Judaism - practices

Synagogue

A building for Jewish public prayer, study and gathering

Minyah

A group of at least 10 adults; the minimum number of Jews required for a Jewish religious service

Star of David

A symbol of Judaism said to represent the shield of King David who ruled Israel in tenth century BCE.

Bimah

A platform in a synagogue from where the Torah is read.

Aron Hakodesh

The Ark the holiest part of the synagogue which contains the Torah scrolls

Rabbi

A Jewish religious leader and teacher

Ner tamid

eternal light; a light that is kept burning in the synagogue above the Ark

Orthadox Jews

Jews who follow the Torah exactly how it says as they believe it was given directly from God to Moses

Tallit

A prayer shawl

Tefillin

small leather boxes containing extract from the Torah, strapped to the wearer’s arm and forehead for morning prayers.

Amidah

also known as the ‘standing prayer’ it is the central prayer for Jewish worship.

Shabbat

The Jewish holy day of the week; a day of spiritual renewal starting shortly before sunset on Friday and continuing to sunset on Saturday.

Tenakh

The 24 books of Jewish scripture

Torah

The 5 books revealed by God to Moses the first section of the Tenakh and the Jewish written law.

Nevi’im

The second section of the Tenakh the prophets

Ketuvim

The third section the Tenakh the writings

Mishnah

Jewish oral law; part of the Talmud

Gamara

A commentary on the Mishnah; part of the Talmud

Talmud

A commentary by the rabbis on the Torah - it consists of the Mishnah and Gemara together in on collection.

Rituals

Religious ceremonies that are performed according to a set pattern

Brit Milah

Ceremony of male circumcision; the removal of the foreskin for religious reasons.

Bar Mitzvah

Celebration of a boy coming of age at 13 literally ‘son of the commandment’

Bat mitzvah

Celebration of a girl coming of age at 12, in Reform synagogues ‘daughter of the commandment’

Marriage

A legal union between a man and a woman or in some countries including the uk 2 people of the same sex as partners in a relationship.

Mourning

A period of time spent remembering a person who has died

Shiva

An intense period of mourning that lasts for 7 days

Kaddish

A prayer said by Jewish mourners that praises God and asks for peace

Dietary laws

Rules that deal with foods permitted to be eaten, food preparation, food combos and the untensils and sihes coming into contact with food.