Passover/ 10 Commandments/ Bar Mitzvah

Question 1

What does it represent

Answer 1

Passover remembers the Israelites freedom from slavery.

1. God is good
2. Death passed over them
3. The Israelites passed over the Red Sea when they escaped

Question 2

Preparation

Answer 2

Remove all chametz ( leaven bread from the house)
Bedikat chametz : ten pieces are hidden and then hunted for. This is eaten for their final meals before Passover or burned on a bonfire
Go to synagogue

Question 3

The meal

Answer 3

Seder meal
Roasted egg - new life after Egypt
Bitter herbs- bitter times of slavery in Egypt
Salt water- tears shed during slavery (parsley dipped in this)
Parsley- fresh start after Egypt
Charoset- bricks and mortar used by slaves
Matzvah- speed with which they had to leave Egypt (unleavened bread reminding that Jews had to leave so quickly no time for bread to rise)
Lamb bone - symbolises lamb that was sacrificed in order to have blood to paint on doors
Red wine- four sips taken to represent four promises

Story of Passover told from the Haggadah
At beginning of the meal Matzvah is broken , half hidden , called the afikomen . Hidden, after meal kids search for it.
During the Passover meal they read the story of Passover from the Haggadah

Question 4

10 commandments where

Answer 4

After Israelites escaped Egypt, they were in the desert Sinai for 3 months. They started to misbehave so God gave Moses the 10 commandments of Mount Sinai

Question 5

10 commandments

Answer 5

1. Do not worship any other Gods
2. Don’t make any images or sculptures and worship them
3. Don’t misuse God’s name
4. Don’t work on the Sabbath
5. Children respect parents
6. Don’t murder
7. Don’t commit adultery
8. Don’t steal
9. Don’t lie
10. Don’t be jealous of your neighbours possessions

Question 6

Challenges

Answer 6

Jew couldn’t tell a white lie etc.w
More family time by not working on the sabbath

More peaceful world, less nastiness
Difficult to never lie, not even be able to white lie
Hard to control jealousy as it is a feeling

Question 7

Bar mitzvah

Answer 7

Son of the commandments (that’s what it means)
At 13 responsible for actions
Enters covenant relationship with God
Jewish Rite of Passage- Marks passage from childhood to adulthood

Question 8

Becoming Bar Mitzvah

Answer 8

Attend lessons so that he can read from the Torah
He will have been taught about the Jewish faith
Has to study scriptures and the history of the Jewish people.
He also might have a test to ensure that he understands the Jewish faith.
Learns how to wear tallit and tefillin

Question 9

Tallit

Answer 9

Prayer shawl, with fringes attached to corners called the tzitzit. 613 tassels to represent the mitzvot

Question 10

Tefillin

Answer 10

2 black leather boxes, containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah. One worn on the upper arm, and the other one is worn on the head. The teffilin reminds Jews that God freed the Israelites.

Question 11

Kippah

Answer 11

A skull cap. Jewish men wear this as a sign of respect. They can’t show their head to God

Question 12

The ceremony

Answer 12

Takes place on Sabbath after boy’ 13th birthday
Boy will read verse from the Torah
Father will thank God for having brought his son to maturity and that he no longer has responsibility for his son’s sins
The boy is now bar mitzvah and forms part of the minyan (group of ten men needed to lead worship in the synagogue)
Celebratory meal held after the service called the Seudah.