Judiasm Practices Flashcards
What does a synagogue provide for Jews?
- a space for Jews to meet and take part in a wide range of activities
What does the synagogue form?
- the centre of the Jewish religious community
What are the signs of a synagogue?
- a menorah (many branched candlestick)
- the Star of David ( a six pointed star that represents king David, who ruled Israel in the tenht centuary)
What do Orthodox Jews normally call the synagogue? What does it mean?
- ‘shul’
- means school
What do reform Jews call the synagogue? What does it reference?
- ‘temple’
- in reference to the temple in Jerusalem
A synagogue strengthens the Jewish community. What are the four main uses of the synagogue?
- education
— the synagogue helps to educate Jews of all ages in their faith
— provide classes in Hebrew for young Jews - Worship and prayer
— the synagogue provides a spaces for worship and communal prayer
— although Jews can pray anywhere, certain prayers are only to be said in the presence of a minyan (a group of at least 10 adults) - social activities
— most synagogues host a variety of activities for children, teenagers and adults in their social hall - charitable events
— the synagogue helps Jews to donate their time and money to charity
What is the prayer hall?
- the room in the synagogue where Jews come together for communal worship and prayer
What are the three features of the prayer hall?
- The ark (Aron Hakodesh)
- The ever burning light (ner tamid)
- the reading platform (bimah)
What is the significance of the Aron Hakodesh in the prayer hall?
- its the ark
- the holiest place in the synagogue
- represents the original Ark of the covenant. The first ark was built to hold the stone tablets that contained the Ten Commandments, which god gave to Moses
- by climbing up the steps to reach the ark (in the prayer hall), Jews are reminded that god is above his people and the sacred Torah is above humanity
What is the significance of the Ner Tamid?
- the ever burning light
- symbolises gods presence, so is never put out
- a reminder of the menorah (eight branched candlestick) that was lit ever night in the temple of Jerusalem
What is the signigificance of the bimah?
- the reading platform
- provides a focal point when the Torah is needing read, making it easier for the congregation to see the reader and hear what is being said
What do Orthodox Jews belive about the roles of men and women?
- they should have different roles
- for instance all orthodox rabbis are males
Which one is the tradition branch of Judaism and which one is the type of progressive Judaism, orthodox and reform?
- orthodox — traditional branch
- reform — type of progressive Judaism
What do reform Jews emphasise the importance of?
- individual choice in deciding how to worship and practice the faith
What do reform Jews belive about the Torah?
- it was written by humans but inspired by god
What do reform Jews belive about men and women?
- they should be able to undertake the same roles
What do Orthodox Jews strictly emphasise?
- following the laws in the Torah
Give the qualities/characteristics/nature of orthodox services.
- daily services
- service in Hebrew
- person leading service faces the ark
- men and women seated separately
- men wear a kippah
- women wear a hat or scarf
- all singing is unaccompanied
Give the qualities/characteristics/nature of reform services.
- do not hold daily services (instead the focus is on celebrating Shabbat and festivals)
- Hebrew and English
- person leading service mostly faces congregation
- men and women sit together
- men wear a kippah, and some women too
- singing may be accompanied by musical instruments
Who are services in the synagogue led by?
- a rabbi
- a cantor
- a member of the congregation
What’s a tallit?
- a prayer shawl made from wool or silk
- a long tassel is attached to each corner
What’s the significance of a tallit?
- reminds Jews they are obeying gods word whenever they wear it
- the tassels on it represent the four most important of the Ten Commandments
What are tefillin?
- a pair of small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah
- one is fastened round the forehead
- one is wound around the upper arm in line with the heart
What is the significance of the tefiliin?
- reminds Jews that there mind should be concentrating fully in god when they pray
- their prayers should come from their heart
Who wear the tallit and the tefillin?
- orthodox men
- and some reform Jews
When are prayer services held in orthodox synagogues?
- morning, afternoon and evening
What are the parts of Jewish services?
