Judaism - Significant Practices in the Life of Adherents Flashcards
lanie (37 cards)
1
Q
why are synagogue services important in Judaism?
A
- assists Jewish adherents in fulfilling the commandment to be faithful to God
- chance to connect with God
2
Q
what are the three central prayers in synagogue services in Judaism?
A
- The Shema
- Shemoneh Esrei (Amida)
- Aleinu
3
Q
what is the Shema?
A
a prayer that encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism
“Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one” (Deut 6:4)
4
Q
what is the Shemoneh Esrei?
A
- Amida
- central prayer of the service
- refers to the 18 blessings
- praising God, offering requests and expressing gratitude
5
Q
what is the Aleinu?
A
- found in the Siddur
- recited standing up –> expresses noble sentiments
- closing prayer in all services
“it is upon us or it is our obligation or duty to praise God”
6
Q
how many synagogue services in a day?
A
three!
7
Q
what are the three synagogue services in a day?
A
- Shacharit (morning)
- Mincha (afternoon)
- Ma’ariv (evening)
8
Q
what does Shacharit involve?
A
- begins with a series of blessings
- thanking God for basic needs
- reciting of P’sukai d’Zimra (blessings, psalms), the Shema, and the Amidah
- men wear a prayer shawl
- Torah readings occur on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays
- follows tradition of Abraham
“Abraham arose early in the morning” (Gen 22:3)
9
Q
what does Mincha involve?
A
- extremely brief service
- Torah readings on Shabbat
- recital of Shemoneh Esrei
- follows tradition of Isaac
“Issac went out meditating in the field toward evening.” (Gen 24:63)
10
Q
what does Ma’ariv involve?
A
- shortest service
- way of expressing devotion
- traditional melodies
- follows tradition of Jacob
“He came upon a place and stopped there for the night” (Gen 28)
11
Q
what are the physical elements of the synagogue?
A
- The Ark
- Ner Tamid
- Bimah
- Menorah
- The Torah Scrolls
- No Statues, Images or Icons
- Tallit Katan/Tzitzit
- Yarmulke (Kippah/Skull Cap)
- Tefillin
12
Q
what is the symbolism of the ark in a synagogue?
A
- where the Torah scrolls are kept
- during prayer, the congregation face the Ark
- built facing Jerusalem –> unites Jewish congregations, emphasis on the centrality of Israel
13
Q
what is the symbolism of the Ner Tamid in a synagogue?
A
- light is a religious symbol of hope
- is suspended above the Ark
- continuously burning
- is NOT allowed to go out
- symbolises God’s continual presence
“God is our light.” (Psalm 27:1)
14
Q
what is the symbolism of the Bimah in a synagogue?
A
- raised platform where the Torah is read
- Rabbi will use a gold pointer to read the Torah
- central location recalls the centrality of the Tabernacle
- emphasis on the democracy of Judaism
15
Q
what is the symbolism of the Menorah in a synagogue?
A
- seven-branched candle
- lit daily
- alludes to branches of human knowledge
- represents being guided by the light God –> central lamp
- symbolises the creation in seven days –> central lamp is the Sabbath
16
Q
what is the symbolism of the Torah Scrolls in a synagogue?
A
- all scrolls are identical in contexts
- hand written by an expert scribe
- all scrolls and religious books are treated with great respect
17
Q
what is the symbolism of having no statues, images, or icons in a synagogue?
A
- no representation of God or his human form
- Jews do not accord divine status to any human being
- window symbolically allow the light of faith to shine on the people
18
Q
what is the symbolism of the Tallit Katan/Tzitzit in a synagogue?
A
- like a uniform
- every Jew is of equal rank
- men wear the Tallit to morning services
- symbol of communal solidarity and devotion to God
19
Q
what is the symbolism of the Kippah/Skull Cap in a synagogue?
A
- worn by men and boys
- head-covering is a mark of humility and modesty
- sign of recognition that there is someone ‘above’ them, watching everything
20
Q
what is the symbolism of the Tefillin in a synagogue?
