RE- home worship

• Synagogue


  Building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly
• Siddur


  Jewish prayer book, includes special services which can be followed at home as well as in the synagogue
• Shema


  Major Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God
• Mezuzah


  Small parchment scroll, with the Hebrew words of the Shema handwritten on it, rolled up and placed inside a decorative case, fixed to doorposts in Jewish homes
• Shabbat


  Weekly day of rest for Jewish people, from Friday evening to Saturday evening
• Shabbat at home


  1. House is tidied

  2. Food is prepared

  3. Two candles are placed on the dining table

  4. Two loaves of challah bread are placed on the table

  5. Mother of the family places her hands over her eyes and recites a blessing

  6. Blessings are said for the children

  7. Kiddush is said over the wine

  8. Challah is blessed and everyone takes a piece

  9. Family enjoys time together, often singing songs and telling religious stories
• Jews do not mention God's name when saying Modeh Ani because they will not mention God's name without being in a state of cleanliness, and the Modeh Ani is said straight after waking and before washing
• The Modeh Ani thanks God for the gift of another day
• Many Jews see it as a duty to pray three times a day: morning, afternoon, and evening
• Many Jews believe that praying regularly at home helps to build their relationship with God
• Many Jews touch the mezuzah on leaving and entering the home as a physical reminder of their covenant with God
• The two candles on the Shabbat table represent the two commandments received by Moses on Mount Sinai related to Shabbat, which were to "remember" and "observe" the Sabbath
• The two loaves of challah bread on the Shabbat table represent the food God provided for the Jews when they were walking through the desert as they escaped from Egypt
• On Saturday during Shabbat, the family shares another meal and the afternoon is spent studying the Torah, relaxing and playing games as a family
• Rabbi


  An ordained Jewish religious leader who is trained in interpreting and applying the sacred scriptures to contemporary issues and circumstances
• Types of synagogues


  • Orthodox
  • Reform
• Cantor


  An official who sings liturgical music in a synagogue
• Siddur


  The literal meaning is order, ie the order of the synagogue service. The term is used for the daily prayer book used by Jews
• Shema


  Major Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God. The Shema is found in Exodus 20:2-14, Deuteronomy and Numbers
• Torah


  Law; teaching. The word Torah can be used in a narrow sense to mean the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (The Five Books of Moses) and also in a wider sense to include the whole of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud
• Amidah


  One of the most important and most ancient prayers in Judaism, prayed in a standing position three times daily. Also called Tefillah (Prayer)
• Shabbat


  The seventh day of the week; a day of spiritual renewal and rest commencing at sunset on Friday and terminating at nightfall on Saturday
• Sefer Torah


  The Torah scroll, handwritten on vellum (the skin of an unborn calf). These are kept in the synagogue and are treated with the utmost respect
• The Shema, declaring the Jewish faith in one God, is an important part of worship in the synagogue
• Services also contain readings from the Torah and end with final prayers, such as the Aleinu, which is a prayer to praise God
• On weekdays, the middle section of the Amidah


  Contains prayers asking for help from God
• On Shabbat, the middle section of the Amidah


  Is focused on the specialness and holiness of Shabbat