judaism practices things that will hopefully be useful

aqa rs gcse

what are the three prayers of the day?

Shacharit (morning), Minchah (afternoon), Maariv (evening)

why is the ark the most important?

contains the Torah scrolls (word of God), represents original Ark of the covenant, built into Eastern wall facing Jerusalem (where the Temple once stood)

why is the ark not the most important?

bimah - look up to Torah, looking up to God, centre of synagogue, teachings go to whole world

ner tamid - eternal light, God’s eternal presence, symbol Israel, Israelites were commanded to keep a lamp burning in the Tabernacle all the time

pray in synagogue better

connection to other Jews and God, presence of Torah scrolls, community, focus on God, comfort of all praying together, provides structure, minyan, in Ox men/women separated so no distractions

pray in synagogue not better

can’t always get to synagogue, e.g. during holocaust Jews did not pray in synagogues, many women only go to synagogue on shabbat anyway, private worship (prayers w/o minyan) is very common, develop personal relationship with God, better to pray at home than not at all, Shema is said outside of synagogue and is key prayer to Jews

most important festival

Shabbat: weekly, key part of Jewish lives, in 10 commandments, copying God’s example, only day many women go to synagogue, enter into a soul-level space, non-negotiable, carves out time and space for rest and relaxation and time with family

Pesach: has most to do regarding home and family, most important for children

High Holy days of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah: Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year, day of atonement, day of fasting, make amendments, God is arriving, cleansed of sins, joyful, many Jews (once-a-year Jews) only go to synagogue on these days

what happens at YK and RH?

RH is first day in 10 day period of High Holy Days, ends with YK, OJ 2 days, PJ 1 day, day of judgement, anniversary of day God created humans, make amends, atone for sins, opportunity for penitence and forgiveness, blowing of shofar, tashlich (cast away sins), symbolic food, YK 25 hour fast, book of Judgement sealed

how is Pesach celebrated

7 days in Israel, 8 days outside of Israel, remembers liberation of Israelites from slavery, “next year in Jerusalem” blessing, deep clean of house, NO YEAST EATEN AT ALL, Seder meal starts Pesach, may add something to plate that recognises a current crisis (e.g. chillis for global warming), experience story, youngest child asks 4 questions, story of escape from Egypt is retold from the Haggadah, symbolic foods, e.g. maror (bitter herbs enslavement), Karpas (vegetables dipped in salt water tears) etc