JUDAISM - PRACTICES

Question 1

Where does public worship take places for jews?

Answer 1

synagogue

Question 2

Why is public worship important?

Answer 2

by praying together they are following what God is asking of them
gives jews a sense of identity
inspire and strength seeing other jews pray

Question 3

SOWA for public worship?

Answer 3

Bible says that vows to the Lord should be made in front of all the people and in the courts of the Temple (SOWA)

Question 4

What is the minyan and who believes in it?

Answer 4

where 10 men (Orthodox) or 10 men and women (Reform) are necessary for a service to be held in the synagogue

Question 5

3 types of public prayer?

Answer 5

daily prayer services - shema
shabbat services
festival services

Question 6

where do jews get there daily prayer from?

Answer 6

siddur

Question 7

differences between reform and orthodox synagogue services

Answer 7

reform - sing, do it in local language, women can be rabbis, men and women sit together, no head coverings need to be worn

orthodox - opposite + only men over 13 can create minyan

Question 8

basic structure of synagogue worship?

Answer 8

removal of torah scrolls from ark - use tallit and bimah
recite shema and amidah
readings from torah

reminds jews they are gods people and keeps covenant

Question 9

importance of synagogue services?

Answer 9

community - festivals require community, share family celebrations, unite local community in prayer and create minyan

individual - belonging, purpose and order, torah readings, rabbi teaches mitzvot

Question 10

What is the tenakh and what does it stand for?

Answer 10

Hebrew bible containing 24 books

T - Torah which contains first 5 books of the bible with stories about abraham, moses and the covenant at mount sinai + writings

N - Nevi’im contains books on the kings of israel and messages to the prophets

K - Ketuvim contains books with poetry and wisdom stories

Question 11

Why is tenakh important for jews today?

Answer 11

Torah read 4 times a week in orthodox and 1 time a week in reform synagogues
Torah contains mitzvot
psalms often used in daily prayer
contains covenants with abraham and moses
teachings about messiah

Question 12

SOWA for importance of tenakh

Answer 12

Perkei Avot states that if a person knows the Torah they have attained eternal life.

Question 13

What is the talmud?

Answer 13

a commentary on the Mishnah (The Mishnah is referred to as the Oral Law). It is believed that the oral law was given at the same time as the written law on Mount Sinai and was given to Moses but not written down until later

Question 14

What is the purpose of the talmud?

Answer 14

helps jews to understand the laws of judaism more clearly

Question 15

Two parts of talmud?

Answer 15

Mishnah - oral law
Gemara - written version of the discussions between the Rabbis’s about how to apply the laws to everyday life

Question 16

Importance of talmud today?

Answer 16

Explain mitzvot
Gemara gives discussions from rabbis
studied by rabbis and used in lectures
forms basis of the code of jewish law (halakah)

Question 17

What are the food laws in the torah and what is kosher?

Answer 17

Kashrut

kosher is clean/fit and describes food that is ok to eat for jews
non-kosher food is treifah

Question 18

SOWA for kosher/kashrut?

Answer 18

The Book of Deuteronomy (SOWA) says that you can eat any animal that has a divided hoof and chews the cud. Also, you should not boil a kid in its mother’s milk (this is mixing meat and dairy).

Question 19

food law basics?

Answer 19

Meat from cow sheep goat is good - pig is not
not meat + dairy
all veg and fruit is fine
animals killed in accordance to jewish law - quick and easy

Question 20

How many times a day do jews pray and when? + SOWA

Answer 20

3 Times a day morning noon and night

morning - thanks to god
evening - shema

Psalm 55 (SOWA) describes how the person writing this psalm cries out in distress to God morning, noon and night

Question 21

What happens during shabbat prayer?

Answer 21

meal is prepared and candles are lit
prayer is said before the meal
prayers are also said throughout the meal

Question 22

Why private prayer/worship is important for jews?

Answer 22

prayer before eating
connecting as a family through faith
individually having time with god
constantly keeping god in the forefront of a jewish heart and mind
shabbat brings together family and friends
strengthens relationship with god
shows appretiation and gratitude

Question 23

Ways of informal private prayer? + sowa

Answer 23

Petition or intercession for what they really need or other
repentance for forgiveness
meditation to be aware of gods presence

Question 24

When can the shema be recited and what does it mean?

Answer 24

belief in one god/almighty can be recited sitting or standing

Question 25

When is shema used?

Answer 25

synagogue
morning noon or night prayer

Question 26

SOWA for shema?

Answer 26

shema is in the torah
The words are contained in the Mezuzah and are often recited as people enter into the house. The Torah commands that the greatest commandment be put on the doorposts. (SOWA).

Question 27

what is a tefflin and what does the shema have to do with it?

Answer 27

tefillin is the black boxes with leather straps that contain the shema to keep it in their mind hearts

Question 28

what is the amidah, what does it mena and when is it recited?

Answer 28

known as the standing prayer and is the core part of every jewish service, it features 3 main parts praise,requests and thanks to god