Practices Flashcards
(67 cards)
1
Q
Public acts of worship
What is the purpose of Public acts of worship?
A
- give a Jew a sense of belonging to a whole community of Jewish believers
- provide opportunity to take part in those prayers which can only be said in congregation
- the rabbis taught that there is more merit in praying with a group than there is praying alone
2
Q
Public acts of worship
What are the features of Jewish public worship?
A
- on Shabbat morning is the main service of the week - Sefer Torah is taken out of the ark and carried to the bimah for the rabbi to read
- on Shabbat afternoon, synagogues have afternoon prayers where the Sefer Torah is taken out of the ark again
- synagogues have special services for most festival such as Rosh Hashanah
3
Q
Public acts of worship
Why is synagogue worship important for the Jewish community?
A
- to worship God with all your heart and all your soul requires people to be able to worship in community with other Jewish people
- is needed to celebrate Shabbat properly
- opportunity to share the great festivals and family celebrations
4
Q
Public acts of worship
Why do Jewish people worship in different ways?
A
- Orthodox synagogues keep men and women seperate - believe mitzvot are God’s words
- Liberal/Reform synagogues demonstrate complete equality - believe the Torah isn’t the direct word of God
5
Q
Public acts of worship
What are some SOWA’s on Public acts of worship?
A
Pirkei Avot 3:6 - God’s presence rests where ten people study Torah together
Psalm 116:14 “I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all His people” - value of public worship
6
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What does the Torah contain?
A
613 Mitzvot
from the creation to the Exodus and the death of Moses
7
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What is the Nivi’im?
A
The books of the prophets who believed they had a message from God to the people
8
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What is Ketuvium?
A
- mixture of history books, poetry books, philosophical books and Daniel - mix of history and prophecy
- express thougth on the ultimate questions of life and morality
9
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
Why is the TeNaKh important?
Jewish bible
A
- the Psalms are an essential part of daily prayers
- Torah and Nevi’im are important in synagogue worship
- Jewish people study and meditate on the books of the TeNaKh to help their understanding of and relationship with God
10
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What is the Talmud?
A
central text in Judaism
* consisting of rabbinic discussions on Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history
* It explains and expands on the Torah (Written Law) through the Oral Law
11
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
Why is the Talmud important?
A
- explains the meaning of the 613 Mitzvot
- explains how the Mitzvot should be applied in the daily lives of Jewish people
- it is the basis of the Halakhah, wich is the foundation of Orthodox Jewish lives
12
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What does Kosher mean, what is the word for non Kosher?
A
refers to food that follows Jewish dietary laws
treifah
13
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What are the main Kosher points?
A
- Pigs, camels and shellfish must not be eaten
- Animals must be slaughtered by the shechitah method - slitting the throaet with a major sharp knife and draining out the blood
- Kitchens must be in 2 halves - meat and dairy
14
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
Why is keeping Kashrut important for Orthodox Jews?
state of being Kosher
A
- keeping the Mitzvot
- gives a sense of Jewish identity
- makes them think about God every time they eat
15
Q
The Tenakh and Talmud
What are some SOWA’s on The Tenakh and Talmud?
A
Leviticus 11:2-4 - states that only animals that have split hooves and chew cud (e.g., cows, sheep) are kosher and permitted to eat
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - emphasizes passing down the teachings of the Tenakh through generations
16
Q
Prayer
What is the purpose of prayer?
A
- builds up a relationship with God
- obey’s God commandment of loving God with your heart
- directly speaking to God - will listen and respond
17
Q
Prayer
What are some examples of private prayer?
A
- when Jewish people wake up every morning, they thank God for wakening them before pouring water on their hands - purify
- the day should end as it begins - praising God, say the Shema
- the mezuzah on each door of the house is a constant reminder of God’s presence - thank God whenever they pass it
18
Q
Prayer
How many times should a Jewish person pray a set formal prayer a day?
A
3
shacharit - morning prayer
minchah - afternoon prayer
arvit - evening prayer
19
Q
Prayer
What are the benefits of saying set prayers?
A
- stop prayers being focused on selfish concerns
- gives the worshipper a sense of being part of Jewish history
- gives order and purpose to people’s religious life
20
Q
Prayer
Why are saying prayers in your own words important?
A
- contact God when they want
- can ask for God’s help
- express their own thoughts and feelings
21
Q
Prayer
What are some SOWA’s on Prayer?
A
Psalm 145:18 – “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth”
Psalm 55:17 – “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice”
22
Q
Shema and Amidah
What does the Shema emphasise?
A
- oneness of God
- need to love God
- need for mezuzah
- need to pray with tefillin and tallit
- covenant God has made with the Jewish people
23
Q
Shema and Amidah
How many times is the Shema said a day?
A
3
morning, afternoon and evening
24
Q
Shema and Amidah
Why is the Shema important?
A
- praises God
- reminds Jews there is only 1 God - monotheism
- one God who demands moral obediance - ‘ethical monotheism’
25
# Shema and Amidah
What is the **Amidah**, **how important** is it?
