Judaism

Judaism is based on the Torah, the Hebrew term for the Five Books of Moses. The Torah is written in Hebrew. Jews pray in Hebrew and many of the terms that follow are in that language.

The founder of Judaism and of monotheistic religions was Abraham, whose traditional custom of hospitality and strong acknowledgement of G-d’s unity and power still form the foundations of Jewish practice. Abraham lived about five thousand years ago and his life is described in the Biblical book of Genesis.

All the information given in this article is from an orthodox viewpoint. There is a great range of practice and it is recommended that you ask the families concerned what their personal practices are.

Basic Beliefs

Jews believe in one G-d and in the “mitzvoth” or commandments (many more than 10) which it is their duty to fulfil in order to obey His will. Orthodox Jews believe that the Torah is a complete guide to everyday life. As every generation throws up different perspectives on old problems, there is a constant flow of questions and answers to guide Jewish people in keeping the Torah in today’s world. Rabbis with deep understanding of sacred texts keep the traditions alive through this dialogue.

There is respect for the religion and customs of countries in which Jews live. Jews do not try to convert others to their faith and they have a positive duty to care for other people, especially the weak and vulnerable of any faith or none.

The revelation of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai forms the basic guide to Jewish behaviour.

Jewish Teachings

Key Jewish values are “love your neighbour as yourself” (Leviticus, Chapter 19, verse 18) and “you shall love the Lord your G-d with all your heart” (Deuteronomy Chapter 6, verse 5). These sum up the two major categories into which Jewish laws are divided – the relationship with the Almighty and relationships to fellow man.

Worship and Prayer

The Synagogue is where communal Jewish prayer takes place, but many other prayer activities take place in the home. The Synagogue is rarely just a place for communal prayer but will often act as community centre, with activities which could range from mother and toddler groups to senior citizen discussion circles.

The Sabbath

Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, lasts from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. As these times change with the seasons, the Sabbath starts very early on winter afternoons.

During the Sabbath, Orthodox Jews do not travel in a vehicle, cook, and use electricity or write, amongst other things, to enable complete cessation of weekday work activities. This, therefore, would mean that a child would need to have reached home before the onset of Sabbath. 

The commencement of the Sabbath on Friday is accompanied by a moving ceremony of candle-lighting which became familiar to many through the musical “Fiddler on the Roof”.

The Shabbat meal includes the traditional two plaited loaves of bread, called “challot” (“ch” as in “loch”). These are reminiscent of the two portions of manna collected by the Israelites in the wilderness on the sixth day.

One of the main features of the Sabbath synagogue service is the reading of the Law. The Five Books of Moses (called the “Torah”, meaning “Law” in Hebrew) are divided into 54 sections and the whole cycle is read aloud during the course of a year.

The Sabbath ends with a ceremony called “Havdalah” which means separation, i.e. between Sabbath and the rest of the week.

The Jewish Calendar

There is a Jewish calendar with months which coincide with the new moon (i.e. a lunar calendar). The festivals are at fixed dates in the Jewish calendar but may vary from year to year in the regular (solar) calendar. Unlike other religions, the insertion of “leap months” ensures that festivals remain roughly in their season, for example, Passover must always be in the spring.

The year begins in the autumn with the solemn days of the New Year and the Day of Atonement.

There are many festivals during the autumn, concentrated into a month, usually September/October. Children may be absent from school for up to seven days, depending on which days of the week the festivals occur.

It is particularly disruptive for children and staff when the beginning of the school year is so broken up, and school children are usually keen to make up missed work. Any help they can be given, for instance, information sheets used on lessons they have missed will be greatly appreciated, as will understanding on the part of the teachers. People sometimes ask whether these festivals are negotiable. They are not and children cannot alter the timing. Nor does a Rabbi or anyone in authority have the power to change them.

Food

“Kosher” is the term applied to food products that comply with Jewish dietary laws. The publication “The Really Jewish Food Guide” gives a comprehensive listing of kosher products.

Meat products must be produced under rabbinical supervision. Other foods that need a “Kosher” certification are all processed foods, for example, biscuits and cheese. Even vegetarian foods contain non-kosher ingredients in food additives.

Festivals

Rosh Hashannah – the Jewish New Year (September)

This lasts for two days and children are absent from school. The shofar, a ram’s horn, is blow in synagogue as a call to repentance. Among the food customs associated with this festival are the eating of sweet foods, for example, apple dipped in honey, honey cake, symbolising a sweet new year, and the replacement of the traditional plaited challot by round ones, symbolising the cycle of the year.

Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement (September)

A day of fasting and prayer for forgiveness. Children are not expected to fast. Girls reach the age of responsibility to fast at the age of 12, boys at the age of 13. Younger children may opt to fast for part of the day. They will not attend school on Yom Kippur.

Succot – Tabernacles (September/October)

The Jewish harvest festival. Huts or tabernacles (“Succot” in Hebrew) are built, with flat roofs made of leaves or natural material through which you can see the sky. It is traditional to invite many guests. The Succah is often decorated with fruits as a symbol of the harvest; it also symbolises the fragility of man who depend on their safety not just on their own efforts but on the beneficence of the Almighty. The festival lasts for eight days and children may attend school on the “intermediate” days (third to seventh day inclusive).

Simchat Torah – Rejoicing in the Law (September/October)

A day to celebrate the completion of the reading of one cycle of the Law, the Five Books of Moses, and the beginning of a new cycle. It occurs immediately after Succot.

Chanukah – Festival of Lights (December/January)

An eight day festival when candles are lit every evening to commemorate the rededication of the Temple in 165 BCE after the oppression and desecration by the then Greek ruler of Judea, Antiochus Epiphanies. This is a family time and children enjoy playing traditional games, although it is a normal work day.

Purim – (February/March)

A day of commemoration of the victory of Queen Esther over the machinations of the wicked Haman against the Jewish people. It is celebrated by fancy dress, a “banquet” and the giving of gifts to neighbours and to the poor.

Pesach – Passover (March/April)

A week-long festival to remember the exodus from Egypt of the Hebrew slaves. The biblical story of Exodus is re-enacted in a family celebration at home called a “Seder”. A Seder service is held on the first two nights of Passover for Jews who live outside Israel.

The most well-known feature of this festival is the eating of unleavened bread, “Matzah”, and the absence of bread. No leavened food may be eaten. Children may be in school from the third to the six days of the festival. Passover often coincides with Easter and there may be school holidays.

Shavuot – Pentecost, the Festival of Weeks (May/June)

This festival celebrates the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The Ten Commandments are read aloud in the synagogues, which are decorated with flowers. It is traditional to study Torah all night; the traditional food is cheesecake.

Symbols

Sefer Torah – Book of the Law

The Book of the Law is a handwritten scroll in Hebrew containing the Five Books of Moses. The text has been fixed for two thousand years. It is treasured not only for its content but also for the precise detailed hand work involved in preparing it. It is covered with a decorated mantel and kept in a specially designed cupboard (“Ark”) at the front of the synagogue.

Mezuzah – Doorpost Scroll

The Mezuzah contains short handwritten sections from the Five Books of Moses. It is fixed to the upper right doorpost of every room in the Jewish home, school or building.

Tallit – Prayer Shawl

Men wear a prayer shawl for the morning service. It has four knotted fringes on its corners, which are a constant reminder to the wearer of the connection to the Torah and its mitzvoth.

For more information on the above and much more, visit the United Synagogue website – www.theus.org.uk.