Judaism : Practices

• Mitzvot include keeping kosher (eating certain foods), observing Shabbat (the Sabbath) and praying three times a day
• God has given Jewish people commandments to follow which are called mitzvot
• The nature and purpose of Jewish public acts of worship

  For many Jews, the synagogue is an important place of worship. There are 3 main public acts of worship that take place in the synagogue: Daily services, Shabbat services, and festival services.
• The nature and purpose of Jewish acts of worship

  The Tenakh suggests the worth in public worship:(Psalm 116:14) “I will fulfil my vows to the Lord in front of all his people.”
• The nature and purpose of Jewish acts of worship

  Daily services : Orthodox Jewish synagogues hold 3 services: Shacharit (morning), Minchah (afternoon), and Arvit (evening). Some Reform Jewish synagogues do the same, but many do not. A Tenakh quote that supports holding 3 services is:(Psalm 55:18) “Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.”
• The nature and purposes of Jewish acts of worship

  Each service includes the use of a prayer book (the Siddur - meaning “order”), and is led by a rabbi. Jews stand to say prayers to remind themselves they are in the presence of God. 
• Public worship is important to Jews because:

  • It gives Jews an opportunity to listen to and reflect on readings from the Torah and Tenakh
  • It unites the Jewish community together
  • It allows Jews to show love to God - a requirement in the Torah.
  • It fulfils the requirement to worship publicly, which is told in the Mitzvot.
• Tenakh and the Talmud

  The Tenakh, considered the written law, and the Talmud, the oral law, hold immense significance in guiding Jewish daily life.
• The Tenakh and the Talmud

  The Tenakh comprises the foundational texts of Judaism, including the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. It serves as a source of moral guidance, history, and law for Jews. The Talmud, composed of the Mishnah and Gemara, elaborates on the laws and teachings of the Tenakh. Perkei Avot 2, a section of the Mishnah, highlights ethical teachings and serves as a guide for daily conduct.
• The Tenakh and the Talmud

  "Do not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope, and the mountain sheep."
• The Tenakh and the Talmud

  Kashrut delineates specific dietary laws that outline permissible and forbidden foods. Deuteronomy 14:3–10 highlights the types of animals considered clean or unclean, forming the basis of kosher dietary laws. This separation of kosher (ritually fit) and treifah (not fit) influences what observant Jews consume.

  Kashrut also mandates the separation of dairy and meat products. This separation stems from the prohibition against "boiling a young goat in its mother’s milk" (Exodus 23:19), leading to the practice of not mixing meat and dairy in Jewish cuisine.
• The Tenakh and the Talmud

  For Orthodox Jews, strict adherence to these food laws remains crucial, guiding daily dietary practices. Conservative Jews often follow these laws but may adapt them to modern circumstances. Reform Jews might approach these laws more flexibly, focusing on their ethical and symbolic meanings rather than strict observance.

  The dietary laws reflect not just culinary restrictions but also serve as a means of spiritual discipline, fostering mindfulness and ethical considerations regarding food consumption in daily life.
• The nature and purpose of prayer in home and private prayer

  Prayer holds significance in Judaism, as the tradition of prayer 3 times a day comes from historical practices and from the Tenakh.
• The nature and purpose of prayer in home and private prayer

  Formal prayer = set prayers found in the SiddurInformal prayer = prayers spontaneously made up to reflect the person’s thoughts and feelings
• The nature and purpose of prayer in home and private prayer

  In the home

  Praying at home every day is important to many Jewish people, and some even believe that prayer at home means prayer at the synagogue is unnecessary.

  • Jews pray as soon as they wake up to purify themselves and thank God for another day. They recite a prayer known as the Modeh Ani.
  • Jews touch a mezuzah as a reminder of God
  • Jews bless God and thank Him for the food before eating
  • Before sleeping, Jews will say the Shema.
• The nature and purpose of prayer in home and private prayer

  Private prayer:

  Allows Jews to make a deeper, personal connection with God

  Allows Jews to ask God for help with personal situations

  Means Jews can contact God whenever they want
• The nature and purpose of prayer in home and private prayer

  • Formal set prayer
  • Ensures that prayers are not selfish and that they focus on the individual rather than God
  • Provides a sense of community
  • Connects Jews to their history
• The Nature and importance of the shema and amidah

  Shema:

  The Shema is an important Jewish prayer that affirms the oneness of God. Part of the Shema is taken from the Torah: (Deuteronomy 6:4) “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.”
• The nature and importance of the Shema and the Amidah

  The Amidah

  The Amidah is another important prayer in Judaism, and is used in worship services. It is referred to as the ‘standing prayer’ as it is said while standing and facing Jerusalem.

