Judaism: Practices Flashcards
(40 cards)
1
Q
What is the Tenakh?
A
- Torah, Nevi’im and Ketuvim combined
- governs all aspects of life
2
Q
What is the importance of the Torah?
A
- divine origins given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai
- links God with Humanity
- absolute + eternal
- Mitzvot separates a Jew from other, as they are part of the covenant
- during a year in a synagogue, the whole Torah will be read out
- study of the Torah is essential - many Orthodox Jews devote their lives to study it
3
Q
What is the purpose of the Torah?
A
-guidance/instruction - following its rules Jews stay close to God
4
Q
What is the importance of the Ketuvim?
A
- unconnected books - poetry, songs, historical stories and philosophical debates
- 5 books correspond to five festivals - eg Purim (Ester)
5
Q
What is the purpose of the Ketuvim?
A
-underlying theme show people’s commitment to God through difficulties and hard work
6
Q
What is the importance of Nevim
A
- contains stories and teaching from prophets
- prophet are chosen by God
7
Q
What is the purpose of Nevim?
A
- historical background of early Judaism
- God’s revelation
- able to learn God’s character
8
Q
What is the importance of the Talmud?
A
- Talmud relates today’s problems to Torah law, interpreting the law, so it is more easily understood and followed
- Mishnah - a study of law
- Gemara - commentary on the Mishnah
- there are Torah references so the reader can see where the study is about
- shows how Jewish thought and understanding have developed over time
- Talmud keeps Jewish law and understanding up to date and applied to modern times
9
Q
Why is the Synagogue important?
A
- house of worship
- place to study the word of G-d - Shul
- worship in the synagogues represent the temple
- minyan (ten member) need to be present for worship
10
Q
What is on the outside of the synagogue?
A
- star of david
- menorah
11
Q
What are the features on the inside?
A
- Aron hakodesh - Ark of the Covenant, housing the Torah - represents the Holy of Hollies, which was the most sacred part of the temple
- A cupboard in the Eastern Wall facing Jerusalem - safeguards and glorifies its contents
- Ner Tamid - represents the ever-burning lamp in the Tabernacle, showing that the Torah should always have the meaning
- Bimah - raised platform where the Torah is read - represents the sanctuary in the temple - teaching should go out to the entire world
12
Q
What are the differences between Orthodox and Reform Jews?
A
- Orthodox Jews use the name ‘Shul’, while Reform use ‘temple’
- Orthodox women sit separately and all face the Bimah, in Reform - all sit together, all face the Ark and Bimah at front of the room
13
Q
What is the importance of worship?
A
- forms part of the covenant, is a mitzvot so is a duty
- keeps people mindful of God and shows devotion
- shows God worship and praise
- brings the community togethar
14
Q
What does synagogue worship consist of?
A
- daily services
- rites of passage
- festivals
15
Q
What does home worship consist of?
A
- Shabbat meals
- circumcision
- thanksgiving
16
Q
What do males wear?
A
- Orthodox men wear kippah, tallit and tefillin
- Reform Jews wear just a kippah
17
Q
Who is a rabbi?
A
- a spiritual leader, a learned man of scripture and law, who has attended Yeshivah
- Reform Jews - allow women to have this role
- cantor sings prayers and often leads worship
18
Q
What is the structure of worship?
A
- centred around different prayers from the siddur and chamash
- on Shabbat both the Torah and prophecies will be read
19
Q
What is the Shema?
A
- declaration of faith
- recited three times daily
- taken directly from verses in the Torah
- three sections follow this statement: God and religious duties, accepting and keeping law, keeping the mitzvot to wear tzitzit
- Reforms Jews don’t include the last two sections
20
Q
Quote from the Shema
A
‘Hear O Israel, the lord your God is one’
21
Q
What is the Amidah?
A
- means ‘standing’
- said stood facing Jerusalem
- 19 blessings: 3 for praise, 13 requests and 3 thanksgiving
- spoken with the movement of lips rather than out loud - the sound comes from the heart
22
Q
What is the Kaddish?
