practices

Question 1

What does Adovat Hashem mean?

Answer 1

Adovat Hashem means the worship of God.

Question 2

Where is the main place of worship for Jews?

Answer 2

The main place of worship for Jews is in the synagogue.

Question 3

Why did the synagogue become the main place of worship?

Answer 3

The synagogue become the main place of worship after the destruction of the Temple in 586 BC and 70 CE.

Question 4

What happens during the shabbat services in the synagogue and when are they?

Answer 4

shabbat services:

• Friday evening and Saturday morning
• all Jews focus on this rather than daily prayers
• the Amidah and Aleinu are expressed
• a longer reading from the Torah than usual
• a sermon by the rabbi
• the whole family is encouraged to attend

Question 5

What are the daily prayers, when and where do they happen and what language are they said in?

Answer 5

daily prayers:

• can pray anywhere
• expected to pray three times a day (morning, afternoon, evening)
• Orthodox say prayers in Hebrew
• Reform say prayers in local language
• the Siddur is the book of daily prayers Jews follow

Question 6

What is the importance of synagogue services? What do they do that is important?

Answer 6

importance of synagogue services:

• unite the local community
• reminder of the global community they are part of
• pray towards Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Israel
• stand as a reminder of God’s presence

Question 7

What is in the Tenakh? Who do Reform and Orthodox Jews believe it is written by?

Answer 7

the Tenakh:

• the Torah (first 5 books) is the most sacred object in Judaism
• the rest of the Tenakh shows how Jewish people lived and tried to keep on the right path
• Orthodox Jews believe it is the literal word of God
• Reform Jews believe it is written by humans

Question 8

What is in the Talmud? Who do Reform and Orthodox Jews believe it is written by?

Answer 8

the Talmud:

• it is the record of Oral tradition in Jewish history
• Orthodox believe it was given to Moses on Sinai and it has been added to for 1000’s of years
• Reform believe it is a human creation
• it is made of a core text and Rabbinical analysis

Question 9

What is the importance of the Tenakh and Talmud in daily life and worship?

Answer 9

importance of Tenakh and Talmud:

• Torah is read 4x a week in Orthodox synagogues
• Torah is read once a week in Reform synagogues
• Jews are encouraged to study the Talmud
• regular studies of each are held in the synagogue

Question 10

What are the food laws in Judaism?

Answer 10

food laws:

• fish with scales and fins is kosher
• meat and dairy together is treifah
• animals with split hooves is treifah
• animals who chew the cud is kosher
• meat must be killed in a certain way

Question 11

How often are Jews supposed to pray?

Answer 11

Jews are meant to pray three times a day.

Question 12

Why do Jews pray three times a day? What prayers do they say and when?

Answer 12

Jews pray three times a day as they were directly instructed to do so by God in the book of Psalm. The Shema is often said at night and the modeh ani is said when waking up.

Question 13

When is the Shema recited and why is it important?

Answer 13

the Shema:

• the most important prayer in Judaism
• recited in morning and evening services
• declares one belief in God and many important beliefs about Him

Question 14

Why is the Amidah important and when is it recited?

Answer 14

the Amidah:

• known as the standing prayer
• core part of every Jewish service
• features praise, request and thanks to God

Question 15

What is the tallit and why is it important?

Answer 15

The tallit is a prayer shawl. It is important as the tassels on it is a reminder of the 613 mitzvot.

Question 16

What is the tefillin and why is it important?

Answer 16

The tefillin is black boxes with leather straps that attaches to the head and heart, containing the Shema. It connects your heart and mind to God, as it said to in the book of Deuteronomy.

Question 17

What is the mezuzah and why is it important?

Answer 17

The mezuzah is a container attached to doorposts in Jewish homes containing the Shema. It is a reminder of God’s presence always.

Question 18

What should Jews focus on in the morning? What prayers do they recite?

Answer 18

In the morning, Jews are told to give thanks for their body and read sections of the Tenakh to focus their mind on God. The Shema and Amidah is recited.

Question 19

What prayers are recited in the afternoon?

Answer 19

In the afternoon, they read Psalm 145 and pray the Amidah and Aleinu.

Question 20

What prayers are recited in the evening?

Answer 20

In the evening, the Shema, Amidah and Aleinu are recited.

Question 21

What are the birth rituals in Judaism?

Answer 21

birth:

• life begins when a baby is halfway out of the womb
• the mother should not touch anything sacred for 40 days after a male is born and 80 for a female
• the recovery time is double for a girl due to the extra work the mother has done to make another creator
• the mother attends a mikvah, which is a bath of purification, when she has stopped bleeding
• girl’s name given at the synagogue
• boy’s name given at brit milah

Question 22

What is the brit milah?

Answer 22

brit milah:

• circumcision at eight days old
• it is an outward sign of the covenant with Abraham
• performed by a mohel

Question 23

What is the bar mitzvah?

Answer 23

bar mitzvah:

• for boys
• at 13
• boy can lead a synagogue service after this
• need to learn enough Hebrew to read the Torah
• study and prepare carefully

Question 24

What is the bat mitzvah?

