Judaism practices

• Synagogue

  Building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly
• Worship

  To show devotion to God and/or religion through actions - for example, prayer
• Synagogue

  • Star of David and menorah often found outside
  • Prayer hall is usually rectangular with seats on three sides facing inwards
  • No images of God or people due to Ten Commandments forbidding idols
  • Men and women sit separately in Orthodox synagogues, together in Reform synagogues
• Aron hakodesh

  The Hebrew word for the cabinet in a synagogue where the scrolls of the Torah are kept
• Sefer Torah

  The Torah scroll, handwritten on vellum (the skin of an unborn calf)
• Ner tamid

  The always-burning lamp that hangs near the ark in a synagogue
• Bimah

  A raised platform primarily for reading the Torah in the synagogue. Also known as a dais.
• The bimah represents the altar in the Temple
• Jews believe it is good to pray together, but there must be a minimum of ten people present for certain prayers to be said. This is called a minyan.
• Synagogues are important centres for Jewish communities where meetings, social gatherings, education and charity events take place
• Synagogues often have various activities for young people, such as youth clubs
• Worship

  To show devotion to God and/or religion through actions - for example, prayer
• Synagogue

  Building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly
• 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
• Tenakh

  The Hebrew Bible
• Talmud

  Central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law and Jewish theology
• Orthodox synagogues

  • Hold three daily services in Hebrew
  • Men and women sit separately
  • Men cover their heads with a skull cap or kippah
  • Married women wear a scarf over their head
• Orthodox Jewish men

  • Wear a tallit (prayer shawl)
  • Wear tefillin (leather boxes containing passages from the Torah)
• Reform synagogues

  • Don't have daily services like those held in Orthodox synagogues
  • Services are in both Hebrew and the language of the country
  • Men and women sit together
  • Musical instruments are played
• Rabbi

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

  An official who sings liturgical music in a synagogue
• Siddur

  The daily prayer book used by Jews
• Shema

  Major Jewish prayer affirming belief in one God
• Amidah

  One of the most important and most ancient prayers in Judaism, prayed in a standing position three times daily
• 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
• Aleinu

  A key Jewish prayer said at the conclusion of each Sabbath service
• Mezuzah

  A small capsule containing a scroll with quotes from the Torah, attached to the doorposts of Jewish homes
• Synagogue

  Jewish place of worship that plays a major role in the lives of many Jewish people
• Jewish law

  • Governs all aspects of Jewish life, including how to worship, compulsory rituals and dietary laws
• 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
• Ten Commandments

  The list of rules, revealed by God to Moses, found in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy
• Jews observe a day of rest to commemorate God resting on the seventh day after he made the world
• Orthodox Jews

  Jews who live by the Torah and rabbinic law (halakhah) and who only accept changes that can be supported by the Torah
• Reform Jews

  Jews who have adapted their laws and practices as modern life has changed
• Shabbat at home

  1. House is tidied and food is prepared

  2. Two candles are placed on the dining table

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

  4. Shabbat is welcomed with the lighting of the two candles

  5. Blessings are said for the children

  6. Kiddush is said over the wine

  7. Bread (challah) is blessed and everyone takes a piece

  8. Family time, often singing songs and telling religious stories
• Shabbat at the synagogue

  1. Friday evening prayers at sunset (Orthodox) or set time (Reform)

  2. Saturday morning main service with readings from the Torah and Nevi'im

  3. Saturday afternoon service with reading from the Torah and prayers

  4. Ma'ariv service which finishes with the Havdalah
• Havdalah

  Ceremony at the conclusion of the Sabbath separating the Sabbath from the working week
• Havdalah includes blessings over a cup of wine, passing around a box of spices, and lighting a candle with several wicks
• Tenakh

  The collected 24 books of the Jewish Bible, with three sections: Torah, Nevi'im and Ketuvim
• Old Testament

  The first part of the Christian Bible which corresponds to the Hebrew Bible but is arranged differently