Transcript Jewish Rituals

Jewish Rituals
Like other religions, Judaism has
its own set of beliefs and rituals.
There are certain items that go
along with being Jewish.
A Jewish house of worship is called
a temple or synagogue.
Often you will see Jewish men
wearing a small circle of material
on their heads.
This is called a yarmulke, or a
kippah in Hebrew.
Jewish men (and some women nowadays)
wear this all the time (or at least in
synagogue) because of a Biblical
commandment to keep one’s head covered.
Jewish men (and sometimes women)
will also wear a prayer shawl, called a
tallis.
This is because there is a Biblical commandment
to wear fringes on the edges of one’s square
garment. Because garments aren’t really square
anymore, now people wear a tallis instead.
People usually only wear it in
synagogue, but Orthodox Jewish
men wear a tallis all the time.
Most if not all Jews also mark their
doors with something called a
mezuzah.
Inside a mezuzah is a tiny scroll on
which are written Torah verses.
Again, Jews do this because of a Biblical
commandment to mark one’s doorposts as a
reminder of God’s word. It is also considered a
talisman against bad luck.
Other Jewish symbols include something called
a chai. The word chai means “life” in Hebrew.
Some Jews (like Ms. Arenson) wear it as a sign of
their religion. Life is an important concept in
Judaism.
Often when Jews toast, they say
“L’chaim! To life!”
Jewish rituals include everyday things
like prayer as well as special occasions
like at birth or weddings.
Daily/weekly rituals include daily
prayer, either at the synagogue or at
home.
In Orthodox Judaism, men are
supposed to say a prayer every
morning that says, “Thank God for not
making me a woman.”
The prayer that most Jews say every
day (or at least on holidays) is the
Shema: “Hear oh Israel, the Lord our
God, the Lord is one.”
Friday night into Saturday is the Jewish
sabbath, called “Shabbat,” where the
word sabbath comes from.
On Shabbat, Jewish families light candles,
bless wine and bread, and have a family
meal. Sometimes they go to synagogue.
On Shabbat, Jews eat a special kind of
bread, called challah.
Jews also have life cycle rituals to mark
the major events throughout life.
Eight days after a baby boy is born, he
has a bris, or circumcision.
This is to mark Abraham’s covenant with God.
Traditionally there is no equivalent ceremony for girls,
so many families now have a naming ceremony for a
daughter or have a baby boy circumcised in the
hospital and have a naming ceremony either way.
When a Jewish child turns thirteen, he or she
has a bar or bat mitzvah. This means the child
has symbolically reached adulthood.
Children learn Hebrew starting at about the
same time they start school and then, at age 13,
chant a portion of the Torah in front of their
congregation.
This is usually followed by a gigantic
party.
The next Jewish ritual is marriage.
Jews are married underneath a chuppah, or wedding
canopy. The chuppah is held by four friends. It
symbolizes the couple’s new home and the friends and
family who will be supporting it.
When the ceremony is over, the groom breaks a glass
under his foot. Some say this is to ward off bad luck
and scare off demons, some say it is a reminder of the
destruction of the Temple, and some say it is to show
that even at happy moments, there is always a little
sadness.
The final Jewish life cycle event is
death.
Jews observe a seven day period of
mourning called shiva.
During shiva Jews do not bathe, they cover all
the mirrors, and they sit on wooden boxes
rather than chairs or sofas. This is because
mourning is uncomfortable and worldly
pleasures need to be set aside during this time.
Family and friends visit during this time. The
mourners do not go out. Those visiting do not
bring flowers but instead bring food because the
family cannot be expected to cook for
themselves.
After a week passes, the family takes a walk
around the block to symbolize their reentry into
the world. After a year, the headstone
(footstone, actually) is revealed in a special
ceremony.
Another Jewish tradition around mourning
is that when one visits a grave, one does
not bring flowers. Instead one leaves a rock
on the grave.
It’s uncertain where this ritual comes from, but
some people say it’s to identify with the grave or
to continue the mitzvah (or kindness) or erecting
a gravestone.
Next we will learn about Jewish
holidays!