Judaism - Practises

synagogue

is a house of assembly where Jews meet for prayer, worship and study

bar mitzvah

Celebration of a boy coming of age at 13. Literally "Son of the Commandment

tenakh

the Jewish sacred scripture/holy book; Jewish written law.

kosher

A food item that Jews may eat; clean food in Judaism

Pesach (Passover)

A Jewish festival remembering how God set them free from slavery in Egypt

yom kippur

Jewish Day of Atonement; a day of fasting on the tenth day after Rosh Hashanah.

rosh hashanah

a two days festival celebrated to mark the Jewish New Year

Two sacred writings in Judaism:

* Tanakh
* talmud

Two ways in which many Jews celebrate Shabbat in the home

* the woman on the house welcome the Shabbat by lighting two candles.
* the father prays for his children, begging with the oldest

two purposes of a jewish synagogue

* it is a place of worship
* it is a place of education and meeting

two reasons why shabbat is very special

* Jews rest because God rested on the 7th day after creation.
* jews are observing the commandment ‘keep the sabbath day holy

two different groups or movements in judaism in britain today

* orthodox judaism
* reform judaism

two features of an orthodox synagogue

* ner tamid; everlasting light
* aaron harkodesh; the ark of the covenant

explain two ways in which observing shabbat influences jewish life

* shabbat begins a little before sunset on a friday and last until an hour after sunset on saturday
* considered the most holy day as it commanded in the ten commandments
* celebrating is a reminder of the covenant made between God and the Jewish people
* an occasion to rejoice that God keeps his promise

explain two contrasting Jewish views about Jewish dietry law

* Orthodox Jews follow dietry laws strictly
* believe the laws came from God to test their obedience to him
* these laws called Jews to holiness and develop self-control and remind them of their faith
* reform Jews in step diet rules are outdated in modern British society
* should be up to the individual whether they follow them
* believe that people should focus on faith rather than rituals

explain two reasons why orthodox and reformed Jews have different practises in worship

* orthodox = men and women separately to avoid distractions so that they can fully be connected with God
* the person leading the service has his back to the congregation facing the ark
* reform = men and women sit together as they believe they are equal
* person leading the service faces the congregation most of the time
* women take active role in the service eg. becoming a rabbi and reading services

Explain two reasons why the ark is considered the holiest place in the synagogue

* Aaron harkodesh a cupboard where the Torah is kept move down
* Torah is believed to be the law of God-given to them as a gift through Moses
* is the word of God meaning it is very holy chosen
* makes the ark the holiest place in the synagogue the bar
* is usually reached by climbing up steps as a reminder to worshippers that God is above people that the sacred Torah is above humanity

explain two contrasting ways in which orthodox and reformed Jews mark boys and girls coming age

* orthodox and reformed Jews boys have the bar mitzvah
* after the first shabbat of their 13th birthday the boy is called to read from Torah in the synagogue
* the boy wears a tallit for the first time and makes a speech
* reform Jews = celebrate bat mitzvah ceremony and celebrations for girls that is very similar to bar mitzvah
* service is followed by celebratory meal or party
* orthodox do women don't take active role in leading worship please page
* orthodox Jews sometimes mark a girls bat mitzvah with a family meal and small religious gifts

explain two differences between orthodox and reform Judaism

* orthodox Judaism is the traditional branch of Judaism
* emphasise the importance of obeying gods instructions as laid down in the Torah and the Talmud
* believe there are different roles for men and women
* reform Judaism is more modern
* reject what they see as strict outdated practises
* focus on faith instead of rules rituals and commandments
* emphasises the importance of individual choice on deciding how to worship

explain two reasons why pesach is important in Great Britain today

* Celebrate the Jews escape from slavery in Egypt to create the birth of the Jewish nation when
* given the law that made them God's chosen people
* a time for Jews to give thanks to God for their redemption and feel empathy for those who still live under oppression
* most important preparation is to remove leaven from the home
* recalls how Jews did not have time to let their bread rice when they escaped Egypt

explain two beliefs about prayer

* builds relationship between God and humankind
* devout orthodox Jews pray three times a day
* for Sabbath all that is required is a minimum of 10 adult males (in orthodox) or ten men and women (in reform) to be present
* the opening prayers depend on the service but might consist of services of prayers and psalms that praise and give thanks to God

explain two ways in which Shabbat is celebrated in the home

* is welcomed by a female member of the family lighting 2 candles shortly before sunset on Friday
* she covers her eyes to say a blessing
* ‘bless it or you are God king of the universe who sanctify’s with his commandments and commands us to light candles of Shabbat’
* after Friday evening service in synagogue the family shares a special meal before
* the meal parents bless their children and the head of the household recites kiddush blessings while holding the kiddush cup

explain two ceremonies associated with birth

* naming ceremony = orthodox Jews bless their children in the synagogue on the first Shabbat after birth
* the father recites Torah blessings and asks for good health of his wife and baby
* a baby girl's name will be announced at this point but a boy will be named after circumcision
* Brit milah = is male circumcision
* the boy is circumcised at eight days old
* Jews circumcise their male children as a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham

explain how two features in the synagogue prayer hall are reminders of the temple in Jerusalem

