practices

Brit Milah (5)

Firstly, Brit Milah is the ritual of circumcision which takes place when the baby is 8 days old as a sign that the new-born is joining God’s covenant originally established with Abraham, “every male among you shall be circumcised at eight days old” (Genesis). Those who are not circumcised are “cut off” from the covenant with God; as taught within the Torah (Genesis).

Secondly, the baby is placed on Elijah’s chair just before the procedure as it is believed that the prophet Elijah is present at every circumcision. The baby is then handed to the sandek where the procedure will take place.

Lastly, the procedure can be carried out at hospital, in the home or at the synagogue but the procedure will be carried out by the mohel (trained circumciser), in front of the minyan. There will be many celebrations to follow containing many hymns and blessings, and the baby’s name is also announced which is a key moment in a Jewish boy’s life as it gives him his identity.

BAR MITZVAH 🟧

Happens at 13 years old for a boy at the synagogue
Celebrated on first Shabbat following boy’s birthday
it’s a ceremony for boys to mark the occasion when they become an adult and take
responsibility for their actions/ following mitzvah as the Torah says, ‘if you obey my commands
you will be my chosen people’.
Boy is required to read a portion of the Torah in Hebrew which requires preparation and
practise – up to a year!
Father recites a blessing that states that the son is now responsible for his actions
Boy wears a tallit and tefillin for the first time- lead part of the worship- join the minyan
Sweets are thrown as a symbol of blessings

BAT MITZVAH AND CHAYIL

Orthodox:

Bat Chayil means ‘daughter of worth’ -takes place when the girl is 12 usually in Orthodox Jewish
traditions
In her 12 th year, a Bat Chayil girl will learn about her faith, and her role in the family e.g. how to keep a kosher kitchen and how to prepare for Shabbat
On her Bat Chayil when she turns 12, a special service in the synagogue will take place where
the girl presents to the congregation what she has learned.
Orthodox girls do not take an active part in worship since men and women have different roles.

REFORM

Similar to that of a Bar mitzvah, since boys and girls are considered equal.
Happens at 13 years old for a boy at the synagogue
Celebrated on first Shabbat following boy’s birthday
it’s a ceremony for boys to mark the occasion when they become an adult and take
responsibility for their actions/ following mitzvah as the Torah says, ‘if you obey my commands
you will be my chosen people’.
Boy is required to read a portion of the Torah in Hebrew which requires preparation and
practise – up to a year!
Father recites a blessing that states that the son is now responsible for his actions
Boy wears a tallit and tefillin for the first time- lead part of the worship- join the minyan
Sweets are thrown as a symbol of blessings

Worship in the home (5)

Firstly, much of Jewish worship happens in the home. For example Shabbat will involve family meals, resting and lots of prayer at home. This is an act of worship because in the Torah, one of the ten commandments is to ‘keep the Sabbath day holy’ and by following this mitzvot they are showing devotion to God.

Secondly, many of the festivals (which are acts of worship) take place at home. For example, the Pesach Seder meal is eaten with family at the home and during Sukkot a temporary shelter is built in the outside space of the home.

Lastly, features of the Jewish home encourage worship such as the mezuzah with the Shema in and a kitchen having separate areas for dairy and meat to follow the kosher food laws. The Shema and Modeh Ani prayers are also said at home daily.

MARRIAGE

Takes place in synagogue or hotel
Rabbi leads the ceremony
The couple are married under a canopy called the chuppah. This represents the new couple’s new home together, independent of their parents. The Torah states, ‘that is why a man leaves his father and his mother and is united with his wife, and the two become one flesh’
Blessings are recited over the couple by the chazzan
The groom gives the bride a ring stating, ‘Behold, you are consecrated to me by means of this ring,Maccording to the rituals of Moses and Israel’
Groom stamps on glass as a reminder of the hardship in marriage and also sadness at the destruction of the temple.
Congregation shout ‘Mazel tov’ which means ‘good luck’

