Download 4.3 Judaism Practices and Rituals

HRT3M Student Lead Lessons
Unit 4- Judaism
4.3 Judaism Practices and Rituals
The Synagogue
This is the communal place of worship for the Jews and is considered a place of gathering, prayer, and of study
or learning.
Some refer to the synagogue as a shul which means school. This emphasizes the synagogue’s role as a place of
study
The Torah Scroll
The Torah Scroll, which is the text of the five books of Moses written on parchment.
It is the most sacred object of Jewish life and it is essential for worship. It is always kept in a sacred place in the
synagogue and it is read at specific times during the service.
The parchment of the Torah cannot be touched while being read, so the reader uses a pointer to follow the
words in the text.
According to Jewish tradition, when the Hebrews received the Ten Commandments in the desert, they were told
to make an ark in which to place them. This is called the Ark of the Covenant.
Today the Holy Ark sits on a raised platform in the synagogue and contains the Torah scrolls.
Clergy and Laypersons
While any Jew who is knowledgeable, trained, and capable can conduct a worship service, it is generally the
master of prayer who does so. This is usually a rabbi (a trained scholar, a teacher, and interpreter of Jewish
law, a councilor, and an officiate of special ceremonies)
Worship
Blessings
Berakhah means blessing, which is the foundation of Jewish prayer. Through blessing, Jews believe that they
acknowledge, praise, thank, and petition God
There are three types of blessings
1. The first is a blessing of thanks to God for the enjoyment of the five senses. A well known example is the
Kiddush, a blessing recited when people drink wine that has been specially sanctified for the Sabbath.
2. One that is recited before performing a mitzvah to acknowledge that the commandment is divinely given and
to thank God for the chance to fulfill a religious precept
3. Recited to praise, thank, or petition God.
Services
When Jewish people pray communally, a minyan, or quorum of ten males over the age of 13 is required.
There are three daily worship services held: one in the morning, evening and afternoon.
The torah reading is a central part of certain worship services during the week. The Torah is divided into 54
sections. One portion is read each week, so that the entire Torah is read from the beginning to the end in the
course of one year.
The completion of the reading cycle and the beginning of the next cycle takes place on the festival of
Simkhat Torah.
An eternal light also hangs above the ark. The light is always burning as a symbol of God’s presence.
When worshiping or studying, Jewish men wear a head covering called a Yarmulke or Kippah to show their
respect for God.
They also wear a Shawl called a Tallis while praying. The fringes of the tallis is a reminder of the ten
commandments and the necessity of keeping these commandments.
Kashruth
The practice of keeping kosher. The term kosher means "clean, fit or proper". The purpose of these rituals was
to assure safe and sanitary meats during Biblical times. (This means that all animals are fed properly and killed
with humility)
The Laws of Kashruth serve many purposes:
1. They establish the Jews as an identifiable group
2. Kosher food laws speak to the humanity and humility of the Jewish people. Humanity is revealed in the
prescribed method of killing animals in the most humane way possible.
Shabbat
The Shabbat, or Sabbath is perhaps the most important ritual of the Jewish people. It is based on the creation
story of Genesis in the Holy Bible.
The Sabbath is a time to put aside work, shopping, housework, even homework. It’s an important opportunity
to set aside time for important things in life- such as prayer, family, and friends.
At sunset on Friday, Jews go to the Synagogue, where the service opens with the lighting of candles.
Representing the first act of creation- “let there be light”
Sabbath morning is spent at the synagogue in prayer and worship.