Judaism Practices Flashcards

1
Q

What are the key features in a synagogue?

A
  • BATMAN
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2
Q

What does batman stand for?

A
  • Bimah
  • Aron Hakodesh
  • Torah
  • Minyan
  • Arrangement of seating
  • Ner Tamid
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3
Q

What is the significance of the Bimah in the synagogue?

A
  • A raised platform – where Torah read
  • Orthodox in the middle, Reform at the front
  • Central focus = Torah should be central
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4
Q

What is the significance of the Ark in the synagogue?

A
  • 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
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5
Q

What is the significance of the Torah scrolls in the synagogue?

A
  • 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
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6
Q

What is the significance of the Minyan in the

synagogue?

A
  • 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
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7
Q

What is the significance of the arrangement of seating in the synagogue?

A

Reform – men and women sit together and Orthodox men and women sit separately

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8
Q

What is the significance of the ner tamid?

A
  • 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
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9
Q

What needed for Jews to practise worship at home?

A
  • Modeh Ani
  • Shema
  • Siddur
  • Mezuzah
  • Pushke Box
  • Preparing for festivals at home
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10
Q

What is the Modeh Ani?

A
  • It is the first thing said in the morning
  • Said in bed
  • thank God for the Gift of life
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11
Q

What are the two things said in the Modeh Ani?

A
  • ‘Be strong as a lion when you wake up in the morning to serve your Creator.’
  • ‘I offer thanks to You.’
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12
Q

What is the Shema?

A
  • declaration of faith

- said twice a day

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13
Q

What is said in the Shema?

A

‘Hear O’ Israel, the Lord our God is one..’

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14
Q

What is the siddur?

A
  • a prayer book to use at home
  • a gift from God
  • if it falls to ground picked up and kissed
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15
Q

What is the pushke box?

A

Charity box at home

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16
Q

What types of festivals do jews prepare at home?

A
  • Pesach
  • Shabbat
  • Sukkot
  • Circumcision (brit milah)
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17
Q

What is the acronym RITUAL?

A
  • 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
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18
Q

What is the importance of Shabbat?

A
  • 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
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19
Q

What do jews do to prepare for shabbat?

A
  • 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)
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20
Q

What happens during Shabbat?

A
  • 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
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21
Q

What happens on the Saturday of Shabbat?

A
  • 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
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22
Q

What is a bar mitzvah?

A
  • Age 13 boy becomes bar mitzvah

- Jewish adulthood

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23
Q

What are the significance of a bar mitzvah?

A
  • They can be apart of a minyan

- Responsible to fulfil mitzvot

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24
Q

What do jewish boys do to prepare for a bar mitzvah?

A
  • 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
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25
Q

What is the celebration of the bar mitzvah?

A
  • Shabbat after 13th birthday
  • boy called to bimah to recite Torah – friends/relatives watch
  • father recites blessing
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26
Q

What is female version of bar mitzvahs for orthodox jews?

A

Bat Chayil

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27
Q

What is female version of bar mitzvahs for reform jews?

A

Bat Mitzvah

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28
Q

What is Bat Chayil?

A
  • it means daughter of worth
  • It happens 12 years old
  • gives a presentation about what learnt (doesn’t read Torah)
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29
Q

What is Bat mitzvah?

A
  • special service in synagogue
  • girl may read from Torah
  • after service girl can become part of minyan
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30
Q

What is the Tallith?

A
  • Four-cornered garment with fringes (tzizit = symbolises the 613 mitzvot)
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31
Q

What is the large tallit?

A

Prayer shawl worn by both reform and orthodox jews

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32
Q

What is the small tallit?

A

Worn every day under clothes and only Orthodox jews wear them

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33
Q

What is the significance of wearing the tallit?

A

Duty to wear fringes to remind them to keep the mitzvot (Numbers 15 = Torah)

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34
Q

What is the tefillin?

A
  • 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
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35
Q

What is the significance of wearing the tefillin?

A
  • Obeys mitzvah in Torah – ‘commandment to wear tefillin.’

- Reminds Jews to serve God – keep God close

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36
Q

What is the kippah?

