Judaism Practices

Question 1

At what age are boys and girls considered to be old enough to take full responsibility for practising their faith?

Answer 1

1) When boys turn 13.

2) When girls turn 12.

Question 2

How do boys and girls celebrate “Coming of Age”?

Answer 2

1) Boys celebrate with a Bar Mitzvah.

2) Girls celebrate with a Bat Mitzvah.

Question 3

Explain what happen during a Bar Mitzvah.

Answer 3

1) The boy reads from the Torah at the normal service in the synagogue.
2) The boy wears a tallit for the first time and may lead part of the service. He might make a short speech.
3) The boy’s father thanks God for bringing his son to maturity and declares he is now responsible for his own actions.

Question 4

Explain what happens at a Bat Mitzvah.

Answer 4

1) The girl reads from the Torah, may give a short speech and take part in the service at the synagogue.

Question 5

What are the 3 birth ceremonies?

Answer 5

1) Naming Ceremony
2) Brit Milah
3) Redemption of firstborn.

Question 6

Explain what happens and when the Naming Ceremony happens.

Answer 6

1) Naming Ceremony takes place on the first shabbat after the childs birth.
2) The Father goes forwards to recite the Torah and to ask God for health.

Question 7

Explain

1) What happens at Brit Milah.
2) When it happens
3) What it means

Answer 7

1) Brit Milah is the circumcision of the boy.
2) “ Every male among you shall be circumcised at the age of 8 days” - Genesis.
3) Brit Milah recalls the covenant between God and Abraham.

Question 8

Explain

1) What is Redemption of the First Born
2) When it happens
3) Why is it important?

Answer 8

1) Redemption of the first born is when the first son is redeemed from working in the temple. Orthodox jews sometimes give the child money to ‘redeem’ him.
2) Redemption of the 1st born happens 3 days after the birth of the first son.
3) Redeems the child of working in temple

Question 9

What are the 2 stages of Jewish Marriage?

Answer 9

1) Stage 1:Betrothal

2) Stage 2:Wedding

Question 10

Explain what Betrothal is

Answer 10

1) Betrothal is the period - usually 12 months before the actual wedding ceremony- when the couple are engaged or promised to eachother.
2) Some Jewish people might have met eachother a few hours earlier when they get engaged. A matchmaker gets them together.

Question 11

Explain what happens in the Wedding and the steps the couple might take to prepare for the wedding.

Answer 11

1) Stages of the Wedding : 
The Betrothal ceremony
Marriage Contract
Marriage
Wedding Reception
2) Some couples may fast before the wedding to cleanse themselves of sin and to come with the ceremony with the right attitude.

Question 12

Explain what happens during the Wedding.

Answer 12

1) Betrothal Ceremony - Bride joins groom underneath Chuppah, a canopy that symbolises the couples home. Couple then recites 2 blessings over wine and rings are exchanged.
2) Marriage Contract - Marriage contract is signed in the presence of witnesses. This covers duties, spiritual aspirations etc.
3) Wedding - 7 blessings recited. Rabbi makes a short speech and blesses the couple. Groom breaks a glass under his heel to show regret for the destruction the temple in Jerusalem.
4) The wedding reception - After the ceremony the couple send a short time together to symbolise their new status as a married couple. They then party.

Question 13

Explain the periods of mourning for the Dead.

Answer 13

1) When Jews hear of the death of a close family member, they make a small tear in their clothes to follow the example of Jacob.
2) Until the burial, jews believe the deceased’s soul should be comforted and supported by family members.
3) Shiva - intense period of mourning that lasts for 7 days. They do not work, they stay at home and hold prayer services three times a day. They say the Kaddish which praises God and asks him for peace.
3) Third period - lasts until 30 days after the persons death. Normal life continues, but no music, no parties, no grooming.
4) Final Period of Mourning - Lasts for 11 months, mourners do not attend parties, children say the kaddish for a parent who has died.
5) After the first year - mourning ends

Question 14

Explain what happens during the funeral.

Answer 14

1) Before the funeral, the bidy is carefully washed and wrapped in a plain cloth, as well as a tallit for men.
2) Funerals are held in the cemetery since the synagogue is known as a “place of worship”.
3) Funeral services include prayers, psalms, readings from scriptures and a speech from the Rabbi.
4) When the funeral is done, everyone washes their hands to show they are leaving death behind

Question 15

What is Shabbat?

Answer 15

1) Shabbat is the Jewish Holy Day of the week.
It is a day of rest and renewal.
2) It starts before sunset on Friday and continuing to sunset on Saturday

Question 16

What can be done in the synagogue during shabbat?

Answer 16

1) On Friday evening, there is a brief service in the synagogue.
2) Some synagogues hold a service during shabbat for families with children which includes story telling, games and music.

