Judaism: Practices Flashcards
(63 cards)
1
Q
What is a synagogue?
A
- A synagogue provides a space for Jews to meet and takepart in a wide range of activities, from worship and prayer to community meetings and social clubs.
- Synagogues are usually identified from their use of Jewish symbols on the outside of the building
2
Q
What is the importance of the synagogue?
A
- The synagogue provides a space for worship and communal prayer
- The synagogue helps to educate Jews of all ages in their faith
- Most synagogues host a variety of activities for children, teenagers and adults in their social hall
- The synagogue helps Jews to donate their time and money to charity. Synagogues often hold events to raise money for charity
3
Q
What is the prayer hall?
A
• The prayer hall is the room in the synagogue where Jews come together for communal worship and prayer.
• It is usually rectangular in shape, with seats on three sides of the hall facing inwards towards the bimah, which is situated in the centre. The fourth side is where the Ark is kept, which is the - focal point of the synagogue.
• The prayer hall might be decorated with patterns, Jewish symbols or extracts from scripture. Images of God, the prophets or other religious figures are not allowed, as this goes against the second commandment.
4
Q
What is the Ark/ Aron Pakadesh?
A
An ornamental cabinet or container where the Torah scrolls are kept.
5
Q
What is the importance of the Ark/ Aron Pakadesh?
A
Represents the original Ark of the Covenant:contained the Ten Commandments, which God gave to Moses
The first Ark was taken to Jerusalem and placed in Solomon’s Temple
The Temple was the focal point of Jewish worship in early Judaism
Today, when Jews face the Ark in the synagogue, they face the city where the Temple once stood
By climbing up steps to reach the Ark, Jews are reminded that God is above his people and the sacred Torah is above humanit
6
Q
What us the Ner Tamid (Ever-burning light)
A
A light that is placed in front of and slightly above the Ark. Symbolises God’s presence, so it is never put out. A reminder of the menorah that was lit every night in the Temple in Jerusalem
7
Q
What is the reading platform and its importance?
A
Bimah:
* A raised platform situated in most synagogues in the centre of the prayer hall
* Where the Torah is read from during services
* Provides a focal point when the Torah is being read
* To some Jews it is a reminder that the altar was the central feature of the courtyard in the Temple in Jerusalem
8
Q
What are the facts of an Orthodox Synagogue service?
A
- Person leading the service has his back to the congregation and is facing the ark and prays facing the same direction as congregation
- Conducted in Hebrew and singing is unaccompanied
- Hold daily services 3x a day
- Men and women sit and pray separately
- All rabis are male
- Different roles for males and females
- Services longer and more rigidly structured
- Girls cannot have a bat mitzah
9
Q
What are the facts of a Reform Synagogue Service?
A
- person leading the service faces the congregation most of the time
- Conducted in Hebrew and conducted in native language
- Many don’t hold daily services but concentrate instead on celebrating Shabbat and festivals
- Men and women sit together
- Allow women to take a more active part as a rabi
- Women can preform all rituals traditionally reserved for men such as becoming a rabbi, publicly reading the Torah etc.
- Services are shorter but tend to be less rigidly structure
- Girls can have a bat mitzvah
10
Q
What is the Torah and its importance?
A
- For Orthodox Jews, the Torah and Talmud are considered to be the source of all Jewish laws, legal teachings and decisions that affect their daily lives.
- For this reason they are studied extensively by Orthodox Jews, who may attend classes and lectures to develop their understanding.
- Reform Jews do not regard the Torah and Talmud with the same absolute authority and may not study them as much.
11
Q
What is Orthodox Judaism and its beliefs?
A
- The traditional branch of Judaism * Orthodox Jews emphasise the importance of strictly following the laws in the Torah
- They believe the Torah was given directly to Moses by God, so should be followed as closely as possible
- Orthodox Jews believe men and women should have different roles
12
Q
What is reform judaism and its beliefs?
A
- A type of progressive Judaism
- Reform Jews emphasise the importance of individual choice in deciding how to worship and practise the faith
- They believe the Torah was inspired by God but written by humans, so it can be adapted for modern times
- Reform Jews believe men and women should be able to undertake the same roles
13
Q
What is the Tallit and its importance?
A
Tallit:
A prayer shawl made from wool or silk
A long tassel is attached to each corner
The shawl reminds Jews they are obeying God’s word whenever they wear it
The tassels represent the mitzvot
14
Q
What is the Teffilin and its importance?
A
Teffilin:
A pair of small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah, including some of the words of the Shema
Reminds Jews that their mind should be concentrating fully on God when they pray, and their prayers should come from the heart
15
Q
What is the importance of prayer?
