Practices

• The synagogue is called many things such as the house of God, the house of prayer, and the house of study e.g. "shul" meaning school in Orthodox.
• The Ark- The place that the Torah is kept in, higher than audience, has the 10 commandments on the top.
• Ner Tamid - A lamp that is kept burning in the synagogue above the Ark to represent the eternal light of God.
• Bimah- A raised platform in a synagogue where the Torah is read from.
• Orthodox Jews- Traditional Jews who strictly follow the Torah as it was created by God and believe men and women have different roles.
• Reform Jews- Progressive Judaism who adapt their worship as the Torah was made by humans and inspired by God and believe men and women should share their roles.
• Tallit- a wool/silk prayer shawl with 613 knots to represent the Mitzvot.
• Tefillin- A pair of leather boxes containing part of the Torah including Shema. One wrapped around the head and one inline with the heart on their arm showing their mind is with God and their prayer is from the heart.
• Shabbat- Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, on which Jews are expected to rest and worship between Friday evening and Saturday evening.
• Shabbat is welcomed by lighting candles and after the Friday evening and Saturday morning services the family shares special meals where the children and bread is blessed and the head of household holds the Kiddush cup and recites the Kiddush blessings.
• Shabbat is welcomed like a bride to her husband in a service and finished by the Havdalah service where blessings are said over a cup of wine, spices and a candle to soothe and bring light to the household.
• Many Jews have one or more Mezuzot which is a small handwritten scroll of the Torah on their front door.
• Tenakh- The sacred scriptures of Judaism, containing the Torah, the Nevi'im (the Prophets), and the Ketuvim (the Writings).
• Talmud- Oral law that contains the Mishnah (commentary on Torah by Rabbi) and Gemara (discussions of the Mishnah).
• Naming ceremony- on the first shabbat after birth the father reads the Torah and blesses his wife and child. If it is a girl the name is said (in reform it isn't always shabbat and mother does it too).
• Brit Milah- circumcision of a baby boy at 8 days old when a boy is named.
• Bar Mitzvah- coming of age of a boy (13 years old) where he reads part of the Torah, wears a tallit and becomes part of the minyan.
• Bat Mitzvah- coming of age of a girl (12 years old) where she reads part of the Torah and becomes part of the minyan if reform
• Betrothal- period before wedding (usually 12 months) where they prepare. They don't live together.
• Wedding- fast before, bride joins groom under chuppah, recite two blessings over wine, contract signed, bride circles and blesses groom 7 times, groom breaks glass under his heel to show regret for the destruction of the Temple and couple spend time in a private room afterwards.
• After death- person is buried within 24 hours as the soul doesn't leave the body until it is, shiva, 23 days of normal life without music, parties or haircuts, 11 months without parties and then it ends
• Shiva- intense period of mourning lasting 7 days where the mourners stay at home and don't work, pray 3 times a day including the kaddish, don't wear make-up, don't shave or cut hair and mirrors are covered.
• Kosher- meat of animals that eat grass and are killed with a clean cut on the throat, fish with fins and scales, birds that eat grain and vegetables without insects.
• Trefah- non-kosher food that Jews can't eat. They also can't mix milk and meat.
• Rosh Hashanah- Jewish New Year when God judges you for the past year and decides future fortune.
• Yom Kippur- Holiest day of the Jewish calendar and last chance to repay your sins.
• Pesach- celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
• Passover Seder- a special meal on the first evening of Pesach when the story of the escape from Egypt is said and food is served including: red wine (lamb's blood used to save children from the final plague), bitter herbs (symbolising the bitterness of slavery), matzah (unleavened bread) and a green vegetable dipped in salty water (new life in Promised Land and tears shed in slavery).