Judaism: Practices Flashcards
What is Pesach?
Pesach is one of the most important festivals in the Jewish year. It is a spring festival that begins on the 15th day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar. The celebrations last for seven days.
What is the importance of Pesach?
Pesach is important for Jews as it celebrates their escape from slavery to create the birth of the Jewish nation, when they were given the law that made them God’s chosen people. It is a time for Jews to gives thanks to God for their redemption, and to feel empathy with those who still live under oppression.
Where does Pesach originate from?
Pesach celebrates the Jews’ escape from slavery in Egypt, after which they spent many years wandering in the desert before reaching the land of Canaan.
Synagogue
Jewish place of worship
Schul
Synagogue or school
Beit T’filah
Literally “house of prayer,” another term for a synagogue.
Beit K’nesset
Literally “house of assembly,” the Hebrew name for a synagogue.
Minyan
An assembly with a minimum of ten adult Jews required for communal prayers.
Menorah
A candle used in Jewish tradition, often refers to the seven-branched temple lamp.
Star of David
A six-pointed star symbolising Jewish identity.
Bimah
The raised platform in a synagogue which the Torah is read from.
Yad
A pointer (shaped like a hand) used to read the Torah scroll without touching it.
Ark (Aron Hakodesh)
The cabinet where Torah scrolls are kept in a synagogue.
Ner Tamid
The “eternal light” that hangs above the Ark, symbolizing God’s constant presence
Womens Gallery
A separate seating area for women in some traditional (Orthodox) synagogues.
Rabbi
A teacher or leader in Judaism, responsible for spiritual guidance and interpreting Jewish law.
Cantor
The person who leads the congregation in prayer and liturgical singing.
Tallit and Tzitzit
A prayer shawl (tallit) with fringes (tzitzit) on the corners which represent the 613 mitzvot, worn during morning services.
Teffilin
Small leather boxes containing biblical passages, worn on the arm and head during weekday morning prayers.
Amidah
The central standing prayer in Jewish liturgy, recited silently and then repeated aloud.
Shabbat
The Jewish Sabbath, a day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
Torah
The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the foundation of Jewish law and teaching.
Mezuzah
A small case containing scriptural passages, affixed to the doorposts of Jewish homes.
Talmud
A comprehensive collection of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, ethics, and tradition.
Brit Milah
The covenant of circumcision, performed on Jewish boys at eight days old.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Coming-of-age ceremonies for Jewish girls (Bat Mitzvah) at 13, and for boys (Bar Mitzvah) at 13.
Marriage: Erothal & Wedding
Erusin (betrothal) is the formal engagement, followed by the wedding ceremony (chuppah).
Funerals: Mourning, Shiva & Kaddish
Shiva is the seven-day mourning period; Kaddish is a prayer recited by mourners.
Kosher & Trefah
Kosher refers to food permitted by Jewish dietary laws; trefah is food that is not allowed.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year, marking the start of the High Holy Days.
Yom Kippur
The Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism, observed with fasting and repentance.
Pesach & Seder Meal
Passover, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt; the Seder is a ritual meal held on the first nights of Pesach.
What are the preparations for Pesach ?
The most important preparation is to remove leaven (yeast) from the home. Removing leaven recalls how the Jews did not have time to let their bread rise when they escaped from Egypt.
What is the festival of Rosh Hashanah and what does it celebrate?
Rosh Hashanah remembers God’s creation of the world, and is also a day of judgement. Rosh Hashanah is a festival that marks the start of the Jewish new year. Many Jews believe that during Rosh Hashanah, God judges their actions
over the past year and decides their fortune for the coming year.
What is the festival of Yom Kippur and what does it celebrate?
Yom Kippur is the holiest and most important day in the year as its when God’s judgement from Rosh Hashanah is finalised. Its origins stem from Leviticus 16:30, which tells Jews that on Yom Kippur, ‘atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins’.
How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated in Britain today?
At the evening service in the synagogue, prayers are said asking God to continue to be the king of the world for the coming year. Next morning at the synagogue a ram’s horn is blown 100 times. This is followed by a service which is longer than usual, with special prayers.
How is Yom Kippur celebrated in Britain today?
Many Jews spend much of Yom Kippur in the synagogue. They focus on asking God to forgive their sins, to help restore their relationship with him. Jews take part in a general confession of sins as a community. Jews are given one last chance to confess their sins. The doors of the Ark are then closed, showing that God’s judgement is now sealed.
Jewish Dietary Laws
The laws categorise food as being acceptable (kosher) or unacceptable (trefah). Orthodox Jews follow the dietary laws strictly. They believe the laws have come from God to test their obedience and help develop their self control. The laws remind people daily of their faith, and mark out Jewish people as different from others.
Many Reform Jews think the laws are outdated in modern British society, and it is up to an individual whether to follow them or not.
Jewish Kosher Butchers
Kosher animals must be killed in a certain way. The animal must be slaughtered with a very sharp knife by a trained jew.
The animal has to be conscious when it is killed and the blood has to be drained from the animal as Jews are not permitted to consume food containing blood. Jews must also be careful to keep milk and meat separate. Dairy products and meat are not allowed to be eaten at the same time.
Jewish Kitchens
Many Orthodox homes have kitchens with two sinks and two food preparation areas, to keep milk and meat separate. Jews may also colour code their utensils, cutlery so one set is used for meat dishes and another set is used for dairy products. Most synagogues have kosher kitchens, so they can prepare food for events without breaking dietary laws.
What are the three main parts of the Tenakh?
Torah: the five books of Moses, which form the basis of Jewish law.
Nevi’im (the Prophets): eight books that continue to trace Jewish history and expand on the laws in the Torah.
Ketuvim (the Writings): eleven books that contain a collection of poetry, stories, advice, historical accounts.
What is the Tenakh?
The Jewish sacred scriptures. A collection of 24 books which can all be found in the Old Testament in the Christian Bible.
What happens at a Bar Mitzvah?
On a boys thirteenth birthday, he reads from the Torah at the normal service in the synagogue. The boy wears a tallit for the first time and may lead part of the service while reading from the Torah or saying prayers.The boy’s father thanks God for bringing his son to maturity, and declares he is now responsible for his own actions. After the service there is often a celebratory meal or party, where the boy receives gifts.
What happens at a Bat Mitzvah?
On a girls thirteenth birthday, she reads from the Torah and may lead part of the service in the synagogue. This is often followed by a celebratory meal or party. Orthodox Jews sometimes mark a girl’s Bat Mitzvah with a family meal
and small religious gifts.
What are the three ceremonies at Birth in Judaism?
Three Jewish ceremonies associated with birth are the naming ceremony (when the baby is formally named),
Brit Milah (when a boy is circumcised), The redemption of the firstborn son (when the firstborn son is ‘redeemed’ from Temple service). Some Orthodox Jews give a small amount of money 31 days after the birth of their firstborn son, to redeem him from Temple service.
