judaism practices

• what are the main functions of a synagogue

  A house of prayer - Beit telfilah

  a house of study - Beit midrash

  a social hall for religious and non religious activities
• why is the synagogue a place of worship

  The place where Jews come together for community prayer services. Although Jews can pray anywhere, there are certain prayers that can only be said in the presence of a minyan
• why is the synagogue a place of study

  Many Ashkenul Jews refer to their synagogue as 'shul' from the yiddish word for school. For the observant Jew, the study of sacred texts is a lifelong task. Therefore a synagogue usually has a well - stocked library of sacred Jewish texts for members of the community to study
• why is the synagogue a place for social events


  Each synagogue normally has a programme of social events which will include opportunities to learn more about religious and cultural issues. An important role of the synagogue is its function as a social wealfare agency, collecting and dispensing money and other items for the aid of the poor and needy within the community. Many are connected with Jewish care agencies
• what is Ner tamid

  -often called the eternal lamp placed above the aron hakodesh (ark)

  -it always burns and should never be put out.

  -a symbol of God's presence and the golden menorah which burned in the temple.

  -in exodus jews were told 'to cause a lamp to burn continually'
• what does the seating arrangements in the synagogue reflect

  -it reflects the type of synagogue:

  • orthodox ones will have separate seating for men and women whilst reform ones will have everyone sit together.
• what is the minyan

  -a group of 10 people ( orthodox will have 10 men only)

  -some prayers require a community of worshippers.

  -Some prayers like The Amidah,Kaddish cannot be recited without a minyan
• what is the Bimah

  -raised platform from which the torah scrolls are read

  -Orthodox synagogues it is usually in the middle

  -Reform synagogues it is usually at the front

  -It has central focus for the reading of the Torah scrolls and the sermons preached. This shows that the Torah should be central to life
• what is the aron hakodesh

  -The ark where the Torah scrolls are kept in

  -it is the most important place as it contains the torah scrolls

  -its importance is shown by its placement in the wall facing jerusalem.

  -The ner tamid is above it and the congregation usually stand when the doors are open
• what are the Torah scrolls

  -scrolls contain the Torah

  -they are made from animal skins and handwritten by a trained scribe.

  -each scroll is wrapped when not used.

  -scrolls are carried to the bimah to be read

  -to show its importance it is raised to the congregation. seen as an honour to be called up to the Torah
• what are the items worn for worship

  Tefillin, Tallith, Kippah
• what is a Tefillin

  -made up of two leather boxes containing part of the shema prayer. The tefilah shel rosh is bound to the head with straps and the tefillah shel yad is bound to the upper arm with straps.

  • worn by Orthodox males after their bar mitzvah on weekday mornings during prayers. Some reform women wear it
  • it obeys the mitzvah in the Torah. They are a reminder that the wearer must serve God through developing good thoughts and through acts of compassion
  • a prayer is said when the tefillin is in place 'Blessed are you... who has sanctified us with His commandments as to wear tefillin'
• what is a Tallith 


  -four cornered garment with tzizit often called a prayer shawl.

  • Many orthodox and some reform jews will wear the tallit gadol during prayers and worship. some orthodox jews wear the tallit katan throughout the day.
  • wearing the tzizit relates to the duty to wear fringes in the corner of clothes
• what is a Kippah 


  -a head covering. It is worn from childhood. some Jews choose to wear it during prayer and in the synagogue.

  • others wear it all the time when awake
  • male orthodox and reform Jews wear the Kippah. Some reform Jewish women also wear it
  • it is seen as a sign of Jewish identity
• what are Mezuzahs

  • Jews put these on their rightside doorposts and gates
  • There is a prayer inside it (shema)
  • shaped like the tablets that God gave Moses
  • 'you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates'
• Prayer in the Jewish home

  Siddur-> Jewish prayer book which contains the set daily prayers. Used in synagogue and at home

  Modeh ani -. Jews pray this when they wake up to thank God for returning their soul so they can enjoy another day
• Worship in the home

