A Guide to Facilitating Education and Training of the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Community
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A GUIDE TO FACILITATING EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF THE ULTRA-ORTHODOX JEWISH COMMUNITY 1 According to the 2011 census there Jewish Care has written this guide to Role Differences Dress are approximately 50,000 members assist you in adapting your learning of the Jewish community in Victoria. environment to make your training Men and women have clearly defined Ultra-Orthodox Jews are always fully It is a broad and diverse community, programs more welcoming and roles in Ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Men dressed in accordance with Jewish consisting of many cultural accessible to this unique sector are required to pray three times a day laws. Men will typically wear a kippah backgrounds, histories and levels of our community. together with a minyan, a quorum of (skullcap) or a hat on their head. Men of religious observance. Within this ten men. When praying in the morning, also wear a mini prayer shawl known community, there are sub-groups We hope this guide will provide you men wear a tallit (prayer shawl) and as a tallit under their shirt or jacket; of various sizes, which view religious with a better understanding of the Ultra- tefillin (phylacteries). Men also have an the fringes (tzitzit) of the tallit are obligations as binding and follow Jewish Orthodox community so that you are obligation to spend a significant portion sometimes worn externally and visible traditions to the letter of the law. better equipped to accommodate their of their day studying the Torah (the Old to others. Men usually wear their needs as you work together with them in Testament and the accompanying oral hair short, except for their sideburns, Residing predominantly within the local overcoming the barriers to employment. law) and other religious texts. which are often curled and tucked government areas of Glen Eira and Port behind their ears. Jewish women have their own areas of Phillip, these groups are described as While we have written this guide primarily responsibility. Seen as the heart and Ultra-Orthodox, and for the most part, Dress styles can differ for different with Learn Local programs in mind, the mainstay of the Jewish home, women have tended to keep to themselves. Most Ultra-Orthodox community groups. information contained within will be are generally exempt from time-bound are members of a further sub-group Members of the Adass community, useful for other service providers and obligations which would take them known as Adass. for instance, typically wear either full employers as well. away from their caring obligations. or three quarter length black pants, a While many Ultra-Orthodox women white shirt, black button-up vests, and prefer their role as full-time mothers a long black jacket. On working days, and housewives, some Ultra-Orthodox they may wear a traditional black hat. women may seek qualifications which On shabbat and holidays, they may will enable them to access enhanced wear a tall black hat with fur sewn opportunities outside the home. onto it called a shtreimel. Interpersonal Contact Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women tend to wear plain-coloured, loose-fitted As distinct from the casual familiarity clothing, taking care to have their legs of Western society, the Ultra-Orthodox covered by socks or stockings, elbows Jewish community is sensitive to covered by sleeves and knees covered differences between the genders. by longer skirts. In addition to this, Generally men and women move in married Ultra-Orthodox Jewish women separate circles; attend single-gender cover their hair with either a sheitel schools and pray in synagogues with (wig) or a scarf or both, as a sign of separate seating. With the exception their marital status. of close family members, men and women within Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities do not touch. As foreign as it may seem to our Western mindset, even the smallest gesture such as a handshake is forbidden. In certain circles, eye contact between men and women is discouraged as well. 2 3 Modesty & Privacy Shabbat (The Sabbath) Modesty is one of the main principles restricted in their ability to do research Shabbat, also known as Shabbos or Many activities are forbidden during Ultra-Orthodox Jews adhere to. as content may be deemed unsuitable. the Sabbath, is a day of rest, a day to Shabbat, including the following: Whilst dressing in modest clothing is go to synagogue, pray and connect working, turning on electricity (although an obvious external manifestation, This lack of exposure means that with God, self and family. The source electricity or time clocks can be set modesty is also about the way one acts, common everyday references may not of Shabbat is in the Old Testament or beforehand), using a vehicle (except talks and carries oneself. In particular, register with the audience. For example, Torah