  It consists of 19 blessings, which can be split into 3 sections:

  • praising God
  • asking for help
  • thanksgiving

  It is used in weekday services and Shabbat services.
• Jewish rituals

  These passages reflect the significance of birth in Jewish life. Genesis 21 details the birth of Isaac, while Leviticus 12 provides instructions for ritual purification after childbirth.
• Jewish rituals

  Birth ceremonies celebrate the arrival of a child and may include a Brit Milah (circumcision) for boys or a naming ceremony for girls, signifying their entrance into the covenant and community.
• Jewish rituals

  Brit Milah reminds them of the Abrahamic Covenant: (Genesis 21:4) “Abraham circumcised his son Isaac at the age of eight days old as God had commanded him.”
• Jewish rituals

  Marriage ceremonies symbolise the union between a couple and are often based on traditional practices, including the signing of the Ketubah (marriage contract) and the recitation of blessings and prayers. A glass is typically broken, which symbolises the destruction of the Temple.
• Jewish rituals

  Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies mark the coming of age, signifying a child's responsibility for observing the commandments. It's a celebration of their commitment to Jewish life and learning.
• Jewish rituals

  Ecclesiastes 7:2: "It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart."
• Jewish rituals

  Funeral rites involve prayers, eulogies, and the burial of the deceased in accordance with Jewish tradition, emphasizing respect and dignity for the departed.
• Jewish rituals

  Shiva

  The first seven days of mourning after the burial. Close family mourn during this time and some Jews will not leave the house.
• Jewish rituals

  Avelut

  If someone has lost a parent, they will mourn for a whole year. During this year they will not attend parties and will say a blessing called the Kaddish every day.
• Shabbat

  Shabbat is a day of rest for Jews. It comes from the Creation story, in genesis, where God rested on the 7th day after creating the world.
• Shabbat

   “It is a sign forever that in a six day period, God made heaven and Earth and on the seventh day he rested.”
• Shabbat

  It is also a sign of freedom that connects them to their enslaved ancestors in Egypt.During Shabbat, Jews cannot take part in work of any form.
• Shabbat

  Shabbat in the home

  Shabbat begins on Friday evening, and ends at sunset on Saturday.

  • Food is cooked in advance
  • House is thoroughly cleaned
  • Shabbat is welcomed with a lighting of candles
  • Further blessing by the father, known as Kiddush
  • Challah bread is eaten
  • Another meal to celebrate the end of Shabbat, where the Havdalah blessing is said
• Shabbat

  Shabbat in the synagogue:

  • Friday Evening
  • Saturday Morning
  • Saturday Evening

  Shabbat is welcomed with prayers, hymns, and psalms

  There are readings from the Torah and Nevi’im. This is considered by Jews the main service of the week. There are more readings from the Torah and prayers. The Havdalah ceremony marks the end of Shabbat.
• Shabbat

  • Jews must observe Shabbat, as it is a commandment (Exodus 20)
  • It reminds them of the creation story
  • It allows them to prepare for the coming week
  • It allows a family to be united and talk without distractions, and play board games
• Festivals

  Rosh Hashanash

  2-day celebration that marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is a time for Jews to focus on wrongdoings and improve themselves for the year to come. Jews spend time in the synagogue and eat sweet apples in honey to hope for a sweet new year.
• Festivals

  You are to have a day of Sabbath rest, a sacred assembly commemorated with trumpet blasts. Do not do any of your ordinary work.
• Festivals

  Yom Kippur

  10 days after Rosh Hashanash, the holiest day of the year. It is considered the ‘day of atonement’ and no work is done. Many Jews fast for 25 hours to help focus on God (one of the Mitzvot). They ask for forgiveness and attend the synagogue.
• Festivals

  "The tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny yourselves, and present a food offering to the Lord."
• Festivals

  Sukkot

  Feast of the Tabernacles, which commemorates the Israelites’ journey through the desert and temporary dwellings (sukkot) they used at the time.
• Festivals

   "Live in temporary shelters for seven days: All native-born Israelites are to live in such shelters so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God."