RITES OF PASSAGE Flashcards
Brit Milah
Ceremony in which circumcision takes
place fulfilling the covenant of circumcision commanded of Abraham
and his descendants in Genesis 17:11
What happens in the naming ceremony?
Orthodox boys and girls are blessed on the first Sabbath after
their birth. Their father recites a Torah blessing. Girls are welcomed with the Zeved Habat ceremony, which
means the gift of a daughter. Prayers of thanks for her are
offered.
In Reform synagogues, both parents take part in the ceremony.
Also, practices have been developed to reflect the belief that the
birth of a daughter is just as important as that of a son.
When does circumcision take place?
This happens when the baby boy is eight days old, or as soon as
possible if there is ill health.
Trained circumciser
Mohel
Boy ceremony after the circumcision
The baby’s father blesses the baby. A blessing is said over wine and the baby is formally named. The baby is circumcised, it is a simple operation that heals
quickly. Family and friends enjoy a celebratory meal
Bar Mitzvah
Son of the commandments
Bat Mitzvah
Daughter of the commandments
Son of the commandments
The first Sabbath after his 13 birthday the boy reads the Torah in the
service for the first time. The boy wears tallit and tefillin for the first time, he usually leads part of the service- reading from the Torah, saying prayers and often
making a short speech. The boy will prepare and practice his reading in advance, sometimes it can take up to a year to learn it, as he often needs to learn Hebrew.
The boys father thanks God for bringing his son to maturity and
declares he is now responsible for this own actions
There is usually a celebration after the meal
Daughter of the commandments
Reform Jews have a service that is much like the bar mitzvah service.
Orthodox Jews sometimes mark a girls Bat Mitzvah with a family meal
and small religious gifts. Girls will often read a special prayer. Usually
these celebrations happen at home.
Importance of Bar/Bat Mitzvah
It is when a Jewish young person becomes an adult in religious terms.
Preparing for it carefully brings you closer to God and the community
It is when they are expected to strictly begin following Jewish law,
and take full responsibility for doing so themselves.
The boy/ girl is choosing to accept their role as part of the chosen
people of God.
It is when a Jewish boy is allowed to be counted as part of the minyan
(also girls in some Reform synagogues). He can take part in
Synagogue services, and will wear tefillin when he prays.
Bat Chayill
‘woman of valour’.
Woman of Valour
This is Orthodox traditions where a girl does not do Bat Mitzvah.
This is a community ceremony – although not in the same kind of service
that Bar Mitzvah would take place on.
It symbolises the girl becoming subject to Jewish law.
She will talk about a topic related to Judaism but she will not read from the
Torah.
One of the key reasons this tradition is different for girls is the way
Orthodox Jews interpret the roles of men and women. Girls will not play an
active role in the synagogue service like boys will after their Bar Mitzvah.
After the ceremony, she is expected to observe Jewish religious rules
for women and to spend time learning how to keep a good home.
Marriage
the legal joining of two people, in religious terms for Jews it
is the uniting of a man and woman. They are elevated to a higher
spiritual level before God during the wedding.
Betrothal
This is the time before the wedding when the couple are engaged or
promised to each other. It traditionally lasts for 12 months.
Betrothal has legal status in Jewish law and can only be broken by
death or divorce
During the year of betrothal the couple do not live together, but they
do prepare for their future lives together.
The Betrothal ceremony used to be held a year before the wedding but
now it can often be part of the wedding itself.
Before the wedding
Couple may fast to cleanse themselves of sin and come to the ceremony with the right atttitude
