Judaism Practices

Question 1

What is a synagogue?

Answer 1

It is a building where Jews meet for worship, study, social activities and charitable events.

Question 2

Why is the Synagogue important to Jews?

Answer 2

-It provides a space for worship and communal pray.
-It helps educate Jews of all ages.
-Hosts a variety of activities for all ages.

Question 3

What is the interior of a synagogue and what are they?

Answer 3

The Prayer Hall-A room where Jews come together for communal worship and prayer.
Desh-The cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept, set facing Jerusalum.
The Ner Tamid-A light that is placed above the ark
The Bimah-Is a raised platform where the Torah is read.

Question 4

What are the two main groups in Judaism?

Answer 4

Orthodox: More traditional
Reformed: More progressive

Question 5

What is in a Orthodox synagogue service?

Answer 5

-Daily services
-Person leading must have his back to the congregation as he is facing the ark.
-Men and women sit seperately.

Question 6

What is in a reformed synagogue service?

Answer 6

-No daily services as they focus on celebrating festivals.
-Service is in Hebrew.
-Person leading faces the cobgregation.
-Men and Women sit together.

Question 7

What is the importance of Prayer?

Answer 7

-Way to communicate with God.
-Brings Jews closer to God.
-Communal prayer strengthens the Jewish community.

Question 8

What are the two pieces of clothing worn during prayer?

Answer 8

A Tallit-A prayer shawl made from wool or silk.
-A Tefillin-A pair of small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah.

Question 9

What is the format of Jewish services.

Answer 9

-Opening prayers are said involving prayers that thank and praise God.
-Shema is recited, Hear,O Israel! The Lord is our God.
-The Amidah is the central prayer of Jewish worship, it is prayed in silence while standing and facing Jerusalem.

Question 10

What is the Shabbat?

Answer 10

-The holy day of the week, day of rest, starting just before sunset on Fridat and continuing to sunset on saturday.

Question 11

What is in the Shabbat services.

Answer 11

-Brief services on Friday evenings.
-Some synagogues hold services for family and children which include different activities such as games and music.

Question 12

What happens on Saturday?

Answer 12

-Main service is on Saturday morning.
-Seevice is longer than the weekday services as it includes a reading from the Torah and a sermon as well as prayers and blessings.

Question 13

What is a quote to support the Shabbat?

Answer 13

Exodus:20-“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

Question 14

What are the Shabbat preparations at home?

Answer 14

-All work done before Friday evening.
-Two candles are placed on the table.
-Two loaves of challah bread are placed on the table.
-Wine or grape juice is placed on the table.

Question 15

What happens during the lighting of the candles?

Answer 15

-Female member of the family lights the candles and she waves around the candles, then says a blessing and says a prayer asking God to bless the family.

Question 16

What happens during the Friday meal?

Answer 16

Before the meal the parents bless their children and the head of house recites the Kiddush, to begin the meal the bread is blessed and passed around so everyone has a piece. Meal ends with a prayer of thanksgiving for the food.

Question 17

Worship in the home?

Answer 17

-Jews are expected to pray three times a day. They have a mezuzot which they touch to show a sign of respect.

Question 18

What is the Tenakh?

Answer 18

-The Torah-Five books of moses, which form bases of the jewish law.
-The Nevi’im-Eight books that continue to trace Jewish history.
-The Ketuvim-Eleven books that contain a collection of poetry, stories and historica, accounts.

Question 19

What is the Talmud?

Answer 19

-A commentary by the early rabbis on the Torah, contains a collection of discussions and teachings about how to interpret the Torah and apply its laws to everyday life.

Question 20

What does Kosher mean?

Answer 20

Food that is acceptable to eat.

Question 21

What is does Trefah mean?

Answer 21

Food that is unacceptable to eat

Question 22

What are Jewish dietry laws?

Answer 22

-Animal must be slaughtered with a very sharp knife by a trained Jew.
-Animal must be conscious when killed.
-Blood is drained from the animal as Jews are not permitted to consume food containing blood.
-Orthodox Jews follow the laws strictly, Reform Jews believ it is up to the person to follow them or not.

Question 23

What are the origins of Yom Kippur?

Answer 23

Jews believe God’s judgment is finalised on this day, so it is the last chance to repent for any sins.

Question 24

What is Pesach?

Answer 24

A festival that lasts for seven or eight days, it celebrates the Jews’ escape from slavery in Egypt.

Question 25

What are the origins of Pesach?

Answer 25

-Celebrates the Jews’ escape from slavery in Egypt, after they spent many years wandering in the desert before reaching the land of Canaan.

Question 26

What are the preparations for Pesach?

Answer 26

-Remove yeast from the home, it recalls how the Jews did not have time to let their bread rise when they escaped from Egypt. After cleaning the house, they hide bread crumbs to find, show all yeast has been removed.

Question 27

What is the importance of Pesach?

Answer 27

It remembers the final plague that God sent to Egypt to persuade the Pharaoh to release the Jews.

Question 28

What is the Passover Seder?

Answer 28

It is a special meal, the youngest member of family ask four questions about the meaning of Pesach rituals.

Question 29

What is the significance of red wine in the passover seder?

Answer 29

-Reminder of the lambs’ blood the Jews smeared on their doorposts to save their children from the final plague.

Question 30

What are the two ceremonies for newborn Jews?

Answer 30

-Naming ceremony.
-Brit Malah.

Question 31

What happens during the Naming ceremony?

Answer 31

-In Orthodox families boys and girls are blessed in the synagogue, the father will recite the Torah blessing and then A baby girl’s name will be announced and a boys will be announced at his circumcision.
-In Reform synagogues, both parents will take part in the naming ceremony, which may not be held on the first shabbat after the child’s birth.
-The significance is that it introduces the baby to the community.

Question 32

What happens dueing the Brit Malah?

Answer 32

-This happens when a baby boy is eight days old.
-Baby is circumcised.
-The significance is that it recalls the covenant with Abraham and it is a reminder to the Jew that they are on God’s chosen people.

Question 33

What is a Bar Mitzvah?

Answer 33

-Boys celebrate coming of age at 13, it is significant because it is when a Jew is seen as an adult, when a Jew is expected to start following Jewish law strictly and it is when they can become a minyan.

Question 34

What is a Bat Mitzvah?

Answer 34

-In Reform Judaism, girls celebrate the coming of age at 12, as it signifies then becoming an adult and preparing for it brings Jews closer to god.

Question 35

What is Marriage?

Answer 35

-A period of engagement called the betrothal, which lasts for a year and then followed by the wedding. It is a way of experiencing holiness in everyday life and it creates a spiritual bond between the couple, where they become one.