Question 17

How do families prepare for Shabbat at home?

Answer 17

1) Families clean the house.
2) They then prepare the food.
3) They then wash and change into smart clothes.

Question 18

Explain how families welcome Shabbat

Answer 18

1) Families welcome Shabbat through the lighting of the candles

Question 19

Explain the process of the lighting of the candles

Answer 19

1) A female member of the family lights the candle roughly 18 minutes before the sunset.
2) She then covers her eyes and recites a blessing.

Question 20

What is the blessing said during the lighting of the candles

Answer 20

“Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us with his commandments and commands us to light the candle of Shabbat”

Question 21

What items are placed on the Shabbat Table?

Answer 21

1) 2 candles
2) Wine
3) Challah Bread

Question 22

Explain the importance of the Wine and Challah bread.

Answer 22

1) The wine symbolises joy and celebration.

2) The Challah bread symbolises the 2 portions of Manna that God gave to the Israelites in the wilderness.

Question 23

What do the family do before the meal?

Answer 23

1) They recite the Kiddush blessings with the Kiddush Cup.

Question 24

How is Shabbat ended?

Answer 24

1) The end of Shabbat is marked by the Havdalah service.

2) The Havdalah service takes place once 3 stars can be seen in the sky.

Question 25

What are the 2 types of food that Jews can or can’t eat?

Answer 25

1) Kosher and Trefah.

2) Kosher food is the food that Jews are allowed to eat whereas Trefah is the food that Jews are not allowed to eat.

Question 26

What is the quote that can show which land animals Jews can eat?

Answer 26

1) “You are allowed to eat anything which has a completely split hoof and chews the end.

Question 27

What must Kosher fish and birds have?

Answer 27

1) Kosher fish must have fins and scales.

2) Kosher birds/poultry must not be a bird of prey and must eat grain.

Question 28

What are the 4 rules of Jewish Food Laws?

Answer 28

1) Certain foods must not be eaten.
2) You cannot mix meat with dairy.
3) You must keep a Kosher kitchen.
4) Animals must be killed according to Jewish law.

Question 29

What is the Jewish law on killing Kosher animals?

Answer 29

1) The animal must be healthy.
2) It must have its throat slit by a trained Jew.
3) It must have its blood drained from it before it is eaten.

Question 30

What is a Kippah and why do Jewish men wear it when praying?

Answer 30

1) A Kippah is a Jewish head covering.

2) It shows respect to God whilst praying.

Question 31

In Orthodox Synagogues, why do men and women sit separately from eachother?

Answer 31

1) Men and women sit next to eachother so that they don’t disturb one another and so that they avoid sexual thoughts.

Question 32

What way does the congregation face in a synagogue? Why does it face this way?

Answer 32

1) The congregation faces towards Jerusalem in an Orthodox synagogue. This is because Jerusalem is Judaism’s holy city where the Temple once stood.

Question 33

Explain what a Tallit is and what do its fringes represent?

Answer 33

1) A Tallit is a prayer shawl and it is traditionally worn by men.
2) Its fringes represent the 613 commandments.

Question 34

Explain what the Star of David is and its importance.

Explain what Ner Tamid is and its importance.

Explain what the Bimah is and its importance.

Explain what the Menorah is and its importance.

Answer 34

1) The star of David is the main symbol of Judaism. It represents the shield of David.
2) Ner Tamid is an eternal light. It symbolises God’s eternal presence and is a reminder of the Menorah in the temple.
3) The Bimah is the raised platform where the Torah is read. Focus of worship, it is a reminder of the Altor in the Temple.
4) The Menorah is a 7 branched candle stone and it represents the 7 days of creation and symbolises the Menorah in the temple.

Question 35

Explain what the Rabbi is.

Explain what the minyan is.

Answer 35

1) A leader is the leader of the congregation, often regarded as a teacher.
2) The Minyan is the required amount of people needed to do certain prayers.

Question 36

Why do Jews celebrate Pesach?

Answer 36

1) Jews celebrate Pesach because it celebrates the Jew’s escape from slavery and paticcularly the final plague which ‘passed over’ the housess of Jewish slaves.
2) Reminds God that god freed them from slavery, reminds them that they are god’s chosen people and how god fulfilled the covenant he made with Jews.

Question 37

How do Jewish families prepare for Pesach?

Answer 37

1) Removing any sort of leaven from the house. This remembers how Jews were in such a rush to escape that they didn’t have enough time to let their bread rise.

Question 38

Explain wat Rosh Hasannah is and why it is important to Jews.

Answer 38

1) Rosh Hashannah is the Jewish neaw year which is celebrated in September. Lasts for 10 dayd and finshes with Yom Kippur.
2) The 10 days are to undo any wrongs done during the year and Jews believe that it is a time when God judges them and decides their future.