A
  • Head covering = worn from childhood
  • Some wear all the time – others just in services
  • women also wear
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37
Q

What is the significance of wearing the kippah?

A

Sign of respect to have highest part of head covered + symbol of Jewish identity

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38
Q

What are the reform views of the items of worship?

A
  • 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
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39
Q

What are the orthodox views of the items of worship?

A
  • 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
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40
Q

What is a synagogue?

A

House of assembly

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41
Q

What is the function of a synagogue?

A
  • House of prayer
  • House of study
  • social hall
  • beit din
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42
Q

How is the synagogue a house of prayer?

A
  • It is where community prayer services take place

- Some prayers can only be said in the presence of a minyan

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43
Q

How is the synagogue a house of study?

A
  • Some jews study the sacred texts is a lifelong task

- children receive basic RE education

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44
Q

How is the synagogue a social hall?

A
- town hall 
– community centre 
– social welfare agency 
– collecting for the poor
- providing support for people with disabilities 
– Kosher meals lunch club 
– hospital visiting
45
Q

How is the synagogue a beit din?

A

0- It means house of law

- a jewish court of law

46
Q

What does the Shabbat service include?

A
  • Important prayers said – starts with songs and psalms before Amidah and Shema
  • The haftorah is read (Torah and Nevim (Prophets)
  • Rabbi – weekly sermon
  • Kiddush is held – blessing over wine
47
Q

What is the acronym of kosher?

A

KOSHER

48
Q

What does the K stand for in kosher?

A
  • Kosher Laws

- Leviticus 11:1- 23, about food fit to eat kosher and how to prepare

49
Q

What does the O stand for in kosher?

A
  • Observant Jews

- Refuse to eat pork, shellfish, birds of prey and that milk is not mixed with meat

50
Q

What is the source about eating food?

A

‘do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk’ Exodus

51
Q

What does the S stand for in kosher?

A
  • Schechitah
  • method to prepare kosher meat – animal killed by a schochet as form of dedication to God (razor sharp knife) – Torah does not allow the blood to be eaten – so blood drained away
52
Q

What does the H stand for in kosher?

A
  • Homes

- two sets of pans and fridges, one for meat, one for milk

53
Q

What does the E stand for in Kosher?

A
  • Eating meat and milk

- forbidden but some foods are pareve and can be eaten with either meat or milk – ie eggs, veg

54
Q

What does the R stand for in Kosher?

A
  • Reform Jews

- adapt Kosher to fit lifestyle, some will eat meat and milk but not pork…

55
Q

When do Shabbat services take place?

A

Services on Fri night (short) and Shabbat morning (long) and afternoon

56
Q

What do orthodox jews do for Shabbat services?

A

will have an additional service to focus on the TEMPLE

57
Q

What do reform jews do for Shabbat services?

A

dropped this service as content not relevant to today

58
Q

What do Shabbat services include?

A
  • Important prayers said – starts with songs and psalms before Amidah and Shema
  • The haftorah is read (Torah and Nevim (Prophets)
  • Rabbi – weekly sermon
  • Kiddush is held – blessing over wine
59
Q

How is the orthodox jewish service in the synagogue?

A
  • only a require a Minyan (10 men)
  • service in Hebrew
  • led by a male Rabbi
  • no instruments and unaccompanied singing
  • men and women are separate
  • women head covered.
60
Q

How is the reform jewish service in the synagogue?

A
  • Male or female Rabbi may lead the service
  • less Hebrew is used (mix of Hebrew and English), - instruments and recorded music
  • men and women sit together, no mention of the resurrection/messiah
  • more readings, poems and prayers
61
Q

What is the significance of prayer?

A
  • Part of everyday life (bridge between God and man)
  • Whole area of Talmud based on prayer – Berakhot
  • Pray before mitzvot, seeing a rainbow, other unusual things
  • 3 types of prayer = PRT = Praise God, Request from God, Thank God
  • e.g. siddur
  • Prayer in the synagogue connects Jews with the Temple – prayer is a substitute for temple sacrifices
62
Q

What are formal prayers?

