Judaism - practices

Explain two contrasting religious features of a synagogue. (4)

• Ner tamid - Exodus 27:20 and Leviticus 24:2 – God commands people of Israel to keep the light burning in the Tabernacle at all times = Ner Tamid is this light. shows God is with his people through good and bad

• Aron Hakodesh - at front of synagogue toward which all worshippers face and ark of the covenant / represents tabernacle / contains the Torah

• Bimah - raised platform from which the Torah is read / raised to show separation between ordinary and holy spaces

• Menorah - seven-branched candlestick / represents seven days of creation / reminder of God’s creative power.

Explain two contrasting ways in which worship is carried out in Orthodox and reform synagogues. (4)

Orthodox:

• men and women sit separately

• everything is in Hebrew

• person leading the servive has his back to the congregations and prays in same direction as congregation

Reform:

• men and women sit together

• most of service in English

• person leading worship faces congregation

Explain two contrasting ways a synagogue might be used by Jews. (4)

• Festivals celebrated within the community / eg Yom Kippur, Pesach (Passover).

• Worship / communal or individual / services are held regularly for worship (beit tefilah – house of prayer).

• Shabbat observance / families attend on Friday evening / Saturday morning.

• Rites of passage ceremonies / eg Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah.

• Education - synagogue = also means house of learning - bet ha midrash: Jews of all ages can use the synagogue for education / teach young Jews Hebrew / so they have a better understanding of prayers

Explain two ways in which the ark (Aron hakodesh) is important in the synagogue. (5)

• Cupboard where Torah Scrolls are kept - named after wodden chest tjat held the stone tablets of the covenant that was given to Moses

• Makes synagogue a holy place - presence of the Ark and scrolls

  honour must be shown to it, no one should sit with their back to it.

• Key part in worship - At the right moment in a synagogue service the Ark is ceremonially opened

The synagogue is the centre of the Jewish faith.’ (12)

FOR:

• place for Jews to worship, meet others in faith community, to study

• Contains the ark - scrolls of Torah are kept

• Shabbat service takes place weekly here

• Strong focus on Jewish faith - ‘decorated’ incorporating Jewish themes, symbols and passages from scripture to provide inspiration.

• Study and education take place - Jewish texts are freely available in a synagogue, classes are run for children and adults who want to further their knowledge and understanding of the faith or to learn Hebrew

AGAINST:

• Home is centre of faith = place of family, preserving the faith and passing onto future generations

• Brit Milah - usually takes place in the home

• Home - key in Shabbat observance - preparations are made at home + friday meal is eaten at home - he rest of Shabbat may be spent with the family studying the Torah or just having quality family time

• Daily prayers can be said at home / homes have reminders of the faith such as mezuzahs, symbolism and copies of Jewish texts.

• Dietray laws - based on the home and observed there

Give two reasons why Jews might prefer to worship in a synagogue rather than at home. (2)

• worship in synagogue is more formal and ritualistic

• worshiping as a community - preserves Jewish identity

• word synagogue means coming together or house of assembly in hebrew

• replaced the place of worship for Jews after destruction of Temple in Jerusalem

Explain two contrasting ways in which Jews worship. (4)

• One way - worship at home: may be more spontaneous, involves only family, led by father and mother of household

• Contrasting way - worship at synagogue: set pattern, Jewish community is involved, led by cantor and rabbi

why is worship/prayer important

Form part of the covenant with Abraham – duty

Its a mitzvot – a law to keep

Shows devotion – Jewish identity – prayed since the start of faith and link to Jewish history

Brings a community together

Name two books of the Tenakh. (2)

Genesis / Exodus / Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy / Joshua

Explain two contrasting ways a Jewish family might keep dietary laws in the home. (4)

• Orthodox family would have separate utensils for preparing meat and milk, separate sinks

• Some families may have separate kitchens for dairy and meat

• only eat Kosher animals such as beef and chicken

• Some Progressive Jews might observe food laws by following a vegetarian or vegan diet

Explain two ways in which dietary laws are important to Jews. (5)

• part of mitzvot - obliged to obey them

• keeping Kosher demonstrates obedience to God

• eating is considered a religious ritual in Judaism

• there should be no blood in the meat (Leviticus 17:10–4)

• seafood must have fins and scales (Leviticus 11:9)

name some of the kashrut - food laws

• To eat meat only from animals which have cloven hoofs and chew the cud. 

