Holy Items
1.
What are
the three functions of a synagogue?
a.
Assembly
b.
Study
c.
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 – Holds the Torah Scrolls and is located in the Synagogue
on the Eastern wall
Torah Scrolls - The Torah is scripture handwritten by a trained
scribe on parchment made from a kosher animal and are located on shelves inside
the Ark.
Ten Commandments – The Ten Commandments are the words that God
wrote on two stone tablets (Exodus 20).
They can be found in the Torah Scrolls or sometimes as decoration within
the synagogue.
3. What is a rabbi? A rabbi means “teacher” in Hebrew.
a. How does a Jew become a rabbi?
Rabbis usually train for about five years at seminaries such
as Hebrew Union College (Reform) or The Jewish Theological Seminary
(Conservative). Orthodox rabbis will usually train at Orthodox seminaries
called yeshivot. When someone completes his or her training they are ordained
as rabbis, which is called receiving s’michah. The term s’michah refers to the
laying on of hands that occurs when the rabbinic mantle is passed on to the
newly ordained rabbi.
b. How does a rabbi differ from a clergyman?
A rabbi is a teacher in the Jewish Community and a Clergyman
usually refers to formal religious leadership within other religions such as
priets, pastors, and preachers.
c. What is the rabbi’s role?
The rabbi In the Jewish community is a spiritual leader, a
counselor, a role model and an educator. The rabbi leads spiritual services and
events like weddings and funerals.
4. What
is the nature Shabbat? (also called Sabbath) When does it occur?
Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment.
It is one of the best know Jewish observance. Shabbat begins at sunset. Shabbat ends at
nightfall approximately 40 minutes after sunset.
5. What is the Torah?
What is the Talmud?
The Torah can mean different things in different contexts,
but it commonly refers to the Old Testament of the Bible.
The Talmud is a tradition explaining what the above
scriptures mean and how to interpret them and apply the Laws (Oral Torah).
FYI: This is what a Torah Scroll looks like…
6. There are
different branches of Judaism. Describe the following…
Orthodox: These Jews
follow Jewish law according to the Torah (the first five books of the Bible)
and the Talmud (the compilation of Jewish law). They believe God gave the whole
Torah to Moses at Mt. Sinai and that it has remained intact and unchanged.
Reform: These Jews follow Judaism reformed to downplay
traditional beliefs. 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.
Conservative: These Jews beliefs came from the tension
between the Orthodox and Reform Jews. Conservative Judaism believes that while
sacred Jewish writings did come from God, there was a human component. Although
Jewish law should be obeyed, it must adapt. Conservative worship services vary
considerably.
Zionist: Jews who believe in a political movement for
reconstituting a Jewish national state in Palestine. Coming from the belief
that anti-Semitism can be overcome through assimilation.
Language
7. What is Hebrew?
Hebrew is a member of the Canaanite group of Semitic languages. It was the
language of the early Jews, but from 586 BC it started to be replaced by
Aramaic.
8. What is Yiddish?
Yiddish means “Hebrew” and was the primary language of Jews found throughout eastern and central Europe.
One of the Germanic languages, Yiddish is written in Hebrew characters.
9. Define the
following Yiddish terms:
Mazal Tov: Congratulations
Shalom:
Hello/Peace/Goodbye
Mitzvah: Commandment
10. Rites of Passage
– Use this link to define and describe the following:
Brit Milah (Bris): The 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.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah: The
celebrating of the age of legal majority in the Jewish community – when a child
assumes full responsibility for observing the commandments and for all his/her
deeds. At the age of 13 and a day, a boy becomes a Bar Mitzvah (which means the
"age of responsibility for the commandments") and a girl becomes Bat
Mitzvah (some follow the tradition of considering a girl Bat Mitzvah at the age
of 12 years and one day, on the basis of the Mishnah's granting her
responsibility for her own vows at that age).
Jewish Marriage: In
Jewish tradition, a marriage is termed Kiddushin which connotes that the
husband and wife are sanctified to one another and enjoy an exclusive
relationship. This relationship also has legal ramifications. The woman accepts
a ring — or some other token — from the man, and thereby accepts the terms of
the marriage. A ketubah (marriage contract) is read during the ceremony. In the
United States, when a rabbi officiates at a wedding, it is de facto a legal
wedding by the law of the United States, as well; therefore, a rabbi cannot
officiate for you without a civil license.
11. Holidays – Use
this link to define the following:
Rosh Hoshanah: In
Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or
"first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish
New Year.
Yom Kippur: The name
"Yom Kippur “means” Day of Atonement which is what the holiday is all
about. It is a day set aside to "afflict the soul," to atone for the
sins of the past year. On Yom Kippur, the judgment entered in the books where
all our names and deeds are recorded is sealed. This day is, essentially, your
last appeal, your last chance to change the judgment, to demonstrate your
repentance and make amends.
Hanukah: Chanukkah, the Jewish festival of rededication,
also known as the festival of lights, is an eight day festival beginning on the
25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. Chanukkah is probably one of the best
known Jewish holidays, not because of any great religious significance, but
because of its proximity to Christmas. Many non-Jews (and even many assimilated
Jews!) think of this holiday as the Jewish Christmas, adopting many of the
Christmas customs,
Passover: Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month
of Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical
and agricultural significance (the other two are Shavu'ot and Sukkot).
Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the harvest season in Israel,
but little attention is paid to this aspect of the holiday. The primary
observances of Pesach are related to the Exodus from Egypt after generations of
slavery.
12. What is something
you knew about Jewish traditions that this confirmed?
A rabbi is considered to be their teacher and leader,
similar to the role of pastors in the
Christian faith.
13. What is the most
interesting or surprising information out of all of this?
The different branches of Judaism, such as Orthodox, Reform,
Conservative, and Zionist
14. What is one
aspect of Jewish tradition which is similar to a tradition in your life?
Hanukah, which is very similar to my celebration of
Christmas.
15. What is one
aspect of Jewish tradition that is different from a tradition in your life?
The celebration of the age of legal majority (Bar
Mitzvah/Bat Mitzvah)
