Paper 3 ( judaism)

• Synagogue


  House of assembly; building for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly
• Shekhinah


  The place where God's presence rests and can be felt
• Shabbat


  Day of spiritual renewal and rest – the Sabbath day
• Kosher


  Means 'fit' or 'proper'. Foods that are permitted to be eaten according to Leviticus 11. It is also used to refer to the purity of ritual objects such as Torah Scrolls
• Torah


  The first 5 books of Moses – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Regarded as the holiest books of the Tenakh (the Jewish Scriptures)
• Mitzvot


  Commandments – often used to refer to duties – such as the 613 'mitzvot' or duties in the Torah
• Messiah (Mashiach)


  The 'anointed one' who Jews believe will bring in a new era or age for humankind. For some this will include the rebuilding of the Temple and a return to Israel
• Covenant


  A promise or agreement between 2 parties. Covenants were made between God and Noah, Abraham and Moses
• Orthodox Jews


  • Take a traditional approach to scripture and practices and follow the Torah rigidly. They will try to observe the 613 Mitzvot. Any scientific and technological developments must fit in with Jewish teachings. Although society may change Jewish teachings don't
• Reform Jews


  • Believe that Jewish practices have to be harmonised with modern life. They take a less rigid approach and find ways to interpret teachings and beliefs to fit in with modern life. Most Reform Jews believe that the 'ethical laws' of the Torah are binding. They do not take every aspect of the Torah literally and will interpret it according to their own reasoning and conscience
• Secular Jews


  • Some Jews do not believe in God and do not see the teachings of the Torah as sacred. They are secular Jews and are born to Jewish parents but do not observe the religious practices and teachings of Judaism
• Synagogue


  The House of Assembly and Jewish place of worship. (Beth ha Knesset)
• Synagogue


  The Jewish House of Prayer (Beit Tefilah)
• Synagogue


  The Jewish House of Study (Beit Midrash)
• The Synagogue is used as a place of learning and study and is usually well-stocked with sacred Jewish texts
• The Synagogue also acts as a social hall, hosting celebrations and gatherings of the community
• The Synagogue is the beating heart or life force of the Jewish community
• Features of a Synagogue

  • Bimah
  • Ark
  • Ner Tamid
  • Torah Scrolls
  • Seating
• Ark (Aron Hakodesh)


  Holds the Torah scrolls and is a reminder of the Ark of the Covenant which held the Ten Commandments
• Torah Scrolls


  Sacred and holy text, used weekly during Synagogue services and paraded around the Synagogue
• Ner Tamid


  Lamp found above the Ark which is kept burning continually, a reminder of God's omnipresence
• The Ten Commandments are the sign of the Mosaic covenant
• Bimah


  Raised platform on which stands the table from which the Torah is read. Shows the elevated status of God's word and reminds Jews that Moses taught that they should instruct their children in the law
• In Orthodox synagogues there is a separate area where women are seated. This is because in the TALMUD it suggests that men and women will find it easier to concentrate better on prayer if they are separated. In Reform synagogues men and women sit together for worship
• Shabbat


  The Jewish day of rest and spiritual renewal
• Shabbat


  1. Friday night 18 minutes before sunset

  2. Saturday day of rest and spice box

  3. Cease - Challah bread and candles lit by the woman of the house

  4. Halt - Havdalah and Home focus
• Shabbat


  • A reminder that God is creator and rested on the 7th day
  • Jews cannot work on Saturdays – this includes writing, tearing, cooking, driving
  • It is a time to worship God, spend time with family and avoid distractions
  • It is commanded by God in the Ten Commandments – 'keep holy the Sabbath'
  • Reform Jews will keep Shabbat laws less strictly than Orthodox Jews
• Shabbat in the Synagogue

  1. There is a Synagogue service on Friday evening, followed by longer services on Saturday morning and Saturday late afternoon

  2. The Torah is divided into portions so that the entire Torah is read on Shabbat across a year

  3. Orthodox services are in Hebrew while Reform services are in the language of the country

  4. Prayers such as the Shema, Amidah and Kiddush are recited on Shabbat

  5. After the service a Kiddush is usually held (blessing over the wine before Friday night dinner)

  6. The Torah is paraded around the Synagogue and the doors of the Ark remain open throughout the services
• Shabbat in the home

  1. Shabbat is welcomed into the home by the women of the house lighting two candles, circling them three times with their hands and covering their eyes

  2. The father blesses his children and the family wash their hands and recite a blessing three times before eating

  3. Friday night dinner is central to Shabbat celebrations in the home

  4. 2 Challah loaves are blessed – a reminder of the manna eaten in the desert

  5. The kiddush prayer is said over the wine (symbolising sweetness)

  6. The HAVDALAH ceremony marks the end of Shabbat

  7. The Havdalah candle is lit, and a cup of wine and box of sweet smelling spice are passed around to symbolise hope of a sweet week ahead
• Worship in the home

  • Shema
  • Amidah
  • Modeh Ani
  • Tefillin
  • Tallit
  • Mezuzah
• Pareve


  Food that is neither meat nor dairy and can be eaten with either
• Trefah


  Food that Jews cannot eat, forbidden
• Kashrut


  All the Jewish laws about food
• Kosher


  Fit or proper, food that Jews can eat
• "These are the animals which you are permitted to eat ... anything which has a completely split hoof and chews the cud, this you may eat ..." (Leviticus 11:2-3)
• "Do not cook a young goat in its mother's milk" (Exodus 23:19)
• Most supermarkets today label kosher food so that it is easily identified
• Animals must be killed as painlessly as possible as Jews believe they must not cause pain to any living thing
• All the blood must be drained from the animal in accordance with Torah law
• Meat and dairy cannot be eaten together or stored together