J5 - Religion and the Family, Rites of Passage

Question 1

Brit Milah

Answer 1

the name of the ceremony in which circumcision takes place fulfilling the covenant of circumcision commanded of Abraham and his descendants

Question 2

What are the Jewish Rites of passage

Answer 2

Bar And Bat mizvah

Question 3

Mohel

Answer 3

a trained professional who carries out circumcision

Question 4

Ceremonies to do after a baby is born (3)

Answer 4

Naming ceremony for boys and girls
Brit Milah for boys
Redemption of the first born son for some Orthodox Jews

Question 5

Bar Mitzvah

Answer 5

means Son of the Commandments and is a rite of passage for boys when they become ‘adults’ in Jewish law

Question 6

Bat Mitzvah

Answer 6

means Daughter of the Commandments and is a rite of passage for Reform girls that is similar to Bar Mitzvah

Question 7

Bat Chayill

Answer 7

means ‘woman of valour’ and is an Orthodox tradition for girls who don’t do Bat Mitzvah and is a community ceremony which symbolises the girl becoming subject to Jewish law

Question 8

Kiddushin

Answer 8

means ‘sanctification’, the betrothal ceremony

Question 9

Nissuin

Answer 9

the wedding proper when the couple stands under the Huppah which is symbolic of the home they will build

Question 10

Sheva Brachot

Answer 10

means ‘seven blessings’ and is recited by the groom when he recieves a cup of wine from the rabbi. It summarises the purpose and meaning of marriage in Judaism

Question 11

Ketubah

Answer 11

a formal marriage contract that is read after Kiddushin. It sets out the husbands obligations to his wife and must be signed by two witnesses

Question 12

Kashrut

Answer 12

dietary laws in Judaism. Found in the Torah

Question 13

Kosher (food) and 4 examples

Answer 13

clean, acceptable, and fit to eat. Complying with the kashrut treyfah
animals with split hooves and have several stomachs
poultry
fish with fins and scales
all plants

Question 14

Treyfah (food) and 4 examples

Answer 14

Unclean and forbidden. Not acceptable under kashrut laws.
pigs and animals with paws
hunted birds
prawns, mussels, shellfish
insects

Question 15

marriage

Answer 15

the legal joining of two people, in religious terms for Jews it is the uniting of a man and a woman. They are elevated to a higher spiritual level before God during the wedding

Question 16

Hevrash Kadishah

Answer 16

a ‘Holy Society’ who prepare the body for burial. It follows a mitzvot about purification to prepare the dead for their final resting place

Question 17

When does mourning in Judaism go until and what happens afterward

Answer 17

Goes for 1 year and afterward every year on the anniversary a candle is lit for 24 hours by the children of the dead, this is called Yahrzeit. Sons will also recite Kaddish

Question 18

Kaddish

Answer 18

a prayer said during some mourning periods which praises God and asks for peace

Question 19

Why are gravestones important

Answer 19

a mitzvot commands that the dead are not forgotten
there is an unveiling ceremony, either when the gravestone is placed or on the first anniversary of their death

Question 20

Kosher and Treyfah related to clothing

Answer 20

Married women must have their hair covered when out of the house
Jewish men must keep their heads covered
Cannot wear clothes with a mixture of wool and flax/linen (called shatnez) which is linked to Cain and Abel

Question 21

what is sanctity of life based on

Answer 21

the idea of humans being created in the Image of God, life is therefore sacred and holy as it is given by God

Question 22

pikuach nefesh

Answer 22

saving a life - this is an obligation that Jews have to save a person’s life if they can, even if doing so breaks the Jewish laws

Question 23

why do Jews respect their elderly?

Answer 23

because of the commandment “honour your father and mother” which is repeated many times throughout the Torah

Question 24

Naming ceremony

Answer 24

a blessing of Jewish boys and girls on the first sabbath after birth. At this time, a girl’s name will be announced

Question 25

What is the canopy called that symbolises the bride and groom’s home

Answer 25

Chuppah