Unit 8- Jewish practices

Question 1

Rituals:

Birth

Answer 1

• The life of the child begins when it is halfway emerged from the mothers body
• for purification reasons a mother cannot enter the synagogue for 7+33 days for a boy and 14+66 for a girl as a new creator has been born.

Question 2

Rituals:

Brit Milah/Brit bat

Answer 2

• for Jews the Brit Milah is a reminder of the covenant Abraham made with god.
• it marks what it is to be Jewish, it is a fulfilment of god’s mitzvot’s
• one feature is that the boy will receive his Hebrew name. The boy will also be circumcised.

Question 3

Rituals:

Bar/bat mitzvah

Answer 3

• it means son/daughter of the commandment
• they are coming of age ceremonies where one takes responsibility of their faith and following the mitzvot’s
• before the ceremony boys and girls will learn and study the Torah and Hebrew
• boys will read from the Torah in the ceremony, and girls will read a certain passage.

Question 4

Rituals:

Marriage

Answer 4

• in Jewish wedding the couple will stand under a huppah
• in the wedding the rabbi recites the 7 blessings
• The wedding ends with the smashing of a glass
• marriage is important for Jews because it is a command to have children, a man and a woman can share love and it means faith can continue.

Question 5

Rituals:

Mourning

Answer 5

There are 5 stages:
Aninut>death to the funeral
Shiva>the first 7 days of mourning 
Sheloshim>30 days of mourning 
Yud-bed-chodesh> the year of mourning 
Yahrzeit>the Anniversary date

Question 6

Rituals:

Funeral

Answer 6

• In a Jewish funeral a body is usually buried not cremated and will 24 hours after the death of the person
• candles are lit and the body is NEVER left alone. The coffin is usually covered.
• the funeral occurs at a cementary, where prayers,psalms and eulogy all take place.
• on the way out hands are washed signifying the return to the world of the living

Question 7

Divergent views:

Birth

Answer 7

-some more modern Jews will not be as strict for the mother entering the synagogue after giving birth whereas orthodox will stick to the more traditional view.

Question 8

Divergent views:

Brit Milah/Brit bat

Answer 8

• some more reform Jews may also have a Brit bat which welcomes and names girls. Traditional jews may occasionally do this
• some very reformed Jews will not get their Child circumcised.

Question 9

Divergent views:

Bar/bat mitzvah

Answer 9

-after the bar mitzvah in traditional synagogues boys can lead or take part in synagogue services, this will be the same for girls -in most synagogues will do bat mitzvahs for a girl but in VERY traditional synagogues will not

Question 10

Divergent views:

Marriage

Answer 10

• in modern synagogues there are interfaith and same sex marriages, not in traditional synagogues.
• in modern synagogues both male and female exchange rings, in traditional it is just the man.

Question 11

Divergent views:

Mourning

Answer 11

• Reform Jews will wear a black ribbon or cut a tie, traditional Jews will make a tear in their clothes.
• for reform Jews men or women are allowed to say the Kaddish prayer, whereas it is only men in traditional communities.

Question 12

Divergent views:

Funerals

Answer 12

• some modern views allow cremation,it is only burying for traditional Jews
• reform Jews you may also be allowed to speak and use flowers

Question 13

What is the purpose of public worship?

Answer 13

• individuals to spend regular time in praise, request and thanks to god
• Jews around the world to follow very similar services, which brings a sense of unity

Question 14

What is the Shabbat?

Answer 14

The Shabbat is the day of rest. It begins at dusk on Friday Erving and ends at the appearance of the fist three stars. Basically Friday evening - Saturday night.

Question 15

How is the synagogue service important?

Answer 15

-it unites the community in prayer and study, while reminding them of their place in the worldwide community.

Question 16

When are Jews expected to pray?

Answer 16

In the morning (sacharit), afternoon (mincha) and evening (ma’ariv). In orthodox synagogues they are usually said in Hebrew whereas in reform it varies from English to Hebrew.

