Judaism Practices Flashcards
Worship in an Orthadox synagogue
Daily services said in Hebrew, Rabbi’s back to the congregation and is facing Jerusalem, men and women sit seperately, congregation may arrive late, men always cover their heads(and most women) and singing is unaccompanied.
Worship in a reform synagogue
Open on Shabbat and festivals (services aren’t daily), in Hebrew and English, Rabbi faces congregation unless praying, men and women sit together, most men (and some women) wear Kippah, singing is accompanied with music and women can perform all rituals.
Prayer in the synagogue
Synagogue is a place to gather for prayer. Some prayers can only be said with a minyan (a group of at least ten adults, all men in Orthodox).
Study in the synagogue
Synagogue provides a house of study (Beit Midrash) and some might provide Hebrew classes. Helps Jews study for Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
Charity in the synagogue
It’s a place to collect money for the poor and holds fundraising events. World Jewish relief helps with natural disasters.
Socialising in the Synagogue
Youth clubs, senior citizen clubs, music, drama, sports ect.
Star of David
The shield of King David who ruled Israel in the 10th century BCE. Is a symbol of Judaism.
Ner Tamid
The eternal light kept burning above the Ark. Symbol of the light in the temple and God’s presence.
Ark
where the Torah scrolls are kept; the original held stone tablets. Holiest place in the synagogue
Bimah
Platform from which the Torah is read. The altar was the central feature of the Temple’s courtyard.
Menorah
7 branched candlestick representing the seven days of creation.
Kippah
Jewish men (and some women) cover their heads when they pray as a sign of respect to God
Tallit
Woollen shawl. Shows the man respects God’s laws. Each fringe (tzitzit) represents one of the 613 mitzvot.
Tefillin
Two leather boxes- one is worn on the upper left arm and the other on the forehead. Each contains the Shema and wearing shows love for God in hearts and minds.
Orthadox prayer
Morning, afternoon and evening. Requires a minimum of ten adult men or, in reform, a minimum of ten men and women. “Whenever ten are gathered for prayer the Shekhinah is there”
Prayer services consist of…
Opening prayer, the Shema, the Amidah (standing prayer), final prayers (praise and thanks)
The Amidah
Prayed in silence facing Jerusalem, consists of 19 blessings: praising God and asking for mercy, asking for God’s help, thanking God and praying for peace, goodness and kindness.
Aims of prayer
To communicate with God; become closer to God; focus on your heart, mind and soul; strengthen the sense of Jewish community
Shabbat
The jewish holy day from sunset on friday until sunset on saturday. Is seen as a queen or bride. Jews cannot do any work, carrying ect. God rested on the seventh day. There is a synagogue service on the friday evening.
Preparations for shabbat
All house work done before friday evening, table set with finest of cutlery, wine or grape juice and challah bread placed on table and wine is in kiddush cup
Challah bread
Represents the manna (food) that God provided the Israelites in the wildernessp
Wine
At shabbat, symbolises joy and celebration
The shabbat meal
Bread cut into slices/broken into pieces, dipped in salt and passed around. Stories from scripture read and songs sung
Quote on shabbat
“Keep the sabbath day holy”
The Havdalah ceremony
The ceremony which marks the end of shabbat. Shabbat finishes once three stars appear in the sky on the saturday. The family sip wine and say a blessing to eachother which wishes one another a good week over spices and the lighting of a plaited candle. The plaiting symbolises the unity of the Jewish people.
Naming ceremonies (Orthadox)
Girls are named on the first shabbat after birth. The father recites the Torah blessing and asks God for the good health of his wife and baby. The girl’s name is announced. This formally introduces the baby to the Jewish community and God. Names are considered to be the parents saying something about the hope they have for their child.
Naming ceremonies (reform)
Can be held on any shabbat at a reform synagogue. Both parents take part in the ceremony and the girl is named. This formally introduces the baby to the Jewish community and God. Names are considered to be the parents saying something about the hope they have for their child.
Brit Millah
In the Abrahamic covenant, G-d commanded that “from now on you must circumcise the flesh of your foreskin”. Takes place 8 days after the boy’s birth. A Mohel(trained circumciser) removes the foreskin after a baby is placed on an empty chair (which symbolises Elijah’s presence). Son is formally named. Welcomes baby into the faith as well as the Abrahamic covenant.
Bar(boys) / bat(girls) Mitzvah
When a boy is 13 or a girl is 12. They read from the Torah and give a speech, often will have a party after.
For boys: wears a tallit for the first time, the father declares that the boy is now responsible for his actions.
