Prayers and terms

Question 1

How many prayer times are there a day and why?

Answer 1

Three. Because they represent the three times a day that animals were sacrificed (i.e. former form of worship)

Question 2

What does Tefillah mean?

Answer 2

• Hebrew word for prayer.
• Found in the siddur
• Derived from a word that means to judge one’s self (introspection is central to Jewish prayer).

Question 3

What is Mitzvah?

Answer 3

• Commandment (but sometimes used to refer to a “good deed”)
• Provided by God to Moses on Mount Sainai in the Torah
• Outline Jewish way of life

Question 4

How many mitzvot are there?

Answer 4

613

Question 5

What is Keriyat Tor/ kerinat torah?

Answer 5

Reading of the Torah in Synagogue

Question 6

In which book of the bible in the Shema?

Answer 6

Deuteronomy

Question 7

When is the Shema generally recited?

Answer 7

Every morning and night and before death

Question 8

What is the schema centrally about?

Answer 8

Affirming God’s unity

Question 9

What is the Amidah?

Answer 9

• Series of blessing said in silent while standing
• 3 parts
• Surrounds themes of repentance, sustenance and the return to Israel.

Question 10

What is Hallel?

Answer 10

prayer, recitation of psalms 113-118 as act of praise and thanksgiving. Recited on joyous occasions: the three harvest festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot and also on Hannukah and Rosh Chodesh.

Question 11

What id Adon Olam?

Answer 11

A short hymn that summarizes the Jewish understanding of God. Comes at the end of Shabbat morning service.
“Adon” = master “Olam” = eternal, everlasting or world/universe

Question 12

What is the siddur?

Answer 12

Jewish prayer book, contains set order of daily prayers “siddur” comes from Hebrew word for order.

Question 13

What is the Machzor?

Answer 13

Prayer book used on High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It includes liturgical poetry

Question 14

What is the Hagadah?

Answer 14

Text that sets forth the order of pesach Seder. Haggadah means “telling”.
Includes information on customs, blessings, explanations for why rituals are performed/symbols/traditional items on the seder table.
“Dayenu” - one of the most recognisable songs. Thanks God for all of the miracles and gifts given to the Jewish people, translating to “it would have been enough for us”.

Question 15

Tallit?

Answer 15

Fringed prayer shawl. Has special twined and knotted fringes: Tzitzit, attached to the 4 corners. Tallit always put on before tefillin.

Question 16

Tefillin​?

Answer 16

• Two small leather boxes attached to leather straps, the boxes contain 4 sections of Torah on parchment.
• Only worn during morning service (not shabbat).
• Traditionally, only boys who reach the age of Bar Mitzvah wear.
• Four passages in the Torah remind us to keep God’s words in mind.

Question 17

Haftara​?

Answer 17

A selection of one of the biblical books of the prophets (Nevi’im) read after the Torah reading on Shabbat and holiday mornings

Question 18

Lecha Dodi​?

Answer 18

Hymn sung Friday night service to welcome the Sabbath (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride).

Question 19

Minyan​?

Answer 19

a minimum of 10 adult Jews - sufficient to recite certain pupblic prayers (i.e Amidah,
mourner’s Kaddish”

Question 20

Kaddish​?

Answer 20

Hymn of praises to God. Comes at the conclusion of sections of the siddur. Several variations – one which is mourner’s kaddish

Question 21

Kiddush​?

Answer 21

“Sanctification” blessing over the wine to sanctify Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Literally means holiness.

Question 22

Tzitzit​?

Answer 22

Tassels tied to each of the corners of the tallit to remind Jews to think of god at all times
derived from the commandment in the book of numbers. and repeated in the shema

Question 23

Kipah​?

Answer 23

A covering of the head warn by Jewish men (and sometimes women) to represent humility before God.

Question 24

What does Br’acha refer to?

Answer 24

Blessings

Question 25

How many types of Br'acha are there and what are they?

Answer 25

3 types. 1. Blessings recited prior to eating, drinking, or smelling nice things 2. Blessings recited prior to the performance of a mitzvah 3. Blessings that express the praise of God and thanks to God as well as those that ask God for things

Question 26

Vidui​?

Answer 26

Yom Kippur confession; prayer recited just before Yom Kippur and many times throughout the day. Gently beat on the chest of each transgression - symbolises punishment

Question 27

Hatikvah​?

Answer 27

Israeli national anthem “The hope”

Question 28

Shechechyanu?

Answer 28

Prayer you say when you do something new for the first time that year – such as eating seasonal fruit. You would say it in additional to the traditional prayer. prayer we said at the mezuzah

Question 29

Yahrzeit?

Answer 29

Yiddish word meaning “anniversary of a death” A long burning candle is lit in memory of the deceased. Light the Yahrseit candle on the evening of the Hebrew anniversary of the death.

Question 30

Tanakh?

Answer 30

Hebrew Bible.

Question 31

Name the three sections of the Tanakh

Answer 31

1. Torah (5 books of Moses - Genesis, Deuteronomy etc) 2. Nevi'im (prophets) 3. Ketuvim (writings - psalms, job, proverbs etc. ) Tenakh is an anachronym of these

Question 32

Talmud?

Answer 32

"study" The source of Jewish halakha. Made up of the Mishna and gemara Originated in the second century CE and spans about 600 years. The rabbinic tachers explain in great detail how the commandments of the Torah are to be carried out.

Question 33

Name the two works the talmud is comprised of?

Answer 33

The Mishna - original oral law written down | Gemara - Analysis and commentary on the mishna.

Question 34

Zohar?

Answer 34

A Torah commentary and foundational text of Jewish mysticism. Major themes include the nature of God and the cosmos, the creation of the world, the relationship of God to the world, the nature of evil and sin and the revelation of the Torah, the commandments, holidays, prayer, rituals of the ancient Temple, etc.

Question 35

Halacha​?

Answer 35

The laws of Jewish life means to “go” or “walk” the "way" a Jew is directed to behave in every aspect of life - Encompasses civil, criminal and religious law. Some laws in the Torah required procedures that were not explicit and the Rabbis enacted rules in keeping with the laws of the Torah to adapt to current times. The process of developing, interpreting, modifying and enacting rules of conduct is how halacha develops.

Question 36

Shulchan aruch?

Answer 36

- Text that literally translates to the "prepared table". Last great CODIFICATION of Jewish law (authoritative work on Halakhah, derived from the Talmud as well as post-talmudic Rabbinic literature) - Written by Joseph Caro in 1563 - Divided into 4 sections 1. Orah Hayim (laws relating to prayer, Shabbat and holiday observance, and other rituals of everyday life), 2. Yoreh De’ah (laws of kashrut, tzedakah, conversion, and other ritual matters), 3. Even ha’Ezer (laws relating to women and marriage), and 4. Hoshen Mishpat (civil law, including sections on lending money, renting and buying homes, and worker-employer relations)

Question 37

How many times are the straps of the tefillin wrapped around the arms and what does tefillin represent?

Answer 37

Straps are wrapped around arms seven times. Head, heart and hand must all be brought into play in the service of God.

Question 38

Teshuvah?

Answer 38

Repentance

Question 39

Tzedakah

Answer 39

Charity