Question 17

What is the nature and purpose of the tenakh?

Answer 17

The tenack is the Jewish bible, the Torah is the first five books and Orthodox Jews view it as the literal word of god revealed to Jews so it is considered divine and timeless, cannot be altered. Many reform Jews believe that it is a human creation inspired by their understanding of god.

Question 18

What is the nature and purpose of the Talmud?

Answer 18

It is a record of oral tradition and literally means ‘instruction or learning’. Orthodox tradition says that this instruction was also given to Moses at Mt Sinai. Reform Jews see it as a reflected wisdom of many generations of the Jewish people.

Question 19

What is the importance of the tenack in daily life?

Answer 19

-one scroll is taken from the ark and read four times a week in orthodox and once a week in reform and liberal. Over the course of the year the whole torah is read.

Question 20

What is the importance of the Talmud in daily life?

Answer 20

• The Talmud is regarded as central to orthodox jewish life and are encouraged to study it.
• the Talmud is regarded as a rich source of study but not giving it the same status.

Question 21

What is nature and purpose of food laws?

Answer 21

For many people it is away of bringing kedusha into their lives. The Torah and Talmud provide these laws. Kashrut is the term used when talking about food laws. Foods that are kosher are ‘fit’ to eat. Some say kosher food laws benefit health but many keep these laws because they believe it came from god.

Question 22

How can they be applied in Jewish life?

Answer 22

Orthodox believe that these rules are important to keep, but some reform and liberal Jews believe that they are outdated. Many Jews obtain from pork even if they do not observe all dietary laws. Orthodox Jews will wait 3 hours to eat dairy when they eaten meat and will use separate cutlery. During Passover, Jews do not eat anything with yeast and often deep clean there house. While reform Jews believe that some rules are outdated and some try to take meaning out of it.
There are Jews that believe in the eco-kashrut these are people who bring it ethical and ecological issues into consideration.

Question 23

Why do people pray at home?

Answer 23

People pray at home because not everyone can get to a synagogue every day and they can solely focus on god, forget the world around them as it is the connection that is the most important part of prayer

Question 24

What is the Shabbat prayer?

Answer 24

It is the kiddish this sanctifies the meal, this celebrates god’s creation and remembers the release of ancestors from Egypt.

Question 25

Why do Jews pray 3 times a day?

Answer 25

Because they are to by god and it keeps god at the forefront of their thoughts.

Question 26

When will prayer be used and why?

Answer 26

Jews pray for a variety of different reasons e.g. Praise. The Torah commands Jews to join together to thank god.

Question 27

Why is it important to have different forms of prayer?

Answer 27

• daily prayer allows you to regulate prayer, sometimes connecting in faith as a family.
• individual prayer allows personal reflection and solitary time with god
• constant prayer keeps god at the forefront of your heart and mind
• Shabbat brings family and friends together

Question 28

What is the shema?

Answer 28

It is the most important prayer in Judaism, it is usually recited twice a day and it declares the most fundamental principle of the Jewish faith: the belief in one god. The shema is kept in a metzuzah, which is a container kept on the right hand door post, this reminds Jews of god’s presence.

Question 29

What is the amidah?

Answer 29

It is a core part of every Jewish worship service and is therefore also referred to as hetefillah. It literally means standing and refers to the blessings which are recited.

Question 30

Why do we have 3 daily prayers?

Answer 30

The different prayers are used in different circumstances and ways, and allow Jews to connect with god in different ways e.g. Thanking

Question 31

What is a tallit? What is a tefellin?

Answer 31

It is worn by men and some boys over the age of bar mitzvah at every morning service. This only applies in orthodox synagogues in reform and liberal women can also wear them. The fridges on the shall remind Jews of the mitzvot. A tefellin are two small boxes with straps, these contain the sets of the Torah. They are worn on the forehead and arm but not for festivals. The tefellin reminds the wearer that they are connected with god, emotionally and intellectually. Like the tallit woman can wear it in liberal and reform not orthodox.