**Contains 19 blessings which**
* praise God
* makes personal requests for forgiveness of sin
* healing of the sick
* food for the world
* peace
* blessings...
**2nd most important prayer**
26
# Shema and Amidah
Why is the **Amidah** **important** to **Jewish people today?**
* asks God to fufill spiritual needs such as forgiveness
* asks God to fufill spiritual needs such as food
27
# Shema and Amidah
Where is the **Shema**, what does it say?
**Deuteronomy 6** - 'hear O Isreal, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and all your might...'
28
# Rituals and ceremonies
What are the 2 **birth ceremonies?**
* Brit Milah
* Brit Bat
29
# Rituals and ceremonies
What happens at the **Brit Milah** - what the **significance?**
* **Male children** are **circumsised** 8 days after birth
* Marks Jewish males' entry **into the covenant**
30
# Rituals and ceremonies
Why do **Reform Jews** **not** circumcise their sons?
believe the **Abrahamic Covenant** was **spiritual**
31
# Rituals and ceremonies
What is the **Brit Bat?**
Female Children of **Orthodox Jewish** people have a special naming ceremony in the synagogue on the **shabbat** following the birth
32
# Rituals and ceremonies
Why do many **Reform/Liberal** synagogues have a **special Brit Bat** ceremony?
to make the occasion as **important** as **Brit Milah**
33
# Rituals and ceremonies
What are the **coming of age ceremonies?**
Bar Mitzvah
Bat Mitzah
34
# Rituals and ceremonies
What is the **Bar Mitzvah, when does this happen?**
when a boy becomes **responsible** for his own actions and is regarded as an **adult** as far as religion is concerned. **Can now:**
* make up a minyan
* can read the sidra in synagogue services
* wear tefflin and tallit
A boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah at **13**
| son of commandment
35
# Rituals and ceremonies
When does the **Bat** **Mitzvah** happen for **Orthodox** and for **Liberal/Reform?**
**daughter of the commandment ceremony**
**Orthodox** - 12
**Liberal/Reform** - 13 - same as Bar Mitzvah
36
# Rituals and ceremonies
Why are the **Bar** and **Bat Mitzvah** important?
give a **young Jewish person** the opportunity to take **responsibility** of being Jewish and ensure the continuity of the **Jewish faith**
37
# Rituals and ceremonies
What are some **SOWA's** on **rituals and ceremonies?**
**Genesis** - God said to Abraham every male among you shall be circumcised as his part of the covenant
**Pirkei Avot 5:21** - "At thirteen, one is obligated to the commandments"
38
# Rituals and ceremonies
Why should should Jews **marry?**
* It is a **Mitzvah** that **all Jewish** people should marry and have children
* regarded as **essential** for people to become **complete**
39
# Rituals and ceremonies
What are the **features** of **marriage ceremonies?**
* ceremony takes place under a canopy called **huppah** - symbolises the couple's new home and how marriage needs both privacy and openness
* **ketubah** - groom promises to provide for his wife and specifies what she will recieve in the event of his death or divorce
40
# Rituals and ceremonies
Why is **Jewish marriage ceremonies** important?
* bring 2 people **together** in the **Jewish faith**
* provide the opportunity for **new Jewish family** to **develop** and **continue the faith**
41
# Rituals and ceremonies
What happens as soon as Jews hear a family member is **close to death?**
* **close relatives** tear their clothes to fufill the mitzvah
* then the **chevra kaddisha** helps prepare the body for burial which should be done **asap**
* someone stays with the body **all the time** until the **funeral**
42
# Rituals and ceremonies
What happens at the **funeral?**
* rabbi gives a **short speech** about the dead person
* then **everyone** accompanies the body to the **grave** where **prayers are said**
43
# Rituals and ceremonies
What is the **period of mourning** called, **what happens?**
**avelut**
* first 7 days (**shiva**) - close family sit on low chairs, don't leave the house, mirrors are coveres and music is not allowed
* for the **next 3 weeks** **male mourners** go to synagogue every day to pray Kaddish
On the **anniversary of the death** the family remembers the dead relative and a candle is kept burning for a night and a day and Kaddish is said
44
# Rituals and ceremonies
What are some **SOWA's** for **Marriage, death and mourning ceremonies and rituals?**
**Marriage** - **Genesis** - "for this a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife and they will become one flesh"
**Mourning** - **Job** - "And they sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights"
45
# Shabbat
What does **Shabbat** mean, why do Jews partake?