A
- means ‘holy’ - hymn of praise to God
- can only be recited if there is minyan
- different kaddishes for different occasions
23
Q
Quote from the Kaddish
A
‘May His great name be exalted…’
24
Q
What is the Aleinu?
A
- a prayer to praise God and restates a Jew’s dedication to God
- reminds them that God’s rule is eternal
- reminds them that they are the chosen people and that choosing brings with it difficulties
- said at the end of the service
25
What do home prayers require?
- must be in the right mindset (kavanah)
- dressed in a respectable way of God
- don't require a minyan
26
Kippah
- small cap worn by Jewish men
| - women also cover their heads as a sign of respect
27
Tallit
- prayer shawl
- four corners to represent the four corners of the world
- tzitzit - fringes tied with five knots to represent the Ten Commandments
- hang loose to represent the 613 commandments
- reminder of God's law being around them and not to be forgotten
28
Teffilin
- two small leather boxes with straps - one on the forehead and one on the arm
- contains a passage of scripture
- prayers are said to focus the mind
- the box on the arm points to the heart reminding them of God's love and the one on the head is symbolic of being aware of God
29
When to pray?
- Minchah - afternoon prayer according to the Issac timing
- Maariv - evening prayer following Jacob's timing
- mitzvot - shows devotion - links Jews to their history
- cleansing act and a channel of communication with God
30
Shabbat
- Jewish day of rest - sundown on Friday and Saturday evening
- commandment to keep it holy part of the covenant with God
31
What does no work mean?
- Talmud forbids 39 areas of work on Shabbat
| - pikuach nefech overrides Shabbat rules for work
32
How do you get ready for Shabbat?
- house is tidied, food is made, table is set
| - arrangements have to be made to ensure no work needs to be done
33
What happens on the Friday?
- two candles are lit (no later than 18 min before sunset) - mother passes her hand over her eyes and recites the blessing to welcome Shabbat
- two candles are zakhor and shamor (remember and observe Shabbat)
- family attend synagogue - Shabbat prayers are said
- family return for the family meal, where the children are blessed, Kiddush is recited and prayers are said over the wine to make it holy
- challah is blessed and songs are sung
34
What happens on the Saturday?
- whole family attends synagogue after the rituals of Kiddush and the two challah have been repeated
- reading of the Torah is central
- Kiddush is shared at the end of the service
- Orthodox Jews may spend the day in study of the Torah and for others it is family time
- Shabbat ends with Havdalah - lighting candles is an act of work so indicates the separation of the Shabbat from other days
35
What is the importance of Shabbat?
- day of rest
- giving time to study and reflect
- brings the family and community together and shows respect, devotion and duty to God
- Jews are bound by the covenant promises and honours tradition (minhag)
36
What is a brit milah?
- birth ceremony for a boy in Judaism
- happens eight days after birth
- at a home or in shul
- boy is circumcised as part of the covenant and the male becomes part of the Jewish faith
37
What happens in a brit milah?
- a mohel attends the home
- father wears his tallit and teffilin as a symbol of the commandments
- boy is given to a sandek, who holds the child while the circumcision is carried out
- candles are lit to remember the room being lit when Moses was born
- mohel blesses the child, the father reads the passage from the Torah and on completion of the circumcision the boy's name is announced
- boy is then fed by his mother and a celebratory meal is enjoyed
38
What is the tradition of welcoming girls to the family?
- customary to name the girl in the synagogue after the father has been called to read the Torah on the first Shabbat after her birth - congregation sings to welcome her - family provide Kiddush in celebration
- reform Jews take the girls to Shabbat services
- in other communities, she stays at home, where the rabbi will bless her
39
What is marriage?
- blessing from God
- fulfils the commandment in Genesis 'be fruitful and multiply'
- Jews believe marriage is a natural state for humans and the place to bring up children
- it is expected that all Jews marry and have children - it helps get over loneliness
40
What happens in a Jewish wedding?
- takes place under a wedding canopy (huppah)
- bride and groom recite blessing over wine and give exchange rings
- ketubah is signed before witnesses, then the rabbi gives a speech about marriage, followed by further blessings
- after sharing a glass of wine, the groom crushes a glass underfoot
- the couple share some private time
