Unit 8 - Jewish Practices Flashcards
Avidat Hashem definition
Worship of God
Purpose of public worship
Allows individuals to spend time praying to God
Brings sense of unity with Jews around the world
Main form of worship
Prayer
Shabbat features
Friday dusk - Saturday dawn
Multiple Shabbat services in synagogue
Reform/liberal denominations focus on Shabbat and festival services than Daily Prayer services
Prayers (e.g. Amidah and Aleinu prayer), reading from Torah and sermon from Rabbi are said
Whole family are encouraged to join
Brings whole community together
Daily Jewish prayers
Shacharit, Mincha, Ma’ariv (morning, afternoon and evening) are times of prayer
Usually services in synagogue on above times
Services in Hebrew or English depending on denomination
Prayers usually said silently when a,one
Often done stood up as reminder of God’s presence
Siddhi contains daily prayers
Importance of synagogue services
Unites local community and worldwide Jewish community
Private prayers are said in thanksgiving, praise and to ask for things
Sermon by Rabbi helps Jews in knowing how to act in the outside world
Tenakh features
“Jewish Bible”
Consists of Torah (Pentateuch / Law), Nevi’im (Prophets) and Ketuvim (Writings)
Most sacred object in Judaism
Talmud features
“Oral Torah”
Recording of tradition passed down generations
Consists of Mishnah (core text in Hebrew) and Gemara (Rabbinical analysis in Aramaic)
Source of all Jewish legal teaching and decision
Importance of use of Torah and Talmud in daily life
whole Torah is read in sequence over a year
Talmud is encouraged to be read by all Jews as contains Jewish laws
Kosher definition
Fit or correct
Food that is acceptable to Jews
Treifah definition
Torn
Food that is not kosher
Reasons to follow food laws
Some believe they benefit health
Pigs in Israel used to carry a lot of disease
Laws are written in Torah, and should be obeyed
Kiddush prayer definition
Prayer of sanctification
celebrates God’s creation of the universe
remembers release of ancestors’s slavery in Egypt
said before Shabbat meal
Prayer 3 times a day
Done as said in Psalm 55:18
Keeps God at top of Jew’s thoughts
Why Jews pray
Praise, request an Thanksgiving
Brings Jews together as community
Instructed in Torah
Improves personal relationship with God
Important of different forms of prayer
Daily prayer allows regular prayer, connecting in faith as a familg
Individual prayer allows personal reflection with God
Constant prayer keeps God in one’s head all the time
Keeps community together
Shema features
Most important prayer in Judaism
Recited 2 a day
Declares belief in only one God
Kept in mezuzah
Tallit definition
Fringed shawl worn by men at every morning service
Fringe is reminder of mitzvots
Covers head to focus on prayer
Tefillin definition
2 small block boxes with straps containing 4 sets of verses from Torah
Worn on forehead and arm (not on Shabbat or festivals)
Mezuzah definition
Container of Shema found in right hand doorpost outside Jewish home and every doorpost that leads to a habitable room
Reminder of God’s presence
Amidah features
Core part of every Jewish worship service
Referred to as HaTefillah (“the prayer”)
“standing”
series of blessings recited while standing up
Importance of different forms of prayer
Allows Jews to connect with God in different ways
What is done in morning prayer
Shema, Amidah and 19 blessings from God are recited
Thanks for the use of the body are given
Parts of Tenakh are said to help focus mind on God
What is done in afternoon prayer
Psalm 145, Amidah and Aleinu are said
What is done in evening prayer
Shema, Amidah and Aleinu are recited
Also Kaddish and Barkhu are said
Kaddish definition
Prayer of praise usually used after a Rabbi’s teaching
Barkhu definition
Call to prayer at start of synagogue service by prayer leader
Importance of rituals for Jews
Marks important moments in life of Jews
Follows mitzvots
Follows tradition and Rabbinic laws
Birth beliefs
Life starts when halfway emerged from the mother’s body
Born free of sin
Mother mustn’t touch anything sacred for a period of time after (Leviticus 12:3)
Mother has to be purified afterwards by attending mikvah
Time mother has to wait before touching anything after birth
7 + 33 days for boys
14 + 66 days for boys
Naming of child beliefs
Child is always given Hebrew name + English name to use in outside world
Girl’s name is officially given in synagogue when father takes an aliyah (reading from Torah)
Reform daughter might have Simchat Bat (“rejoicing for a daughter” celebration”)
Boy’s name is given during Brit Milah
Brit Milah beliefs
“covenant of circumcision”
physical sign of God’s covenant
must be done by a mohel
firstborn son may provide service to Temple until a small sum of money is paid to a kohein (priest descendant of Aaron)
Bar and Bat Mitzvah beliefs
13 for boys
12 for girls (13 in Reform)
coming of age when young people take responsibility for actions and faith
boy (and girl in Reform) can take active part in service or be in minyan
Liberal have Kabbalat Torah (age 15) to confirm acceptance of Jewish way of life
young boys prepare by studying tests
girls also bake challah bread and volunteer
Marriage beliefs
Kiddushin (betrothal) is binding engagement and first part of marriage
Nisuin (full name of marriage)
Couple stand under huppah (canopy symbolising beginning of a new home)
Both exchange rings in Reform
Groom gives bride plain metal ring placed on right forefinger
Marriage becomes official when groom gives bride valuable object
Sheva Brechot (“seven blessings”) recited in presence of guests
2 religious males sign marriage contract in Orthodox
2 people sign marriage contract in Reform