A
- It is a way to communicate with God
- Brings Jews closer to God
- Helps Jews to remember what their faith is about
- Communal prayer strengthens the Jewish community
16
Q
What is the format of Jewish services?
A
On weekdays, prayer services are held in Orthodox synagogues in the morning, afternoon and evening. The service often consists of the following parts:
Shema
Amidah
17
Q
What is the Amidah?
A
The Amidah (standing prayer’) is said. This is the central prayer of Jewish worship, and on a weekday it forms the core of all Jewish prayer services. It is prayed in silence while standing and facing Jerusalem. It consists of a series of blessings:
- the first three blessings praise God and ask for his mercy
- the middle thirteen blessings ask for God’s help
- the final three blessings thank God for the opportunity to serve him and pray for peace, goodness, kindness and compassion.
18
Q
What is Shabbat?
A
- Describes in Jewish literature and poetry as a bride or queen
- A gift from God of a day of rest and renewal
- A time to relax and rest, worship God and enjoy family life
- Time ti celebrate that God has kept his promises in his covenants with the Jews
- A day that God has commanded Jews to celebrate ‘remember the sabbath day and keep it holy’
- A time to celebrate God’s creation- The genesis creation story
19
Q
What are the Shabbat services?
A
On Friday evening, there is a brief service in the synagogue, during which Shabbat is welcomed like a bride coming to meet her husband
* Some synagogues hold a service during Shabbat for families with children, including storytelling, games and music.
20
Q
What occurs on Saturday of Shabbat?
A
The main service is on Saturday morning. This service is longer than the weekday prayer services, as it includes a reading from the Torah and often a sermon, as well as prayers and blessings. After the reading is finished, the Torah scrolls are dressed and paraded around the synagogue again, and placed back in the Ark. The rabbi or visiting speaker then gives a sermony
21
Q
What is a quote about Shabbat?
A
“Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” - Exodus: 20
22
Q
What are Shabbat preparations?
A
- All work is done and the home prepared before Shabbat begins on Friday evening, involving cleaning the house and changing into smart clothes
- At least two candles placed on table
- Two loaves of challah bread placed on table
- Wine or grape juice placed on table (wine drunk from Kiddush cup)
23
Q
What is the process of lighting the candles for shabbat?
A
- A female member of the family (usually the wife) lights the two candles, shortly before sunset on Friday.
- She waves or beckons with her arms around the candles, then covers her eyes to say a blessing.
- She also says a prayer asking God to bless the family.
24
Q
What is the Shabbat Friday meal?
A
- Parents bless their children and head of household recites the Kiddush blessings whilst holding Kiddush cup
- To begin meal, bread is blessed and passed around
- The meal may last for a few hours
- After each course, religious stories or songs may told to children
- Meal ends with a prayer of thanksgiving for the food
25
How do Jews practice prayer at home/ private?
* Jews are expected to pray three times a day. They traditionally stand to pray, and if they are alone they pray silently.
Jews are also reminded of God in the home in other ways. For example, many Jewish homes have one or more mezuzot. A mezuzah is a small box that contains a handwritten scroll of verses from the Torah, which is attached to a doorpost. Jews touch the mezuzah as a sign of respect to God and a reminder to obey his laws.
* In Jewish Orthodox homes, the layout of the kitchen will also remind Jews of God and the need to obey the dietary laws
26
What are the three main parts of the Tenakh?
The Tenakh is in three main parts:
1 the Torah: the five books of Moses, which form the basis of Jewish law
2 the Nevi'im (the Prophets): eight books that continue to trace Jewish history and expand on the laws in the Torah
3 the Ketuvim (the Writings): eleven books that contain a collection of poetry, stories, advice, historical accounts and more
27
What is the Talmud?
The Talmud is in two main parts:
1) the Mishnah: a commentary on the Torah compiled by Rabbi Judah Ha' Nasi in 200 CE
* Ha'Nasi wrote down the oral law: the early teachings about how to interpret the Torah, which had been passed down from generation to generation by word of mouth
* there was a danger these teachings would be altered or
misinterpreted without a written record of them, so Ha'Nasi compiled the Mishnah to stop this from happening
2) the Gemara: a collection of discussions on the Mishnah
28
What are Jewish dietary laws?
The laws categorise food as being acceptable (kosher) or unacceptable (trefah).
* Orthodox Jews follow the dietary laws strictly. They believe the laws have come from God to test their obedience and help develop their self-control. The laws remind people daily of their faith, and mark out Jewish people as different from others.
* Many Reform Jews think the laws are outdated in modern British society, and it is up to an individual whether to follow them or not.
