Judaism Practices

Question 1

Star of David

Answer 1

Jewish symbol

Question 2

Bimah

Answer 2

Podium or platform in the synagogue from which the Torah and prophets read from.

Question 3

Aron hakadesh

Answer 3

Ark in synagogue, contains each torah scroll.

Question 4

Ner tamid

Answer 4

A eternal flame that shines before the altar of sanctity in many Jewish places of worship

Question 5

Tefflin

Answer 5

Small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah

Question 6

Tallit

Answer 6

Fringed garment traditionally worn either under or over males clothing

Question 7

Menorah

Answer 7

Nine branched candle lit during the eight day holiday Hakuna.

Question 8

Kippah

Answer 8

Worn on the heads of jewish males.

Question 9

Torah scrolls

Answer 9

The holiest book in judaism.

Question 10

Shabbat

Answer 10

Starts on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening.

It is also a time of rest.

Question 11

Shabbat at home

Answer 11

All preparations take place before Shabat begins.

Wine is drunk from the kiddush cup to represent joy and to celebrate two loves of Hallah bread (sweet and rich) are laid on the table to represent manna from heaven food from heaven given by God to the Jews in the desert.

Question 12

Kiddush cup

Answer 12

Blessings take place over the Kiddicott a prayer of Thanksgiving and blessing of the family

Question 13

Worship in the home

Answer 13

Mezuzah- on the door post of the house its purpose is that it has a specific Hebrew first inscribed from the Torah.

Question 14

Ceremonies associated with birth

Answer 14

Brit Milah- ceremony of male circumcision the removal of the foreskin for religious reasons.

Naming ceremonies-> Boys are named usually eight days after birth however ago the father announces her name is seven months after she was born in the synagogue.

Redemption of the first born-> some Jews give a small amount of money 31 days after the birth of the first born son to redeem him from Temple service.

Question 15

Bar mitzvar

Answer 15

• There is a massive party to celebrate.
• Practicing Hebrew so they can read from the Torah in the Synagogue to the congregation.
• Means ‘ son of commandment ‘
• Lessons to prepare.
• Taken place when a boy is 13 years old.

Question 16

Bat Mizvah

Answer 16

• Massive party to celebrate.
• When they reach the age of 12 this ceremony happens.
• Means ‘ Daughter of commandment ‘.

Question 17

Marriage

Answer 17

• Rings are exchanged.
• Takes place under a ‘Chuppa’.
• men and women celebrate separately.
• 7 blessings recited by the Rabbi.
• Groom smashes glass to show the power of the temple.
• Brethoval can take place a year after the wedding.
• betroval is like a legal contract that should not be broken.
• Some orthodox jews/ communities will find a ‘match maker’ to find suitable couples to marry.

Question 18

Jewish mourning rituals

Answer 18

• Might tear their clothes to show that someone has passed away
• Funerals usually take place 24 hours after their death.
• Orthodox jews are buried in Jewish cemeteries.
• No flowers.
• Shiva is followed, intense mourning.
• Burning of seven day candle.
• After a year gravestone is put up. Stones on gravestone to show respect.
• The body is washed and wrapped symbolically.
• People say ‘ may God comfort you ‘.

Question 19

Dietary laws

Answer 19

Rules that deal with foods permitted to be eaten, food preparations, food combination, the utensils and dishes coming into contact with food.

Question 20

Kosher

Answer 20

Food that meets the requirements of Jewish laws.

E.g; fish that is scaled, fruit/ vegetables.

Question 21

Trefah

Answer 21

Forbidden food.

E.g; Sea food, pork, cheese that has been declared Trefah.

Question 22

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Answer 22

• Celebrating the new year.

Question 23

How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

Answer 23

• 2 day festival to celebrate the Jewish new year.
• Symbolic sweet food are eaten - apple + honey.
• Worship in synagogue. Shafar horn used. 100 blasts to wake people up.
• Time to reflect and think about what you have not done well from the past year.
• Eat fish heads (for luck and to get your head in the game).
• Bread crumbs thrown into pond- symbolise throwing away your sins.
• Big celebratory meal, sweet foods (cakes/breads).
• Concentrate on Charity.

Question 24

Yom Kippur

Answer 24

-> the day of atonement; a day of fasting on the tenth fay after Rosh Hashanah.

Question 25

Origins of Yom kippur?

Answer 25

• Holiest and most important day in the Jewish calendar.
• Origin comes from levictus 16, which describes how to must be observed.

‘You shall practice self denial… to cleanse you of all your sins’

Question 26

Observing Yom Kippur in Britain today:

Answer 26

• No work is done.
• Jews fast for 25 hours
• Bathing, wearing leather shoes and sex are all forbidden.
• Jews wear white as a symbol of purity.

Question 27

Pesach

Answer 27

• also called the passover is a festival that lasts for seven or eight days. It celebrates the Jews escape from slavery in Egypt.
• one of the most important parts of the festival is the passover Seder, which is a meal with special foods to represent different meanings, families share on the first evening of Pesach.