• To eat only those fish which have fins and scales. 

• Not to eat birds of prey and scavengers. 

• Not to eat anything which has died naturally, or been killed by another animal. 

• Animals killed for food must be killed in a way that drains all the blood away. 

• Meat dishes and milk/dairy dishes must not be mixed. 

Explain two ways in which Shabbat is celebrated in Jewish homes. (5)

• home is prepared for celebration

• at least two candles are placed on the table by mother - observe and remember the sabbath + last work done before day of rest

• Two loaves of challah bread are placed on the table

• to represent food provided by God before Shabbat whilst they were wandering in the wilderness.

• Children are blessed before the meal - head of household recites the Kiddush blessing

‘For Jews, Shabbat is more important than any festival.’ (12)

FOR:

• Shabbat is observed every week by Jewish families

• designated holy day so that Jews can devote more of their time to prayer and Torah study

• deepens relationship

• important to the entire Jewish community

• commanded to observe Shabbat

• Shabbat is often referred to as the ‘bride’ or ‘queen’ of all days in the Friday night service

• Leviticus 23 lists the festivals, Shabbat is the first

• importance of family - a lot of time with each other

• distinctiveness of the Jewish community - strengthens Jewish identity

AGAINST:

• Rosh Hashanah

• Yom Kippur

• Hanukkah

• Pesach

‘The best way for Jews to understand what God is like is by taking part in Jewish family life.’ (12)

FOR:

• shabbat is centred around family unit - one of the ten commandments

• emphasises importance of learning torah

• God’s continual presence - everywhere - mitzvot are in all parts - keeping Kosher laws

• mother has the role to pass down the religious faith

AGAINST:

• synagogue - walls are decorated with quotes and symbols related to god

• the services allow to relate and connect

• worshipping and sharing views with other Jews allows individuals to
  deepen their understanding.

‘Celebrating Shabbat at home is more important than celebrating Shabbat at the synagogue.’ (12)

FOR:

• home is central to the practice of Judaism

• involves whole family - Orthodox women make a significant contribution, and children are blessed

• less formal and more relaxed

• more meaningful - sing, enjoy each other companies, memories

• Home is the best place to truly rest - commandment to rest, household chores do not happen

AGAINST:

• synagogue - designed for worship,

• structure of a synagogue service makes it easier to concentrate on the true meaning of Shabbat

• formality of set prayers

• wider Jewish community to celebrate together

• special services on a Friday evening and Saturday morning

• Torah is read in synagogue - allows for reflection

Give two reasons why Jews celebrate Brit Milah. (2)

• A symbolic act showing the belonging to the faith

• practised for more than 3000 years

• a sign of the covenant God made with Abraham

• so important it is even allowed to be performed on the Sabbath or a holy day

Give two things that happen as part of a Bar Mitzvah ceremony. (2)

• The boy puts on the tephillin and tallit

• the boy is called up to say the blessings over the Torah,

• boys may read from the Torah

• ead some or all of the congregational service

• throwing of sweets

Explain two ways in which the Bar Mitzvah ceremony is important for Jews. (5)

• taking full responsibiliy of teaching and education in faith

• - he will have studied the Torah in preparation for reading out loud in the synagogue

• he will have spent many hours learning how to read and recite Hebrew

• now eligible to make up a minyan

• when a minyan meets, Shekhinah is present, and required for specific acts of worship

• tradition

• celebrates the link in an unbroken chain of thousands of years of Jewish tradition + claim his own Jewish identity

why is the shabbat important for Jews?

• mitzvot

• Jewish identity

• importance of family

• part of ‘healing the world’ - Tikkun Olam

Explain two ways in which the marriage ceremony helps Jews to understand marriage. (5)

• takes place under a chuppah - symbolises home they will set up together

• but also has open sides - always open to support from the Jewish community

• A glass is broken beneath the groom’s foot - reminder of the destruction of Temple

• In the Orthodox tradition, the Ketubah is signed - reminds the groom that he has responsibilities towards his wife, progressive - both of partner’s responsibilities

• Genesis 2:24, husband and wife become ‘one flesh’ - seen when they place the ring - one unit, unity

Explain two contrasting Jewish mourning rituals practised when someone has died. (4)

Orthodox Jews - sit shiva for 7 days - intense mourning after burial

Reform Jews - sit shiva for 3 days

shiva = wear no leather shoes, do not shave or cut their hair, kaddish is recited

