Judaism

• The Talmud contains discussions about how to interpret the laws found in the Torah.
• Mitzvot are commandments given by God to Jews.
• Shabbat is observed from sunset Friday until nightfall Saturday.
• There are 613 mitzvot in total.
• During Shabbat, no work can be done except for essential tasks like cooking food or lighting candles.
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah is ceremony when boys or girls become responsible for their own actions.
• Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day of the year and involves fasting, wearing white, excessive prayer and repentance.
• Tzedakah means 'righteousness' or 'justice'.
• Abraham's son Isaac also showed great faith when he agreed to be sacrificed on Mount Moriah.
• Yom Kippur involves fasting, prayer in the synagogue, and repentance as a way to atone for sins.
• Yom Kippur is known as the Day of Atonement and involves fasting from sunrise until nightfall.
• The Torah contains the first five books of the Bible (Genesis to Deuteronomy).
• Moses was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and receive the Ten Commandments.
• Synagogue


  • Place of worship
  • Shul/school for learning Hebrew
  • Community centre
  • Faces Jerusalem
  • Star of David on window
• BAN


  • Bimah - reading platform at the centre of synagogue where Torah is read out
  • Ark - where the Torah scrolls are kept and is the holiest place in the synagogue
  • Ner tamid - candle that represents God’s eternal light
• Experiencing Shekhinah


  • Work/study/teaching
  • Prayer
  • Worship in the Synagogue
• Orthodox worship in the synagogue


  • Services only in Hebrew
  • Daily, long services
  • Men and women separated
  • Male rabbis
• Reform worship in the synagogue


  • The service is in the language of the area
  • Weekly, short services
  • Male and female rabbis/ minyan and can sit together
• Main prayers


  • Amidah - standing prayer of 19 blessings
  • Shema - declaration of faith 'He O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one'
• Tallit


  Prayer shawl worn in the synagogue for prayers, tzitzit attached, represents God's words being carried in a Jews life
• Orthodox Shabbat 


  • Litrally don't do any actions whatsoever that could be work for brain
  • No electricity
  • No cooking
  • Walk to synagogue
  • Study scripture
  • Prayer
• Reform shabbat


  • Use electricity
  • Drive to synagogue
  • Charity work
• Worship in the home

  • Shema - morning, afternoon, evening before bed.
  • Mezuzah - box of scrolls with Torah passages upon doorposts, kiss it for blessing to show constant thinking about God
• Tanakah

  • Written law.
  • Torah - 613 Mitzvot including Genesis to Deuteronomy.
  • Nevim - prophecies.
  • Ketuvim - Historic writings
• Talmud


  • Oral law (guide book to the written law).
  • Commentary on law on how to apply to daily life (Mishnah).
  • Gemara goes into more detail
• Marriage


  • Planning marriage contract on what happens if there is a divorce.
  • Plan chippah - home of the couple.
  • Stamp of glass - reminder of rebuilding the destroyed temple.
  • Private room for couple.
• Rosh Hashanah


  • Beginning of Jewish New Year.
  • Followed by the 10 days of awe towards Yom Kippur.
  • Desert of apples and honey for a hopefully sweeter new year.
  • Celebrates creation story
• Shabbat at home



  Woman of the house lights candle. 2. Friday night meal with Kaddish blessings with Challot to commerorate portion of miraculous food from God in Exodus 3. Saturday morning in the synagogue. 4. Study Torah/Talmud