Jewish Beliefs and Practices

Basic Jewish Beliefs Maimonides’ 13 Principles of Faith are widely accepted by Jews as summarizing the basic beliefs of Judaism They are: God exists God is one and unique God is incorporeal God is eternal Prayer is to be directed to God alone The words of the Prophets are true

These are accepted by most Jews as the minimum one must believe Moses was the greatest of the Prophets The written Torah (the first five books of the Tanakh) and the Oral Torah (teachings contained in the Talmud) were given to Moses by God There will be no other Torah God knows the thoughts and deeds of men God will reward the good and punish the wicked The Messiah will come The dead will be resurrected These are accepted by most Jews as the minimum one must believe

Prayer

Several times a day – when waking, before and after meals, before bed and any other time you wish during the day Major Prayers: Shema Amidah – 19 blessings, thanks and petitions (said at synagogue) Aleinu – affirms that there is one God Kaddish – prayer of praise. Always said in Aramaic. The Mourners Kaddish is associated with praying for the dead.

The Synagogue

Jewish place of prayer and worship Dates back to time of Babylonian Exile Services daily Requires a minyan = ten adults Usually led by rabbi; can be led by any adult Main services held on the Sabbath (Shabbat) – either Friday evening or Saturday morning

Interior

All Synagogues contain . . . Aron Kodesh – also called the Ark. Holds Torah scrolls. Ner Tamid – “eternal light”. Near the Ark; symbolizes the presence of God. Bimah – the lectern from which the Torah is read

Rabbi holding a Torah scroll – the scrolls are written in Hebrew by hand on parchment

Orthodox synagogues separate men and women at worship Orthodox synagogues separate men and women at worship. They have a divider called a mechitzah between the two sections of the synagogue.

Rabbi He (or she in Reform and some Conservative communities) leads services, educates, and officiates at events like bar mitzvahs, weddings and funerals It usually takes five years of postgraduate study to become a rabbi.

Synagogue Service There are communal prayers in the synagogue daily Main service is on Shabbat (the Sabbath) Service is led by the Rabbi and perhaps a cantor Service is often a mixture of Hebrew and English Lasts between 30 and 90 minutes

The Service: Chanting of the Shema and Amidah Scripture readings Writings Psalms Prophets Torah Sermon Blessings

Kashrut (Kosher Food Laws)

Kosher Food laws concern: What foods can be eaten How foods must be prepared The laws are found in the Torah

Trayf – food that is not kosher and cannot be consumed Pareve – food that can be eaten at any time, with any other food

General information . . . Kosher animals chew their cud and have cloven hoofs (cattle, sheep, goats, deer) Animals must be humanely slaughtered under the supervision of a trained shochef Seafood must have scales and fins Domesticated fowl can be eaten; birds of prey cannot

Reptiles, amphibians and insects are trayf Blood cannot be consumed Meat and milk cannot be consumed at the same meal Rules for Passover are stricter

Different branches of Judaism have different attitudes towards these laws: Orthodox – follow strictly Conservative – some follow strictly; many follow a modified version Reform – following is up to the individual; many follow partially

Clothing worn during worship: tallit kippah teffilin

Life Cycle Rituals

Brit Milah “The Covenant of Circumcision” 8 days after birth Performed at home or at the synagogue Mohel – performs the ceremony The child is officially given his name

Brit Ha-bat The naming ceremony for a daughter A modern celebration done mostly in Reform synagogues

Bar Mitzvah Bat Mitzvah Son or Daughter of Commandment – the child officially becomes an adult in the Jewish community Takes place at the synagogue The child reads (in Hebrew!) and comments on the Torah portion for the day The Bat Mitzvah ceremony is modern and is not done in Orthodox communities

Bar Mitzvah A Bar Mitzvah at the Wailing Wall, Jerusalem

Bat Mitzvah

In Reform Judaism teens are often confirmed as well as bar or bat mitzvahed. Confirmation takes place when they are older and is a personal commitment to Judaism.

Weddings Takes place under a chuppah = canopy Ancient custom May be raised indoors or out Symbolizes both the new home established by the couple and the tents Jews lived in during the Exodus

The wedding ceremony includes: Blessing and sharing wine Exchange of rings Signing the Ketubah Marriage contract Protects the rights of the wife Often in Aramaic

The Seven Blessings Breaking a glass Mazel Tov!

Judaism does not encourage marriage outside the faith Most Jewish rabbis will not officiate at inter-faith weddings

Funerals Jewish beliefs about life after death: Orthodox Jews Heaven and hell A bodily resurrection when the Messiah comes Conservative Jews Resurrection – either bodily or spiritual – when the Messiah comes

Reform Jews: No bodily resurrection; the soul returns to God Not all Jews believe in life after death. Some believe that we live on through our good works and our descendants

Preparation of the body: Washed and dressed by members of a funeral society Placed in a plain wood casket surrounded by a linen shroud Never embalmed Never cremated Visitation: In the home (body not present) In the synagogue before the funeral Never open casket

The Funeral Service: Internment: Prayers and blessings One or more eulogies Internment: In a Jewish cemetery Ceremony presided over by the Rabbi and attended by only closest friends and relatives No flowers

Shivah (Mourning) 7 days after death of a family member Remain at home except for going to synagogue Wear black or black ribbon with a symbolic slash (cut) in it No work Men don’t shave People visit

Extended Mourning Yahrzeit 30 days for a close family member Return to work or school but not other activities For a parent, spouse or child mourning continues for a year (no parties, celebrations) Yahrzeit 1 year anniversary Special synagogue service Unveiling of the tombstone

Why do Jews leave a rock at the gravesite? Jews do not place flowers on graves. Often, they leave a small rock on the headstone Reasons: Historical – ancient Jews covered graves with rocks to protect them. It is a hold over from that Contemporary– it shows that someone has visited the grave