Groom stamps on small glass to represent destruction of Temple
Mourning ceremonies beliefs
Helps bereaved to return to normal life
avelut “mourning”
Orthodox will make tear in clothes when hearing someone has died
Reform might wear black ribbon or cut tie
Both will make blessing to God referring
to him as true judge
5 stages of avelut
Aninut: death to burial
Shiva: first seven days of mourning
Shelashim: 30 days after burial (complete mourning period for all except when for a parent
Yud-bet chodesh: “year of mourning” for a parent twelve Hebrew months after death
Yahrzeit: anniversary date of death according to Jewish calendar
How aninut is celebrated
Dead person is buried
After funeral, mourners have meal of consolation (hard-boiled egg and beigel (circular roll)) to symbolise circle of life
How shiva is celebrated
stay at home, sitting on low stalls or floor
don’t wear leather shoes, shave / cut hair, wear cosmetics, work
wear the clothes they wore to funeral
don’t do things to bring comfort or pleasure
pray 3 times daily with friends, family and neighbours to make minyan
How sheloshim is celebrated
Normal life resumes
Don’t attend parties, listen to music or shave / cut hair
Male mourners recite Mourner’s Kaddish daily in synagogue
How yud-bet chodesh is celebrated
Mourning continues like in Sheloshim
On anniversary, Yahzreit candle is lit and men (and women in Reform) recite Mourner’s Kaddish
Jewish funeral beliefs
Body is washed and wrapped in linen
Dead men are wrapped in tallit, and tassels are cut off
Plain coffins used to resemble equality of death between rich and poor
Shabbat at home
3 meals at home
Friday evening meal begins with Kiddush
End of Shabbat is marked by havdalah blessing over wine on Saturday
Home is cleaned ready for Shabbat
Special activities like lightning candles before Shabbat starts are done to conform to Shabbat rules
Shabbat at synagogue
Shabbat service:
Amidah is said
Torah is remover from Ark as first part of Shema is recited
Section of Torah is changed from bimah
Torah is retuned to Ark after reading
Rabin gives sermon
Shabbat service ends with prayers e.g. Aleinu
Kaddish prayer is said
Hymn of Adon Olam (“Master of the World”) is said
Importance of Shabbat
One of Ten Commandments
Difficult in some countries
Rabbinical study helps modern Jews tackle modern problems with Shabbat
Modern Jews have to compromise to follow Shabbat rules
Day of enjoyment and time to connect with family for modern Jews
Festivals general favts
Occur at set times in Jewish and lunar calendar
Most are based on history of Jewish people
Joyful events celebrate God’s involvement on their behalf
Some focus on God as creator
Others on relationships with God
Usually celebrated at home and in synagogue, with family and community
Importance of festivals for Jews today
Important lessons in Jewish history
Unites local and universal Jewish community
Part of tradition, important for Orthodox
May have modern twist for Reform
Rosh Hashanah beliefs
“head of the year” - first day of the year
Anniversary of creation
Celebrated over 2 days for Orthodox (1 for Reform)
Time for Jews to ask for forgiveness of others before God’s judgement on Yom Kippur
Fruit is eaten in festive meal to symbolise renewal
Tashlikh ceremony when families visit stream, recite prayers and empty pockets to represent casting off of sins
Yom Kippur beliefs
“Day of Atonement”
Day to reflect on sins and seek forgiveness from God
Jews fast for 25 hours (Leviticus 16)
Kol Nidre (“All Vows”) where Jews cancel vows they cannot keep
Wear white to symbolise purity and avoid leather shoes which suggests luxury
Pesach beliefs
Celebrates liberation of Jews from Egypt
Reminder of God’s love for oppressed and weak
Home must be cleaned throughly
No chametz (“leaven”) is eaten for 7 days
8 days for Orthodox, 7 days for Reform
Seder meal is eaten
4 cups of wine drunk as 4 symbols of freedom
5th cup of wine left for Elias
Parts of Seder plate
Zeroa and Baytzah (shank bone and roasted egg) - reminders of sacrifices used to be done at Temple
Karpas (green, leafy vegetable dipped in salt water) - represents tears
Maror and Chasoret (bitter herbs dipped in sweet apple, cinnamon, nut and wine mix) - represents bitterness of slavery and sweetness of freedom
Chazaret (grated fresh horseradish) - another type of Maror
Shavuot beliefs
Celebrates giving of Law on amount Sinai
Jews take time to explore texts as a community
Several customs e.g. eat dairy or decorate synagogue in greenery
Sukkot beliefs
Feast of the Booths
Reminder of dwellings during time in wilderness
Celebrated for 8 days
Time of particular hospitality to others
Synagogue facts
“bringing of people”
encouraged to worship as community (Proverbs 14:28)
sometimes called shul (“school”)
identified by Star of David or menorah outside
Should face Jerusalem
Objects of devotion
Ark
Ner tamid
Bimah
Ark facts
Aron Kodesh
Where Torah scrolls are kept
In honour of Holy of Holies in Temple which contained Ark of the Covenant
Doors and curtains only opened when Torah isn’t inside
Ner tamid facts
“Eternal light”
Kept burning in front or above of Ark
Requirement as said in Exodus 27:20-21
Reflects God’s eternal nature
Bimah facts
Reflects design of ancient Temple
Service is lead from bimah
Torah is read from bimah with a yad
Synagogue within community
Place of worship and education
Community centre
Celebration of festivals
Tradition within synagogue
Men and women sit together in Reform (not in Orthodox)
Married women cover head in Orthodox
Women encouraged to wear tallit and kippah as sign of equal obligation
Musical instruments in Reform (not Orthodox)
Women have active part in Reform (not Orthodox)