A
  • performed three times a day (morning , afternoon and eve) + Shabbat
  • Morning prayer is the longest – include blessings, Psalms, Shema and Amidah
  • Orthodox pray in Hebrew – Reform in own language
63
Q

What is the amidah?

A
  • standing prayer, core of every Jewish service

Stand and face Israel when they say the prayer

64
Q

How many blessings does the amidah include?

A

19 blessings – divided into PRT

65
Q

What is the significance of the amidah?

A
  • being in the presence of God, recited silently when alone, but aloud by cantor in public and the congregation say Amen
  • Recite ‘ May God who brings peace ..’ saying 3 steps forward and 3 back (retreat from God)
66
Q

What is the naming of female babies?

A
  • named at first reading of Torah after birth
67
Q

What happens after the naming of female babies?

A
  • mother and father are honoured at congregational KIDDUSH
68
Q

What is kiddush?

A

Blessing over wine

69
Q

What do reform jews call the ceremony of naming female babies?

A

BRIT BAT

70
Q

What is the name of the baby boy naming ceremony?

A

Brit Milah

71
Q

What is the acronym for Brit Milah?

A

MESHA

72
Q

What does M stand for in MESHA?

A

Circumcision at 8 days old – carried out by a male MOHEL (female Mohelet in Reform)

73
Q

What does E stand for in MESHA?

A

Placed on a chair – ELIJAH’S CHAIR (ancient belief that Elijah visits all circumcision)

74
Q

What does S stand for in MEHSA?

A

Child placed on knee of SANDEK (person chosen by parents = great honour)

75
Q

What is recited at the Brit Milah?

A

The father recites a blessing

76
Q

What does H stand for in MESHA?

A

Identity – given HEBREW name, symbolises baby has entered the Covenant (Non Jew must be circumcised to convert in Orth)

77
Q

What does A stand for in MESHA?

A

Relationship with God – sign of covenant with ABRAHAM (fulfils Mitzvot)

78
Q

What is the acronym for marriage?

A

KIDDUSHIN

79
Q

What does the K stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Ketubah
  • marriage contract
  • man promises to car for wife
80
Q

What does the I stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Intentions

- A meeting of soul mates

81
Q

What does the D stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Down the aisles
  • bride walks down the aisle to meet husband under CHUPPAH (canopy)
  • Ashkenazi Jews go round 7 times.
82
Q

What does the D stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Declaration

- in front of witnesses as ring placed on finger

83
Q

What does the U stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Under the CHUPPAH

- canopy with 4 sides = Jewish home

84
Q

What does the S stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Stamping of glass

- marriage is fragile, reminds of the temple destroyed

85
Q

What does the H stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Happiness

- joyous celebration

86
Q

What does the I stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • Index finger

- ring placed there = connected to heart

87
Q

What does the N stand for in KIDDUSHIN?

A
  • NISUIN

- second part of ceremony = 7 blessings to finalise marriage = praise God

88
Q

What do orthodox and reform jews think about same sex marriages?

A
  • Orthodox = do agree with it

- Reform = do accept same sex

89
Q

What is Sukkot?

A
  • Harvest festival

- it is counted as a mitzvah to ‘dwell’ in the sukkah (in Leviticus)

90
Q

What is the origin in sukkot?

A

Remembers 40 year period when Israelites were in the desert

91
Q

What happens in Sukkot?

A
  • Shelters made to represent temporary shelters used in the desert
  • Families often eat and sleep in the shelter
  • Two special objects used
92
Q

What are the two special object used in Sukkot?

A
  • Etrog

- Lulav

93
Q

What is the significance of the etrog?

A
  • citrus fruit

- represents the heart

94
Q

What is the significance of the Lulav?

A
  • made up of plaited palm, myrtle which represent the eye
  • the willow leaf represents the mouth
  • represent the spine / actions
95
Q

What does the etrog and lulav represent?

A
  • symbolises that our heart, spine/actions, mouth and eyes to be UNITED
  • Might also represent different types of Jews – those who follow mitzvot, those who don’t, those who know the Torah, those who don’t = ALL JEWS ARE IMPORTANT = UNITE
96
Q

What is the celebration for Sukkot?

