1. GCSE Judaism Paper 2: Unit 2 Practices Public acts of worship
Tenakh and Talmud
Private Prayer
Shema and Amidah
Ritual and Ceremony
Shabbat
Festivals
Synagogue

2. Public acts of worship Most common form of worship is prayer
Prayer is the most important part of Jewish worship and synagogues play an important role in this
Shabbat, festival, and the Daily Prayers are the most important services that take place publicly in the synagogue
These unite the community while providing time for the individual to offer their own prayer of praise and thanksgiving
Daily prayers – 3 times a day and often standing, silent when said alone
Prayer towards Jerusalem
SHABBAT
Begins at dusk on Friday and ends Sat night
Services in the synagogue
Prayers, readings from the Torah
Whole family attend
SIDDUR
Book of daily prayer

3. Study and reading of the Torah is common to all synagogues.
Tenakh and Talmud
The Talmud is the oral tradition
Orthodox Jews – Given to Moses at Mount Sinai. Written down 1000 years later so cant be distorted. Central to Orthodox Jews life
Reform Jews – human creation that reflects distilled wisdom of many generations of the Jewish people
Two parts – Mishnah and Gemara
Rich source of study
Source of all Jewish legal teaching and decision
The Tenakh is the Jewish Bible and is in 3 divisions – Torah, Nevii’im and the Ketuvim
The Torah is the most sacred object
Orthodox Jews - regard the Torah as the literal word of God and can not be altered
Reform Jews – Believe the Torah is human creation inspired by their understanding and the place of God in lives
Importance
Different views of the Torah has led to the separation of Orthodox and Reform Jews in both worship and practice.
Study and reading of the Torah is common to all synagogues.

4. Food laws Jewish life today Nature and purpose
Orthodox Jews – kept the laws, separate utensils for meat and diary
Reform Jews – feel they are outdated for example, 3 hour gap before dairy, meat and diary combined
Passover – no yeast for the week, deep clean of the house, separate crockery and cutlery
Opportunity to bring kedusha or holiness to one of the most essential areas of existence. CONNECT WITH GOD
Food that is acceptable – KOSHER (fit)
Food that is not acceptable – TREIFAH (torn)
Laws are found in the Torah, so are from God
Can benefit health
Cant eat pigs
KASHRUT
Jewish food laws
Nature and purpose

5. Private Prayer Private prayer for Jews who cannot attend the synagogue
Carried out individually or as a family
Clear their minds before so they can focus on God
Pray 3 times a day, morning (modeh ani – thanking for the gift of life), afternoon and evening
Shema (declaration of Faith) is recited at night
Shabbat – Kiddush prayer of sanctification (celebrate God’s creation, remember the release of their ancestors from slavery)
Prayer – prayer, request and thanks
Daily prayer allows connection with God, personal reflection and solitary time with God
Hebrew word for prayer means reflection

6. Shema and Amidah
The Amidah – standing prayer. Praise, thanks and request
MEZUZAH
Beside all doors and contains the Shema
TALLIT
Prayer shawl worn by men. Tzitzit (tassels) are the mitvots
TEFILLIN
2 small boxes on the head (mind about God) and arm (heart about God)
Worn by women in reform / liberal
The SHEMA
Opening part of the Shema is recited twice a day (morning and evening).
Most important prayer.
SHEMA
Declaration of Faith

7. Most rituals followed by all Jews.
Ritual and Ceremony
Most rituals followed by all Jews.
BIRTH
Soul exists in the womb but life begins when the child is half emerged.
Born pure and free of sin
Purification of mother (Boys – 7days +33, Girls -14days +66)
Always given a Hebrew name and English
BRIT MILAH
Boys are circumcised as stated in the Abraham Covenant.
Outward physical sign of God’s covenant
Almost always observed
Removal of the foreskin by someone religiously qualified
BAR / BAT MITVAH
Coming of age ceremony
Boys – 13
Girls – 12
Can lead services in the synagogue
Expected to study and prepare carefully
MARRIAGE
Very little in the Torah
Kiddushin is binding engagement
Nisuin – full marriage
Half an hour ceremony
Reform – allow same sex marriage
MOURNING
5 periods of mourning over a year
Community takes a lead
Tear clothing to show something has changed
FUNERAL
Cremated
Usually within 24hrs
Body washed and wrapped in a shroud
Plain coffins
In the cemetery not the synagogue

8. Shabbat in the synagogue
Shabbat is observed from Friday evening to Saturday evening
Celebrated in the home on Friday with a special meal
Celebrated in the synagogue either Friday evening or Saturday morning which last 2 hours
Modern life can make strict observation of Shabbat challenging for Jews
The day is important for both family time and Torah study, it is keeping God’s commandment.
Shabbat in the synagogue
Amidah is recited
Shema is recited from the Torah
3) Section of the Torah
4) Torah is returned to the Ark
5) Rabbi delivers a sermon
6) Ends with prayers
7) Kaddish follows, this acknowledges that God is best
8) Final act to sign a hymn
Shabbat in the home
* Traditionally 3 meals take place at home during Shabbat (Friday evening, Sat morning and late Sat afternoon).
* Friday begins with a Kiddush blessing and blessing the challah bread.
* End is marked with Havdalah blessing over wine, special candle is lit
* Home will be cleaned and tided, decorated with flowers
* Abstain from work, cooking, creating or destroying anything
Bimah
Raised platform in the synagogue where readings are made
Havdalah
Closing ceremony Shabbat
Yad
A pointer for following text

9. Festivals
Festivals are an important part of Jewish life and are used to remember happy times in Jewish history. Families and communities UNITE.
1st Pilgrim Festival: Pesach
*Referred to as Passover
*Based on the night that God Passed over Egypt and killed the first born
*Chametz is removed and not eaten for 7 days
*Home is cleaned
*Lasts 8 days
2nd Pilgrim Festival: Shavuot
*Celebrates the giving of Law
*7 week period between Passover and Shavuot
*Celebrate the gift of the Torah
*Time to explore the texts
*Decorate the synagogue
3rd Pilgrim Festival: Sukkot
*Begins 4 days after Yom Kippur
*Marks end of summer
*Feast of the Tabernacles
*Celebrated for 8 days
Rosh Hashanah
Means ‘head of the year’, first day of Jewish new year.
Orthodox celebrate for 2 days and Reform 1 day.
Anniversary of creation
Visit synagoguie, festive meal, eat slice of apple in honey, pomegranate
Yom Kippur
Day of Atonement – holiest day of the year.
Reflect on sins and ask for forgiveness
25 hours of fasting
Spent largely in the synagogue
Ark is opened
DEPENDS ON The JEWISH GROUP
MOST IMPORTANT

10. Synagogue Synagogue means ‘assembly’ or shul - school
A place to learn and come together as a community
Objects of devotion
Many features are the same in Orthodox and Reform traditions
Faces Jerusalem
Orthodox – men and women sit separately
Reminder of the temple in Jerusalem
Ark and Bimah most important