Lesser period of mourning (Sheloshim)

follows shiva and lasts until 30 days after death / life returns to normal but no music, parties, shaving or haircut

‘Jewish mourning rituals are needed for the living more than for the dead.’ (12)

FOR:

• come to terms with loss - as at most vulenrable, handling with huge amount of grief

• whole community comes together + support family - such as preparing all food for them in the first week (Shiva)

• seen in blessing for bereaved: May God comfort you among all those who mourn for Zion and Jerusalem

• dead = gone, no feelings, do not know how to support, whereas you can support the living

AGAINST:

• rituals = respect the dead - focus of any actions/rituals.

• Comfort the soul = singing of hymns beside body to comfort the soul + body not left alone before burial / as it is not known when the soul departs

• By definition, mourning is about the dead = the dead and the mourners are two sides of the same coin = so mourning rituals cannot be seen as being about one rather than the other

• Period of mourning - no study of Torah, no work, sit low, cover mirrors for 1 year = intention is to keep them mindful of their loss, show appropriate respect - so the dead person is the centre of everything, and the cause of everything.

Give the names of two Jewish Festivals. (2)

• Rosh Hashanah

• Yom Kippur

• Sukkot

• Pesach

• Shavuot

• Hannukah

• Purim

• Shabbat

Explain two religious activities that take place during the festival of Yom Kippur. (5)

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement.

• observe the day for 25 hours through fasting - ‘afflicting the soul’ - Numbers

• remain cheerful throughout the day to mark them having reached this time when the Book of Life (Judgement) closes

• repent any sins that are unrepented before the Book of Life (Judgement) is sealed by God - As god can release all sins

• No work is done - It shall be a Sabbath of complete rest for you - Leviticus

For Jews, Yom Kippur is more important than Rosh Hashanah.’ (12)

FOR:

• judgement is finalised - last chance

• the Day of Atonement - holiest day of the year

• ‘atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you of all your sins’ (Tenakh)

• Yom Kippur in the synagogue - community

• confession of sins - asking God for forgiveness, service gives a final chance to confess their sins before the doors of the Ark are closed

AGAINST:

• Rosh Hashanah is the start of the Jewish new year

• first day of a period of reflection and repentance for a ten day period

• leads up to Yom Kippur

• God opens the Book of Life which is closed on Yom Kippur.

• Rosh Hashanah celebrates God’s creation of the world - without which nothing would exist, including Yom Kippur.

• Both festivals have a similar focus on hoping for God’s merciful judgement - cannot be separated

Explain two reasons why Jews celebrate Pesach. (5)

• reminder of the time when God delivered them from slavery in Egypt

• Exodus

• reminder of when the Israelites became a new and unique nation under God

• This day shall be a remembrance for you and you shall celebrate it as a festival for God

• reminds the Jews of the special relationship that they have with their God

• mitzvot

• community

Regular weekly celebrations are more important for Jews than annual festivals.’ Discuss this statement. (12) 

FOR

• 10 commandments

• develop faith and connection with God

• covenant, God created the world, focus time on Him

• equal - shabbat rules apply to everyone

• Havdallah ceremony - covenant

• spice box - sweet smell of shabbat - following week

AGAINST:

• Pesach - slavery in egypt - important event in hsitry

• yom kippur- all jews go to synongoe - ‘sabbath of the sabbath’

• involve whole community

explain two religious activities that take place during the festival of Rosh Hashanah (4)

• shofar - ram’s horn - call to repentance - blown 100 times on day in service

• month of repentance - time to reflect on how they lived mitzvot, + making amends and apologize

• actions - improve god’s judgement - praying, charity work

• evening - symbolic, festive meal - apples dipped in honey = new year

• beth din - council at synagogue - to cancel vows

significance of rosh hashanah

• new year celebration

• remember creation - birthday of the world

• preparation for god’s judgement on your life

• mitzvah - book of numbers - says that shofar will be sounded

• part of Jewish community + identity

explain 2 activities that occur in Pesach

• evening before - Seder

• seder plate contains - parsley in salt water - taste both the hope of new birth and the tears that the Israelite slaves shed

• egg - roundness of egg - circle of life

• lean when eating - reminds of freedom - romans leant

• Matzah - broken and hidden - children hunt and try to find it