practices: jewish public and private worships

Question 1

where does the main public cats of worship take place?

Answer 1

synagogue

Question 2

what does each synagogue usually has?

Answer 2

daily prayers
when the community comes together, it is for the shabbat and festival services

Question 3

what must synagogues have in order for an act of public worship to take place?

Answer 3

there has to be at least 10 people present - minyan
orthodox - men
reform - women and men

Question 4

why is it important for jews to come together?

Answer 4

as a community to worship

Question 5

when does important ceremonies happen?

Answer 5

at festival times but each week the shabbat service brings the community together

Question 6

why do jews make a real effort for the shabbat service?

Answer 6

it is the most important service of the week

Question 7

when are shabbat service held?

Answer 7

shabbat eve - Friday night
shabbat morning - Saturday morning
late shabbat afternoon - Saturday afternoon

Question 8

shabbat orthodox service: what is the duration?

Answer 8

long
last between 2-3 hours

Question 9

shabbat orthodox service: what is the atmosphere like?

Answer 9

relaxed and informal

Question 10

shabbat orthodox service: what might people do?

Answer 10

arrive at different times and chat
children will come in and out

Question 11

shabbat orthodox service: what does the service include?

Answer 11

important prayers such as the Shema and Amidah
each service, selected portions of the torah are read

Question 12

shabbat orthodox service: almost all of the services is in?

Answer 12

Hebrew
expect from the sermon which is the teaching of the rabbi
and the prayer for the welfare of the country and its rulers

Question 13

shabbat orthodox service: the rabbi will give a sermon which explains what?

Answer 13

the meaning of the readings from the torah

Question 14

shabbat orthodox service: what are not used?

Answer 14

musical instruments
singing is not accompanied and is led by chazzan

Question 15

shabbat orthodox service: what is the service often followed by? why?

Answer 15

a buffet called a kiddush
chance for people to socialise and chat
special blessing recited over a cup of wine or shabbat wine before Friday night dinner

Question 16

shabbat reform service: what is the service based on?

Answer 16

traditional elements

Question 17

shabbat reform service: what do they do so people understand?

Answer 17

more use of English and far less Hebrew
more of the service is read aloud together

Question 18

shabbat reform service: what is the duration?

Answer 18

shorter

Question 19

shabbat reform service: is the service formal or informal?

Answer 19

formal

Question 20

shabbat reform service: what can the gender of the rabbi be?

Answer 20

male or female

Question 21

shabbat reform service: what are the prayers and readings usually left out?

Answer 21

beliefs about bodily resurrection, a personal jewish messiah and references to angels

Question 22

shabbat reform service: what do they often play?

Answer 22

instrumental
recorded music

Question 23

what does amidah mean? what does this mean then?

Answer 23

standing
people stand throughout the prayer to show they are in god’s presence

Question 24

why is the amidah important?

Answer 24

core every jewish worship service

Question 25

what does the amidah consists of?

Answer 25

18 blessings
contains 3 types of prayer: praise, requests and thanksgiving

Question 26

what is the last line of the amidah prayer that is recited while taking 3 steps backward, bowing to both sides and taking 3 steps forward again?

Answer 26

‘may god who brings peace to the universe, bring peace to us and all the people, Israel. amen’

Question 27

why are there private worships?

Answer 27

as many jews cannot attend the synagogue on a daily basis so praying at home is an important part of daily life

Question 28

explain the siddur
1. what is it?
2. what does it literally mean?
3. how does it guide jews?
4. what does it contain?
5. what do orthodox families do?

Answer 28

book of daily prayers
literally means “order”or “sequence”
guides jews through daily prayers at home and at the synagogue
contains many of the prayers used in daily life and festivals which vary throughout the calendar
orthodox families will always keep a copy of the siddur in their houses

Question 29

explain the model ani
1. what is it?
2. what are the first words?
3. why is it popular among children?
4. why are they giving thanks for?

Answer 29

it is a prayer that jews say first thing on a morning when they are still in bed
the first words are “I give thanks”
it is short and simple and is popular among children
they are giving thanks for being alive

Question 30

explain the shema
1. what is it considered as in judaism?
2. what does Shema mean?
3. what is the first line?
4. what does it sums up?

Answer 30

most important prayer in Judaism
means hear
first line : “hear o Israel: the lord is our god, he is the one and only”
recited twice daily in the morning and evening
sums up the important jewish belief in one god (monotheism)

Question 31

explain the mezuzah
1. what is the mezuzah?
2. what is prepared inside the mezuzah? what is it written by?
3. will put in every door post expect for? (2)
4. how should it be placed?
5. how is it reminded of god presence + covenant?

Answer 31

when the shema is kept in a container on the right side of the doorpost outside jewish homes
the parchment inside the mezuzah is prepared and written by a scribe
will put in every door post in the house expect for the toilets and cupboards
should be placed at a slight angle with the top pointing towards the inside room and the bottom pointing toward the outside
it is traditional to touch it as you enter and exit to remind yourself of god’s presence
reminds jews of god’s presence and the covenant

Question 32

what do many jews consider it a duty to wear?

Answer 32

to wear special clothing for worship

Question 33

explain the kippah
1. how do Orthodox Jews men cover their heads?
2. what is the obvious sign?
3. what are the signs?
4. by wearing it, what is it recognising the fact that god is?
5. when will jews cover their heads?
6. what do reform jews believe about covering head as?
7. what about women?

Answer 33

Orthodox Jews men will cover their heads by wearing a hat or a skullcap (kippah)
obvious sign of jewish identity
sign of devotion to god, sign of respect of god
by wearing it, it is recognising the fact that god is above all mankind
most jews will cover their heads when praying, attending the synagogues or at a festival
reform jews believes it is optional
women do not wear kippahs but do cover their heads by wearing a scarf or hat

Question 34

explain the tallit
1. what is it?
2. what does the fringes represent?
3. why is it worn by men and boys?
4. what is the tallit also known as?
5. when is it worn?
6. what happens after death?

Answer 34

four-cornered garment which has fringes attached
the fringes represent the 613 mitzvot
worn by men and boys who have been through bar mitzvah at every morning service
prayer shawl
worn during prayers + worships
after death, the tallit is wrapped around the body like a shroud

Question 35

what do many observant jewish males choose to wear for the tallit?

Answer 35

a small tallit under their everyday clothes throughout the day

Question 36

what is reminded of the tallit that life is a prayer?

Answer 36

it has a central hole that goes over head and covers the front and back of the body with the fringes hanging down from the corners

Question 37

explain the tefillin
1. who is it worn by?
2. when do they wear it?
3. what is the tefillin made up of?
4. in each, what does it contain?
5. what is the first bound to the head with a strap reminding the wearer?
6. what is the second bound with a strap to the upper arm learning slightly towards the heart reminding the wearer?

Answer 37

worn by orthodox males
at morning prayer each day expect from shabbat and festivals
made up of 2 leather boxes
in each there is a small handwritten scroll that contains the first 2 paragraphs of the shema
one is bound to the head with a strap reminding that the wearer must serve god with his mind by developing good thoughts
second box is bound with a strap to the upper arm leaning slightly towards the heart reminding that the wearer must serve god with this heart through acts of compassion

Question 38

can women wear the tefillin?

Answer 38

orthodox women do not wear them
reform women may wear them

Question 39

what is the source of authority?

Answer 39

“bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead”