8.5 Ritual And Ceremony

Question 1

Importance of ritual for Jews today

Answer 1

Observance shows gratitude to God
Provides a sense of Jewish identity
Brings God into everyday life

Question 2

What is a mikvah?

Answer 2

Ritual bath for purification

Question 3

What does the mother have after she has finished bleeding?

Answer 3

A mikvah

Question 4

When do women have a mikvah?

Answer 4

One she has finished bleeding
—> not before 7 days if she had a boy
—> not before 14 days if she had a girl

Question 5

What happens when a baby boy in born?

Answer 5

Cannot touch anything sacred for 7 days plus 33 days
Mikvah after 7 days
Given a Hebrew and English name

Question 6

What happens when a baby girl is born?

Answer 6

Cannot touch anything sacred for 14 days plus 66 days
Mikvah after 14 days
Officially given their name after her father takes a reading from the Torah
Given a Hebrew and English name

Question 7

What is Brit Milah?

Answer 7

Covenant of circumcision
- one of the most observed mitzvot in Judaism
Done by a Mohel

Question 8

Who is circumcision performed by?

Answer 8

A Mohel

Question 9

What is the name of the ritual performed by Orthodox Jews for their first born sons?

Answer 9

Pidyon ha-ben
—> or ‘Redemption of the Son’

Question 10

Why is the ritual Pidyon ha-ben done by Orthodox Jews for their first born sons?

Answer 10

Historically the first born son provided service to the Temple
Now they pay a small sum to redeem their child

Question 11

When do children have their Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s?

Answer 11

Boys: 13
Girls:
- Orthodox: 12
- Reform and Liberal: 13

Question 12

What does the Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony do?

Answer 12

Boys can lead the synagogue service/take an active part in services
Be in a minyan and read as a part of services

Question 13

What are young Jews expected to do before their Bar/Bat Mitzvah?

Answer 13

Study and prepare carefully
—> they will read various texts
Girls: learning, volunteering, charitable tasks (baking Challah bread for Shabbat)
Reform and Liberal: boys and girls read from the Torah, boys sometimes do the tasks

Question 14

What is Kiddushin?

Answer 14

Engagement ritual

Question 15

What is Nisuin?

Answer 15

Full marriage ceremony

Question 16

How long is the marriage ceremony for?

Answer 16

Around 30 minutes

Question 17

Reform Jews (marriage)

Answer 17

Both exchange rings
Both men + women wear a ring
2 Jewish adults for witnesses
Anyone can get married (same sex marriage allowed)

Question 18

Orthodox Jews (marriage)

Answer 18

Plain metal ring - traditionally placed on the bride’s right forefinger
Only women wear a ring
2 men are witnesses
Men and women can get married (same sex marriage is not allowed)

Question 19

What is the Chatan?

Answer 19

The groom

Question 20

What is the Kallah?

Answer 20

Bride

Question 21

What is Sheva Brechot?

Answer 21

‘Seven blessings’
Recited in the presence of guests or the Rabbi

Question 22

What does the groom do (marriage)?

Answer 22

Stamp on a small glass
—> symbolises the destruction of the Temple
Gives object of value to the bride

Question 23

What is the canopy?

Answer 23

Represents their new home

Question 24

What is Challah?

Answer 24

Plaited bread prepared before Shabbat begins

Question 25

What do mourning ceremonies aim to do?

Answer 25

Help the mourners return to normal life after the loss of a loved one

Question 26

what is the Jewish word for mourning?

Answer 26

Avelut

Question 27

What do many Orthodox Jews do upon hearing the death of a loved one?

Answer 27

Make a tear in their clothes —> following the example of Jacob

Question 28

Quote for mourning - tear in clothes

Answer 28

“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days” Genesis 37:34

Question 29

What might Reform Jews do (mourning)?

Answer 29

Wear a torn black ribbon or cut a tie

Question 30

What is Shiva?

Answer 30

The first 7 days of mourning - the day of burial is day 1

Question 31

What do Jews do after the funeral?

Answer 31

Return to their home where ritual mourning will take place to eat a ‘meal of consolidation’

Question 32

What is the ‘meal of consolidaton’ usually (mourning)?

Answer 32

A hard boiled egg and a bagel —> circular roll symbolises the circle of life

Question 33

What is Eulogy?

Answer 33

Speech of praise and remembrance for someone who has died

Question 34

What do Jews leave at a grave?

Answer 34

Stones or pebbles Not flowers (symbolises life)

Question 35

What do mourners do during Shiva?

Answer 35

Stay at home sitting on low stalls/the floor Don’t wear leather shoes, shave or cut hair, wear cosmetic or work Don’t do things that bring comfort or pleasure Pray 3 times a day with friends, family, and neighbours (making up the minyan)

Question 36

What is Sheloshim?

Answer 36

First 30 days following the burial

Question 37

Why are Yahrzeit candles lit?

Answer 37

To remember the dead

Question 38

Are Jews buried or cremated?

Answer 38

Traditionally buried within 24 hours of death Some Reform and Liberal Jews permit cremation

Question 39

Features of funerals

Answer 39

Candles lit Body is never left alone Plain coffins are used to show a quality in death Funeral takes place at the cemetery —> Jews consider synagogues as places for the living

Question 40

What is the body washed and wrapped in (funeral)?

Answer 40

Linen shroud

Question 41

What do men wear at funerals?

Answer 41

Their tallits —> tassels are cut off being unnecessary

Question 42

Why do Jews wash their hand without drying them at funerals?

Answer 42

Symbolises leaving death and re-entering life

Question 43

What aren’t allowed at Jewish funerals?

Answer 43

Can’t talk to immediate family No flowers No open casket

Question 44

How many shovels of dirt do mourners put on top of the coffin in the ground?

Answer 44

1 or 3 —> keep the shovel in the ground rather than passing it (a mitzvot)

Question 45

What is made for the family when at a funeral?

Answer 45

Two parallel lines for family to walk between to show support —> say ‘may God comfort you’ —> to comfort and support the family