Jewish Rituals Flashcards
What is Brit Milah?
-A welcoming ceremony for baby boys at 8 days old that usually occurs in the home.
-They receive their Hebrew name here which will be used in all other religious rituals like marriage.
-This is the sign of the covenant with Abraham, the bit that ‘seals the deal’ is circumcision of Jewish males.
What the Torah say about Brit Milah?
“Every male child among you shall be circumcised “
How does Brit Milah impact a Jew’s life?
-The father of the child has the honor of saying the blessing before the Torah reading at a synagogue service.
- The child is now a part of the Jewish community and will be brought up with Jewish traditions such as following the mitzvot
What is Bar Mitzvah?
-Jewish people have a ceremony that celebrates “coming of age’ for boys and girls
- They are known as Bar (for boys) and Bat Mitzvah (for girls) ceremonies which mark the transition into adulthood for young Jews and show that the person can fully enter into the covenant relationship with God.
What does the Torah say about Bar Mitzvah?
-boys have to read from the Torah and they have to read in Hebrew to “keep his commandments”
How does a Bar Mitzvah influence a Jews life?
-Shows that a young person wants to grow in their faith and be part of the Jewish community
-The child will now be responsible for following the mitzvot rules and will be written into the Book of Life or Book of Death at Yom Kippur.
What is marriage?
In Judaism, marriage is a contract between two people, with the couple marrying each other under the supervision of rabbi.
What happens during marriage and how does it influence a Jew’s life?
-Two blessings are said, then the groom gives the bride a plain gold ring to symbolise that they are together forever
-The groom smashes a glass by stamping on it as a reminder of the destruction of the Temple
-The couple can now have a family and fulfil the commandment to
“go forth and multiply” from Genesis, bringing up children in the faith and expanding the Jewish nation.
What happens during a Jewish funeral?
-The body is treated with the upmost respect. It is washed and prepared for burial by the onan.
•- Reform Jews allow cremation, whereas Orthodox Jews bury their dead.
- The person is placed into a plain wooden coffin and the ceremony is very simple.
- The Kaddish blessing is said to help people to feel closer to God
- The family return home to sit Shiva. Shiva means ‘seven’, as it is a seven-day mourning ritual.
How does a Jewish funeral influence their life?
On the anniversary of the person’s death, a candle is lit to represent the person’s soul. The Kaddish blessing is also said by the family members of the deceased persom
