Download Jewish practices and symbols

Synagogue Service
• The synagogue is a place of worship
– Also a place to study
– A community center as well
• Synagogue services are led by a Rabbi, a cantor, or a
member of the congregation
• In the USA synagogues are often called temples
• Jews are observant of their faith, observant of the laws of
God
Daily worship through prayer
• Prayer worship is mandatory only for
males age 13 and older
• Women are traditionally excused
because of their household
responsibilities
• Males alone are required to wear certain
ritual accessories
– Skullcap aka yarmulke- God is higher
than humans
– Tefillin- A set of 2 small boxes
containing biblical passages secured
to the forehead and to the left arm –
near the mind and the heart
– The Talit or prayer shawl- can be
drawn over the head for privacy. And
it signifies humility in the sight of
God
Shema
• Judaism’s most important Prayer
• Biblical origin
– Deuteronomy 6:4
– Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord alone
• Prayers are said 3 times a day
– Morning, afternoon, and evening
– Prayers are usually recited at home but in public synagogues as
well
• Home and synagogue are the two centers of Jewish worship
Clothing during worship
• Everyone except unmarried
women wears a hat in the
synagogue
– To show reverence to God
• Males always wear hats when
they are saying prayers that
mention God
• Observant Jewish males wear a
hat all the time
• Most common hat is in the
form of a yarmulke or a kippah
Rites of Passage
•
•
Ritual events
marking life’s major
changes
2 purposes
1. Reflect the inevitable
changes of life
2. Define the
responsibilities of
each stage of life
Birth and Naming
• The rite of passage marking the
birth of a child involves
circumcision for boys, and naming
for both boys and girls
• Boys are circumcised and named
in a ceremony that takes place on
the 8th day of life
– The ceremony takes place in the
house of the parents
•
girls are named at the synagogue
during a Sabbath service
Coming of Age
• Bar mitzvah = son of the
commandment
– Boys read from the
Torah
• Bat mitzvah = daughter
of the commandment
– Girls also read from
the Torah
– Orthodox Jewish girls
do not observe bat
mitzvah
• The coming of age is the
rituals in which boys and
girls take on the
religious responsibilities
of an adult
Marriage
• The bride and groom stand
beneath the huppah or
bridal canopy
• Seven blessing are read
over a cup of wine
• The ceremony concludes
when the groom breaks a
wine glass beneath his foot
– Ancient tradition- symbol of
the destruction of the two
Temples in Jerusalem
– It reminds the married
couple that marriage brings
difficulties and pain along
with joy
Death and mourning
• Several distinct stages of mourning are prescribed:
Stage 1: Lasts from death to burial
•
•
•
•
Family members rip their clothes and recite verse when they find out that a
family member died
The mourners are restricted from certain activities- shaving and wearing
leather
They are relieved of many of the normal requirements- daily prayer
The deceased is buried in a plain wooden coffin
Death and mourning- stage 2
• The second stage begins
after burial with the recital of
the kaddish
– A prayer of mourning
• This stage lasts for seven
days
• During this time community
members visit the family
• Conversation is limited to
good comments about the
one who has died
• Upon departing, the visitors
recite a special prayer of
comfort
Death and mourning- stages 3 & 4
•
•
•
•
A third stage lasts until 30 days after burial
Normal activities are resumed
But social gathering and celebrations are avoided
A fourth stage follows if the deceased is one’s parent
– It lasts until the first anniversary of the death
– The mourners avoid their usual seats at the synagogue
– Recite the kaddish during services and on the anniversary of the death
Jewish Symbol: the Mezuza
• Attached to the right of the door to people’s homes
on the outside
• Contains a scroll with the Shema
Jewish symbol: Star of David
• One of the most
important symbols
of Judaism but not
the oldest
Kosher
• Means ritually
correct
• Applies to food
preparation and
consumption
• All blood is
sacred to God
• It gives life
• Pork and
shellfish are
forbidden