Judaism Practices✅

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What is a synagogue

• Jewish meeting place

• For prayer, worship and study

What specific prayers are carried out in the synagogue

• It is a place where the minyan prayer can be carried out

• Because this requires ten people

What do synagogues look like on the outside

• There is often some representation of the Star of David

• There are no images of humans and animals

Other names for synagogue and why

• Some call it Shul because it is where young Jews learn Hebrew - therefore a place of study

• Some call it temple because they consider it to be a replacement to the Temple in Jerusalem which was destroyed

Why is the synagogue important

• It is the centre of the Jewish faith

• It is a place of prayer, study, and a social centre

• It provides a place to celebrate Bar Mitzvahs etc

• A centre where money can be collected to distribute to the poor and needy

 

What is inside the synagogue

• Aron Hakodesh

• Sefer Torah

• Bimah

• Ten Commandments

• Ner tamid

• Menorah

• Star of David

What is the Aron Hakodesh

• The holiest place in the synagogue, because it is where the Torah scrolls are kept

• Symbolises the Ark of the Covenant

• Jews believe the original Ark was created to hold the Ten Commandments

Where is the Ark located

• Front of the synagogue

• Facing Jerusalem

What are the components of the Aron Hakodesh

• It is reached by going up some steps, showing how G-d is above everyone

• It is covered with a curtain (parochet) to symbolise the curtain in the Temple in Jerusalem

 

What does the ner tamid symbolise

• The ner tamid is always burning

• It symbolises G-d's presence, so it is never put out, because G-d is always present

What is the bimah

A raised platform where the person leading the service stands

Why are the Ten Commandments in the synagogue

To remind Jews of the highest mitzvot in Judaism

Why are men and women separated

• In Orthodox synagogues, men and women are separated by a mechitza

• So men do not get distracted

• Also makes it easier to carry out minyan as only men are involved

Orthodox Jews beliefs

• Orthodox believe it is important to obey G-d's instructions exactly as they're laid down in the Torah and Talmud

• They also believe there are different roles for men and women, so different responsibilities for each within the religion

Reform Jews beliefs

• Reform Judaism emphasises the importance of individual choice in deciding how to worship and practise Judaism

• They think Judaism should change some of its practices to be more relevant to modern life

• They believe men and women are equal

• They follow the moral code in the Torah and Talmud but not every individual law

What do services look like in an Orthodox synagogue

• The chazzan or rabbi faces the Aron Hakodesh

• The service is conducted in Hebrew

• Men and women sit separately

• Rabbis are all male

• Men may cover their heads

What do services look like in a Reform synagogue

• There are usually not daily services

• Men and women sit together

• The rabbi or chazzan faces the congregation

• Women can be rabis and can be part of a minyan

• Services are in Hebrew and English

What is the Teffelin

• Small leather boxes containing extracts from the Torah

• Strapped to the person's arm and forehead during morning prayer

 

Quote for Teffelin

"and it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead" - Exodus, Torah

What is the Tallit

"Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments" - Numbers, Torah

What is the Amidah prayer

• A prayer that is said daily by members of the Jewish community

• It is a group of blessings recited silently while standing up

 

What are the blessings in the Amidah prayer

• The first three blessings are glorifying G-d and asking for His mercy and love

• Then there are six prayers asking for G-d to help you

• Six asking G-d to help the community

• And one asking G-d to listen to your prayers

• The last three blessings thank G-d for the opportunity to service him

Importance of prayer in Judaism

• It is vital to pray to communicate with G-d

• Prayer brings you closer to G-d

What is Shabbat

• A holy day from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday

• It provides a chance to relax, worship G-d, and enjoy family life

 

Quote for Shabbat

"Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy" - Exodus, Torah

What does Shabbat remind the Jews of

• It is a reminder of the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people

• And it reminds them of the creation story

What are you not allowed to do on Shabbat

• No work

• Everything in the 39 Melachot you can't do

• E.g. Lighting a fire, tying a knot, sewing, writing

How is shabbat celebrated in the synagogue on Friday

• On Friday there is a service for families

• At the end of the service the prayer leader takes a cup of wine and recites the Kiddush prayer, thanking G-d for giving Shabbat to the Jewish people

How is shabbat celebrated in the synagogue on Saturday

There is a longer service which includes readings from the Torah

What do Jews do when the Torah is taken out of the Ark

• The congregation stands

• To remember how the Israelites stood at the bottom of Mount Sinai when Moses returned with the Ten Commandments

What do Jews do once the Torah has been taken out of the Ark

• The Torah is dressed with ornaments, reminding Jews of what early priests wore

• It is paraded around the synagogue to represent the march through the wilderness when Jews carried the Ark from Mt Sinai to Jerusalem