Answer 24

bat mitzvah:

• for girls
• at 12 (13 in Reform)
• is only about 100 years old
• taught how to cook challah (plaited bread for Shabbat) and other important preparations in the home
• study and prepare carefully
• Reform may allow them to read from the Torah

Question 25

What are the marriage rituals in Judaism?

Answer 25

marriage: - very few teachings in the Torah - the Talmud explains how to find a partner, the ceremony etc. - full marriage is called Ninsun - Jews must first go through Kiddushin, or ritual engagement

Question 26

What are the five periods of mourning? What is the Jewish name for mourning?

Answer 26

mourning (avelut): - tear clothes on hearing about death 1) aninut - from death to burial - usually 24 hours 2) shiva - first 7 days after burial - stay at home praying, no work done 3) sheloshim - first 30 days after burial - normal life but no parties 4) yud-bet chodesh - additional year of mourning if parent is lost 5) yahrzeit - anniversary of death - candle lit

Question 27

What are the funeral rituals in Judaism?

Answer 27

funeral: - buried, no cremation - candle is lit - body is never left alone from death to burial - body wrapped in linen shroud - men wrapped in tallit - plain coffins to show everyone is equal - funeral not in synagogue as considered a place for the living - hands washed after to signify leaving death behind

Question 28

How is the Shabbat celebrated in the home?

Answer 28

Shabbat in the home: - house cleaned and tidied in preparation - candles lit before - Friday evening meal - common to sing hymns - Havdalah blessing over wine and lighting of candle to mark the end of Shabbat

Question 29

How is the Shabbat celebrated in the synagogue?

Answer 29

Shabbat in the synagogue: - main service can last two hours - pray the Amidah, Shema, Aleinu and Kaddish - Torah removed from ark and is read - Rabbi gives sermon - Adon Olam hymn

Question 30

Why is the Shabbat important today?

Answer 30

Shabbat's importance today: - one of the Ten Commandments - what is considered as work? difficult - a day of enjoyment, relaxation and family time - Torah study groups and attend synagogue - youth groups

Question 31

Describe what happens in Rosh Hashanah and why it's important.

Answer 31

Rosh Hashanah: - first day of the Jewish year - remembers the story of creation - first of the 'Days of Awe' - Orthodox celebrate over 2 days, Reform 1 - God writes down deeds of a person, judges them and makes decisions for the year to come - reflect on behaviour and make peace before judgement - Jews visit synagogue - the following morning in the synagogue, the shofar (horn) is blown 100 times

Question 32

Describe what happens in Yom Kippur and why it is important.

Answer 32

Yom Kippur: - Day of Atonement - second of the 'Days of Awe' - holiest day of the year - Jews seek forgiveness - God finalises his judgement about each Jew and their fate - many fast for 25 hours (as said in Leviticus 16) - at the evening service, Jews cancel any promises they cannot keep - white is often worn as a symbol of purity

Question 33

Describe what happens during Pesach and why it is important.

Answer 33

Pesach: - the first pilgrim festival - the night that God killed all of the first borns - a reminder of God's love for the Jews - all food containing wheat (chametz) is removed from the home and it is thoroughly cleaned - lasts 8 days for Orthodox, 7 Reform - the seder meal is the most important part - every part of the seder meal is important and follows a set order as in the Jewish book of Pesach rituals, the Haggadah

Question 34

Describe what happens in Shavuot and why it is important.

Answer 34

Shavuot: - second pilgrim festival - celebrates giving of Law on Mount Sinai and wheat harvest - Jews traditionally took wheat to the Temple - marks 49 days after Passover - Jews may do extra Torah study - eat dairy and decorate the synagogue with greenery

Question 35

Describe what happens in Sukkot and why it is important.

Answer 35

Sukkot: - third pilgrim festival - happens four days after Yom Kippur - marks the end of summer and the start of the autumn fruit harvest - also called the Feast of the Tabernacles - a reminder of the dwelling places were Jews lived during the wilderness years - celebrated over 8 days - Jews offer hospitality to others

Question 36

What is the layout of an orthodox synagogue?

Answer 36

orthodox synagogue: - seating on three sides facing the bimah - ark on fourth side - men and women sit separately - women cover heads for modesty - no music - men lead services and read - face Jerusalem

Question 37

What is the layout of a reform synagogue?

Answer 37

reform synagogue: - bimah at front with seating facing ark - men and women may sit together - women may wear a tallit or kippah - music - women may take active role - face Jerusalem

Question 38

What is the ark in the synogogue, how and why is it used?

Answer 38

ark: - area to store Torah scrolls - door or curtain opened when scrolls are in use - to keep them safe

Question 39

What is the ner tamid in the synagogue, how and why is it used?

Answer 39

ner tamid: - 'eternal light' above the ark - light burns always as a reminder of God - requirement in Exodus 27

Question 40

What is the menorah in the synogogue, how and why is it used?

Answer 40

menorah: - seven-branched candlestick - eternal light - requirement in Exodus 25

Question 41

What is the bimah in the synogogue, how and why is it used?

Answer 41

bimah: - reading platform - rabbi leads service from here and reads Torah - makes Torah the main focus

Question 42

What is the yad in the synogogue, how and why is it used?

Answer 42

yad: - reading stick - as pointer when reading Torah - so don't touch sacred Torah