Judaism Practices Flashcards

Question

Explain two things that Jews do to get ready for the Shabbat celebrations [5 marks]

Answer 1

- The house is tidied and food is prepared. - Two candles are placed on the table to remind Jews of the two command God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai relating to shabbat (“remember” and “observe” Shabbat)

Answer 2

- House of study (shul) – this can be for adults in educating them in faith, but also for children, possibly for their Bat or Bar Mitzvah, learning Hebrew and about the Jewish faith. - Charity work is organised and carried out which helps healing the world and earning God’s favour. - Communal prayer, especially for big festivals such as Yom Kippur, bat/bar mitzvah.

Answer 3

- Reform Jews – the dietary laws should be up to the individual to follow, and they were only made thousandas of years ago for sanitary reasons. - Orthodox Jews – follow dietary rules because they were given by God, and can be seen as a test from God to see their obedience to Gid and self-control.

Answer 4

For’s: - Shabbat is all about resting, just as God did on the 7th day of creation (Genesis)//people’s own homes are usually the most restful place to be, and therefore is the best place to celebrate Shabbat. - When celebrating Shabbat at home, it is easier for some to follow rituals and mitzvah. This might include lighting the Shabbat candles when the celebration begins or a married couple to enjoy sex on shabbat. Against’s: - The Synagogue, replacing the destroyed temple in Jerusalem, is designed for worship and therefore Shabbat can be seen as more meaningful in this setting. - Community in Judaism is very important, and celebrating Shabbat in the synagogue with other Jews is the best way to include oneself into the community.

Answer 5

For’s: - One Jewish purpose of families is parents educating children in the faith// therefore, parents setting a standard and example in the home is best. - Many of the Jewish rituals (e.g Shabbat) are done at home// A Jewish child will also be surrounded by ritual items of significance in the home – eg. Shabbat candles. Against’s: - Children attend Shul to study more about their faith // this is not held in the home and many Jewish experts hold these lessons, making them very beneficial for the Jewish child. - Many Jewish rituals demand the use of the synagogue. Eg. Bat or Bar Mitzvah. Therefore a Jewish child cannot learn about Judaism in just the home.

Answer 6

For’s: - Shabbat is a command from God in Exodus (the Ten Commandments)//”you shall keep the sabbath day holy”//weekly reminder that God gifted the world to Jews and that God freed the Jewish slaves - Shabbat not only reinforces the bind between God and Jews, but also reinforces the bond between families and communities//families are made closer in Shabbat and the sense of community is heightened as Jews are all celebrating shabbat at the same time. Against: - Some would say that Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are more important because it is when God judges Jews and therefore contributes to the afterlife. Yom Kippur is also said to be the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. - Others would say that Shavuot is the most important celebration as it is about giving thanks to God for giving Moses and the Jews the Torah on Mount Sinai//without the Torah, Jews would have little to base their faith off.

Answer 7

For’s: - Yom Kippur helps Jews become closer to their fellows because sins are forgiven and communities can come together - Yom Kippur helps Jews retore their relationship with God as they are forgiven of the sins they have committed in the last year. Against’s: - Shabbat is the most important festival for Jews because it is the regular restatement of their community and a mark of obedience to God and the decision to rest in his presence. This is every week of the year, whereas Yom Kippur is only once a year. - The ten days of Rosh Hashana are just as important Yom Kippur, which is just the final day of the ten day festival, because it celebrates every element of Jewish obedience to God beginning with creation, the special Shabbat service in the middle, and ending with Yom. Therefore Rosh Hashanah the most important thing because it covers all of this.

Answer 8

For’s: - They are based on ancient traditions that are not understood in modern British society. These are still lovely traditions, but not many people actually understand their significance and the ancient traditions they are based on. - We do not need Bar Mitzvahs to mark coming of age, because in modern society there are many other ways. Eg, vote at 18, drive at 17, get married at 18 – these are far bigger to people in modern society than a bat/bar mitzvah. Against’s: - Coming of age ceremonies are a really important way of confirming the individual in their faith and giving them more responsibility in the religion, as they are now deemed an adult. It is also important that the individual recite and publicly share a passage from the Torah, and this helps develop their spiritual understanding. - coming of age ceremonies are a really important way of binding communities and families together as they all celebrate not just the individual, but also their shared bonds of love with God and with their fellow believers.

