Transcript Judaism - World Cultures

Judaism
World Cultures
Basics of the Faith
• First monotheistic religion
• Basically revolves around a system of ethics 
seeks to find God’s will in all things.
• Believes pain is the result of letting things come
between you and God.
• Sacred text: Torah (Old Testament).
• Holy day (Sabbath): Friday at sundown to
Saturday at Sundown
• Religious teacher: Rabbi
Life Stages in Judaism
Birth
• Boys: brit (circumcision) within 8 days of birth
– Initiation into the Jewish community
– Receives Jewish name
• Girls
– Traditionally naming occurs within a month during a
Sabbath service when her father is called to read
from the Torah
– In liberal groups, the girl receives a ceremony similar
to a brit
• Wine is touched to her lips
Adolescence
• Boys: Bar Mitzvah at 13
– Public acknowledgement of his status as an adult
– Obligated to follow all commandments that apply to
adults
– Reads from Torah and leads prayer
– Usually includes a feast/ party
• Girls: adult at 12
– In liberal groups, a Bat Mitzvah may occur
– Otherwise, she is simply now officially obligated to
fulfill adult duties
Marriage
• Can’t occur on a Sabbath or on holidays
• Weddings:
– Takes place under a canopy called a huppah
– A rabbi or cantor leads the ceremony
– Couple signs a marriage contract
– Rabbi gives seven blessings
– Couple exchanges vows and rings
• Traditionally, husband may not receive ring
– Groom breaks glass and crowd shouts “Mazel
tov!”
• Symbolizes destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
Death
• Deceased is ritually cleansed and dressed in
white shrouds
• Traditionally buried in a wooden casket to return
their remains to the earth
• Should be buried within a day
– Cremation is not usually allowed
– Buried in a Jewish cemetery
• Mourners may wear special cut ribbons or
clothing to symbolize loss
• Psalms read at funeral and earth is placed on
coffin by mourners with their hands
Death
• After the funeral, shivah (time of mourning)
is held for a week.
– Community cares for mourners
– Mourners don’t work or leave home.
• Yahrzeit: anniversary of the death
– Family members light a special candle
– Often visit the grave site
Objects in Jewish Life
• Kippah (yarmulke)
skull cap worn by
some males to
indicate devotion to
God
Objects in Judaism
• Tallit 
prayer shawl
with tzitzit
(fringes)
attached to
the corners
– Some Jews
wear a
special small
tallit daily.
• Tefillin  small
leather boxes with
straps that are tied
to the arms or
forehead. Contains
verses from the
Torah.
• Mezuzah  plaque attached
to the right side of doorways.
Has verses from the Torah
inscribed on parchment
inside of the plaque.
• Star of David  six pointed
star. Honors King David who
had this symbol on his shield.
Dietary Laws
• Kosher (kashrut) refers to the dietary laws
that many Jews follow
– Rules for the slaughter of animals
– Certain animals not permitted (pigs)
– Dairy and meat can’t be eaten at the same
time.
Important Jewish Holidays
Rosh Hashanah
• Marks the new year in the Jewish religious
calendar.
• A shofar (ram’s horn) is blown to awaken
people to repentance.
• Marks the beginning of the holiest time of
year for Jews (which ends with Yom
Kippur).
Yom Kippur
• The Day of Atonement
• The holiest day of the Jewish calendar
• Devoted to fasting, meditation, prayer,
repentance, and reconciliation.
Hanukkah
• Not really a major holiday in the Jewish
faith.
• Eight days of celebration that
commemorate Jerusalem's liberation from
the Syrians.
• Dreydel  a game played with a top
Passover
• Celebrates liberation from Egypt and the
“passing-over” of Jewish first-born males
from the Angel of Death sent by God.
– Special meal is served which can include no
leaven.