- the opening prayers are said
- the shema is recited (a Jewish prayer)
- the amidah is said (standing prayer)
- reading of the Torah
- final prayers are said
The Amidah consist of a series of blessings. What are they?
- the first three blessings praise god and ask for his mercy
- the middle thirteen blessings ask for gods help
- the final three blessings thank god for the opportunity to serve him ad pray for peace, goodness, kindness and compassion
What are the four reasons prayer is important to Jews?
- it helps them to remember what their faith is all about
- communal prayer strengthens the Jewish community
- its a way to communicate with god
- it brings Jews closer to god
What is the Shabbat?
- the Jewish holy day of the week
- it is a day of rest and renewal
When is the Shabbat?
- starts just before sunset on Friday and continues to sunset on Saturday
What quote tells Jews that god commanded Jews to celebrate the Shabbat?
- ‘remember the sabbath day and keep it holy’
For Jews, the Shabbat is a time to celebrate the what of god? What does it recall?
- the creation of god
- it recalls the genesis creation story in which god created everything in six days and rested on the seventh
The Shabbat can also be seen as a time to celebrate that god has kept his promises in what?
-n the covenant of Sinai
- otherwise known as the covenant between god and the Jews
What are the services held in the synagogue for Shabbat?
- brief service on Friday evening
- the main service on Saturday mourning
- sometimes an extra service for families with children
During the main service on Saturday, what happens before the reading of the Torah? And what is the importance of each step?
- the congregation stands when the ark is opened to reveal Torah scrolls. (This is a reminder of how the Jews stood at the bottoms of Mount Sinai when Moses returned with the Ten Commandments)
- the Torah is taken from the ark and dressed with a cover and various ornaments. (This is a m=reminder of the vestments worn by priests in early judiasm)
- the Torah is held in front of the congregation while the versus from scripture are chanted, it is then paraded around the synagogue. (This represents the march through the wilderness, when Jews carried the original ark from mount sinai to Jerusalem)
- many Jews touch it with their prayer shaw/their prayer book and then touch their lips. (This recalls scripture which tells Jews that gods words should be on their lips, and sweet like honey)
What things need to be done beforehand at home in order to make the Shabbat a special occasion?
- cleaning the house
- preparing the food
- any other preparations
In the home, how is the start of Shabbat marked?
- the lighting of the candles
What is the main Shabbat celebration in the home?
- the Friday evening meal, which allows the family to relax and enjoy each others company
During Shabbat in the home, two loaves of challah bread are placed on the table. What is the significance of this?
- represent the food that god provided for the Jews on Shabbat while they were wandering in the wilderness
Are people allowed to work during shabbat?
- no, most types of work aren’t allowed, as stated in the fourth commandment
During Shabbat in the home, what is the significance of winds or grape juice in the kiddish cup?
- drinking Shabbat wine symbolises joy and celebration
After lighting the candles, what does a female member of the family do?
- says a prayer asking god to bless the family
What do the parents do before the family meal in Friday?
- bless their children
What does the head of the household do before the meal on Friday?
- recites the kiddish blessings while holding the kiddish cup
How does the meal on Friday end?
- a prayer of thanksgiving for the food
When do they have their next special meal during Shabbat after Friday?
- after the Saturday mourning service in the synagogue
How often are Jews expected to pray per day?
- three times
The mezuzah remind Jews of god in the home. What is a mezuzah? What do Jews do to it?
- a small box that contains a handwritten scroll of verses from the Torah that is attached to the doorpost
- they touch the mezuzah as a sign of respect to god and a reminder to obey his laws
What two writings teach Jews how to obey gods laws in their everyday lives?
- The Tenakh
- The Talmud
What is the Tenakh?
- the written law
- the Jewish scared scriptures
- a collection of 24 books
What are the three main parts of the Tenakh?
- The Torah — 5 Books of Moses which form basis of Jewish law
- The Nevi’im — 8 books that continue to trace Jewish history and expand on the laws in the Torah
- The Ketuvim — 11 books that contain a collection of poetry, stories, advice, historical accounts and more
What is the Talmud?