  -Preparing and celebrating for festivals

  -Recitation of prayers

  -Display of Mezuzah

  -Keeping Kosher

  -Jewish values
• How do Jews prepare and celebrate festivals in the home


  -Many festivals such as Pesach are prepared for and celebrated in the home

  -Each week Shabbat is remembered and celebrated in the home reflecting the commandment to remember and keep the seventh day as in the 10 commandments
• how do Jews recite prayers in the home

  -Prayers in the home are said

  -Orthodox Jews on waking will often say the Modeh Ani to thank God when they wake up

  -Many families will have a siddur which they use at home
• how do jews keep kosher at home

  -Obey jewish laws regarding what are fit and proper things to eat and actions to take
• how do jews keep jewish values at home


  -The home is where children learn about what is important in life

  -The value of justice is often shown through charity collections in a pushke box
• what is the Amidah


  -it is a prayer as the core of every Jewish worship service and is so important it is often called 'the prayer'

  -Amidah means standing - people stand through the prayer. 18 blessings which form three types of prayer: praise of God, requests of God and thanksgiving. Recited silently then repeated by the rabbi

  -Signifies being in God's presence. At the end of the prayer 3 steps are taking backwards bowing to both sides and 3 steps taken forward. To show retreating from God's symbolic presence
• when do shabbat services happen

  services held on shabbat eve and late shabbat afternoon
• what happens at a shabbat service

  Morning service includes important prayers, rabbis deliver a weekly sermon, haftorah is read. after the service a kiddush is held
• Why are shabbat service important

  they bring the Jewish community together. They are able to listen to rabbi's sermon which is based on the readings of the week. communal prayers
• what does bar mitzvah mean

  son of the commandments
• what does bat mitzvah mean

  daughter of the commandment
• what does bat chayil mean

  daughter of valour
• what is a brit milah

  8 days after birth, Jewish boys are circumcised which is the removal of the penis. This is a sign of Abrahams covenant with God
• why is a brit milah important

  it shows a relationship with God as it represents the covenant made with Abraham. During the brit the boy is given his Hebrew name
• what happens during the brit milah

  1. the circumcision takes place on the eight days after the birth
  2. circumcision involved the removal of the foreskin
  3. the baby is placed on the cushion on an empty chair that is known as Elijah's chair
  4. the foreskin of the penis is snipped. immediately after the father recites a prayer which asks God to take care of the boy and give him a good life. A baby boy is named at the Brit Milah
  5. Jewish children have 2 names one is their Hebrew name and the other is their everyday name
• how do Jews prepare for Shabbat


  -each family celebrates Shabbat in their own way.

  -for orthodox Jews they will not work during Shabbat

  -This means that the preparation for the Saturday meals must be done before.

  -special foods (challot loaves) need to have been bought and the Shabbat table laid.

  -Most important all the family need to be home before the candles are lit to bring the presence of Shabbat in the home
• What happens during Shabbat


  1. No work done unless it involves saving life

  2. Driving and cooking not allowed

  3. No carrying of anything

  4. Woman of the family lights two candles

  5. Blessing over the challot

  6. Kiddush prayer recited over a cup of wine

  7. Families go to synagogues on Saturday morning

  8. Havdallah candle lit at sunset on Saturday

  9. Glass of wine passed around

  10. Spice box sniffed
• Shabbat


  The Jewish Sabbath
• The woman of the family lights two candles to bring the presence of Shabbat into the home
• There will be a blessing over the challot and a kiddush prayer recited over a cup of wine
• On the Saturday morning most families will go to synagogues
• At sunset on Saturday a havdallah candle is lit to symbolise the distinction between Shabbat and the rest of the week
• A glass of wine is passed around and a spice box is sniffed to symbolise the hope of a sweet week
• why is Shabbat important


  -keeping Shabbat obeys the Mitzvah .

  -it is remembered as a celebration of God's creation.

  -it is kept through worship in the home and the synagogue

  -it is often seen as a gift from God when weekday worries can be forgotten and families can be together

  -as the woman of the family lights the candles so it is believed the presence of shabbat bringing peace is brought into the home