A
- small set of black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment with verses from the Torah
- worn by men during morning prayers
- serve as a reminder of God’s intervention at the time in Egypt
21
Q
what are progressive synagogue services like?
A
- held in both English and Hebrew
- egalitarian in nature (all people deserve equal rights and opportunities)
- both men and women are in the Minyan
22
Q
what are conservative synagogue services like?
A
- held in Hebrew
- egalitarian (all people deserve equal rights and opportunities)
- both men and women are in the Minyan
23
Q
what are orthodox synagogue services like?
A
- held in Hebrew
- only men are in the Minyan
24
Q
how do synagogue services express the Jewish belief of ‘One God’?
A
- the Shema
- Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah)
- Aleinu
- Kaddish
25
how do synagogue services express the Jewish belief of 'The Covenant'?
Torah readings
26
how do synagogue services express the Jewish belief of 'Divinely Inspired Moral Law'?
Torah readings
27
how does the Shema express the Jewish belief of 'One God'?
- expectations that it is recited morning and night
- relates to the monotheistic essence of Judaism
- through the declaration, one is a living witness testifying to the truth of the message
"Hear, O Israel: the Lord is our God, the Lord is one" (Deut 6:4)
28
how does Shemoneh Esrei (Amidah) express the Jewish belief of 'One God'?
- 18 blessings
- central prayer of the Jewish service
- prayer is said standing
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole world is full of his glory."
29
how does the Aleinu express the Jewish belief of 'One God'?
- closing prayer in all services of the day
- denotes the people's struggle of being the 'chosen people' + responsibilities
- signifies the Jewish people faith and declaration to God
- speaks of God's eternal rule
"Presence is in the highest heights. Adonai is our God, there is none else."
30
how does the Kaddish express the Jewish belief of 'One God'?
- central theme is the magnification and sanctification of God's name
"May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed."
31
what physical features of the synagogue express the belief in 'One God'?
- absence of images, statues, and icons: emphasis of one God to be worshipped
- wearing of the Kippah: show reverence and respect to God, a reminder of one God above man
- Ner Tamid: everlasting light symbol of God's continuous presence in adherent's lives
32
how do Torah readings express the Jewish belief of 'divinely inspired moral law'?
- Word of God serves as inspiration
- read on Mondays and Thursdays
- the second commandment prohibits the worship of idols and images
"Thou shall have no God before me." (Exodus 20:3)
33
how do Torah readings express the Jewish belief of the 'covenant'?
- story of Moses at Mt.Sinai links to the belief/concept of Covenant renewal
- God is revealed through his liberating of the Israelites from slavery
"All that the Lord has spoken, we will do." (Exodus 19:8)
34
what physical features of the synagogue express the belief in 'Divinely Inspired Moral Law'?
- Torah scrolls: - housed in the Ark --> on the Jerusalem end of the synagogue
- the Ark: above the Ark, the words 'Know before whom you stand' are inscribed
- prayer shawl: remind the men of the Divine by wearing these garments
35
what physical features of the synagogue express the belief in 'The Covenant'?
- Torah scrolls: holds the actual stories
- the Ark: holds the Torah
- Bimah: recalls the centrality of Mt. Sinai --> symbolically connecting to the Covenants story
- Tefillin: serves as a reminder of God's intervention in Egypt
36
how are synagogue services significant for Jewish individuals?
- reinforce central beliefs
- attain holiness
- become closer to God --> strengthening of their bond through readings, prayer, and reflection
- enable learning about faith
- education from Rabbis
- a house of study
- structures their daily lives --> punctuating their daily routine with the three services
- prayers are recited every day to remind themselves of the centrality of God
"to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deut 11:13)
37
how are synagogue services significant for the Jewish community?
- sets specific roles for each member
- allows a sense of belonging and acceptance
- place of social welfare for the needy
- celebration of life's special moments --> coming of age rituals (Bar Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah)
- focal point for marriage
- connection to Jewish history and symbolism of the Ark of when Moses received the Decalogue
