Rituals

Jewish Calendar Lunar calendar Each month beginning on the new moon Jewish counting of years is based on the number of years since creation according to the Tanakh Each day on the Jewish calendar begins at sundown

Shabbat (Sabbath) Shabbat is the day the Lord rested Most sacred day for Jews Begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sundown on Saturday It is celebrated in the synagogue with the focus on the family It celebrates the heavens and Earth and everything on Earth as gifts from God

Pesach (Passover) One of the most important feasts Basic to Jewish identity It is celebrated in the first month of the year, on the 15th day of Nisan Like Easter, it happens around the first full moon after spring equinox Celebrates the freedom won by Jewish slaves when they escaped from the Egyptian Pharaoh over 3000 years ago The most important part of the festival is the Passover Seder, a ritual meal during which Jews recall the story of the Exodus from Egypt Occurs first night of Passover

Rosh Hashanah Jewish New Year Means “Head of the Year” Celebrated in the synagogue Two day celebration People declare God king again for the coming year and pray for God’s protection and blessing Take time to recall how God created the heavens and the Earth Asks God to remember the covenant and the faith of the ancestors The sounding of the shofar, or ram’s horn, to herald the start of the new year Signifies both the need to wake up to the call to repentance, and the Binding of Isaac in which Abraham sacrifices a ram in place of his son, Isaac

Yom Kippur The 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are called the Days of Awe During this time, Jews turn inward and remember God will be their judge at the end of time Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement The 10 days of celebration end with Yom Kippur It is a solemn day of fasting Atone for their sins by asking forgiveness from God and anyone they have sinned against over the previous year  

Chanukah Celebrates the defeat of the Greeks and the rededication of King Solomon’s Temple by the Maccabees The Temple was cleansed of idols and rededicated with feasting and great joy Sometimes referred to as “The Festival of Lights” A tiny container of oil was found in the Temple, enough to last one day Miraculously, it burned for eight days and nights Menorah – Chanukah menorah is nine-branched as opposed to the seven-branched menorah representing the seven days of creation

Rites of Passage Life Cycle Rituals

Brit Milah or Bris 8 days after birth of a son, rite of circumcision is performed Initiates the infant into the people of the covenant Fulfills the commandment God gave to Abraham Mohel (usually doctor) performs circumcision in presence of parents, godparents, and other family members and friends Also the time when baby is given a Hebrew name Prayer that accompanies the name-giving emphasizes two things: 1) Israel lives on through its bloodline 2) God remembers the covenant made with Abraham forever Parents of a baby girl can have a Simchat Bat A ceremony in the synagogue where the baby receives her Hebrew name

Bar/Bat Mitzvah When a boy reaches age 13 plus one day or a girl reaches 12 plus one day Responsible for observing all of the mitzvot (commandments) of Judaism Synagogue celebration commonly includes one or more of the following: reading from the Torah scroll, reading a selection from the prophets, leading a portion of the service, delivering a speech, called a d'var Torah ("word of Torah") about the scriptural readings

Marriage Judaism strongly encourages people to marry Marriage and having a family is the standard way of life for religiously observant Jews Before a wedding, a marriage contract is prepared to ensure that the husband will treat his wife respectfully and fulfill his obligations to her The community is expected to help the couple live a life of loyalty and devotion to God and Jewish traditions Marriage takes place under a chuppah (canopy) to represent the home that will be created together Groom breaks a glass, recalling the destruction of the Temple and reminding the couple that it is their responsibility to help fix the imperfect world in which they live The ceremony ends with the recitation of seven blessings for the marriage

Death Buried within 1-2 days after death When a parent dies, a son or daughter recites the kaddish (prayer of sanctification) every morning and evening for 11 months after the death Sitting shiva for seven days after burial Wear sombre clothing and torn garment Mourners gather at one home and receive visitors, who often bring food so the grieving family does not have to worry about ordinary activities like cooking

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