Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department Revision- Judaism Practices rabbi and a pulpit where sermons are delivered. Importance of the Synagogue The Ark (Aron Hakodesh)- this is This is the place where Jewish the holiest place in the Synagogue. people meet for prayer, worship and They believed that the original ark study. They believe that any prayer contained stone tablet s that God can only take place where there are gave to Moses at Sinai. In at least 10 adults. Synagogues, Jews are reminded of Synagogues are usually rectangular the original ark. It is at the front of shaped but there are no specific the Synagogue facing Jerusalem. rules about its size and decoration. There are usually steps up to the It is common for there to be a stain- Ark to remind them that God and glassed window representing the the Torah are more important and Star of David. sacred. The ark is only opened during The synagogue is the central point special prayers and when it’s read for life as a Jewish community- it is during services. where many rites of passages take Ever-Burning Light (Ner Tamid)- place. This symbolises God’s presence and a It is important as a place of study reminder of the Menorah that was e.g. it is where a young boy/girl will lit every night in the Temple. learn Hebrew and study the Torah in Reading Platform (bimah)- This is a preparation for their bar/bat raised platform which is usually in mitzvahs. the very centre- it is used for Questions: reading from the Torah and becomes the focus of worship. 1. What is a minyan? 2. Why is the Star of David important? Links to Scripture and Teaching 3. Why are there no images of God? Exodus 40: 21- Moses puts the ark What commandment would into the tabernacle and seals it off representing God break? with a curtain as God had 4. Why are the names ‘shul’ or temple’ commanded him. also used to refer to a synagogue? Questions 5. Give examples of the rites of passages that happen in Judaism. 1. What is kept in the ark? 2. What was written on the stones God Interior Features of the Synagogue gave to Moses? Prayer Hall- The seats usually face 3. Why is it important that the towards the bimah (where the Torah Synagogue face Jerusalem? is read). One side has a focal point Worship in Orthodox and Reform of the ark. There is a chair for the Synagogues Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department Orthodox- The Tallit is a prayer shawl with long o The person leading the service tassels at each corner to remind will have their back to the them that they are obeying God’s congregation and face the ark. word when they wear it. o The service is conducted in The tefillin are a pair of black Hebrew and singing is leather boxes that hold passages of unaccompanied. scripture. One is fastened to the o Men and women sit separately centre of the forehead and the so that a greater connection other is wound around the upper arm with God can be in line with the heart. This is to achieved. remind them that their o Rabbis are all male. concentration should be on God and o Men cover their head their prayers come from the heart. with a kippah as a sign Format of Services- prayer is of respect to God. important as it helps to build a Reform- relationship with God. In Orthodox o They may not hold daily Synagogues prayer is held every services but only celebrate morning, afternoon, and evening. Shabbat and festivals. These prayers are taken from a book o Men and women sit together. called the Siddur. The opening o Women can perform all rituals prayer is a series of psalms and that a man can e.g. being a prayers giving thanks to God. The cantor or being part of the Shema is also said. minyan. Amidah- this is the ‘standing prayer’ o Services are conducted in and is made up of 19 blessings. both Hebrew and the language o The first 3 praise God and of their country. inspire the worshipper to ask for mercy. Questions o The middle 13 blessings are 1. What are Orthodox Jews? What do prayers that ask for God’s they believe? help-6 personal requests, 6 2. What are Reformed Jews? What do requests for the community they believe? and a final prayer that God 3. What is a cantor? accepts them. 4. What is the minyan? o The final 3 blessings thank Daily Services and Prayer God for the opportunity to serve him and prayer for Tallit and Tefillin- During prayer peace, goodness, kindness and Orthodox men will wear these items compassion. and in Reform Judaism some women will wear these as well. Links to Scripture and Teaching Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department Exodus 13:9- it shall be a sign on your hand commandments to remember and and forehead to remind you that the observe the Sabbath. teaching of the Lord is in your mouth. Two loaves of challah bread and grape juice are placed on the table. Questions: The wine is to symbolise joy and 1. Why is prayer so important? celebration. The bread symbolises Shabbat in the Synagogue the portions of manna that God provided for the Israelites in the Shabbat is the day of rest and is wilderness. seen as a gift from God. Celebrating Lighting the Candles- a female the Sabbath is a reminder of the family member lights the candles. Covenant made between God and the Once they are lit she welcomes the Jewish people. Sabbath by waving her hands around Services- On the Friday night there the candles. is a brief service. At the end of the Friday Meal- after the Friday service the prayer leader will take a evening service the head of the cup of wine and recite a blessing household blesses the children and (Kiddush) to thank God for the recites the Kiddush. Each family Sabbath. There is a longer service member must wash their hands on the Saturday morning where the before eating. The bread is cut and Torah is read. dipped in salt and passed around. Torah- On Saturday morning the ark Stories from the scripture are told is opened and the congregation stand to the children after each course. to remember how the Jewish people Saturday- After the morning service stood at the bottom of Mount Sinai the family enjoy a meal in their when Moses returned with the 10 home. The end of Shabbat is marked commandments. by the Havdalah service. Links to scripture and teaching Questions: Exodus 20: 8-10- 10 commandments 1. Which commandments deal with the teaches to keep the Sabbath holy. Sabbath? Questions 2. What is said as the Sabbath is welcomed? 1. How does the Sabbath link to the 3. What is the Kiddush? creation story? 2. What is the ark? Worship in the Home Shabbat in the Home Everyday brings the opportunity to worship God. Prayers are said three Shabbat is seen as a special event- times a day either at home or in the the best cutlery is used and at least Synagogue. The mezuzah is a small two candles to represent the two Ms Caden St Michael’s Catholic College R.E. Department box by the door- this contains a Brit Milah- this is the ceremony of small part of the Torah. circumcision. Usually a close friend Tenakh- this is the written law. It places the baby on an empty chair to contains the Torah (the five books symbolise the Prophet Elijah. The of Moses), Nevi’im (writings from baby will be place on the knee of the the Prophets that trace Jewish person who is chosen to be the history and expand on the laws in ‘companion of the child’. the Torah and Ketuvim (these are a Links to Scripture and Teaching collection of poetry, stories, advice and historical accounts). Genesis 1:28- God blessed the Adam Talmud- this is the oral law. These and Eve and told them to multiply. are the teachings on how to Genesis 17: 11-14- God commands interpret the Torah and was passed Abraham and his descendants to down verbally through the circumcise all the men as a sign of generations. This was then put into their covenant. one document in 200BC and is called Questions the Mishnah. The Mishnah has 6 sections; dietary laws, marriage and 1. Why are rituals important in Jewish divorce and the laws of Shabbat. family life? 2. What are the covenants that God Questions and Abraham made? 1. Why are these writings so important Bar/Bat Mitzvah to Jewish people? 2. How are these writings used This happens when a Jewish girl differently by Reform and Orthodox reaches 12 and a Jewish boy reaches Jews? 13. 3. What does the mezuzah remind Bar Mitzvah- the boy is called to Jewish people of? read from the Torah. Many Synagogues will hold classes to help Ceremonies Associated with Birth prepare boys for the occasion. He Naming Ceremony- Boys are named 8 will wear a tallit for the first time, says after their birth when they are lead part of the prayer/service and circumcised. A girl’s name is make a short speech. It is common announced by her father to the to have celebrations after this. Synagogue one month after her Bat Mitzvah- Only reform Jews will birth.