• The congregation touches the Torah with their tzitzit

What is the candle lighting ceremony (shabbat)

• Done to welcome Shabbat into the home

• Female member of the family lights the candles 18 mins before sunset

• She then recites a blessing which praises God, and asks God to bless the family

 

How does the Friday meal work (shabbat)

• The parents bless their children

• Head of the family recites the Kiddush blessing while holding the Kiddush cup

• The family then wash hands as an act of purification and eat the meal

• The head of the household removes the cover from the challah loaf and lifts them up while saying a blessing

• The bread is cut into slices, dipped in salt and passed around to each person

• After each course, stories from the scriptures can be told to the children

• Meal ends with a prayer of thanksgiving

What happens on Saturday in the home

during shabbat

• The family enjoys another special meal

• Parents spend time with their children and study the Torah

• The end of Shabbat is marked with the havdalah service

 

What is the Havdalah service

• A ceremony perfomed when 3 stars can be seen in the sky

• Blessings are said over a cup of wine, sweet candles, and multi wick candles

• The candle provides light now that the light of Shabbat has left the home

What is the Mezuzah

• A case containing the shema prayer

• On the doorframe of the entrance to your house

• It is touched every time you enter the home to remind Jews of the shema prayer

 

What does the Tenakh contain

• It contains the Torah =  the five books of Moses, form the basis of Jewish law

• The Nevi'im = eight books that expand on the laws in the Torah

• Ketuvim = collection of poetry and stories

 

What is the Talmud

• The mishnah = deals with dietary laws, marriage, Shbbat

• The gemara = the gemara contains all the debates about the mishnah

• The talmud is a combination of the gemara and the mishnah

 

What is the naming ceremony

• When the father recites a Torah blessing and asks G-f for good health for his wife and child

• Happens 8 days after birth

What is Brit Milah and what happens during it

• The ceremony of circumcision for boys 8 days old

• The baby is placed on an empty chair that symbolises the presence of the prophet Elijah

• The sandek has the baby on their knee for him to be circumcised

• A blessing is said over wine and the baby is formally named

• The mohel circumcises the baby

Why is circumcision done

• Jews were told to do it in Abraham's covenant

• It connects all Jews

Quote for circumcision

"Any male who is uncircumcised ... shall be cut off from his kin; he has broken my covenant"

What is the purpose of a bar mitzvah

• When boys reach 13 they have a coming of age ceremony

• This is because they are considered old enough to take full responsibility for practising their faith

 

Where does it say in the Torah to do bar mitzvah

• Trick question its not in the Torah🤓

• It is the Mishnah

How is Bar Mitvah celebrated

• The boy reads the Torah

• He wears a tallit for the first time

• His father thanks G-d for bringing his son to maturity and declares him responsible for his own actions

What happens in a Bat Mitzvah

• Girls read from the Torah

• Only female reform Jews read from the Torah in the synagogue

• So in Orthodox the Bat Mitzvah ceremony is done during a family meal

What is kiddushin

• Betrothal

• This happens 12 months before the wedding ceremony

• It is when the couple are promised to each other

What happens during kiddushin

• There is a ceremony

• The ketubah is drawn up

• During the year of betrothal the couple do not live together

What does the ketubah entail for Orthodox Jews

• Husband's duties to wife

• Inheritance

• Children

What does the ketubah entail for Reform Jews

• Mutual hopes for marriage

• Promises not to oppose divorce

What happens during the wedding ceremony

• The ceremony happens under a chuppah, a canopy of tallits that represents the home the couple will grow together

• 2 blessings are recited over wine

• Rabbi recites wedding blessings then blesses the couple

What happens after the blessings during the wedding ceremony

• The ceremony happens under a chuppah, a canopy of tallits that represents the home the couple will grow together

• 2 blessings are recited over wine

• Rabbi recites wedding blessings then blesses the couple

What happens after the blessings during the wedding ceremony

• The groom breaks glass to show regret for the Temple in Jerusalem being destroyed

• This is done to show life is full of joy but also hardship

• Then the couple spend time in the yichud after the wedding

What are some mourning rituals that happen before death

• When a Jew is nearing death their family visits them and ensures they do not die alone

• Just before they die, the person makes a final confession and recites the Shema prayer

 

What happens straight after a family member dies

• Jews make tears in their clothes

• Parents make a tear over their hearts

• They say a blessing which shows how they accept God has taken the person's life

 

Quote for mourning - Jacob

"Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days" - Genesis, Torah

What mourning happens after the burial

• Shiva - 7 days of intense mourning - begins on the day of burial

• The mourners stay at home, do not wear leather shoes, wear make-up, or go to work

• They pray 3x a day

• They recite the kaddish prayer

What happens once shiva is over

• A lesser period of mourning begins, lasting until 30 days after the person;s death

