Practices Flashcards
Public acts of worship
What is the purpose of Public acts of worship?
- give a Jew a sense of belonging to a whole community of Jewish believers
- provide opportunity to take part in those prayers which can only be said in congregation
- the rabbis taught that there is more merit in praying with a group than there is praying alone
Public acts of worship
What are the features of Jewish public worship?
- on Shabbat morning is the main service of the week - Sefer Torah is taken out of the ark and carried to the bimah for the rabbi to read
- on Shabbat afternoon, synagogues have afternoon prayers where the Sefer Torah is taken out of the ark again
- synagogues have special services for most festival such as Rosh Hashanah
Public acts of worship
Why is synagogue worship important for the Jewish community?
- to worship God with all your heart and all your soul requires people to be able to worship in community with other Jewish people
- is needed to celebrate Shabbat properly
- opportunity to share the great festivals and family celebrations
Public acts of worship
Why do Jewish people worship in different ways?
- Orthodox synagogues keep men and women seperate - believe mitzvot are God’s words
- Liberal/Reform synagogues demonstrate complete equality - believe the Torah isn’t the direct word of God
Public acts of worship
What are some SOWA’s on Public acts of worship?
Pirkei Avot 3:6 - God’s presence rests where ten people study Torah together
Psalm 116:14 “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people” - value of public worship
The Tenakh and Talmud
What does the Torah contain?
613 Mitzvot
from the creation to the Exodus and the death of Moses
The Tenakh and Talmud
What is the Nivi’im?
The books of the prophets who believed they had a message from God to the people
The Tenakh and Talmud
What is Ketuvium?
- mixture of history books, poetry books, philosophical books and Daniel - mix of history and prophecy
- express thougth on the ultimate questions of life and morality
The Tenakh and Talmud
Why is the TeNaKh important?
Jewish bible
- the Psalms are an essential part of daily prayers
- Torah and Nevi’im are important in synagogue worship
- Jewish people study and meditate on the books of the TeNaKh to help their understanding of and relationship with God
The Tenakh and Talmud
What is the Talmud?
central text in Judaism
* consisting of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history
* It explains and expands on the Torah (Written Law) through the Oral Law
The Tenakh and Talmud
Why is the Talmud important?
- explains the meaning of the 613 Mitzvot
- explains how the Mitzvot should be applied in the daily lives of Jewish people
- it is the basis of the Halakhah, wich is the foundation of Orthodox Jewish lives
The Tenakh and Talmud
What does Kosher mean, what is the word for non Kosher?
refers to food that follows Jewish dietary laws
treifah
The Tenakh and Talmud
What are the main Kosher points?
- Pigs, camels and shellfish must not be eaten
- Animals must be slaughtered by the shechitah method - slitting the throaet with a major sharp knife and draining out the blood
- Kitchens must be in 2 halves - meat and dairy
The Tenakh and Talmud
Why is keeping Kashrut important for Orthodox Jews?
state of being Kosher
- keeping the Mitzvot
- gives a sense of Jewish identity
- makes them think about God every time they eat
The Tenakh and Talmud
What are some SOWA’s on The Tenakh and Talmud?
Leviticus 11:2-4 - states that only animals that have split hooves and chew cud (e.g., cows, sheep) are kosher and permitted to eat
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - emphasizes passing down the teachings of the Tenakh through generations
Prayer
What is the purpose of prayer?
- builds up a relationship with God
- obey’s God commandment of loving God with your heart
- directly speaking to God - will listen and respond
Prayer
What are some examples of private prayer?
- when Jewish people wake up every morning, they thank God for wakening them before pouring water on their hands - purify
- the day should end as it begins - praising God, say the Shema
- the mezuzah on each door of the house is a constant reminder of God’s presence - thank God whenever they pass it
Prayer
How many times should a Jewish person pray a set formal prayer a day?
3
shacharit - morning prayer
minchah - afternoon prayer
arvit - evening prayer
Prayer
What are the benefits of saying set prayers?
- stop prayers being focused on selfish concerns
- gives the worshipper a sense of being part of Jewish history
- gives order and purpose to people’s religious life
Prayer
Why are saying prayers in your own words important?
- contact God when they want
- can ask for God’s help
- express their own thoughts and feelings
Prayer
What are some SOWA’s on Prayer?
Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth”
Psalm 55:17 – “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice”
Shema and Amidah
What does the Shema emphasise?
