Jewish beliefs and practices in the home

Key aspects of Shabbat in the home

• occurs between sunset on fridays and sunset on saturdays

• no work should be done during this time (the day commemorates God resting on the seventh day after he made the world)

• observed by majority of Jewish people every week

Shabbat - the bride

God gave the 7th day to Israel as a bride. Sabbath is the priority and centre of attention and everyone will be sad, when it is over.

Shabbat - lighting the candle

Before Shabbat begins, the mother of the house lights the candles and says a blessing while covering her eyes

Shabbat - Kiddish

the father fills a cup called the kiddish cup with wine and says an science prayer of blessing called the kiddush. He distributed the blessed bread to start the meal

Friday - Before Shabbat

• food is already prepared

• house is tided

• two candles are placed on the table ready to be lit

• table is laid with the best tablecloth and cutlery

• 2 loaves of bread called challah at placed with a special cloth called challah deuce

Shabbat - Havdalah

Three stars appear in the sky during sunset on saturday and this ceremony marks the end of Shabbat. Blessings are preformed over a cup of wine to thank God and a box is of spices is passed around to smell. A braided candle with 3 wicks is lighted.

Saturday - Shabbat

• whole family goes to the synagogue in the morning

• The torah is taken out of the aron hakodesh and a sidrah is read.

• Any Jewish man or women may be called to share in the reading which is a great honour

Prayers - Shabbat

to Israel, to the country in which they live, to be one with all people and all jews, in Orthodox prayers are in hebrew, in reform prayers are in english

The service - Shabbat

service is lead by the Ba'al Temphilah. During the service, a sermon is preached by the rabbi

Mezuzah

• Jewish homes often have a mezuzah fixed to doorposts in their homes.

• A mezuzah small container containing the opening lines of the Shema in Hebrew.

• reminds everyone of the family’s connection to God and their Jewish faith.

• Many Jews touch the mezuzah on leaving and entering the home as a physical reminder of their covenant with God.

• “You shall write them upon the doorposts of your house” Shema

The Shema

• most important Jewish prayer, decleration of the Jewish faith, said 2x daily

• recited at the synagogue

• held within a mezuzah in the home

• affirms that there is only one God.

• God is personal and demands love from Jews with every aspect of their being. 

• Jews should follow his instructions and allow this love to be seen.