• Normal life resumes but mourners do not listen to music, go to parties, cut their hair

 

What happens to the body before it is buried

• Someone stays with the body

• Candles are lit

• The body is washed and wrapped in a plain linen cloth

• The body is placed in a simple coffin

 

Where do funerals take place

• Not in the synagogue

• Because the synagogue is considered the place of living

 

What happens in the funeral

• A 20 minute service

• Psalms are recited, prayers are said, and a rabbi speaks

• The coffin is lowered and mourners shovel earn on top of it

• Everyone washes their hands and leaves

 

What do Jews put on graves

• Stones

• They hide social inequality and they are permanent

 

What are the names of allowed and forbidden food

• Kosher - allowed

• Trefah - not allowed

Reasons for dietary laws

• No reason in the Torah

• Some think it is because of old hygiene reasons from many years ago

 

Which denominations follow the food laws

• Orthodox jews do

  • They believe the laws have come from G-d to test their obedience and mark out Jewish people

• Reform do not

  • They believe they are outdated and it is more important to follow the moral laws

 

Quote for kosher - dairy and meat

• Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk

• Leviticus, Torah

Quote for kosher- split hoof

• You may eat any animal that has a divided hoof and chews the cud

• Leviticus, Torah

How must kosher animals be slaughtered

• Hiring a highly-skilled butcherer called a shochet

• Animal is killed with a sharp knife

• Blood is drained from it

What is Rosh Hashanah

• Festival celebrated over 2 days to mark the start of the Jewish new year

• It remembers the creation of the world

 

What is Rosh Hashanah a time for

• It is a time when Jews think seriously about their lives, consider actions over the past year, and ask for forgivness

• The focus is reflecting on yourself

How did Rosh Hashanah originate

• He weighs up peoples' good and bad deeds

• Judges people

• Makes a decision about their fortune in the coming year

 

What do Jews do to celebrate Rosh Hashanah in synagogue (day 1)

• The month before a shofar is blown to announce the arrival of the day of judgement

• Candles are lit before sunset

• At the evening synagogue service, prayers are focused on asking G-d to continue being the king of the world for the coming year

• The service ends with a Kiddush blessing

How do Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah at home

They say a kiddush blessing and eat apples with honey

How do Jews celebrate Rosh Hashanah at synagogue (day 2)

• Shofar is blown 100 times

• Service is longer than usual with special prayers for the occasion

 

What is tashlich

When people throw bread and stones into lakes to symbolise throwing away your sins

What is Yom Kippur

• The holiest most important day in the Jewish calendar

• It is the Day of Atonement where G-d seals the book of Judgement so it is the last change to repent for any sins

What do Jews do

on Yom Kippur

• Jews repent for their sins and confess their wrongdoing

• They fast for 25 hours

• Similar rules to Shabbat e.g. Can't do work

• Wear white

What happens at synagogue for Yom Kippur

• Sunset service

• Jews make vidu - confession of since

• Just before the end of the final service, the doors of the Ark are opened and everyone stands

  • This is the last change for people to make confession

• The ark is closed and the shofar is blown to signal the end of the fast

What does Pesach recall

The night when G-d passed over the houses of the Jews and killed the first born children

How did Pesach originate

• When the Pharoah refused to let the Israelites go, G-d sent the 10 plagues of Egypt

• The last of the plagues was the deaths of the first born son

• When the Pharoah's son died he let the Israelites go and eventually they entered Canaan

 

What are the preparations for Pesach - leaven

• G-d commanded the Jews to celebrate their escape from Egypt by eating unleavened bread

• All leaven is removed from the home

• It is done to recall how the fleeing Israelites didn't have time to let their bread rise

 

What do some firstborn males do during Pesach

• Fast

• To show thanksgiving

 

What happens on the first day of Pesach

• there is a special  meal

• The mother lights candles to welcome the festival into the home

• Family members go to synagogue

• They have a kiddush blessing then eat the meal

 

What is on the seder plate

• Green vegetable

• Bitter herbs

• Lamb bone

• Roasted egg

 

What are the other components of the seder meal

• Red wine

• Unleavened bread

• Salt water

What does red wine on the seder meal represent

The blood that the Israelites smeared on their doorposts to save their children from the final plague

What does unleavened bread on the seder plate represent

Recalls how the Israelites didn't have time to let their bread rise since they were fleeing

 

what does salt water on the seder plate represent

The bitter tears shed in slavery

What happens during the seder meal

• Four glasses of wine are shared, to represent the four freedoms that G-d promised

• A 5th cup of wine is poured out for the prophet Elijah

Why is Pesach important

It remembers the birth of the Jewish nation, freedom of slavery, and entrance into the Promised Land