Re - Judaism

• The nature of God

  • Monotheistic religion (believe in one God).
  • God as creator = God made everything in the universe.
  • God as lawgiver = 613 mitzvot in the torah (laws).
  • God as judge = judges and punishes those who disobey him.
  • Free Will = the belief that humans are free to make their own decisions but they must follow Gods laws.
  • God will punish and reward people depending on how well they have followed his laws.
• The Shema

  • The Shema is a prayer from the torah that is used in morning and evening services in synagogues as well as being said at home by Jews to express belief in one God.
  • 'Hear, O Israel: The lord is our God, the Lord alone'
  • A lot of Jews say they can experience gods presence when they are praying.
• The Messiah

  • Jews believe the messiah will be someone who will come to earth and bring a time of perfect peace called the messianic age.

  According to the torah, the messiah will be:

  • a descendant of king David.
  • human (will have a human birth).
  • a perfect follower and teacher of gods law.
  • able to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem.
  • able to unite humanity.

  Orthodox = the messiah will be one person.

  Reform = the messiah will be a group of people working to achieve peace for a messianic age.
• Synagogue

  • It is a Jewish place of worship.
  • Is a focal point to socialise as part of a community.
  • It is a place for celebrations e.g. bar mitzvahs.
  • In orthodox synagogues men and women would sit separately, often men downstairs and women in the gallery.
• Features of a synagogue

  • The Ark = the holiest place of the synagogue which contains the torah scrolls.
  • Torah scrolls = the scripts on display in the Ark.
  • Ner Tamid = eternal light, a light that is kept burning in the synagogue.
  • Menorah = a branched candle stick holding seven or nine candles.
  • Bimah = a platform were the torahs read.
• Shabbat

  • It is a weekly period of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
  • It is not strictly a religious festival but a Jewish practice.
  • During this time, Jews rest and don't work, cook or drive.
  • Orthodox Jews stick closely to tradition.
  • Reform Jews try to keep to shabbat but if this isn't possible, they don't worry too much.

  Havdalah = a service to mark the end of the shabbat.
• Shabbat - At home

  • They light two candles representing the two commandments received by Moses on mount Sinai which were 'remember' and 'observe' the sabbath.
  • On Friday evening they eat a meal together as a family and a prayer is said before.
• Shabbat - At the synagogue

  • On Friday evening prayers are said at the synagogue.
  • On Saturday morning there is a main service of the week, with readings from the torah.
• Bar Mitzvah

  • When a boy turns 13 they are considered old enough to take full responsibility for practicing their faith.
  • The service takes place in a synagogue where they often read from the torah and wear a tallit for the first time.
  • The sons father thanks God for bringing his son to maturity.
  • They receive gifts and have a celebratory meal.
• Bat Mitzvah

  • When a girl turns 12 they are considered old enough to take full responsibility for practicing their faith.
  • Is most commonly a reform ceremony.
  • It follows a similar pattern to the Bar Mitzvah.
• Brit Milah

  It is apart of the covenant between Abraham and God:

  ' Every male among you shall be circumcised '

  • It usually takes place at home seven or eight days after a boys birth.
  • Its carried out by a mohel, a person specifically trained to carry out circumcision.
  • A blessing is said before.
  • The boy is given his Hebrew name.
  • There is a celebratory meal.
• Rosh Hashanah

  • Is the Jewish new year festival and is said to take place on the anniversary of when God created humans.
  • It lasts two days.
  • It is also a time Jews believe God judges their actions and makes a decision on what the new year will be like for them.

  To celebrate they:

  • eat apples dipped in honey to symbolise a sweet new year.
  • have a fish head on the table to symbolise good deeds multiplying.
  • spend time at the synagogue.
  • blow the shofar, which is a rams horn, a hundred times.
• Yom Kippur

  • Is said to be the most sacred day of the year.
  • This is where God makes his final decision on what the new year will be like.
  • It is the last chance to repent for sins.
  • Atonement on this day is between Jews and God.

  To celebrate they:

  • fast for 25 hours.
  • no work is done.
  • wear white as a symbol of purity.
  • they abstain from bathing, wearing leather shoes and sex.

  When the doors of the Ark closes, it signals Gods judgment is sealed.
• Pesach

  • Is also called Passover as it recalls the night God passed over the houses of the Jewish slaves.
  • God commanded Jews to celebrate their escape from Egypt by eating unleavened bread for seven days each year.
  • The most important preparation for Pesach is to remove leaven bread from the house.
  • It lasts for eight days.
• Pesach - Seder plate

  • Bitter herbs = symbolise bitterness of slavery.
  • A egg = symbolises the circle of life.
  • A lamb bone = representing the sacrifice the Jews made during Passover.
  • Red wine = symbolising the lambs blood smeared on the doors during Passover.
  • Unleavened bread = fulfilling Gods commandment.
• Covenant with Abraham

  • Abraham was called by God to leave Ur and go to a place known as Canaan (which is now Israel).
  • God promised Abraham that he would make a 'great nation' out of him.
  • Abraham and his wife were able to have a child at a very old age since he completed Gods wish of travelling to Canaan.
  • As part of the covenant, God asked Abraham to remove his foreskin which led to the tradition of circumcision (Brit Milah).
• Covenant with Moses

  • Moses was born in Egypt where the pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed so his mother put him in a basket on the river to find safety.
  • He was found by the pharaohs wife who brought him up in the palace.
  • When he got older he tried to save a Jewish slave but ended up killing a guard in the process so he ran away.
  • God appeared to him in the form of a burning bush and asked him to save the Jews from the slavery in Egypt.
  • When pharaoh refused to free them, God sent 10 plagues which eventually made him give in.
  • God parted the red sea to help them escape.
• The commandments - Moses

  • It is believed on mount Sinai, God gave Moses the 613 commandments Jews are expected to follow.
  • They include the ten commandments.
• Weddings

  • The couple fast before the wedding to cleanse themselves of sin.
  • The ceremony takes place under a canopy called a chuppah which symbolises the home they will share and it is open on all sides to show anyone is welcome.
  • They sign a Ketubah which is a contact stating the rights and obligations of the couple.
  • The couple share a glass of wine, the groom then breaks the glass under his foot to show regret for the destruction of the temple.
  • During the reception, Orthodox Jews have separate receptions for men and women.
• Betrothal

  • It is usually a 12 month engagement period before a wedding.
  • Traditionally, a ceremony would be held a year before the wedding to mark the betrothal.
  • In Orthodox Judaism, the couple don't see each other for a week before the wedding ceremony.
• Death and Mourning

  • In Jewish tradition, burial should happen as soon as possible after death.
  • Shiva is a period of mourning lasting 7 days after a burial.
  • Orthodox Jews do not leave the house during this period and do nothing.
  • Shemira is the practice where the body is not left alone from death to burial.
  • They wash the body to make sure it is ready to go in front of God.
  • They rip a piece of clothing after finding out someone has died.
  • No flowers are placed on the grave as they symbolise life.
• Orthodox vs Reform

  Orthodox:

  • Men and women sit separately.
  • Men must wear a Kippur and married women must cover their hair.
  • Only men can be Rabbis.
  • They have 3 daily services.
  • The service is in Hebrew.

  Reform:

  • Men and women can sit together.
  • Women have the option to wear a Kippur.
  • Men and woman can be Rabbis.
  • Men and women can both read the torah.
  • Isn't always a daily service.
  • Majority is in the native language.