FUNERALS

The onan- the chief mourner is exempt from following all mitzvot so they can plan the funeral.
the body is not left alone until it is prepared for burial by the chevra kaddisha- volunteers who wash and dress the body.
Jews do not practice cremation but rather bury the dead since they believe their body will resurrect. The Nevi’im states, ‘those who sleep in the dust will awake’.
During the burial, the congregation recite the Kaddish- a prayer of praise to God.
From then on starts a period of intense mourning called shiva meaning ‘seven’. This is to follow the example of Joseph who mourned his father Jacob for seven days. During this time the family of the deceased are comforted by the community. They sit on low stools and cover the mirrors.

Pesach (5)

Items in worship (5)

Firstly, Orthodox Jewish men where the tefillin (Reform Jewish women may wear these too). These are boxes worn on the head and arm containing the Shema. These remind Jews of the belief that God is one and the command in the Shema to ‘Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads’.

Secondly, they wear kippahs - a small hat worn by Orthodox Jewish men and in Reform Judaism women too as a sign of respect to God

Lastly, they wear a tallit- prayer shawl worn by Orthodox Jewish men and women in Reform Judaism during prayer- the tzitzit on the tallit is a reminder of the 613 mitzvot. The Torah states, ‘The tassels will serve as reminders, and each time you see them you will remember all my commands and obey them’

Kosher (5)

Jews eat food that is ‘kosher’. Kosher means that which is ‘fit’ or ‘proper’ to eat. Fruit and vegetables are largely kosher- as long as there are no insects in them. Meats they can eat include any that ‘have a split hoof and chew the cud’ as stated in the Torah. Therefore goats and cows are kosher

Any sea food must have ‘fins and scales’ to be considered kosher according to the Torah. Any foods that are not kosher are called ‘trefah’. These include the likes of shrimp, lobster and pork. In addition, meat and dairy products can never be mixed. The Torah states, ‘Do not boil a lamb in its mother’s milk’

PRAYER (5)

Part of everyday life- can happen formally in the synagogue or informally at home.
Prayer forms the foundation of Jewish life- it is practised at least 3 times a day
Jews believe that regular prayer shows devotion and love for God
Lots of Jewish prayer is recited as a community e.g. the Shema and the Amidah in the presence of a minyan- which creates a spiritual and meaningful experience.
The siddur is used by many Jews to help focus their minds, and to pray the same prayers that would be said in the synagogue (if they are at home) which is important as it fosters a sense of community.
Prayers such as the Shema remind Jews of their belief in one God, ‘Hear O Israel the Lord your God the Lord is one’ and that He requires worship.
Jews begin their day by reciting the Modeh Ani prayer, which is important as it thanks God for a new day and dedicates the day ahead to God.
Jewish prayers include thanksgiving, petition and praise.

SYNAGOGUE SERVICES (8)

Sukkot (8)

Firstly, the festival of Sukkot is a harvest festival to thank God that commemorates the 40 year period in which the Israelites lived in the desert for. It is counted as a mitzvot that Jews should keep. As in the Torah it states ‘during these seven days you must live in thatched huts’

Secondly, a key feature of Sukkot is building sukkahs which represent the temporary shelter that many Jews used in the desert. It is a makeshift booth that represents humans’ vulnerability before God. In the Torah it also mentions two special ‘objects’ associated with Sukkot; the lulav and the etrog.

Thirdly, Sukkot is celebrated for seven days and no work is permitted on the first and second day. Families will build a sukkah to live in and the roof must be made of something that has grown in the ground and be sparse enough so rain can get through it and the stars can be seen.

Lastly, the Sukkah is often decorated with children’s drawings, families will eat meals in it and some may even sleep in it. Each morning of Sukkot except on Shabbat, the lulav and etrog are waved in 6 directions to represent that God’s power is everywhere.

Shabbat (8)

Firstly, keeping Shabbat is important for Jews as when they celebrate it they are following God’s mitzvot (keep the Sabbath day holy – 10 commandments, Exodus). By following the mitzvot Jews are showing devotion to God and this is how they build a strong relationship with God.

