Judaism: Practices Flashcards
What does the star of David represent?
The Jewish faith
What is the Ner tamid?
A light that is placed in front of and slightly above the arc.
What does the Ner Tamid represent?
God’s presence and is never put out.
What is the Ark?
Cupboard where the Torah scrolls are kept.
What does the Ark represent?
Original Ark of the covenant. The Holiest place in the synagogue.
What is the Bimah?
Raised platform in the centre of the synagogue.
What is the importance of the Bimah?
A reminder that the altar was the central feature of the courtyard of the temple in Judaism.
What is the Menorah.
7 candle sticks
What does the Menorah symbolise?
7 days of creation.
What are some features of orthodox services?
Conducted in Hebrew.
Men and women sit separately
Women don’t play any roles in the service
Longer than reform
What are some features of Reform services?
Service conducted in country’s language,
Men and women sit together
Allow women to actively take part in the service
Shorter than orthodox services.
How does the synagogue provide an open space for prayer?
Daily services (orthodox)
Celebration of festivals
Bar/Bat mitzvahs, marriages etc
How does the synagogue provide an open space for study?
Classes for learning Hebrew.
Well stocked library
Provides a house of study.
How does the Synagogue provide an open space for Charity work?
Venue for collecting money or other items to give to the poor.
Jews frequently support the work of organisations such as world Jewish relief
Often hold charity events.
How does the Synagogue provide an open space for socialising?
Social hall used for variety of activities
Have a youth club
Other clubs for senior citizens.
Kippah
All Jewish men cover their heads when thet pray as a sign of respect for God.
Tallit
Woolen Shawl. Shows the man is obeying God’s laws because each fringe (tzitzit) symbolises one of the 613 Mitzvot given by God.
Tefillin?
Two leather boxes, one is worn on the upper left arm and the other on your forehead. Each contains the Shema and wearing them shows that the person loves God with their head and mind.
Minyan
Orthodox Jews pray 3 times a day.
Minimum of 10 adults are required (men only in orthodox)
What do daily prayers consist of?
- Opening prayers.
- Shema
- The Amidah (standing prayer)
- Final prayers
What is the Amidah?
- Core prayer of all weekday prayer services.
- Prayed in silent, facing Jerusalem
- Consists of 19 blessings
- Praising God and asking for his mercy (first three)
- Asking for God’s help (middle thirteen)
- Thanking God and praying for peace, goodness and kindness (last three)
What are the aims of the Amidah?
- Communicate with God.
- Become closer to God
- Focus your heart, mind and soul of God
- Strengthen the sense of Jewish community.
How do families prepare for Shabbat?
House is cleaned
Food is prepared
Washes and changes into clean clothes
What items are placed on the Shabbat table?
At least 2 candles
Cutlery
2 loaves of challah bread
Wine or grape juice
What do the 2 loaves of bread on shabbat represent?
The 2 portions of manna that God provided for the Israelites on Shabbat when they were in the wilderness.
What does drinking the sweet wine on Shabbat symbolise?
Joy and celebration
What happens to the challah bread during the meal of Shabbat?
It is held up and then passed around.
What does the Shabbat meal start with?
The kiddush cup held up and the Kiddush blessing is said.
What is the end of Shabbat marked by?
The havdalah service. This takes place once 3 stars can be seen in the sky.
When does the naming ceremony happen for Orthodox/ reform girls?
Named on their first Shabbat after their birth for orthodox girls.
It can be held on any shabbat in reform synagogues.
What happens in the naming ceremony.
In orthodox synagogues the girls father recites the Torah blessing and asks God for the good health of his wife and baby. Girls name announced at this point.
In reform synagogues both parents take part in this service.
What is the importance of the naming ceremony?
Formally introduces the baby to the Jewsih community and to God.
Names are considered powerful- the parents are saying something about the hopes they have for their child.
When does Brit Milah happen?
Boys have this ceremony at 8 days old.
What happens at Brit Milah?
Starts with a close friend or relative placing the baby on an empty chair- symbolising presence of Prophet Elijah.
Trained circumciser places the baby on the knee of the companion of the child.
The boy’s father then blesses him.
What is the importance of Brit Milah?
It recalls the covenant God made with Abraham
When is the redemption of the first born son?
31 days after the birth of a boy.
What happens in the redemption of the first born son?
Some orthodox Jews give a small amount of money 31 days after the birth of their firstborn son to ‘redeem’ him from the temple service.
Five silver coins are given to a descendant of the priest who used to work in the temple.
What is the importance of the redemption of the first born son?
Jews believe that God required firstborn sons to devote their life to service in the Temple. This ceremony frees them from this requirement.
Bar mitzvah?
Celebrationnor a boy coming of age at 13. Literally ‘son of the commandment’
Bat mitzvah?
Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12, in reform synagogues. Literally ‘daughter of the commandment’.
Why could Bar mitzvah’s not be seen as relevant in modern Britain?
- Legal coming of age is 18 in the Uk.
- Distraction from school
- No Jewish Holy book instructs them to hold the celebration.
Why could Bar mitzvah’s be seen as relevant in modern Britain?
- Teaches young people how to be responsible
- Unique tradition which has been carried out for centuries
- Brings a young person closer to their family and God.
Kosher?
Food Jews are allowed to eat
Trefah?
Food Jews are not allowed to eat
Why would you agree with the statement: ‘modern Jews should forget old food laws and eat what they want’?
If they want to go out with friends but don’t know if the food is kosher.
Aren’t modernised
Inconvienient and limiting
Why would you disagree with the statement: ‘modern Jews should forget old food laws and eat what they want’?
It states in Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 how Jews should put food laws into practice.
The laws have come from God to test their obediance and mark out Jewish people.
What is in the sedar meal?
Roasted egg Salt water Lamb bone Charoset Parsley Bitter herbs Matzvah
What does the roasted egg represent in the sedar meal?
Harshness of the Egyptians
What does the lamb bone represent in the sedar meal?
Symbolises the sacrafice of the lamb whose blood Jews put on the door of each home on the night of the passover.
What does the Charoset in the sedar meal?
Sweet taste symbolises freedom.
What does the parsley in the sedar meal represent?
Symbol of the fresh start God gave the Israelites.
What does the Bitter herbs represent in the sedar meal?
Symbolises the bitter suffering of the slaves in Egypt.
What does the Matzvah in the sedar meal represent?
Reminds the Jews that the Israelites left in such a hurry that they didn’t have time for their bread to rise.
What is Rosh Hashanah?
Rosh Hashanah is a time of judgement and atonement- Jews believe God judges their actions over the last year and decides how the year ahead will be.
How can God’s judgement be influenced for Rosh Hashanah?
By actions during Rosh Hashanah so Jews make up for their wrongdoings over the past year by apologising to people they have argued with by prating doing acts of charity etc. This happens throughout the 10 day period and is called the days of awe.
When is Rosh Hashanah?
Late September.
What is at the end of Rosh Hashanah?
Yom Kippur.