A
  • Last for 7 days – many Jews do not work on days 1 and 2
  • Build shelter with roof that stars can be seen through
  • Decorate Sukkah with prayers – tables and chairs
  • Each morning the LULAV is blessed + bless God
  • LULAV and ETROG waved in 6 directions = God is everywhere
97
Q

What is the difference between orthodox and reform sukkot?

A
  • Orthodox = build their own Sukkah

- Reform = may build a communal sukkah or go to one in the synagogue

98
Q

What is Pesach?

A
  • Pesach celebrates the freedom from slavery
  • Passover = God passed over the Israelites during the final plague
  • Exodus – God commands that a festival held each year
99
Q

What happens in Peseach?

A
  • Before the house is emptied of chametz (wheat products)
  • Leavened goods are banned – Jews didn’t have time for bread to rise before they had to flee the Egyptians.
  • New crockery bought (replace crockery that has had chametz on)
  • Light candles
  • Families attend synagogue before special meal – SEDER (means order) meal on first and second nights (Orthodox only)
  • All readings and instructions in the Haggadah (book contains the service)
  • Symbolic food = lamb bone = sacrifice, roasted egg = new life, green veg dipped in salt = tears of slavery, bitter herbs = bitterness of slavery
100
Q

What is Rosh Hashanah?

A
  • day God created the world = beginning
101
Q

How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

A
  • Services in synagogue on the eve of RH
  • clean homes, eat special food.
  • At home special foods like pomegranates, apples dipped in honey = sweet new year
  • Morning service = shofar blown (ram’s horn) 100 times = crying soul being reunited with God
  • Some perform tashlikh (a prayer) = throw away crumbs in a stream= sins being cast away
  • Next ten days Jews think about deeds and apologise to people they have done wrong to ..
102
Q

What is Yom Kippur?

A
  • Day of Atonement = holiest day of the year

- ‘It shall be sacred to you..’ Leviticus

103
Q

What is the origin of Rosh Hashanah?

A
  • ORIGIN found in the Bible. The Book of Leviticus (23:24-25) declares: “blowing of the shofar.”
  • Celebrates new beginnings but also God as a judge – judging for deeds of the previous year.
  • Jews reflect on their faults in the build up.
104
Q

What is the origin for Rosh Hashanah?

A
  • when Moses came down from Mount Sinai the Israelites were worshipping false gods – they had to atone and were forgiven
  • Ends the 10 days of repentance and is centred om forgiveness
105
Q

How is YK celebrated?

A
  • charity
  • fast for 25 hours (no sex, leather) – wear white to symbolise purity
  • Early dinner eaten at home
  • In synagogue the Kol Nidrei (like a prayer) is sung
  • Story of Jonah and the whale is told – GOD will forgive if we repent
  • Jews confess sins to God
  • Neilah = End service - recite the Shema = closing gates of heaven
  • Single blast of shofar ends ceremony = reconciled with God
  • End fast = Start building the sukkah
106
Q

Who takes care of the dead body?

A

Onan = MAIN MOURNER take charge of burial – exempt from mitzvot – stay with body

107
Q

What is Chevra Kaddisha?

A

volunteers wash body, put body in plain gowns.

108
Q

What happens at the burial?

A
  • Body buried asap – simple funeral, psalms read, coffin as plain as possible – grave filled the mourners pray and KADDISH is recited. Tear clothing – tearing fabric of life.
  • After the burial the ONAN is no longer the main mourner but follows set rituals:
109
Q

What happens after the funeral?

A

First week after burial = SHIVA (7 days) – mourners stay in, male mourner recites Kaddish, pray for peace, cover mirrors, candle kept burning day and night
Four weeks – parties and cutting hair avoided
Before end of year – tombstone erected – Kaddish recited – leave stones as mark of respect (Abraham did this for Sarah)
YAHRRZEIT ceremony – light a candle each year for 24 hrs (soul departed)
Mourning ritual shows life can’t go on as before