Jewdaism: Practices Flashcards
The synagogue
Jewish place of worship.
Inside you find:
The Ark - Where the Torah scrolls are kept. It is the holiest place, focal point and represents the Ark of the Covenant.
Ner Tamid - An oil/electric light placed in front of and above the Ark, representing God’s presence and is never put out.
Bimah - A reading platform for Torah in the centre of the synagogue.
Traits of Orthodox synagogue
Daily services
Person leading the service faces the Ark
In hebrew
Men and women seperated
Congregation can arrive late and catch up
Traits of Reform synagogues
Services on Shabbat and festivals
In hebrew and local language
Leader faces congregation most the time
Men and women together
Services shorter but more rigid with a set start time
Orthodox Judaism
Traditional
Strictly follow the laws as it was given directly to Moses from God
Me and women have different roles
Reform Judaism
Progressive
Emphasise induvidual choice in how to worship the faith, beleive the Torah was inspired by God and written by humans
Men and women can take the same roles
Daily service structure
Opening prayers said
The Shema is recited
The Amidah - The standing prayer, done in silence facing Jerusalem
Torah reading
Final prayers said
Prayer attire
Tallit - A shawl from wool or silk with a long tassle at each corner. It reminds Jews they are obeying God and tassles represent mitzvot.
Tefillin - A pair of small leather boxes containg extracts of the Torah, fastend with leather straps to forehead and upper arm. Reminding Jews their mind should be fully concentrated and they pray from the heart.
Shabbat
Jewish holy day lasting from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. All work is done and everything prepared for Friday evening as no work is allowed on Shabbat, everyone sits down to have a special meal.
Two candles are placed on the table to represent the commandments ‘remember’ and ‘preserve’ Shabbat.
Two loaves of challah bread to represent the food God provided the Israelites in the wilderness.
Wine or grape juice drunk from the Kiddush cup symbolising joy and celebration
The end is marked with the Havdalah service where blessings are performed over wine, spices and a candle.
Synagogue on Shabbat
There is a short service on Friday evening where Shabbat is welcomed like a bride.
And a longer main one on Saturday morning. Includes a reading from the Torah, a sermon as well as prayers and blessings.
Birth Ceremonies
Naming Ceremony - Babies are blessed in the synagogue on their first Shabbat. Girls are named.
Brit Milah - When a boy is 8 days old, the boy is blessed, named and circumcised.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Bar - When Jewish boys turn 13, they read from the Torah and wear a tallit for the first time. They take full responsibility for their faith.
Bat - When girls turn 12, they take responsibility and celebrate similar to a Bar Mitzvah
Marriage
First a couple is betrothed. This is an engagement and lasts for about a year.
The wedding starts with the betrothal ceremony where the groom places a ring on the brides finger under the chuppah.
Then the marriage contract is signed. In orthodox it mainly covers legal aspects and in reform, more spiritual. The two are married and glass is broken to show regret for the destruction of the temple.
Mourning for the dead
-What the funeral is like
-What grieving is like
The Funeral
The body is placed in a simple coffin to show equality in death. The service takes place in the cemetery as the Synagogue is a place for the living. A tombstone must be placed so the person is remembered.
Periods of mourning
1. Jews are buried asap, until then they believe the soul remains in the body and should be comforted by family
2. Shiva - An intense period of mourning for 7 days. They stay at home and pray three times a day. They fully focus on the deceased and not themselves.
3. Normal life resumes but for 30 days mourners do not party or cut their hair.
4. 11 months more they do not attend parties and children continue to pray for a parent who has died.
Dietary Laws
-Concept and restrictions
-Preparations
Deemed for hygiene, health, testing obedience and self-control.
Acceptable food is Kosher, otherwise: Trefah
They mainly cannot eat pork
Animals must be killed in a certain way: a trained Jew slaughters the animal while conscious and drains the blood out of it. Meat and milk is to be kept totally separate.
Rosh Hashanah
-What is it and how is it observed?
Rosh Hashanah marks the start of the Jewish new year. It remembers gods creation of the world and is also a day of judgement.
Jews will do good deeds, pray and stone for any wrongdoing. Celebrations are similar to Shabbat. There is a longer service before the new year and the next morning a Rams horn is blown 100 times.
Yom Kippur
-What is it and how is it observed?
Yom Kippur is the most holiest day on the Jewish calendar. It marks the end of the 10 days when Gods judgment is finalised from Rosh Hashanah.
As much time as possible is spent in the synagogue. They ask for God to forgive their sins and confess as a community. Jews also abstain from sex, do no work and fast for 25 hours.
Pesach
-What is it?
-How do families celebrate?
AKA Passover, it celebrates the Jew’s escape from Egypt. They remember the final plague that released them from slavey and how the plague passed over them as well as celebrating the birth of a Jewish nation.
Families celebrate with a special meal called Passover Seder. The following are served:
- Red Wine: A reminder of the lamb’s blood
- Unleavened bread: Fullfills Gods command to eat the bread for 7 days each year. Also how the Israelites didn’t have time to let their bread rise when they escaped.