Answer 9

For’s: - it provides a support network especially in situations where Jews experience hostility from the non-Jewish community in which they live. it also provides social activities for Jews of all ages in an environment where Jewish laws (e.g. dietary laws) are observed//both of these are essential to the religion of Judaism, so without the synagogue the religion may not be able to grow in this way, and therefore die out. - The synagogue is also a houses of study // many Orthodox Jews refer to it as ‘school’ (shul) // the synagogue provides for detailed study and discussion of the Torah // children are taught Hebrew // Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes are usually held in the Synagogue.//The less people are educated in the faith, in the Synagogue, the smaller the religion will get (until it may eventually die out). Against’s: - Judaism survives because the traditions of home and family life (eg. Shabbat) bind people together and in their faith in a way which is very strong and would preserve religion and belief even if the synagogue did not exist. - Judaism also survives because Jews believe in their heart. As earlier centuries have shown, you can deprive Jews of their freedom and buildings, but you cannot deprive them of their history and their belief in God. For example, after the destructing of the first Temple and the exile of Jews to Babylon, the Jews still flourished and eventually came home to rebuild the Temple (told in books of Ezra and Nehemiah).

Answer 10

For’s: - People defiantly need rest, but they may chose weekend breaks or summer holidays or whatever suits their lifestyle. In modern society (where people want businesses and shops to never stop) it would be a unrealistic and unnecessary luxury to commit the same time of week, every week, for everybody to observe a time of rest. - In modern British society, the level of observance Orthodox Jews take (eg. Not turning on lights) is not relevant in a society of advanced technology. It is merely making a point for the sake of religious tradition, and this is an inefficient luxury that many cannot afford and feel is unnecessary. Against’s: - In a crazy non-stop world it is very important for human beings to have a place of calm, and remember a time where God created the world and rested. This is truer today than it have ever been. Shabbat is a time where Jews can grown their connection with God, thank him for creation, and become closer with family. All of these things will always be relevant, no matter what year or century it is. - Shabbat brings the Jewish community together in a constant rhythm as every week they all worship in a togetherness. This sense of belonging is a gaping hole in many lives, and Shabbat protects Jews from this.

Answer 11

For’s: - For many Jews today, Judaism today is about identifying with the Nation of Israel, its people and its traditions. Therefore, the secular Jews do not need to read the ancient texts to still feel deeply Jewish. - Some Jewish believers feel deep love for God and his creation, but feel able to access this through modern literature, for example modern poetry and art, rather than the ancient texts Against’s: - They are the foundational scriptural text on which the laws and the traditions of Judaism are based. Therefore without the Talmud and the tenakh, the Jews would have very little to base their faith and beliefs off, and would lack understanding of what (or who) they are being obedient to. - They shed light on the character of God, which is unchanging and as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.

Answer 12

For’s: - When the Jewish food laws were made, it was in a time of uncleanly cooking and no refrigeration. Therefore, it was due to sanitary reasons that they were made. This is no longer relevant as food preparation and distribution has completely changed and hygiene levels are unrecognisable. - Many of the constraints, such as separate refrigerators for dairy and meat, are very inefficient, but also (many would argue) based on a misunderstanding on the original scriptural instruction / which was about not worshiping pagan Gods and nothing about food preparation. “Do not boil a kid in it’s mothers milk” (Exodus). Against’s: - They identify a community and bind it together with its own customs and traditions. - Follow food and dietary laws shows obedience to God, and some orthodox Jews believe that it is a test from God which should always be followed. For example, it says in Leviticus that Jews should not eat any fish without scales or fins (eg shellfish), therefore they should follow this command as it it from God.

Answer 13

For’s: - Jews should be able to connect with God whenever they want because it builds a relationship with God. - In occasions where someone needs help outside of the set times of prayer then Jews should be able to pray for them right away, and not wait for a service. - The shema says that the important thing is loving God with all your heart, soul and strength. This does not say that the time of prayers matter. - Set prayers are often not very personal, and therefore may not be able to address ones particular situation. Against’s: - Set prayer creates a rhythm and makes sure that you do not just pray once a fortnight, but instead are focusing on God at all times. - Set prayer can help build a community and the shared identity within it. E.g. Kids at school all praying together at same time.