Marriage
Has two steps: betrothal and marriage. Can take place at the synagogue, hotel ect and can be on any day other than shabbat or festivals.
Betrothal
A period of engagement which traditionally lasts a year. Can only be broken through death or divorce- it has status in jewish law. During this time the couple cannot live together but they can plan for their future lives.
The wedding
Wedding- contract is signed and read aloud, there is a blessing from family member, short speeches and blessings said before congregation, groom breaks glass covered in cloth under his heel.
Wedding reception follows.
Periods of mourning
First period (24hours), second period- shiva (7 days), thrid period (30 days), fourth period (11 months)
First period of mourning
Before the body is buried (usually within 24 hours) the soul is still in the body and should be comforted and supported by family members. Certain Jewish laws don’t need to be followed by close family. A special meal is eaten after burial, consisting of bread and eggs(representing new life)
Shiva (second period of mourning)
Intense mourning beginning on day of burial. Mourners stay at home and sit on low stools or the floor (not chairs). They cannot work, shave, wear leather shoes, must cover up mirrors and wear torn clothes. 3 prayer services a day including kaddish prayer.
Kaddish prayer
Asks God for peace and praises him
Third period of mourning
Lasts 30 days after death. Mourners can leave home and change out of clothes worn during Shiva. Mourners shouldn’t go to parties, go on trips for pleasure, music concerts, listen to music or shave/cut their hair.
Fourth period of mourning
No parties and children say kaddish prayer every morning for a deceased parent. Formal mourning ends after this period but the anniversary of a parents death is marked by children lighting a candle which burns for 24 hours.
Jewish funeral details
Most buried 24 hours after death, most buried but reform may cremate, body must be washed, wrapped in plain linen cloth (a tallit for men), simple coffin-all equal in death.
Kosher
Food jews are allowed to eat
Trefah
Food jews aren’t allowed to eat
Kosher rule 1
Animals must have a split hoof and chew the cud (several stomachs). Sea creatures must have both fins and scales. Birds mustn’t be a bird of prey and must only eat grain.
Fruit, grain and vegetables must be thouroughly washed and checked for insects.
Kosher rule 2
Don’t mix meat and dairy (“don’t boil a kid in it’s mother’s milk”): avoids mixing food associated with life with food associated with death.
Kosher rule 3
Keep a kosher kitchen: two sets of pots, pans, dishes and cutlery. One for mest, one for dairy. And two areas also.
Kosher rule 4
Animal must be healthy and had it’s throat slit by a trained jew to limut sufferning. Blood isn’t kosher and must be drained.
Pesach (passover)
Lasts 8 days, celebrates jewish escape from slavery in Egypt 3000 years ago. Particularly remembers the final plague sent to kill Egyptian first borns which “passed over” jewish homes because they put lamb’s blood on their doors.
Reminds jews that god fufilled his covenant and that they’re the people of God.
Preparations for Pesach
Getting unleavened bread (jews left egypt in such a hurry that their bread didn’t have time to rise. Remove all trace of leavened bread from their homes by cleaning the house thouroughly- children may help.
Seder meal
Eaten on pesach: each part of the meal represents a different part of the jew’s struggle in egypt. For example the bitter herbs represent jewish tears.
The youngest person present asks “why is tonight different from all other nights” and a series of other questions. In reply, the others retell the passover story from the Haggadah ensuring tradition is passed on.
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish New year lasting ten days(days of awe) until Yom Kippur
On Rosh Hashanah, God judges what we’ve done in the last year.
The days of awe are for apologising and making up for wrongdoing and giving to charity.
Rosh Hashanah meal
Starts with a prayer for the new year. Eat apples dipped in honey(sweet hopes for new year), a fish head(the wish for good deeds to grow in numbers), pomegranates(613 seeds), round challah bread(symbolises crown of God’s kingship)
Rosh Hashanah service
In synagogue: ram’s horn blown 100 times showing the need to listen to God, a time to reflect on the last year
Yom kippur
No work is done, 25 hours of fasting, no bathing, no leather shoes, no sex, white worn as symbol of purity, most of the day spent in the synagogue:
General confession and ark’s doors open. They’re closed again at the end to show God’s judgement is sealed for another year.
Betrothal ceremony
Betrothal ceremony- takes place under Chuppah (representing a future home). Bride circles groom, they recite two blessings over wine and the groom places a plain ring on bride’s finger. Then wedding contract is drawn up
Jewish funeral ceremony
Ceremony takes place at a cemetary as synagogues are for the living, services takes 20 minutes including prayers, scripture readings and a speech from the rabbi.
Once coffin is buried mourners shovel earth upon it and then wash their hands to show leaving death behind.