29
How is kosher followed in butchers
* the animal must be slaughtered with a very sharp knife by a trained Jew
* the animal has to be conscious when it is killed blood is drained from the animal as Jews are not permitted to consume food containing blood.
30
How do Jewish Kitchens follow dietary laws?
* many Orthodox homes have kitchens with two sinks and two food preparation areas, to keep milk and meat separate
* Jews may also colour-code their utensils, cutlery and crockery, so one set is used for meat dishes and another for dairy products
* most synagogues have kosher kitchens, so they can prepare food for events without breaking dietary laws
31
What are the origins of Rosh Hashanah?
* Rosh Hashanah remembers God's creation of the world, and is also a day of judgement
* It is considered to be the anniversary of the day on which God created humans, as described in Genesis 1.
32
What are the origins of Yom Kippur?
* Yom Kippur, which is known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar
* Its origins stem from Leviticus 16:30, which tells Jews that on Yom Kippur, 'atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins'
* Jews believe God's judgement is finalised on this day, so it is the last chance to repent for any sins
33
How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated in Britain today?
* Jews believe God's judgement can be influenced by their behaviour during the festival, so they try to take actions that will improve God's judgement
* The day before Rosh Hashanah, preparations are made similar to those made for Shabbat
* At the evening service, prayers are said asking God to continue to be the King of the world for the coming year
* Next morning a ram's horn is blown 100x and followed by a service- Shofar
* Throw rocks off a bridge to signify the removal of their sins
34
How is Yom Kippur celebrated in Britain today?
Many Jews spend much of Yom Kippur in the synagogue
* They focus on asking God to forgive their sins, to help restore their relationship with him
* Jews take part in a general confession of sins as a community
* During Yom Kippur, Jews fast for 25 hours and do no work
* They wear white as a symbol of purity
35
What are the origins of Pesach?
* Pesach celebrates the Jews' escape from slavery in Egypt, after which they spent many years wandering in the desert before reaching the land of Canaan
* In particular, Pesach remembers the final plague that God sent to Egypt to persuade the Pharaoh
36
How do Jews prepare of Pesach?
* The most important preparation is to remove leaven (yeast) from the home. Removing leaven
ecalls how the Jews did not have time to let their bread rise when they escaped from Egypt.
* After cleaning the house, some parents or children hide bread crumbs to find and burn, to show
all leaven has been removed.
* Some firstborn males fast before Pesach starts, in thanksgiving for their ancestors' escape from death.
37
What is the importance of Pesach for Jews?
Pesach is important for Jews as it celebrates their escape from slavery to create the birth of the Jewish nation, when they were given the law that made them God's chosen people. It is a time for Jews to gives thanks to God for their redemption, and to feel empathy with those who still live under oppression.
38
What is the Passover Sedar?
• On the first evening of Pesach, families celebrate with a special meal (called the Passover Seder).
• During the meal, the youngest member of the family asks four questions about the meaning of Pesach rituals.
39
What does the red wine represent during Pesach?
A reminder of the lambs' blood the Jews smeared on theirdoorposts to save their children from the final plague
40
What does unleavened bread represent during Pesach?
This fulfils God's command to celebrate the escape from Egypt by eating unleavened bread for seven days each year
41
What doe green vegetables represent on Sedar plate?
The green vegetable symbolises new life in the Promised Land
42
What does salt water represent on the sedar plate?
The salt water represents the tears shed in slavery
43
What do the bitter herbs represent on the sedar plate?
The bitter herbs represent the bitterness of slavery
44
What does the egg and lamb bone represent on the sedar plate?
The egg and lamb bone are reminders of sacrifices made in the Temple of Jerusalem
45
What is on the sedar plate?
Red wine
Unleavened bread
Green vegetables
Salt water
Bitter herbs
Egg
Lamb bone
46
What is the process of the naming ceremony?
• Boys and girls born into Orthodox families are blessed in the synagogue on the first Shabbat after their birth
• The father recites the Torah blessing, and asks God for the good health of his wife and baby
• A baby girl's name will be announced at this point
• A boy will be named later at his circumcision
47
What is the importance of the naming ceremony?
The naming ceremony formally introduces the baby to the community and God
48
What is the process of Brit Milah during birth?
This ceremony happens when a baby boy is eight days old
• A close friend or relative places the baby on an empty chair that symbolises the presence of the prophet Elijah
• A trained circumciser picks up the baby and places him on the knee of the person who has been given the honoured role of being 'the companion of the child'
• The baby's father blesses his son
• A blessing is said over wine and the baby is formally named
• The baby is circumcised in a simple operation that quickly heals
• Family and guests then enjoy a festive meal to celebrate
49
What is the significance of the Brit Milah?