- the oral law
- a commentary by the early rabbis on the Torah
- contains a collection of discussions and teachings about how to interpret the Torah and appply its laws to everyday life
What are the two main parts of the Talmud?
- the Mishnah — a commentary on the Torah compiled by Judah Ha’Nasi in 200 CE
- the Gemara — a collection of discussions on the Mishnah, written down in 500 CE
What are the Talmud and Tenakh considered to be for Orthodox Jews?
- the source of all Jewish laws, legal teachings and decisions that affect there daily lives
What are the three ceremonies for newborn Jews?
- Naming ceremony
- Brit Milah
- Redemption of the first born son
What does the naming ceremony involve? What’s its significance?
- blessed in the synagogue on the first Shabbat after birth
- father recites Torah blessing, and asks god for health of his wife and baby
- baby girl’s name will be announced at this point
- formally introduces the baby to the community and god
What does the Brit Milah involve?
- happens when a a baby boy is 8 days old
- a close friend/relative places baby on an empty chair that symbolises the presence of the prophet Elijah
- a trained circumcised places baby on the knee of ‘the companion of the child’
- baby’s father blesses his son
- a blessing is said over wine and baby formally named
- baby is circumsized
- family/guests have a meal to celebrate
What is the significance of the Brit milah?
- recalls the covenant god made with Abraham
- provides a lifelong reminder to a male Jew that they are one of gods chosen people
What dos the redemption of the firstborn son involve?
- some Orthodox Jews give a small amount of money 31 days after the birth of their firstborn son to ‘redeem’ him from Temple service
- 5 silver coins are given to a kohen (a descendent of the priests who used to work in the temple)
- prayers are said, asking that the child may ‘enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds’
Where does the redemption of the first born son come from?
- numbers 18
When is a Jewish boy able to become a part of the minyan?
- after the bar mitzvah
When is a Jew expected to start strictly following Jewish law?
- after their bar or bat mitzvah
When is a Jew seen to become an adult?
- after their bar or bat mitzvah
Preparing carefully for the bar or bat mitzvah brings Jews closer to…and the…
- god and the Jewish community
What age are boys when they have there Bar Mitzvah?
- 13
What do boys become after there Bar Mitzvah?
- a son of the commandment
What happens during a bar mitzvah?
- boy reads the Torah at the normal service in the synagogue
- the boy wears a tallit for the first time
- he may lead parts of the service
- makes a short speech
- father thanks god for bringing his son to maturity and declares he is now responsible for his own actions
- a celebratory meal or party afterward
What happens at a Bat mitzvah?
- girl reads from Torah
- gives a short speech
- may lead part of the service in the synagogue
- followed by a celebratory meal or party
When do girls celebrate their bat mitzvah?
- 12
What do girls become after there Bat mitzvah?
- a daughter of the commandment
What is the two steps in a Jewish marriage?
- first the betrothal
- then the wedding itself
What is the betrothal?
- refers to the period of time before the wedding ceremony when the couple are engaged to each other, it usually lasts 12 months
In Jewish law, betrothal has legal status. What are the two things it can be broken by?
- death or divorce
Do the couple live together during betrothal?
- no, but they prepare for their future lives together
What are the three parts of the wedding?
- the betrothal ceremony
- the signing and reading of the marriage contract
- the marriage of the couple
What happens during the betrothal ceremony?
- the bride joins the groom under the chuppah (the canopy that symbolises the couples home)
- the bride and groom recite two blessings over wine
- rings are exchanged
Who is the marriage contract signed in the presence of? Who is it read out and given to?
- witnesses
- the bride
During the siginign of the marriage contract, what do orthodox and reform Jews focus on?
- orthodox — the husbands duties to his wife, his inheritance and providing for the wife if they get divorced
- reform — spiritual aspirations rather then legal rights
What happens during the marriage itself?
- 7 blessings are recited
- the rabbi makes a short speech and blesses couple in front of congregation
- groom breaks a glass under his heel (to show regret for the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem), its a reminder that lie involves hardship as well as joy
- congregation wishes them good luck
What are the 6 periods of mourning for Jews?