Secondly, it is important as it is a core way familial bonds are built. One of the first mitzvot God gives humans is to ‘be fruitful and multiply’ therefore putting family life at the centre of Judaism. The day of Shabbat is focused on the family relationship and involves quality time such as the Friday night Shabbat meal and coming together to light the Havdalah candle on the Saturday night.

Thirdly, it is important because it provides a time that forces Jews to rest so they are recharged and better equipped to face the next week. When they are rested they are able to better focus on work and following the mitzvot rather than being tempted into not fulfilling these things as they are too tired.

Lastly, it is important as it gives them an opportunity to worship together in the synagogue. Although there are daily prayer services that go on during the week, the Shabbat service is the most attended and therefore becomes a day to celebrate the Jewish community.

Synagogue (8)

Firstly, there is no images/ statues can be found in the synagogue- only stained-glass windows or patterns. Belief in one god is central to Judaism. The Shema states, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord your God, the Lord is one’

Secondly, the Ner tamid- the red light located above the Aron Hakodesh that represents the eternal flame in the temple which was God’s presence- the Shekhinah is important as it reminds the Jews that God wants to be present and active in their lives / in a relationship with them.

The Aron Hakodesh (ark) is a cupboard in which the Torah scrolls are contained. It is situated at the front of the synagogue as the focal point. Important because it houses the Torah scrolls which are considered sacred in Judaism. Each Torah scroll (Sefer Torah) is hand-written and carefully copied and prayed over. It contains the same words that were originally given to Moses directly by God.

The bimah is the raised platform from which the Torah scrolls are read. It is usually located in the centre of the synagogue. The bimah is important since it is a reminder of the altar on which Jews offered their sacrifices in the Tenakh. It’s placed in the middle of the synagogue since the Torah should be central to Jewish life.

Kosher (8)

 This affects the Jewish kitchen since Jews will have 2 sets of utensils to cook meat and dairy- they may have two sinks, two ovens etc. Kosher is also to do with how meat is prepared. The animal must be in good health and slaughtered in a painless way by a shochet.

‘Worship at home is more important than worship at a synagogue’ (15)

Some Jews would agree with this statement because of the fact that Siddurs, tallits and tefillin are available for people to use outside the synagogue. The Shema states ‘bind them to your foreheads’ when talking about the words of the Shema. It doesn’t state you can only do this in a synagogue and since the Shema is the central prayer in Judaism, if it is carried out at home daily then this would mean worship at the home is more important than worship at the synagogue. There are also set prayers such as the Amidah and Modeh Ani which all Jews will know so they can say these at home rather than having to go to synagogue to be led in saying them. This is a strong argument because worship at home could be more personal than synagogue worship and the synagogue could be quite distracting with so many people (hence why men and women are sat separately).

Furthermore, some Jews may also agree because Jews are required to pray at least three times a day and because of this, going to the synagogue each time could be difficult due to work or family commitments. If it is between praying at home or not praying at all because they cannot make it to the synagogue, then praying at home is the better option. The home is also where Jews follow most of the mitzvot and following the mitzvot counts as worship. As the mitzvot are so important in Judaism because of the fact it makes them God’s people (if you obey my commands, you will be my people – Torah), this makes worship at the home most important.

Conversely, some Jews would disagree with the statement. This is because each synagogue has the the Aron Hakodesh. It is in the ark that the Torah scrolls are kept. They are considered to be the most sacred objects in Judaism as they are God’s direct word and to be in the presence of the Torah is a privilege and honour. It is considered an opportunity to experience the presence of God in a special way. The Torah scrolls are hand written by scribes who take great care in recording it. The scribes pray constantly throughout the process and work tirelessly to ensure that absolutely no error is made. This makes the Torah scrolls sacred and blessed. This is a strong argument because Torahs are very expensive and it would be very unusual to have one in the home, therefore making worship in the synagogue more important.

