Basic Beliefs and Basic Beliefs and Observances in JudaismObservances in Judaism

MitzvotMitzvot

Jewish observance is structured Jewish observance is structured around doing around doing mitzvotmitzvot – – commandmentscommandments

Mitzvot covers all areas of life, Mitzvot covers all areas of life, including religious obligations and including religious obligations and other kinds of ethical behaviorother kinds of ethical behavior

Examples of mitzvotExamples of mitzvot

Prayer:Prayer: Jews are obligated to pray Jews are obligated to pray certain prayers three times a day certain prayers three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening). The (morning, afternoon, and evening). The ShemaShema is the most important statement is the most important statement of Jewish belief. The of Jewish belief. The AmidahAmidah, a silent , a silent prayer in which someone might ask God prayer in which someone might ask God for certain things like health, wisdom, for certain things like health, wisdom, protection from enemies, and the protection from enemies, and the coming of the Messiah.coming of the Messiah.

Mitzvot continuedMitzvot continued

Tzedakah (charity): Tzedakah (charity): Jews are obligated Jews are obligated to give a certain percentage, generally at to give a certain percentage, generally at least 10-15% of their income, to tzedakahleast 10-15% of their income, to tzedakah

Kashrut (dietary laws):Kashrut (dietary laws): According to According to this law, only split-hooven animals that this law, only split-hooven animals that chew their cud, certain types of fowl (like chew their cud, certain types of fowl (like chicken, turkey, and duck), and fish with chicken, turkey, and duck), and fish with fins and scales are fins and scales are kosherkosher (proper to eat) (proper to eat)

Mitzvot continuedMitzvot continued

Shabbat (The Sabbath):Shabbat (The Sabbath): On On Shabbat, from sundown on Friday Shabbat, from sundown on Friday night until dark on Saturday night, night until dark on Saturday night, Jews set aside time to rest. Jews Jews set aside time to rest. Jews have special Shabbat meals. In have special Shabbat meals. In traditional observance of Shabbat, traditional observance of Shabbat, Jews refrain from cooking, shopping, Jews refrain from cooking, shopping, using electricity, and writing.using electricity, and writing.

Mitzvot ritesMitzvot rites BirthBirth

Baby Boys – circumcision at 8 days old to fulfill Baby Boys – circumcision at 8 days old to fulfill the commandment God gave Abrahamthe commandment God gave Abraham

Baby Girls – named for a revered deceased Baby Girls – named for a revered deceased family member family member

Bar Mitzvah & Bat MitzvahBar Mitzvah & Bat Mitzvah Boys (Bar Mitzvah) – 13 yrs + 1 day = “son of Boys (Bar Mitzvah) – 13 yrs + 1 day = “son of

the commandments”, responsible for observing the commandments”, responsible for observing all the mitzvots of Judaismall the mitzvots of Judaism

Girls (Bat Mitzvah) – 12 yrs + 1 day = “daughter Girls (Bat Mitzvah) – 12 yrs + 1 day = “daughter of the commandments”of the commandments”

Requires years of study to complete celebration Requires years of study to complete celebration in the synagogue – read from the Torah scroll, in the synagogue – read from the Torah scroll, reading a selection from the prophets, leading a reading a selection from the prophets, leading a portion of the service, and delivering a speech portion of the service, and delivering a speech called called d’var Torah d’var Torah (“word of Torah”) about the (“word of Torah”) about the scriptural readingsscriptural readings

MarriageMarriage Called Called kiddushin kiddushin (sanctification)(sanctification) Done publicly because the community is Done publicly because the community is

expected to help the couple live a life of loyalty expected to help the couple live a life of loyalty and devotion to God and Jewish traditionsand devotion to God and Jewish traditions

Before the wedding the bride and groom accept Before the wedding the bride and groom accept the Jewish marriage contract and agree to the Jewish marriage contract and agree to cherish, honor, and maintain each other cherish, honor, and maintain each other (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). Groom (physically, emotionally, and spiritually). Groom then places a veil over the bride’s face – then places a veil over the bride’s face – symbolic of tradition of modesty.symbolic of tradition of modesty.

Takes place under a Takes place under a chupahchupah (wedding canopy (wedding canopy representing the home the bride and groom will representing the home the bride and groom will create together)create together)

At the end of the ceremony, the groom breaks a At the end of the ceremony, the groom breaks a glass, recalling the destruction of the Temple glass, recalling the destruction of the Temple and reminding the couple of their responsibility and reminding the couple of their responsibility to help fix the imperfect world in which they liveto help fix the imperfect world in which they live

DeathDeath Since God created man from the earth, it Since God created man from the earth, it

should be returned to the earth as quickly and should be returned to the earth as quickly and naturally as possiblenaturally as possible

Do not permit cremation or embalmingDo not permit cremation or embalming Coffins are made entirely of woodCoffins are made entirely of wood Funerals take place within a day or two of deathFunerals take place within a day or two of death The body is carefully washed and dressed in The body is carefully washed and dressed in

plain linen garments by a special groupplain linen garments by a special group After the funeral, the family returns home for After the funeral, the family returns home for

shiva shiva (seven) and refers to the first seven days (seven) and refers to the first seven days following the funeralfollowing the funeral

Mourners are prohibited from excessive Mourners are prohibited from excessive grooming and pampering of the body. Mirrors grooming and pampering of the body. Mirrors are customarily are covered to allow the are customarily are covered to allow the mourner to focus on their grief. They aren’t mourner to focus on their grief. They aren’t allowed to leave their house; community allowed to leave their house; community members comes to comfort them by bringing members comes to comfort them by bringing them meals and saying prayers.them meals and saying prayers.

Significant Jewish HolidaysSignificant Jewish Holidays

Rosh HashanahRosh Hashanah – New Year – New Year Yom Kippur Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement – – Day of Atonement –

The most holy day of the year.The most holy day of the year. Chanukah (Hanukah) Chanukah (Hanukah) – The festival – The festival

of the rededication of the Temple – of the rededication of the Temple – The Festival of LightsThe Festival of Lights

Pesach (Passover)Pesach (Passover) – Exodus from – Exodus from EgyptEgypt