Theology

Synagogue

Jewish house of worship, study and communal gathering

Aron ha-Kodesh (Holy Ark)

Cabinet at the front of the synagogue that holds Sefer Torah scrolls, reflects the torahs central role in Jewish life

Sefer Torah

Handwritten Hebrew scroll containing the five Books of Moses, read aloud during ceremonies

Bimah

Raised platform used when Torah is read, provides central place for Torah public reading

Ner Tamid (Eternal Light)

A lamp kept continually lit above or near the holy ark, symbolises Gods enduring presence and sacred light of the temple

Ten Commandments

May be displayed on tablets or decorative panel, reminds Jews of the laws and covenant of Moses

Menorah

Seven branched lamp stand originating in the religious traditions of ancient Israel, associated with tabernacle

Star of David

Six pointed star recognised as symbol of Judaism, connects synagogue with wider Jewish community

No Representations of God

Jewish tradition prohibits imaged of God as worship object, this shows Jewish belief that God cannot be physical

How is the synagogue the centre of Jewish worship?

Jews gather for communal prayer, Torah is read aloud, Rabbis may lead prayer and teach Torah and explain laws, Synagogues help preserve Jewish tradition in Jewish identity

How is the synagogue the centre of Jewish community life?

Education: children and adults learn about religion

Social activities: people meet and support eachother

Charity: communities organise help for people in need

Celebration: weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs bring people together

Life events: funerals and other ceremonies allow support

Meetings: members discuss and organise communal activity

Seating Arrangements in Orthodox Synagogues

Men and women sit separately sometimes divided by a screen

Conservative/Liberal Synagogue seating arrangements

Men and women sit together

Examples of communal prayer

In the synagogue, morning, afternoon, evening and Torah prayers

Examples of private prayer

At home, prayer before sleeping and waking

Minyan

A quorum of 10 Jewish adults needed for certain communal prayer or ceremonies, highlights the importance of gathering as a community rather than worshipping only as individuals

Public Prayer

Takes place with a congregation, builds community, helps preserve tradition through Torah reading, some prayer requires minyan

Private prayer

Takes place individually or with family, allows personal reflection and communication with God, makes prayer apart of daily life, doesn’t need minyan

Sefer Torah as an artefact

Read during synagogue services, contains sacred teaching and commandments

Shabbat candles

Lit before Shabbat, mark beginning of Shabbat

Challah

Plaited bread eaten during Shabbat meals, two loaves recall double the mana provided before Shabbat

Kiddush Cup

Holds wins over which blessings are said, blessing sanctifies festivals setting time apart as Holy

Mikveh

Ritual bath used for certain purification practices, associated with ritual purity and preparation for religious times

Mezuzah

Attached to door post of Jewish home, contains parchment with passages from shema; responsibilities

Tallit (Prayer shawl)

Worn during prayer, has fringes called tzitzit, makes prayer sacred

Tefillin (phylacteries)

Small black leather box containing Torah passages, worn on the arm and head symbolises keeping Gods commandments everywhere

Kippah

Head covering, shows respect for God

Orthodox ritual clothing

Men generally wear kippah and tallit

Conservative/liberal ritual clothing

Practices are flexible and vary

Prayer at home

Reciting shema, praying before sleeping, meal blessings, Shabbat and festivals

Torah study

Read aloud in synagogue, explained by rabbis, used to teach teach Jewish belief, read aloud with family at home, used to guide behaviour

Rabbi

Teachers and interprets Torah and Judaism, may lead worship, may perform ceremonies

Chazan

Leads prayers and religious singing, important during festivals, keeps Jewish musical tradition alive

Shabbat

Lasts from Friday evening till Saturday morning, commemorates Gods day of rest, it provides dedicated time for communal worship, most Jews prohibit categories of work to keep day holy

Preparation for Shabbat

The family cleans the house, prepares special meals ahead of time and dresses in fine clothes

Shabbat candles before Shabbat

The mother lights these candles before sunset to welcome Shabbat peace

Kiddush blessing

The father recites the kiddush blessing over cup of wine to sanctify the day

Challah in Shabbat

Blessings are spoken over the two loaves of bread before being sliced and shared

Family meal

Everyone sits to share a special meal singing traditional songs

Synagogue in Shabbat

Congregation gathers where a specific part of the Sefer Torah is read, kiddush blessing recited, rabbi delivers a sermon

Havdalah Ceremony

Means division, is a belief ceremony in the synagogue/home to mark conclusion of Shabbat, involves lighting a special multi wick candle, blessing a final cup of wine and passing around box of spices

God is one

One god alone (no idolatry)

God is merciful

Divine mercy and balance

God is the creator and sustainer

Everything is from god

God has no body

God is purely spiritual

Omnipotent

God is all powerful

Omniscient

God is all knowing

Omnipresent

God is everywhere always

How does faith affect daily life of Jews?