- oneness of God
- need to love God
- need for mezuzah
- need to pray with tefillin and tallit
- covenant God has made with the Jewish people
Shema and Amidah
How many times is the Shema said a day?
3
morning, afternoon and evening
Shema and Amidah
Why is the Shema important?
- praises God
- reminds Jews there is only 1 God - monotheism
- one God who demands moral obediance - ‘ethical monotheism’
Shema and Amidah
What is the Amidah, how important is it?
Contains 19 blessings which
* praise God
* makes personal requests for forgiveness of sin
* healing of the sick
* food for the world
* peace
* blessings…
2nd most important prayer
Shema and Amidah
Why is the Amidah important to Jewish people today?
- asks God to fufill spiritual needs such as forgiveness
- asks God to fufill spiritual needs such as food
Shema and Amidah
Where is the Shema, what does it say?
Deuteronomy 6 - ‘hear O Isreal, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and all your might…’
Rituals and ceremonies
What are the 2 birth ceremonies?
- Brit Milah
- Brit Bat
Rituals and ceremonies
What happens at the Brit Milah - what the significance?
- Male children are circumsised 8 days after birth
- Marks Jewish males’ entry into the covenant
Rituals and ceremonies
Why do Reform Jews not circumcise their sons?
believe the Abrahamic Covenant was spiritual
Rituals and ceremonies
What is the Brit Bat?
Female Children of Orthodox Jewish people have a special naming ceremony in the synagogue on the shabbat following the birth
Rituals and ceremonies
Why do many Reform/Liberal synagogues have a special Brit Bat ceremony?
to make the occasion as important as Brit Milah
Rituals and ceremonies
What are the coming of age ceremonies?
Bar Mitzvah
Bat Mitzah
Rituals and ceremonies
What is the Bar Mitzvah, when does this happen?
when a boy becomes responsible for his own actions and is regarded as an adult as far as religion is concerned. Can now:
* make up a minyan
* can read the sidra in synagogue services
* wear tefflin and tallit
A boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah at 13
son of commandment
Rituals and ceremonies
When does the Bat Mitzvah happen for Orthodox and for Liberal/Reform?
daughter of the commandment ceremony
Orthodox - 12
Liberal/Reform - 13 - same as Bar Mitzvah
Rituals and ceremonies
Why are the Bar and Bat Mitzvah important?
give a young Jewish person the opportunity to take responsibility of being Jewish and ensure the continuity of the Jewish faith
Rituals and ceremonies
What are some SOWA’s on rituals and ceremonies?
Genesis - God said to Abraham every male among you shall be circumcised as his part of the covenant
Pirkei Avot 5:21 - “At thirteen, one is obligated to the commandments”
Rituals and ceremonies
Why should should Jews marry?
- It is a Mitzvah that all Jewish people should marry and have children
- regarded as essential for people to become complete
Rituals and ceremonies
What are the features of marriage ceremonies?
- ceremony takes place under a canopy called huppah - symbolises the couple’s new home and how marriage needs both privacy and openness
- ketubah - groom promises to provide for his wife and specifies what she will recieve in the event of his death or divorce
Rituals and ceremonies
Why is Jewish marriage ceremonies important?
- bring 2 people together in the Jewish faith
- provide the opportunity for new Jewish family to develop and continue the faith
Rituals and ceremonies
What happens as soon as Jews hear a family member is close to death?
- close relatives tear their clothes to fufill the mitzvah
- then the chevra kaddisha helps prepare the body for burial which should be done asap
- someone stays with the body all the time until the funeral
Rituals and ceremonies
What happens at the funeral?
- rabbi gives a short speech about the dead person
- then everyone accompanies the body to the grave where prayers are said
Rituals and ceremonies
What is the period of mourning called, what happens?
avelut
* first 7 days (shiva) - close family sit on low chairs, don’t leave the house, mirrors are coveres and music is not allowed
* for the next 3 weeks male mourners go to synagogue every day to pray Kaddish
On the anniversary of the death the family remembers the dead relative and a candle is kept burning for a night and a day and Kaddish is said
Rituals and ceremonies
What are some SOWA’s for Marriage, death and mourning ceremonies and rituals?
Marriage - Genesis - “for this a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and they will become one flesh”
Mourning - Job - “And they sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights”
Shabbat
What does Shabbat mean, why do Jews partake?
ceasing from work
God rested on the 7th day
Shabbat
How is the Shabbat celebrated?
