayill different for girls? [2]
- Orthodox Jews interpret the roles of men and women differently
- girls will not play an active role in synagogue services like boys after their bar mitzvah
what can marriage bring to everyday life? [1]
experiencing holiness
What is the girl expected to do after her bat chayill? [2]
- observe Jewish religious rules for women
- spend time learning how to keep a good home
what does marriage create between a couple? [1]
spiritual bond where 2 souls are fused to become 1
What are the exceptions for when burial doesn’t need to happen? [2]
- on shabbat
- on any festival
what is evidence for the fusion of 2 souls after a marriage? [1]
Genesis 2
What is Keri’ah? [1]
the ritual of tearing clothes
why is the fusion of 2 souls important? [2]
-Man and woman is united as 1
-Is seen as God’s plan for humanity
What is the point of Keri’ah? [2]
- to show the sadness they have and threfore they tear it deliberately
- its a mitzvot
What are the 2 parts of a traditional Jewish marriage? [2]
-Betrothal
-Marriage
When do Orthodox Jews do Keri’ah? [1]
straight after the death
What is the Betrothal? [1]
time before the wedding when the couple is engaged/promised to each other
When do reform Jews do for Keri’ah? [2]
- they don’t tear their clothes
- they wear a strip of black ribbon on their outer clothing
traditionally, how long does the betrothal last? [1]
12 months
What do they do when carrying the casket to the grave? [1]
- 7 stops are made along the way
How can the betrothal be broken and why? [2]
-only by death or divorce
-because the betrothal has legal status in Jewish law
What does making 7 stops on the way to the grave signify? [2]
- to show how difficult it is
- to show that there is not desire to hurry in completing the task
what does the couple do during the betrothal? [1]
-prepare for their future lives together, without living together
What happens when the casket is lowered into the grave? [1]
prayers are said
when does the betrothal ceremony take place? [2]
-used to be a year before the wedding
-but now it’s often part of the wedding itself
In which direction is the head facing in the grave and why? [1]
Where Jerusalem is / East because it’s believed that the dead will be resurrected facing East (where Jerusalem is / in Jerusalem
What is the Kiddushin Erusin? [2]
-Means ‘holy’ or ‘sanctified’
-It’s the betrothal ceremony and the first part of the wedding
What is El Malei Rachamin and when does it happen? [2]
- prayer of mercy
- said at the graveside
What is the Nissuin? [2]
-Second part of the wedding that finalises the marriage
-Has the 7 blessings
What happens when everyone at the burial fills the grave and why? [2]
- everyone uses the shovel and puts it on the floor after their turn
- don’t want to pass the sorrow to others
If a couple has been through Kiddushin but wants to marry someone else, what should they do? [1]
get a religious divorce
What happens when the bereaved pass through? [2]
- men make two lines and murmur blessings on them
What does the man need to do during the Kiddushin? [1.5]
give the woman he intends to marry, an item of value
-traditionally a gold ring
What is the blessing murmured by the bereaved? [1]
“may God console you among other mourners”
What is the Ketubah? [3]
-Formal marriage contract
-Prenuptial (before marriage) agreement
-Traditionally, its Aramaic and highly decorated
What is Se’udat Havra’ah? [2]
- the first meal after returning home
- brought by neighbours and friends
What does the Ketubah set out to the wife? [1]
sets out the husband’s obligations to his wife
what is the Ketubah customary to state in many countries? [1]
That the husband will not obstruct (be in the way) his wife
what does the couple do before the wedding, and why? [3]
-fast
-to cleanse themselves of sin
-and come to the ceremony with the right attitude
what is the chuppah and what does it symbolise? [2]
-canopy
-symbolises their home
what happens during the betrothal ceremony? [3]
-bride join the groom under the chuppah
-bride and groom recite blessings over wine
-in reform, rings are exchanged, but in orthodox, only the groom gives the bride a ring
what happens to the marriage contract? [3]
-signed in front of witnesses
-read out
-given to bride
for Orthodox, what is the marriage contract about? [3]
-husbands duties to his wife
-conditions of inheritance upon the husbands death
-how the husband will provide for his wife if they get divorced
for Reform, what is the marriage contract about? [2]
-spiritual aspirations (not legal rights)
-describes mutual hopes for the marriage, which is the same for the husband and wife
when is the 7 blessings recited? [1]
the marriage itself
what does the rabbi do during the marriage? [2]
-makes a speech
-blesses the couple
what does the groom do during the marriage, what does it symbolise, and what is it a reminder of? [3]
-breaks a glass under his foot
-shows regret for the destruction of the temple
-reminder that there’s hard times and joy in life
what happens after the wedding ceremony? Why do they do it? What happens after they do it? [3]
-couple spends a short time together in a private room alone
-symbolises their new status as a married couple
-After that, there is a reception
what is the intention of the rites of passage when a person dies? [1]
to support the family and friends
who gets attention when someone has died? why? [3]
-there is respect for the dead
-bereaved (those who have lost a loved one) get the attention
-to help them get through a period of mourning
what is the dead person entitled to? [1]
as much respect as a living person
The dead person’s eyes are closed. why? [2]
-to let them see the next world
-as a person can’t see the afterlife and this world at the same time
The body is covered. Why? [1]
So that people can remember the person when they were living, not as they are right now
Candles are lit. Where? Why? [2]
-Lit on the head
-Because in proverbs (Tenakh) it states that the soul of a is the lamp of the lord
What is the Hevrash Kadishah? What do they do? Why do they do that? [3]
-Society that prepares the body for the burial
-they wash the body and dress it in white linen shrouds
-to show that everyone is equal in death
Why is the Hevrash Kadishah important? Give 2 reasons why [2]
-Keeps the mitzvot about purification to prepare the dead for their final resting place
-It’s a kind act because this work can’t be payed back or rewarded by the dead
During the burial, the body is not cremated. Why?
In the Torah, Genesis 3:19, it is stated that the man will return from where they came from, which is the dust.