* ark = a cupboard within a synagogue by the Torah is kept
* Torah is believed to be the word of God this makes the holiest part of the synagogue
* the ark is situated on the eastern wall of the synagogue facing Jerusalem
* Ner Tamid hangs above the ark + reminds Jews of the menorah that burned in the original temple

explain two features of a Jewish marriage ceremony

* Reading and signing of ketuban = Marriage contract to state marriage responsibilities of husband and wife
* importance of marriage is emphasised in the Torah (gen2:24)
* ceremony begins with blessings over a cup of wine a symbol of joy and happiness

rosh hashana is the most important festival today \= agree

1=Marks the start of the high holy days and the most special time of year for Jews

* jews focus intensely on their relationship with God
* it is the jewish new year and celebration of God’s kingship eg. seen in the blowing of the shofar
* a time of new beginning and change to reflect on thoughts and actions of the past year

2=the symbolism of the book of life decides possibilities for the year ahead, a time to seek forgiveness

* to think about God’s goodness and creation of the world

rosh hashana is the most important festival today = disagree

1=yom kippur is more important as it links to jewish practises in temple times

* the absoluteness of the focus on God, as seen in 25 hours of fast, other restrictions and synagogue services
* a time as jews as a whole states penitence for sn and seeks God’s mercy

2=Pesach is more important, can be seen in the effort made by jews to celebrate seder meal with families

* its message of deliverance is relevant to today’s world when memories of the Holocaust are still strong

‘the brit milah (circumcision) ceremony is more important for jews than bar mitzvah ceremony’ = agree

* brit milah is the ceremony of male circumcision when they are 8 days old
* jews circumcise their male children as a sign of the covenant God made with abraham
* “you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you”
* “any uncircumcised male has broken my covenant”
* the whole jewish community welcomes a person inot their community and into the family of God

‘the brit milah (circumcision) ceremony is more important for jews than bar mitzvah ceremony’ = disagree

* boys have their have their bar mitzvah after their 13th birthday
* boys are now expected to play a part of a member of God’s chosen people in keeping the faith going
* they can form a part of the minyan required for synagogue worship
* they are expected to study torah in great detail, to grow in spiritual maturity and make moral decisions in line with teachings in judaism
* they are responsible for their actions rather than it being the responsibility of their fathers and for fulfilling ritual requirements of torah eg. wearing tallit

“the ark is the most important feature of a jewish synagogue” = agree

* the ark = a cupboard in the synagogue where the torah is kept
* torah is believed to be the the law of God given to them by moses
* torah is very holy which makes the ark the most holiest part of the synagogue
* the ark is situated on the eastern wall of the synagogue facing jerusalem
* is usually reached by climbing up steps as a reminder to worshippers that God is above people and the sacred torah is above humanity

“the ark is the most important feature of a jewish synagogue” = disagree

* ner tamid = it hangs above the ark and reminds jews of the menorah that burned in the original temple
* reminds jews of the everlasting presence of God, the God who is omnibenevolent and intervenes in their daily lives
* the biman = a rasied platform in the middle of the synagogue
* shows that the torah must be at the centre of jewish life and that it is the heart of jewish people
* it is where the torah is read

‘the talmud teaches jews all they need to know to follow the jewish way of life’ = agree

* focus on how the time has changed and somethings are not found in the tenakh (written law) therefore oral law is needed (talmud)
* environment issues, moral issues

‘the talmud teaches jews all they need to know to follow the jewish way of life’ = disagree

* focus on the importance of the tenakh; torah (law, nevim (teachings of prophets) and ketuvim (teachings)
* refer to the ten commandments and their guidance on how to lead a good life
* prophets how their message directed jews on how to live according to God’s will
* ketuvim (teachings) = their importance of teaching jews their history and how has to praise God

‘getting prepared as if to welcome royalty into your home, is a good way to get everything ready for shabbat’ = agree

* shabbat is seen as welcoming a bride or a queen into the home
* table is set with the best cutlery
* the two candles are lit by the woman of the house which represents the 2 commandments to remember and observe shabbat
* shows the importance of God’s commandment
* shows the importance of God in judaism