judaism practices Flashcards
synagogues importance through worship and prayer
- communal space
- certain prayers can only be said in the presence of a MINYAN (groups of 10 adults)
synagogues importance through social activities
- youth clubs
- coffee mornings
- music/drama groups
synagogues importance through education
- educates all ages of their faith
- classes in Hebrew
- librarys
synagogues importance through charity
- donating money
- cake sales, clothes sales ect
the arks description and significance
WHAT
- cabinet containing torah at the front
SIGNIFICANCE
- holiest place in synagogue
- represents original ark of the covenant built to hold stone tablets with 10 commandments
the ner tamid description and significance
WHAT
- ever burning light
- placed in front of the ark
- oil lamp
SIG
- symbolises gods presence so never put out
- reminder menorah was lit every night in the temple of Jerusalem
the bimahs description and significance
WHAT
- raised platform in centre of synagogue
- where torah is read from during services
SIG
- reminder that it was the central feature in the courtyard in the temple of Jerusalem
orthodox servies
- holds daily services
- Hebrew
- person leading faces ark so back to congregation
- men cover heads with skull cap and women wear scarf to show respect
- singing is unaccompanied
reform services
- not daily services but mainly at festivals and Shabbat
- English and Hebrew
- person leading faces congregation
- men and women sit together
- most men wear skull cap and some women too
- singing ids accompanied by music
tallit description and significance
WHAT
- prayer shall made from wiool or silk
- long tassels at each corner
SIG
- tassels represents the mitzvot
tefillin description and significance
WHAT
- 2 small leather boxes containing extracts from torah and shema
- one fastened with leather straps to centre of forehead and other round upper arm lined up with the heart.
SIG
- reminds them they should be fully concentrating on god when they pray and it should come from the heart.
format of jewish services (orthodox- morning, noon and night)
- opening prayers - thanks to god
- shema
- Amidah prayer
- reading from torah
- final prayers
what’s the amidah prayer
- standing prayer
- central to jewish worship
- prayed in silence while standing and facing Jerusalem
- blessings include: first 2 - prays god and ask for mercy. next 13 - ask for gods help. last 3 - thank god for opportunity to serve him and they pray for peace
summary of shabbat services - friday evening and saturday morning
- Friday evening - brief, welcoming like a bride
some do this for kids and families where games and stores are said - Saturday morning - main service.
contains reading from the torah, prayers, blessings and sermon.
3 actions and their significance of the shabbat services
- congregation stands when ark is revealed - jews stood at bottom of mt. sinai when Jesus returned with 10 coms
- torah held and paraded around the room - march through the wilderness from mt. sinai to Jerusalem
- when torah passed through jews touch their tassels n it and then to their lips - gods words are sweet like honey
4 shabbat preparations in the home and their significance
- everything prepeared before Friday eve eg cleaning making food ect - like a bride and 4th commandment “no work on the shabbat”
- 2 candles at least on table
- two loaves of CHALLAH bread on table - food god provided jews in the wildness wandering
- wine from kiddish cup - symbolises joy and celebration
3 shabbat celebrations in the home
- female lights candles before Friday sunset and beckons her arms with a blessing
- blessings over kiddish cup, bread passed round before meal, family relax and meal lasts hours, meal ends with thanksgiving prayer
- another meal after Saturday service and then havdalah service
what’s the havdalah service
- marks the end of shabbat
- blessings over wine with sweet smelling candles to sooth and bring light to the house after the shabbat