Answer 14

For’s: - The synagogue is a place where Jews can seek guidance from the Rabbi - The synagogue provides a place for the minyan - The synagogue provides a place to pray in a focused environment full with spiritual significance. Against’s: - As well as learning more about God and learning about his rules in the Synagogue, Jews must then be given the chance to put these rules into practice outside of the Synagogue. - Home - A Gods chose Jews to be his people and the stewards of the world, the most important thing is for Jews to go out and heal the world (Tikkun Olam)

Answer 15

For’s: - Taking part in Jewish family rituals can help Jews understand what God is like. For example,, during shabbat Jews learn and remember how loving and powerful God is as they thank him for creating the world and freeing the Jews from slavery (exodus). - Taking part in Jewish family life and dietary laws that come with it normalises the importance of kosher and trefah, so that everyday living and everyday faith become intertwined around the family dinner table. Against’s: - Understanding what God is really like is best seen in appreciation of those around you (as they are made in the image of God) and the nature around you as it was all made by God. - Worshipping and sharing views with other Jews, eg at synagogue, is the best way to widen and deepen your understanding about what God is really like, instead of just listening to your family.

Answer 16

For’s: - It is possible to do the things festivals invite you to do, without the actual festival. For example, Rosh Hashana is a period where Jews ask for forgiveness from others, and also forgive others. There does not need to be a festival for this, but instead should be done all year round. - Another example of this is Shabbat. Many people would say that Jews should not need Shabbat to focus on God and enjoy family life, but instead should be doing that at all times. Against’s: - Yom Kippur is observed even by those who ignore other festivals and has deep religious significance as Day of Atonement. It is said to be the holist day on the Jewish calendar and is celebrated by Jews all over the world - festivals can have religious significance even if they are not celebrated in synagogues, because worship in the home is important in Judaism.

Answer 17

For’s: - Private prayer is the best form of prayer because it deepens your relationship with God as you can be more personal with him. - Private prayer comes from your own heart, instead of you just following the crowd with the same prayer and the words that, although beautiful, do not come from your own heart of worship. Against’s: - Public prayer is better. Public prayer recognises that Judaism is a collective expression of obedience, by Gods “chosen people” (Genesis + Exodus). They are chosen as a people, and therefore should worship as a people – this is more than a private journey. - Public prayer is better. The worship itself is enriched by being shared public worship, so standing shoulder to shoulder with others in the synagogue actually intensifies the awe and wonder because your individual voice is united with others you respect and love. - Public prayer has gone back centuries, and therefore links Jews to their traditions and ancestors.

Answer 18

For’s: - Rosh Hashana is a time where Jews can reflect on the past year and ask for forgiveness from people they have wronged. This is important, and it is good to do this before Yom Kippur when God will judge all of their sins. - Rosh Hashana is also a good time for building or restoring a relationship with God as Jews are given a chance to tell God of their sins and ask for forgiveness and mercy. This can also lead to a good relationship with God for the rest of your life on earth, as well as a good relationship with God in the afterlife (possibly allowing you to go to Gan Eden). Against’s: - Shabbat is the most important Jewish festival for Jews because it is the regular restatement of their community and a mark of obedience to God and the decision to rest in his presence. This is every week of the year, whereas Rosh Hashana only once a year. - It could be argued that all Jewish festivals are of equal importance // their observance is commanded by God // they are all pointers to and celebration of the Jewish sense of being God’s chosen people and of the duties that brings.

Answer 19

For’s: - it provides a support network especially in situations where Jews experience hostility from the non-Jewish community in which they live. - it provides social activities for Jews of all ages in an environment where Jewish laws (e.g. dietary laws) are observed. Against’s: - The Synagogue is primarily a house of prayer // since 70 CE some Jews believe it has replaced the Temple, and the interior features of the synagogue are reminders of the worship performed in the Temple. - The synagogue is also a houses of study // many Orthodox Jews refer to it as ‘school’ (shul) // the synagogue provides for detailed study and discussion of the Torah // children are taught Hebrew // Bar and Bat Mitzvah classes are usually held in the Synagogue.

Answer 20

For’s: - In Reform synagogues, men and women can be members of the minyan because Genesis says that everyone is made equally in the image of God. Another role In worship that is equal in reform synagogues is that women and men can both be rabbis. - Jewish men and women can attend the same services - In Reform Judaism boys and girls can both celebrate coming of age (Bat and Bar Mitzvah). Against’s: - Orthodox Jews believe that women cannot be rabbis – this is not treating them equally. Men and Women have been proved to have the same intellectual intelligence and can do the same jobs, so why can women not be rabbis? - In Orthodox synagogues, Jewish women cannot be part of the minyan (a group of 10 adults that are able to make special prayers). - In Orthodox Judaism men can wear the tallit and tefillin, but women cannot