Brit Milah recalls the covenant God made with Abraham, where God told Abraham that circumcision would 'be the sign of the covenant between Me and you' (Genesis 17:11)
• It provides a lifelong reminder to a male Jew
that they are one of God's chosen people
50
What is the process of the redemption of the first born son?
• Some Orthodox Jews give a small amount of money 31 days after the birth of their firstborn son, to redeem' him from Temple destruction
Five silver coins are given to a kohen: a descendent of
the priests who used to work in the Temple
• Prayers are also said, asking that the child may 'enter into Torah, into marriage, and into good deeds.
51
What is the significance of the redemption of the firstborn son?
This tradition comes from
the following command in Numbers 18 'but you
shall have the first-born of man redeemed . . . Take as their redemption price...the money equivalent of five shekels'
52
What is the significance of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah's?
• It is when a Jew is seen to become an adult
• Preparing carefully for it brings Jews closer to God and the Jewish community
• It is when a Jew is expected to start strictly following Jewish law, and takes full responsibility for doing so- following the Sinai covenant
• It is when a Jewish boy is allowed to become part of the minyan- public prayer
53
What is the process of Bar Mitzah?
• At the first opportunity after his thirteenth birthday, the boy reads from the Torah at the normal service in the synagogue. Many synagogues hold classes to prepare boys for this occasion.
• The boy wears a tallit for the first time, may lead part of the service - reading from the Torah or saying prayers - and makes a short speech.
• The boy's father thanks God for bringing his son to maturity, and declares he is now responsible for his own actions.
• After service there is often a celebratory meal or party
54
What is the process of Bat Mitzvah?
• Reform Jewish girls often have a Bat Mitzvah ceremony and celebrations that are very similar to a Bar Mitzvah.
• The girl reads from the Torah, gives a short speech, and may lead part of the service in the synagogue.
• This is often followed by a celebratory meal or party.
• Orthodox Jews sometimes mark a girl's Bat Mitzvah with a family meal and small religious gifts.
55
What is the Betrothal?
• Betrothal refers to the period of time before the wedding ceremony when the couple are engaged or promised to each other. This traditionally lasts for 12 months.
Betrothal has legal status in Jewish law and can only be broken by death or divorce.
During the year of betrothal the couple do not live together, but they do prepare for their future lives together.
56
What is the process of the Marriage contract?
• The marriage contract is signed in the presence of witnesses, then read out and given to the bride
• For Orthodox Jews this covers aspects such as the husband's duties to his wife, the conditions of inheritance upon his death, and how he will provide for his wife if they get divorced
• For Reform Jews, the marriage contract usually focuses on spiritual aspirations rather than legal rights. It often describes mutual hopes for the marriage, which are the same for the husband and wife
57
What is the process of a marriage?
Seven wedding blessings are recited under the chuppah, symbolising their home together
• The rabbi makes a short speech and blesses the couple in front of the congregation
• The groom breaks a glass under his heel to show regret for the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem - this is a reminder that life involves hardship as well as joy
• The congregation wishes the couple good luck
58
What is the quote for marriage?
"That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh." Genesis 2:24
59
What occurs when a death is announced?
• When Jews first hear of the death of a close family member, they make a small tear in their clothes an outward manifestation of their grief and lamentation, to follow the example of Jacob, as described in Genesis 37:34
60
What is the 1st period of mourning!
• Most Jews are buried as soon after death as possible, usually within the first 24 hours
Until then, Jews believe the deceased's soul should be comforted and supported by family members, because it does not fully leave the person until they are buried
61
What is the 2nd period of mourning (Shiva)?
Shiva is an intense period of mourning that lasts for seven days, starting on the day of
the burial
Mourners do not work but stay at home and hold prayer services three times a day
One of the prayers said is the kaddish, which praises God and asks for peace
Mourners do not wear make-up, shave or cut their hair
62
What is the 3rd period of mourning?
• This begins after shiva and lasts until 30 days after the person's death
• Normal life resumes but mourners do not listen to music, go to parties, shave or cut their hair
• Male mourners say the kaddish daily in the synagogue
63
What is the process of a funeral?
• Before the funeral, the body is carefully washed and wrapped in a plain linen cloth, as well as a tallit for men. It is placed in a simple coffin to show that everyone is equal in death.
Funerals do not usually take place in the synagogue as this is considered to be a place for the living. Instead the body is taken straight to the cemetery.
After the funeral, everyone washes their hands to show they are leaving death behind.