- when the death is announced
- the first period of mourning (Jews are buried as soon after death as possible, 24hours)
- the second period of mourning, the shiva, (intense period of mourning that lasts for 7 days starting on the day of the burial)
- the third period of mourning (begins after shiva and lasts 30 days, life resumes but mourners don’t listen to music, go to parties or cut their hair)
- The final period of mourning (lasts for 11 months, mourners do not attend parties)
- After the first year (final mourning ends after a year, children mark the anniversary of parents death by lighting a candle that burns for 24 hours)
What happens before a Jewish funeral?
- the body is carefully washed and wrapped in plain linen cloth and it is placed in a simple coffin to show that everyone is equal in death
Why don’t funerals happen in the synagogue?
- it is considered to be a place of living
Why does everyone wash their hands after the funeral?
- to show they are leaving death behind
Jewish law states that what must be placed on the grave sot he person is remebered?
- a tombstone
What does the funeral service include?
- prayers
- psalms
- readings from scripture
- a short speech by the rabbi
Where do the Jewish dietary laws originate from?
- passages in the Torah
What is acceptable food and unacceptable food called?
- acceptable = kosher
- unacceptable = trefah
Do reform Jews and Orthodox Jews follow the food laws?
- orthodox follow them very strictly because they have come from god to test their obedience and develop their self control
- reforms Jews think the laws are outdates in British society and it is up to an individual whether to follow the or not
How must kosher animals be killed?
- must be slaughtered with a very sharp knife by a trained Jew
- animal has to be conscious when it’s killed
- blood is drained from animal since Jews are not permitted to consume food containing blood
What two things must Jews keep separate?
- meat and milk
How long can Jews wait to have anything containing milk after eating meat?
- several hours
What do orthodox kitchens have?
- separate sinks and two food preparation areas
Why do many Jews colour-code their utensils?
- to prevent the mixing of meat and milk
What’s Rosh Hashanah? What do many Jews believe happens during it?
- a festival; that marks the start of the Jewish new year
- God judges their actions over the past year and decides their fortune for the coming year
What is Yom Kippur?
- the holiest and most important day in the yard when gods judgement from Rosh Hashanah is finalised
What do Jews do during the ten days between the start of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur?
- try to make up for their wrongdoings over the past year and seek forgiveness from god
What does Rosh a Hashanah remember?
- god’s creation of the world
What is Rosh Hashanah considered to be the anniversary of?
- the day on which god created humans
What do Jews to to try and improve gods judgment?
- take actions
- praying
- charity work
- atoning/making up for any harm they have caused
What do families do the evening Rosh Hashanah starts?
- share a festive meal
During Yom Kippur, what do Jews focus on during the services in the synagogue?
- asking god to forgive their sins
What is pesach?
- Passover
- a festival that lasts for seven or eight days that celebrates the Jews escape from slavery in Egypt
What is the Passover Seder?
- a special meal that families share on the first evening of pesach
What is served during the meal?
- red wine
- unleavened bread
- a green veg to dip in salt water, two bitter herbs, charoset and an egg and lamb bone
What does the pesach remember?
- the final plague that god sent to Egypt to persuade the Pharoah to release the Jews
What did the last plague god sent do?
- killed the firstborn children of Egyptians but passed over the houses of Jewish slaves
Pesach is important for Jews because it celebrates their escape from slavery to create the birth of what?
- the Jewish nation
What is the significance of the red wine in the pesach meal?
- a reminder of the lamb’s blood the Jews smeared on their doorposts to save their children from the final plague
What do each of these signify in the Passover Seder? Green vegetable? Salt water? Bitter herbs? Sweet charoset? Egg and lamb bone?
- new life in the promised land
- tears shed in slavery
- bitterness of slavery
- the mortar Jews had to use when slaves, and reminds Jews that life is now sweeter
- reminders of sacrifices made in the temple of Jerusalem