**ceasing from work**
**God rested** on the 7th day
46
# Shabbat
How is the **Shabbat celebrated?**
* begins with the **woman** of the home lighting the **Shabbat candles** and welcoming Shabbat into their **home**
* On **Shabbat morning** families go to synagogue for the morning prayer - **main service of the week**
47
# Shabbat
Why is the **shabbat important?**
* the **fourth commandment**
* gives Jewish people a chance to **renew themselves** - they **rest** from work
* provides time to think about God and found out more about their faith
48
# shabbat
Why is the **shabbat important** for the **Jewish communities?**
* **oldest** Jewish festival - important for the community to **keep it going**
* **God's gift** to the Jewish people which binds them together - **only Jews** celebrate it
49
# shabbat
What are some **SOWA's** on **shabbat?**
**Exodus 20 (4th commandment)** - 'Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy...'
50
# Festivals
What is **Rosh Hashanah?**
* marks the beginning of **Jewish new year** and has been celebrated since Biblical times
* remembers when **Moses** went up Mount Sinai to recieve **new tablets** of the **10 commandments** to replace ones after the Isrealites worshipped the **golden calf**
51
# Festivals
When is **Yom Kippur**, what is it ?
**10 days after Rosh Hashanah**
**'the days of awe'**, when people reflect on what they promised at Rosh Hashanah
52
# Festivals
What does **Yom Kippur** involve?
* 25 hour fast
* reflection of past sins
* confession of sins and prayers for forgiveness
* no Jewellry or leather shoes
53
# Festivals
Why is **Yom Kippur important?**
* **releases** people from **guilt** about sins from the past
* fasting encourages the **self-discipline** needed to keep the resolutions made at **Rosh Hoshanah**
54
# Festivals
What are som **SOWA's** on **Yom Kippur** and **Rosh Hashanah?**
**Yom Kippur** **-** **Leviticus 23:27** – "It shall be a holy convocation"
**Rosh Hashanah** - **Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:2** Describes how Rosh Hashanah is a time of divine judgment
55
# Festivals
What is **Sukkot**, when is it?
takes Jewish people **back** to the times when the Isrealites spent 40 years in the wilderness living in **temporary huts**
begins **5 days after Yom Kippur**
56
# Festivals
Why is the **Sukkot important?**
* it is a link with the ancestors
* it encourages family harmony by living in a tabernacle
57
# Festivals
What is **Pesach**, when is it?
**7 day festival** which is an important festival remembering **Isreal's enslavement, Moses and the Exodus** in Egypt when God saved Isreal and gave the people their **freedom**
* Beginning of Spring
58
# Festivals
What happens **during** the **Pesach?**
* **Pesach** is welcomed into the home - through several **key preparations** and **rituals** e.g cleaning the house
* a **synagogue service** is held - **special prayers** to **thank** God for **freeing** their **ancestors from slavery**
* the family return for the **great meal** of **Pesach** - follows an order as set out in the Hagadah book and has **special foods** on the **seder plate**
59
# Festivals
Why is the **Pesach important?**
**celebrated...**
* **God's power** and **control of History** - without the Passover and Exodus there would be **no** **Jewish people**
* the **birthday** of the Jewish nation - marks the **Exodus** from **Egypt**, when the Israelites gained their **freedom**
60
# Festivals
What are some **SOWA's** on **Sukkot** and **Pesach?**
**Sukkot** - **Leviticus 23:42** – "You shall dwell in booths for seven days"
**Pesach** - **Exodus 12:14** – "This day shall be for you a memorial, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord throughout your generations"
61
# Festival
How is **Shavuot** celebrated today?
* Many Jews stay up **all night** studying Torah to commemorate **receiving** the **Torah at Mount Sinai**
* may eat **dairy foods** - idea that before receiving the Torah, Jews did not yet know the **laws** of **kosher meat**
62
# Festival
Why is the **Shavuot** important?
the **gift** of the Torah is the **most important** thing in Jewish history - established the **Jewish people**'**s** **covenant** with **God**
**Unity of the Jewish People** - Jews accepted the Torah **"as one people with one heart"**
63
# Festivals
What are some **SOWA's** on **Shavout?**
**Talmud (Shabbat 88a)** - "When the Israelites stood at Mount Sinai, they were like one person with one heart."
64
# Features of the synagogue
What are the **exterior features/design** of a **Synagogue?**
* any should ahve a **Star of David** or a **menorah** to show it **is Jewish**
* be built **facing Jeruselum** - where the **temple stood**
* have **windows letting light in** so that worship is not **retreat** from the **world**
65
# Features of the synagogue
What are the **interior** **features/design** of a **synagogue?**
* a **sink at the entrance** - worshippers to **ceremonially cleanse** themselves
* **Holy Ark** as the **focal centre** of the synagogue - often with an embroidered **black and Gold curtain infront** - **inside** the Ark are the **Torah scrolls** (Sefer Torah)
66
# Features of the synagogue
How is the **synagogue** used **differently** by **different communities?**
| Orthodox - Liberal/Reform
**Orthodox:**
* Seperate seating from woman
* Rabbi and cantor will always be men
* no musical instruments played on Shabbat - that would be work
**Liberal/Reform:**
* Men and woman sitting together
* Rabbi and/or cantor can be either men or women
* there would be an organ or a piano or a band for Shabbat worship
67
# Features of the synagogue
What are some **SOWA's** for fe**atures of the synagogue?**
**Exodus 27** says there must be a curtain sheilding the ark