which describes how God created for medical emergencies, which take modesty informs the relationships it is unlikely that many members of the world in six days and on the seventh precedence over all other restrictions), between men and women; expressions the community would be familiar with day he rested. It is a day of symbolic carrying, writing, shopping, dealing with of affection between men and women Taylor Swift or media personality Eddie new beginnings and one dedicated to money and cooking. – whether between husband and wife McGuire, nor the latest episode of God, and is a holy day of rest. It begins or sister and brother - are not publicly MasterChef. at sunset on Friday and concludes at Preparations for Shabbat begin anew displayed. sunset on Saturday. Shabbat as a day each week, reaching their peak of Prayer of rest refreshes each person spiritually activity on Friday as sunset approaches. Ultra-Orthodox families are usually and physically. On this day there is a Ultra-Orthodox Jews will observe strong emphasis on spending quality Shabbat day with a strict level of very private and unwilling to discuss Prayer takes a central role in Jewish life. time together as a family and as a commitment that is difficult for the personal matters. Even though they may Jewish prayers take place in all Ultra- community. It is marked by wearing uninitiated to understand. One of the be a ‘high needs’ group, they may be Orthodox synagogues three times a day: festive Shabbat clothing, praying consequences of Shabbat observance reluctant to expose their lack of secular morning, afternoon and evening. knowledge and academic skills. together with a congregation in a is that members of the Ultra-Orthodox synagogue (Shul) evening, morning and community will not attend training When scheduling courses especially TV & Technology afternoon and enjoying festive meals programs or activities on Saturdays or during the winter months, it is together with family and friends. maybe not even on Friday afternoons. advisable to either conclude activities The Jewish home is considered a well prior to sunset, depending on mini-sanctuary in the Ultra-Orthodox where the training takes place or to community – a place of peace and incorporate an adequate break time sanctity, where every aspect is to accommodate afternoon prayers. well-considered and designed to foster a religiously-oriented lifestyle and set of values. Most families in the Ultra- Orthodox community will go to great lengths to exclude anything deemed to present a foreign or intrusive influence. In most Ultra-Orthodox homes there will be no television, radio, or popular magazines or newspapers. Some homes may have computers for the purpose of work or business but children would often be banned from their use; adults would be discouraged from using the internet unless there is a filter barring exposure to violent or sexual content, or any other influences deemed unacceptable. As a result they may be 4 5 There are many holidays and festivals in the Jewish religion. The Jewish Pesach - Passover Shavuot - Pentecost festivals are calculated based on the lunar calendar so the dates for festivals (March/April) (May/June) change from year to year. Most festivals are considered holy days and follow similar rules, restrictions and modes of celebration as Shabbat. Pesach is an eight-day festival Shavuot is a 2-day festival celebrated celebrating the Exodus of the Jewish 7 weeks after the 2nd day of Pesach, For a list of the dates of religiously significant Jewish holidays over the next few people from Egyptian bondage commemorating the giving of the Torah, years refer to www.hebcal.com/holidays/. over three thousand years ago. the written and the oral law to the Traditional to Pesach is the Seder, a Jewish Nation on Mount Sinai. During Rosh Hashana - New Year (September/ Chanukah - Festival of Lights festive meal, usually held in a family this festival, dairy meals are eaten and October) (December) setting, incorporating many symbolic greenery is placed around the house procedures emulating the Exodus. and at the synagogue. Families go to a This is a two-day festival commemorating Chanukah is an eight-day festival One of the major Pesach laws is not to synagogue to hear a reading of the Ten the start of the Jewish New Year and commemorating the rededication of the eat nor retain in one’s possession any Commandments which encapsulate celebrated by prayers at synagogue and Temple in Jerusalem many centuries leaven or leaven products such as bread the essence of Torah. Both days of by festive family meals. Both days of ago. It is celebrated by lighting a nine- instead to eat matzah - unleavened this festival follow the same rules and this festival have similar restrictions as branched candelabra on each night of bread during the Seder. The weeks regulations of Shabbat, when prayer Shabbat described above. the festival. Chanukah customs include leading up to Pesach involve intensive services are held and various forms of eating foods fried in oil such as latkes preparations.