Attributes of God form the basis for all Newish laws and behaviours

How does accountability affect daily life of Jews?

Believing God is omniscient encourages Jews to act ethically as their deeds are always observed

How does the environment affect daily life of Jews?

Recognising God as the sole creator develops gratitude/responsibility for the universe

How does idolatry affect daily life of Jews?

God having no body explains why synagogues avoid physical depictions

How does trust affect daily life of Jews

Omnipotence encourages Jews to trust God in difficult times

Covenant

Sacred agreement between God and his people

The promise of the Abrahamic covenant

Abraham would have a great harmony as many descendants as the stars, protection from enemies, and the Promised Land

Requirements of the Abrahamic Covenant

Abrahams lineage were to show total obedience and belief in the one true god

Sign of the Abrahamic covenant

Brit Milah (circumcision) served as permanent, physical sign of the covenant marked on every Jewish make baby

Promise of the Mosaic Covenant

Divine protection, guidance and blessing to Israel

Requirements of the Mosaic Covenant

Complete obedience and adherence to the Ten Commandments

Sign of the Mosaic covenant

Sabbath and the two stone tablets

How does the covenant concept ‘Chosen People’ affect Jews?

Covenants establish Jews as God’s chosen people to spread his laws

How does the covenant concept ‘Complete Way of Life’ affect Jews?

Provides framework for everyday actions, diets, ethics and practices

How does the covenant concept ‘Jewish Identity’ affect Jews?

Overseeing history helps modern Jews preserve and feel tied to communal identity

Orthodox interpretation of covenants

Jews interpret covenants literally and strictly follow all commandments

Liberal interpretation of covenants

Adapt covenant practices to integrate with modern life

Tenakh

Complete collection of sacred Jewish scripture

Understanding of authority in Torah

613 mitzvot of commandments

Understanding of revelation in the Torah

Belief it is literal revelation from God to Moses

Understanding of Noahide in the Torah

7 foundational laws given to Noah by God after the flood

Positive mitzvot

Actions God what’s us to do to show devotion

Negative mitzvot

Forbidden actions

Oral Torah

Jews believe God gave Moses both a written Torah and unwritten oral Torah which consist of clarifying legal explanations

Mishnah

After destruction of Second Temple, and dispersion of Jews, rabbis feared oral traditions would be lost so in 200CE a rabbi complied these floating oral traditions into single legal code

Orthodox belief in Oral Torah

Believe it was given directly to Moses and is unchanging and fully authorative

Conservative/Liberal belief in oral Torah

Accepts wisdom of Talmud but acknowledges the role played by human history and does not view ancient rabbinic commentaries as binding

Public scripture

During Shabbat services, specific bit of Torah read first followed by passage called Haftarah, entire Torah read over span of year

Private scripture

Devout Jews pray 3 times a day, individuals use a Chumash to study daily Torah at home

Pilgrimage

Sacred journey to a place of religious/historic importance

Spiritual goals of pilgrimage

Strengthen faith and relationship with God, repent/reflect, remember Jewish history

Physical goals of pilgrimage

Visit sacred places, pray at the western wall, visit holocaust memorials

Challenges of pilgrimage

Cause physical exhaustion and tiredness, can be expensive, emotional distress

Western Wall

Surviving wall associated with the platform of the Second Temple and last remaining bits

Significance of the western wall

Teaches about history, sacred place for prayer, praying facing the wall, visit on festivals, some people place written prayers in the cracks, sometimes host Bar/Bat Mitzvahs

Yad Vashem

Major holocaust remembrance site, Shoah is Hebrew for catastrophe and is commonly used to refer to holocaust

Remembering holocaust today

Honours victims and does not let them be forgotten, education teachers future generations about holocaust, prevents hatred and racism, preserves the collective suffering in Jewish identity, encourages opposition to injustice

Hall of Remembrance

Memorial site that commemorates victims

Hall of Names

Preserves names and personal info about victims

Children’s Memorials

Commemorates children murdered

Avenue of the Righteous Among Nations

Honours non Jews who risked their lives to protect Jews

Cattle Car

Reminds of deportation of Jews in railways to the killing camps

Janusz Korczak Square

An educator who cared and stayed with children

Memory of the Temple

Visiting western wall, ark and eternal light in the synagogue, daily prayer

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year, celebrated for 2 days from the first of the 7th month, one of the High Holy Days, Jewish tradition describes fate being sealed on Yom Kippur,

Elul

Preceding month of self examination and repentance

Symbolism of Shofar in Rosh Hashanah

Rams horn that is blown during services

Symbolism of apples dipped in honey in Rosh Hashanah

Hope for sweet new year

Symbolism of round challah in Rosh Hashanah

Cycle of the new year

Symbolism of Pomegranate in Rosh Hashanah

Hope for good deeds

Symbolism of Fish head in Rosh Hashanah

Wish to be at the head rather than tail

Symbolism of Tashlich in Rosh Hashanah

Praying beside water