Additionally, some Jews would also disagree because the synagogue is the central hub of worship for Jews. It is there that Jews can pray with a Minyan and is believed that when praying with a minyan your prayers are more meaningful and effective. Many festivals and important coming of age ceremonies are also celebrated here which are seen as acts of worship and there make the synagogue a more important place.

The most compelling argument is that worship in the home is more important. This is because following the mitzvot is the most important aspect of Judaism and seen as a form of worship, and most of the mitzvot are carried out in the home. For example, Shabbat and the kosher food laws.

Brit Milah being most important (15)

Agree because very important as it is a sign that Jews are still a part of God’s covenant made with Abraham today. The Torah states, ‘every male amongst you must be circumcised at eight days’. God’s covenant was conditional: the Jews must be circumcised in return for the land of Israel, prosperity and many descendants..

SA: The covenant goes on to say that ‘Any uncircumcised male… will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant’ (Torah) This means that they will no longer be entitled to the covenant promises and a relationship with God.

Brit Milah is very important as Jews believe that God sent the Prophet Elijah to call the Jews back to circumcision since they were forgetting their covenant with God (Tenakh). This is why there is an empty chair placed at every Brit Milah ceremony- to remind Jews that the Prophet Elijah’s presence is there.

WA: Brit Milah is a ceremony that only men can partake in and celebrate. Therefore it excludes girls. It is logical that God would care about female Jews also keeping the commandments so ceremonies such as Bar/ Bat Mitzvah are more important than Brit Milah.

Disagree: Bar/ Bat Mitzvah are more important ceremonies than Brit Milah since both boys and girls can equally take part. The ceremony requires that the boy (13yrs) and girl (12yrs) prepare to read a portion of scripture in Hebrew and lead part of the worship. They wear the tallit for the first time as they enter into adulthood.

WA: Only in Reform Judaism do girls have an equal coming of age ceremony toboys. In Orthodox Judaism, girls have a Bat Chayil at 12 years in which they are not allowed to read from the Torah or wear the tallit or tefillin whilst boys can. This suggests that a man’s role is more important.

Argument 2: Brit Milah ceremonies are commitments made by the parents not the child. Bar/ Bat mitzvah is more important for the individual worshipper as the Bar Mitzvah boy and Bat Mitzvah girl make a decision to follow the mitzvah for themselves and take responsibility for their lives. They have freewill. The Torah states, ‘If you obey my commands… you will be my chosen people’.

STRONG: A public commitment is required in Bat/Bar mitvah by the individual who is going to live the Jewish faith. Part of the ceremony involves planning and carrying out charity project . Therefore the Bar/ Bat Mitzvah ceremony benefits the community, whilst Brit Milah does not. A decision

Festivals (15)

PESACH

festival of freedom
remember God’s almighty power. sent the 10 plagues and parted the Red Sea to save the Jews. The final plague - the death of the first born- was the plague that persuaded Pharaoh to let the Jews go.
no CHAMTEZ- important as Isaelites had no time to let their bread rise

SUKKOT

counts as mitzvot. 7 days → must live in thatched huts
harvest festivals to thank God.
commemorates when Israelites in desert
live life - good → essential as covenant with God
need to be faithful to covenant

YOM KIPPUR

10 days of repentance
enable a Jew to atone for their sins and therefore ready for God’s judgement and the resurrection.
are hugely beneficial for society with the amount of charity work that takes place
last for 25 hours
‘must deny yourself of work’ Leviticus → time to reflect on past so we can be forgived

ROSH HASHANAH

1st and 2nd day of jewish year
celebrates when humans were created
‘rosh’ = head or beginning
slices of apples eaten= hope for a sweet new year
challah = the cycle of year
pomegranates = mitzvots reminded
shafar blown 100 times (sound like crying) = soul asking to reunited with God
10 days of returning → consider deeds during past year
→ make amends and plans to do better
→ God doesn’t forgive a wrongdoing if another person has already asked for forgiveness