Worship Flashcards
Describe two items worn for prayer.
One item is the Tallit. It is a four cornered garment often referred to as a prayer shawl.
-The Tallit has tzitzit attached to represent the 613 mitzvot which is stated in Numbers, “make themselves fringes on the corners of their garments… when you see it you will remember all the commandments of God.”
-Some Jews will wear the Tallit all day under their clothes but not next to the skin as a reminder of God’s laws they need to keep.
-Also worn is the Tefillin. It is made up of two black leather boxes strapped to the arms and forehead as commanded in Deuteronomy, “Tie them as symbols to your hands and bind them on your foreheads.”
-There are four compartments, each containing a portion of the Shema.
Describe the importance of prayer in the home in Judaism.
-Many daily prayers are said at home using the siddur such as the Shema and the Modeh Ani.
-The Modeh Ani is a morning prayer and Jews will say it every day to thank God for the gift of a new day, “I am thankful… for you have mercifully returned my soul within me.”
-It does not directly use the name of God as Jews believe it is disrespectful to use God’s name before they wash their hands and body.
-This shows the home’s importance as the prayer is said daily as thanksgiving and respect to God. Jews also say the Shema at home but twice daily. This is significant as it reflects the belief in God as one.
-This further gives the home importance as through prayer, Jews communicate with God. Therefore, it is at home where Jews build their relationship with God.
Give an influence and unconvincing argument for the importance of praying at home.
-Influence: Jews to spend more time praying at home such as before performing mitzvot or before and after meals.
-This increases the importance of the home even more as now, a Jews relationship with God is focussed at home.
-Unconvincing: other important prayers are said at the synagogue. This includes the Amidah which similar to the Modeh Adi expresses gratitude to God.
-It may also be seen as more important than the Shema as the Amidah is only said at the synagogue which raises the importance of the synagogue over the home.
Describe the importance of the home in Judaism for learning and keeping values.
-It is at home where Jews do much of their learning. This includes celebrating Shabbat, keeping kosher laws and spending time with family.
-Keeping Shabbat is an important part of home celebration as it is a time for the family to reflect on the past week and thank God for what they have been given.
-During the celebration, the father will bless the children in the home, hoping that the Lord will help them, “May the Lord bless you and keep you… be gracious upon you.”
-When the candles are lit on Shabbat, the Shekhinah is also thought to be present. Together, these actions which sanctify the home, raises its importance above the synagogue.
-Jew will also learn to keep commandments such as the kosher laws at home. This is significant as the mitzvot were given directly by God so following them is divine which further raises the importance of the home.
Give an influence and unconvincing argument for learning and keeping values in the home.
-Influence: Jews to focus on home worship with family as it is an important place of learning and reflection. This is important to do as a family.
-Unconvincing: the synagogue is also a place of learning. There, jews will learn Hebrew and be taught by the Rabbi.
-There are also Shabbat services at the synagogue. Hence, the home is completely central to the celebration of Shabbat.
Describe the importance of the synagogue as a reminder of the temple.
-The synagogue is often viewed as a reminder of the temple in Jerusalem. It will have features which are central to Jewish belief.
-The synagogue will be beautifully designed and decorated but have no statues so that they don’t break the second commandment, “Thou shalt have no idols or worship false Gods.”
-A copy of the decalogue will also be present in the synagogue as a reminder of the covenant with Moses.
-At the back of the prayer hall, Jews often keep the Ark which should face Jerusalem. This is significant as it holds the Torah scrolls and represents the Holy of Holies from the temple in Jerusalem.
-The Ark is often raised too as a reminder that God is above His people so Jew must ‘go up’ to the Torah as it is higher than humanity.
-A synagogue will also have the Ner Tamid which is kept burning at all times to show the eternity of God. It may also represent the menorah kept burning in the temple.
Give an influence and convincing argument for the synagogue as a reminder of the temple.
-Influence: Jews to spend more time at the synagogue.
-Some of the mitzvot relate to worship in the temple so by spending time in the synagogue which represents, the temple, some Jews may believe they are closer to fulfilling the mitzvot and are in God’s presence.
-Convincing: each feature signifies an important aspect of the Jewish faith. This is unlike the home which is only designed to keep the mitzvot.
-Therefore, the significance of these feature raises the importance of the synagogue above the home.
