What is Judaism?
Follow
the links and answer the questions to establish a basic understanding of some
key elements of Judaism. Use the links to find the information and then answer
the questions IN YOUR OWN WORDS.
A synagogue
functions as a house of assembly, study and prayer.
2. What does
the
layout
of a synagogue look like? Check out the various items and then
identify the purpose and location of the following:
Ark – cabinet that contains the torah
scrolls located on the eastern wall of synagogues
Torah Scrolls –
sacred texts for Judaism (old testament). They are covered in cloth mantles
Ten Commandments – incorporated
into the exterior design of the synagogue and is ornately adorned
3. What is a rabbi?
A Jewish scholar or
teacher, one who teaches Jewish law. A person who is appointed a Jewish leader.
How does a Jew
become a rabbi?
They must first work
with the Jewish community to build up experience. One can’t just study to
become a rabbi and expect to be a rabbi as soon as their studies are finished.
How does a rabbi
differ from a clergyman?
A rabbi is not the same as a priest. A priest has a special
authority to perform certain sacred rituals. A rabbi has no more authority to
perform rituals than any other adult male member of the Jewish community.
What is the rabbi’s
role?
A rabbi is a teacher who educates the Jewish community of
Jewish law and tradition.
4. What is the
nature
Shabbat?
(also called Sabbath) When does it occur?
Shabbat is a day of
rest and spiritual enrichment. It occurs once a week, Sunday.
5. What is the
Torah? What is the Talmud?
The Torah is the law
of G-d revealed to Moses and recorded in the first give books of the Hebrew Scriptures
(Pentateuch). The Talmud is the body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and
legend comprising the Mishnah (text) and the Gemara (commentary).
6. There are
different
branches of Judaism. Describe the following…
Orthodox: Orthodox Jews follow Jewish law as laid down
in the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, and the Talmud, the vast
compilation of Jewish law. They believe God gave the whole Torah to Moses at
Mt. Sinai and that it has remained intact and unchanged. To distinguish them
from Hasidim, mainstream Orthodox are sometimes called "modern"
Orthodox. The 1990 National Jewish Population Survey undertaken by the Council
of Jewish Federations determined that 7% of the 5 million American Jews are
Orthodox.
Reform: The Reform
movement says that while the Torah is a valuable cultural and philosophical
body of work, it was not delivered by God at one time, but developed over
centuries. Reform says Judaism must continue to evolve, with each individual
free to decide what to believe. It also conducts worship services in a
contemporary language, such as English, as opposed to Hebrew.
National Jewish
Population Conservative: Conservative worship services vary considerably. Some
Conservative synagogues are similar to Reform, while others are close to
Orthodox. There are some 800 Conservative synagogues, with some 1.5 million
members, in North America. The 1990 National Jewish Population Survey found 38%
of American Jews are Conservative. The Conservative movement in Great Britain
and Israel calls itself Masoreti, meaning "traditional" in Hebrew.
Zionist: Historically,
some Orthodox Jews had opposed Zionism because the Messiah had not appeared.
But there were many religious Zionists as well. At the turn of the century,
early waves of Zionists began settling in Palestine. The British Balfour
Declaration of 1917 gave their cause international legitimacy. Zionists helped
rescue Jews from the Nazis. The Holocaust increased support for a Jewish
homeland, which was declared in 1948.
***Take a break and
listen to some
Klezmer music…(this will only work if Quicktime is
loaded!)***
The Semitic language
of the ancient people who are now living in what is now Israel.
A language used by Jews in central and eastern Europe before
the Holocaust. It was originally a German dialect with words from Hebrew and
several modern languages and is today spoken mainly in the US, Israel, and
Russia
9. Define the
following
Yiddish
terms:
Mazal Tov: Congratulations
Shalom: Peace
Mitzvah: precept or
commandment
10. Rites of Passage
– Use this
link to
define and describe the following:
Brit Milah (Bris): he
ceremony of circumcision, by which a boy enters the Covenant of Israel on his
eighth day of life, goes back to Abraham, who was commanded by God to
circumcise himself, his son Ishmael, and all the males in his household, as a
sign of the covenant (Genesis, chapter 17). Since then, Jews have circumcised
their sons, often risking grave danger, to welcome them into the Covenant.
Circumcision has
played an important role in Jewish identity and culture for more than three
millennia, and continues to do so today. Circumcision is performed on the
eighth day unless health considerations advise against it (in which case it is
postponed until a physician gives permission) and may even be performed on
Shabbat or Yom Kippur, indicating its importance in Jewish tradition.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah: Every
Jew becomes a Bar Mitzvah automatically. It is a change of legal status; it has
nothing to do with how much an individual knows or has learned. No ceremony,
certificate, or special service is required. However, it is a change of status
that affects the entire community, since now there is an additional member to
count in the minyan, and thus it has been customary to celebrate this milestone
since the 1300's, though celebrations have always been small and modest until
this century.
Jewish Marriage:
Marriage is considered a natural and desirable state of
adult life because it provides companionship and security. This depends, of
course, upon a good match. Tradition acknowledges how difficult such a match is
to find.
11. Holidays – Use
this
link to
define the following:
Rosh Hoshanah - Rosh
Hashanah is a two day celebration which begins on the first day of Tishrei, the
first month of the Jewish calendar. The day is believed to be the anniversary
of the creation of Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, and their first
actions toward the realization of mankind’s role in God’s world.
Yom Kippur – day of
atonement. Jewish people traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour
period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in
synagogue services.
Hanukah – “Festival
of lights and feasts” Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting
on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at
any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.
Passover - It
commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were
freed from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins on the 14th day of the month of
Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which is in spring in the Northern Hemisphere,
and is celebrated for seven or eight days. It is one of the most widely
observed Jewish holidays.
12. What is
something you knew about Jewish traditions that this confirmed?
The Torah is the
first five books of the old testament and is their sacred text.
13. What is the most
interesting or surprising information out of all of this?
Their Holidays.
14. What is one
aspect of Jewish tradition which is similar to a tradition in your life?
Going to church
every Sunday.
15. What is one
aspect of Jewish tradition that is different from a tradition in your life?
Their rites of
passage and observing their laws strictly.
