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DENOMINATIONS OF JEWS
• Orthodox – The majority of Jews in Britain are Orthodox
Jews. They believe that God gave Moses the whole Torah
at Mount Sinai. Modern Orthodox Jews live by the Jewish
laws but incorporate modern society. However UltraOrthodox Jews do live strictly by the laws but live
separately and do not integrate with in modern society
• Conservative – Conservative Jews believe that the Torah
did come from God but also contain human input. They live
by the Jewish laws but do include some aspects of modern
culture and society
• Reform – Reform Jews believe that the Torah was created
by different human sources and then later combined. They
do not live by the Laws but do adopt some practises and
cultures of the Jewish Laws
SCRIPTURES & RELIGIOUS WRITING
• Tenakh – This is the Hebrew bible and is a
collection of Jewish scripture and includes the
Torah, the Psalms and the Prophets
• Torah – The Torah is a sacred text of Jewish
people and it includes the laws that most Jewish
people live by. These Laws are called the 10
commandments. There are two different versions
of the Torah, these are called the Mishnah & the
Talmud. Both of these versions are studied as
part of the religion
SYNAGOGUE
• The synagogue is an important part of the Jewish faith. It
is a building that is used for prayer and worship but is also
used for education and social activities
• Services are held every day in the Synagogue and Jews
are meant to pray three times a day. Morning services are
held very early so people can go to work and there are
also afternoon and evening services
• Jewish teachers called Rabbis run the services which
usually last between 20 and 45 minutes, however during
Shabbat & festivals services are longer
DAILY LIFE
THE MEZUZAH
• A Mezuzah is a scroll of parchment
which is sealed in a case
• It is put on the right doorpost, and
designates a home as Jewish
• They are often decorated in a colourful
way
JEWISH FOOD
• The majority of Jewish people eat Kosher food, which is
prepared in a certain way, and prepared in accordance with
the Jewish Dietary Laws
• Today, Kosher certification labels are printed on packages
of Kosher food
Kosher Foods
Non-Kosher Foods
Cattle
Sheep
Chicken
Goose
Duck
Cod
Turkey
Salmon
Tuna
Clam
Crab
Lobster
Oyster
Shrimp
Snail
SKULL CAPS
• The skull cap is also known as the ‘kippah’ or ‘kippa’
• The skull cap is usually made of cloth, and Jewish law says
that a man is required to wear a kippah during prayer
• Very Orthodox Jewish women wear wigs to cover their hair
• The Star of David is a six-pointed star made up of two
triangles
• It is a significant symbol of Judaism and Jewish identity
THE STAR OF DAVID
SHABBAT (SABBATH)
• The Jewish day of rest
• Begins with the lighting of candle and the
Sabbath meal on Friday evenings
• No work is done, no money is carried or
business is transacted
• Time is spent with family and the creation of life
is celebration
Pesach
Jewish Festivals
• It lasts for two days and commemorates the creation of
the world. Its celebrated in the month of September
• The people believe that God balances a person’s good
deeds against their bad and decides upon this what will
happen next year
• It’s a chance for Jewish people to ask questions about
themselves and about the events over the last year
• It’s also a chance for forgiveness for wrongdoings
• People spend most of their time in a Synagogue during
Rosh Hashanah. At the Synagogue a special horn
(shofar) is blown. This starts a ten day period called Days
of Awe
• Following the service a special meal is eaten at home
• It signifies the end of the 10 days (Days of Awe)
• During Yom Kippur Jews fast for 25 hours in the month of
September
• It’s a day where people ask for forgiveness from God
• Jewish people mark Yom Kippur in different ways:
• Many wear white as a symbol of purity
• No make-up or perfume is worn
• No sex
• No bathing
• Most of the day is spent in the synagogue where 5 services are
carried out through the day. Even the less religious Jews attend
• The sound of the Shofar ends this special day
• Jewish people remember how the children of Israel left slavery
behind them in Egypt
• Moses rescued these children and warned the Egyptian
Pharaohs about the ten plagues
• Jewish people were told to cover the door’s in lambs blood, so
the plague would ‘pass over’ them
• The celebration last for 7 to 8 days in the month March-April
• The night before passover a special family meals takes place
‘Seder’. This meal celebrates the freedom from slavery
• During the meal the story of the Israeli children is told from the
Haggadah. Each person will read some of this book
• The Jewish festival of lights in the month of December
• Hanukkah means rededication and celebrates one of the
greatest miracles in Jewish history
RITES OF PASSAGE
BRIT MILAH
• Eight days after birth all Jewish baby boys are
circumcised
• Carried out by trained Mohel
• This celebration is called a Brit. The baby’s
father thanks God and a prayer is said
introducing the boy’s Jewish name
• Ritual circumcision, is a symbol of the Jewish
partnership with God
BAR MITZVAH
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Celebrated when a boy reaches 13 years old
Considered to be an adult in religious terms
The translation is “son of commandment”
The boy has to spend many months preparing
Some Jewish movements celebrate a girl coming
of age, this is called a Bat Mitzvah
MARRIAGE
• Weddings can not take place on the Sabbath or on
any festival or holy day and often takes place
under a Hupah (canopy), symbolising the couples
new home
• Before the service the bridegroom and male guests
are led in to the bride’s chambers for a badekan
(veiling) ceremony
• The wedding celebration is very lively often with
Israeli folk music
• The "Hora," or traditional dance of celebration is
performed
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Hdz2oX_yLY
DEATH
• Jews are buried as soon as possible after death
because they believe in the resurrection
• The body is washed, anointed and wrapped in a
white sheet
• The body is buried in Jewish consecrated ground
• The family then observe a period of mourning
SUMMARY - KEY FACTS
• Jesus was a Jew and his family followed Jewish
customs. His followers believed him to be the
Messiah as predicted in the Jewish bible
• Christianity then separated itself from it’s Jewish
origins
• Judaism can be described as a religion, race,
culture and a nation. All of these descriptions
have some validity.
• Judaism is a way of life