Judaism Practices Flashcards
When does Brit Milah take place?
It takes place at home surrounded by family and friends when the baby is eight days old
Which covenant did the Brit Milah ceremony fulfil?
The covenant God made with Abraham for every Jewish male to be circumcised. Circumcision is seen as a lifelong reminder the person’s a member of God’s chosen people - the Jews
Brit Milah ceremony order
1) Close friend/relative places the baby on an empty chair
2) A trained circumciser(mohel) places the baby on the knee of a friend or relative
3) The boy’s father blesses his son,thanking God for helping the boy into the covenant of Abraham and there is an overall blessing for the boy to, as he entered into the covenant, enter into the Torah, the marriage and good deeds.
4)Blessing said over wine, baby’s formally named and circumcision occurs.
5)Family and guests enjoy a celebratory meal.
What does the baby placed on an empty chair symbolise in Brit Milah?
The presence of the prophet Elijah
What do Jews do when a loved one dies?
Jews make a tear in their clothes(on the right side of the chest) when they hear of the death of a loved one
What do Jewish children do when they hear of a parent’s death?
They make a tear in their clothes next to their heart. They also say a hlessing referring to God as ‘the true judge’(they accept God’s taking of the person’s life
Four periods of mourning
1) First period(24 hours)
2)Second period - Shiva(seven days- begins on day of burial)
3) Third period(lasts until 30 days after death)
4) Fourth/final period(11 months)
5) The funeral
First period of mourning key features
Close family members stay with the body until the burial
Shiva features
Week long period of intense mourning
Mourners do no work: don’t focus on appearance, sit near floor and don’t wear leather shoes
Prayer services held three times a day in home(minyan)
Mourners recite Kaddish prayer
Third period of mourning key features
Normal life resumes- mourners no longer confined to hone
Activities not in the spirit of mourning avoided(e.g. parties)
Fourth period of mourning features
Mourners don’t attend parties
Children continue to say the kaddish blessing daily in the synagogue if their parent has died
How is a body prepared for the funeral?
The body’s carefully washed, wrapped in a plain linen cloth(tallit for men), then placed in a simple coffin, to show everyone’s equal in death
Where do funerals take place?
A cemetery(a synagogue’s considered a place of living)
Service in funeral
The service takes around 20 minutes and includes prayers, readings from scripture and a speech by a rabbi.
Once the coffin’s lowered into the ground, mourners shovel Earth on top of it.
Mourners wash hands before leaving cemetery - shows they’re leaving death behind
What occurs after the burial in a Jewish funeral?
Meal of condolence(with breads and eggs) which are symbols of new life.
What should be placed on a grave(under Jewish law)
A tombstone - so person is remembered
Conditions for kosher food
1) It’s been slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law.
2) It’s been cooked and prepared in a kosher kitchen.
3)Meat and milk have not been mixed together.
4)Non kosher and kosher ingredients haven’t been mixed together
Passover festival
When God commands Jews to celebrate the escape of the ancient Jews from slavery in Egypt once a year(by the tenth plague sent by God-death of firstborn passed over houses of Jewish people, leaving them unaffected)
When does the Passover festival take place?
Early spring - celebrated over eight days
How do Jews prepare for passover?
God commands Jews to eat unleavened bread in Pesach, to remember the Israelites escaped Egypt in such a hurry they didn’t have time for their bread to rise. Preparation - remove all leaven(crumbs) from home
Seder meal
Special meal eaten on the first evening of Passover where the youngest person questions what’s special about the occasion and why certain foods are eaten and in replay the story of the Jews’ escape from Egypt is re-told from a special book
Five questions the youngest person asks in the Seder meal
1) Why is this night different from all other nights?
2) Tonight, why do we eat matzvah?
3)Tonight, why do we eat bitter herbs?
4)Tonight, why do we dip our food in salt water?
5) Tonight, why do we lean to the left as we eat?
Significance of wine(Seder meal)
Four cups of wine are drunk to remind Jews of the four times God promised freedom to the Israelites
Significance of dipping parsley into salt water(Seder meal)
Reminds Jews of sweat and tears of slaves + fresh start God gave the Israelites
What is Matzvah(Seder meal)?
Unleavened bread
Significance of bitter herbs(Seder meal)
Symbolise bitter suffering of slaves in Egypt
Charoset
A tasty mixture of chopped apples, walnuts and spices
Significance of charoset
Represents mortar used to make the bricks to build Pharaoh’s buildings
The sweet taste symbolises freedom.
The bitter herbs are dipped into the charoset.
Significance of roasted egg(Seder meal)
Symbol of harshness of Egyptians and new life offered to Jews by God(egg isn’t actually eaten)
Significance of lamb bone(Seder Meal)
Symbolises sacrifice of lamp, blood of lamp marked Israelites as people of God, but the bone wasn’t eaten
Brit Milah
Ceremony during which the foreskin of a Jewish baby boy is removed from the penis(circumcision)
How long does Rosh Hashanah like?
10 days - Jewish new year period in late September, finishes with Yom Kippur
Atonement
Jewish people trying to make up for their wrongdoings over the last year
Rosh Hashanah
Where God judges the actions of Jewish people over the last year and decides what the year ahead will be like
How do Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah
1) A special meal at home
2) Special prayers
3) A special synagogue service
4) Yom Kippur
5) Confession in synagogue
Rosh Hashanah special meal at home(key features)
Apples dipped in honey to symbolise hopes for a sweet new year.
Pomegranates(613 seeds) to remind Jews of the importance of following the Mitzvot.
Challah bread in a round shape - symbolises crown of God’s kingship
Rosh Hashanah special prayer:
“Blessed are you O Lord our God, king of the Universe, May you renew us in a good and sweet year.”
Rosh Hashanah special synagogue service
Shofar(a ram’s horn) is blown 100 times in the synagogue to announce Rosh Hashanah.
Special service held, with extra prayers to help people reflect on actions over the last year
Significance of Shofar
Reminder God’s all powerful and must be listened to
Yom Kippur key features
No work
Fasting(25 hours)
No bathing
No wearing leather shoes
Having sex is forbidden
White is often worn as a symbol of purity
Most of the day’s spent in the synagogue
Significance of confession in synagogue(as part of Rosh Hashanah)
There’s a general confession as a community, then the doors of the Ark open for one last chance to confess sins.
The doors are then closed, signifying God’s judgement is sealed for another year.
Different names for synagogue
House of prayer/study
‘Shul’(school)- by orthodox Jews
‘Temple’(referring to centre of worship of Temple in Jerusalem for early Jews)- by reform Jews
Minyan
A group of at least 10 adults who pray together