- begins with the woman of the home lighting the Shabbat candles and welcoming Shabbat into their home
- On Shabbat morning families go to synagogue for the morning prayer - main service of the week
Shabbat
Why is the shabbat important?
- the fourth commandment
- gives Jewish people a chance to renew themselves - they rest from work
- provides time to think about God and found out more about their faith
shabbat
Why is the shabbat important for the Jewish communities?
- oldest Jewish festival - important for the community to keep it going
- God’s gift to the Jewish people which binds them together - only Jews celebrate it
shabbat
What are some SOWA’s on shabbat?
Exodus 20 (4th commandment) - ‘Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy…’
Festivals
What is Rosh Hashanah?
- marks the beginning of Jewish new year and has been celebrated since Biblical times
- remembers when Moses went up Mount Sinai to recieve new tablets of the 10 commandments to replace ones after the Isrealites worshipped the golden calf
Festivals
When is Yom Kippur, what is it ?
10 days after Rosh Hashanah
‘the days of awe’, when people reflect on what they promised at Rosh Hashanah
Festivals
What does Yom Kippur involve?
- 25 hour fast
- reflection of past sins
- confession of sins and prayers for forgiveness
- no Jewellry or leather shoes
Festivals
Why is Yom Kippur important?
- releases people from guilt about sins from the past
- fasting encourages the self-discipline needed to keep the resolutions made at Rosh Hoshanah
Festivals
What are som SOWA’s on Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah?
Yom Kippur - Leviticus 23:27 – “It shall be a holy convocation”
Rosh Hashanah - Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:2 Describes how Rosh Hashanah is a time of divine judgment
Festivals
What is Sukkot, when is it?
takes Jewish people back to the times when the Isrealites spent 40 years in the wilderness living in temporary huts
begins 5 days after Yom Kippur
Festivals
Why is the Sukkot important?
- it is a link with the ancestors
- it encourages family harmony by living in a tabernacle
Festivals
What is Pesach, when is it?
7 day festival which is an important festival remembering Isreal’s enslavement, Moses and the Exodus in Egypt when God saved Isreal and gave the people their freedom
* Beginning of Spring
Festivals
What happens during the Pesach?
- Pesach is welcomed into the home - through several key preparations and rituals e.g cleaning the house
- a synagogue service is held - special prayers to thank God for freeing their ancestors from slavery
- the family return for the great meal of Pesach - follows an order as set out in the Hagadah book and has special foods on the seder plate
Festivals
Why is the Pesach important?
celebrated…
* God’s power and control of History - without the Passover and Exodus there would be no Jewish people
* the birthday of the Jewish nation - marks the Exodus from Egypt, when the Israelites gained their freedom
Festivals
What are some SOWA’s on Sukkot and Pesach?
Sukkot - Leviticus 23:42 – “You shall dwell in booths for seven days”
Pesach - Exodus 12:14 – “This day shall be for you a memorial, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations”
Festival
How is Shavuot celebrated today?
- Many Jews stay up all night studying Torah to commemorate receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai
- may eat dairy foods - idea that before receiving the Torah, Jews did not yet know the laws of kosher meat
Festival
Why is the Shavuot important?
the gift of the Torah is the most important thing in Jewish history - established the Jewish people‘s covenant with God
Unity of the Jewish People - Jews accepted the Torah “as one people with one heart”
Festivals
What are some SOWA’s on Shavout?
Talmud (Shabbat 88a) - “When the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai, they were like one person with one heart.”
Features of the synagogue
What are the exterior features/design of a Synagogue?
- any should ahve a Star of David or a menorah to show it is Jewish
- be built facing Jeruselum - where the temple stood
- have windows letting light in so that worship is not retreat from the world
Features of the synagogue
What are the interior features/design of a synagogue?
- a sink at the entrance - worshippers to ceremonially cleanse themselves
- Holy Ark as the focal centre of the synagogue - often with an embroidered black and Gold curtain infront - inside the Ark are the Torah scrolls (Sefer Torah)
Features of the synagogue
How is the synagogue used differently by different communities?
Orthodox - Liberal/Reform
Orthodox:
* Seperate seating from woman
* Rabbi and cantor will always be men
* no musical instruments played on Shabbat - that would be work
Liberal/Reform:
* Men and woman sitting together
* Rabbi and/or cantor can be either men or women
* there would be an organ or a piano or a band for Shabbat worship
Features of the synagogue
What are some SOWA’s for features of the synagogue?
Exodus 27 says there must be a curtain sheilding the ark
