Judaism Practices Flashcards
What are the key features in a synagogue?
- BATMAN
What does batman stand for?
- Bimah
- Aron Hakodesh
- Torah
- Minyan
- Arrangement of seating
- Ner Tamid
What is the significance of the Bimah in the synagogue?
- A raised platform – where Torah read
- Orthodox in the middle, Reform at the front
- Central focus = Torah should be central
What is the significance of the Ark in the synagogue?
- Ark where Torah scrolls are kept = Door and curtain
- Door and curtain outside (open or closed)
- Sephardic Jews the curtain is inside the doors
Most important place – contains scroll – placed in wall facing Jerusalem – opening/closing at important times (open between Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah) - When open congregation stand
What is the significance of the Torah scrolls in the synagogue?
- Scrolls contain Torah – made from animal skin – hand written by scribe
- Wrapped when not in use – decorated in silver
In Sephardic synagogue the scroll is kept in metal or wood - Part read in Shabbat services – raised above congregation to show importance
What is the significance of the Minyan in the
synagogue?
- Community of worshippers = 10 people
- Reform = mixed men/women, Orthodox only men after Bar Mitzvah
- The Amidah and Kaddish (hymn of praises in service) can’t be recited without minyan
What is the significance of the arrangement of seating in the synagogue?
Reform – men and women sit together and Orthodox men and women sit separately
What is the significance of the ner tamid?
- Eternal lamp – above Aron Hakodesh – never put out
- Differences in design between Orthodox and Reform
- Symbolises God’s presence – ‘cause a lamp to burn.’ Exodus
- Symbolises golden menorah which burned in the destroyed temple
What needed for Jews to practise worship at home?
- Modeh Ani
- Shema
- Siddur
- Mezuzah
- Pushke Box
- Preparing for festivals at home
What is the Modeh Ani?
- It is the first thing said in the morning
- Said in bed
- thank God for the Gift of life
What are the two things said in the Modeh Ani?
- ‘Be strong as a lion when you wake up in the morning to serve your Creator.’
- ‘I offer thanks to You.’
What is the Shema?
- declaration of faith
- said twice a day
What is said in the Shema?
‘Hear O’ Israel, the Lord our God is one..’
What is the siddur?
- a prayer book to use at home
- a gift from God
- if it falls to ground picked up and kissed
What is the pushke box?
Charity box at home
What types of festivals do jews prepare at home?
- Pesach
- Shabbat
- Sukkot
- Circumcision (brit milah)
What is the acronym RITUAL?
- RELATIONSHIP with God
- It is apart of their IDENTITY
- It is apart their TRADITION
- It UNITES jews
- It AFFIRMS their faith
- It is their LIFE from birth to death
What is the importance of Shabbat?
- Keeping Shabbat obeys 2 mitzvah ‘to remember’ and ‘to keep holy’ = Exodus 20
- Holiest day of the week – a taste of the Olam Ha Ba – the world to come
- Celebrates God’s creation
- Family time – togetherness
- Presence of Shabbat brings peace
- Welcome shekinah
- day of spiritual renewal
What do jews do to prepare for shabbat?
- Clean home - Cook meals - table laid, two candles and Challot loaves on the table , toilet paper torn!
- Family home before candles lit to signify God’s presence (Shekinah)
What happens during Shabbat?
- Orthodox won’t work (unless saving a life) – this implies Reform and Secular Jews will…
- No driving or cooking or tearing (even toilet paper)
- Woman lights two candles (- bring God’s presence into home (shekinah = feminine presence)
- Bless challot loaves
- Kiddush prayer recited over wine
What happens on the Saturday of Shabbat?
- family go to Synagogue, rest completely during the day = FAMILY time
- Sunset the HAVDALLAH candle lit – symbolises the split between Shabbat and week ahead
- Wine passed round
- Spice box sniffed = hope of a sweet week
What is a bar mitzvah?
- Age 13 boy becomes bar mitzvah
- Jewish adulthood
What are the significance of a bar mitzvah?
- They can be apart of a minyan
- Responsible to fulfil mitzvot
What do jewish boys do to prepare for a bar mitzvah?
- learns Hebrews so can read a portion of the Torah – goes to a Rabbi for lessons (about prayer/responsibilities)
- tefillin only worn just before 13th birthday
What is the celebration of the bar mitzvah?
- Shabbat after 13th birthday
- boy called to bimah to recite Torah – friends/relatives watch
- father recites blessing
What is female version of bar mitzvahs for orthodox jews?
Bat Chayil
What is female version of bar mitzvahs for reform jews?
Bat Mitzvah
What is Bat Chayil?
- it means daughter of worth
- It happens 12 years old
- gives a presentation about what learnt (doesn’t read Torah)
What is Bat mitzvah?
- special service in synagogue
- girl may read from Torah
- after service girl can become part of minyan
What is the Tallith?
- Four-cornered garment with fringes (tzizit = symbolises the 613 mitzvot)
What is the large tallit?
Prayer shawl worn by both reform and orthodox jews
What is the small tallit?
Worn every day under clothes and only Orthodox jews wear them
What is the significance of wearing the tallit?
Duty to wear fringes to remind them to keep the mitzvot (Numbers 15 = Torah)
What is the tefillin?
- Two leather boxes which contain the shema prayer
- One box round head the other round left arm (Shema close to head and heart)
- Worn by Orthodox male after Bar Mitzvah during prayers (but not Shabbat)
- Reform women also wear
What is the significance of wearing the tefillin?
- Obeys mitzvah in Torah – ‘commandment to wear tefillin.’
- Reminds Jews to serve God – keep God close
What is the kippah?
- Head covering = worn from childhood
- Some wear all the time – others just in services
- women also wear
What is the significance of wearing the kippah?
Sign of respect to have highest part of head covered + symbol of Jewish identity
What are the reform views of the items of worship?
- Maimonides said women could wear tzizt
- The Torah doesn’t say tallit is only for men
- In the Talmud there is an example of women wearing tefillin
- Reform Jewish women wear tefillin
- Reform Jewish women wear the kippah
What are the orthodox views of the items of worship?
- biblically forbidden from wearing the same clothes as men.
- Women drawing attention to themselves (against Judaism)
- Men wear a large tallit and a small tallit (worn under every day clothes)
- Men wear Tefillin in prayer
What is a synagogue?
House of assembly
What is the function of a synagogue?
- House of prayer
- House of study
- social hall
- beit din
How is the synagogue a house of prayer?
- It is where community prayer services take place
- Some prayers can only be said in the presence of a minyan
How is the synagogue a house of study?
- Some jews study the sacred texts is a lifelong task
- children receive basic RE education