Beliefs
Jewish people believe that:
- God exists
- God is one and unique
- God is spiritual not physical
- God is eternal
- Prayer is dedicated to God alone and no other
- The words of the prophets are true
- Moses’ prophecies are true, and Moses was the greatest of all prophets
- The written Torah and the Oral Torah were given to Moses by God
- There will be no other Torah
- God will reward the good and punish the wicked.
- The dead will be resurrected
- God knows the thoughts and deeds of people.
- The messiah will come
Myths and Sacred stories
Myths and stories of Jews are most likely found in the Torah. Some of the myths and stories include two creation stories. One story tells us how God created the earth from darkness which generated the universe, planets, land and people over a certain time. The other story tells us how God created the earth over 6,000 years ago when God added water to a pre-existing desert to make clay from which the land and the people were moulded and created. It is believed that God crated Adam first before creating Eve from one of Adam’s ribs. Theses stories are sacred and are believed to have been given to the prophet Moses on Mount Sinai
Sacred texts and other religious writtings
Torah
The Torah refers to:
- The five books of Moses, which are traditionally associated with the covenant at Mount Sinai
- The handwritten parchment scroll containing 5 books which are read in a synagogue
- Many countries of accumulated rules and customs that guide and mould jewish life
- The history of the jewish people and all the lessons that Jews learn from their history
Some Jews believe that the whole of Torah was shown to moses at Mt Sinai and passed down through teachers to pupils. Other believe that the Torah is the gradual revelation of God’s will for the jewish people throughout history.
Rituals
Rituals: The rituals in the Jewish religion are:
Shabbat: (Sabbath) The Jewish Sabbath begins on the Friday evening at sunset and finishes on the Saturday evening. This recollects both the 7th day God had to rest after creating the world. The Sabbath is celebrated with the lighting of candles, having a family meal and talking about the week gone by along with the service at the synagogue.
Passover: This particular festival remembers how God freed the Hebrews from their enslavement in Egypt. Passover is celebrated with a meal that recounts the events of their freedom. They hold a service at the family table and they sing songs, do storytelling
Life Rituals: Focusing on family, to mark a significant moment in their lives, Boys would have a Bar-mitzvah and girls would have a Bat-mitzvah.
A Bar- mitzvah, meaning “son of commandment” is compulsory in all Jewish males, it is a time where the males are taking responsibility for their own actions after the age of 13, where they are considered as adults. The Rabbi would prepare him with how to read the bar-mitzvah speech and read from the Torah.
At weddings the bride and groom would stand under a canopy called a “chuppah”.
Shabbat: (Sabbath) The Jewish Sabbath begins on the Friday evening at sunset and finishes on the Saturday evening. This recollects both the 7th day God had to rest after creating the world. The Sabbath is celebrated with the lighting of candles, having a family meal and talking about the week gone by along with the service at the synagogue.
Passover: This particular festival remembers how God freed the Hebrews from their enslavement in Egypt. Passover is celebrated with a meal that recounts the events of their freedom. They hold a service at the family table and they sing songs, do storytelling
Life Rituals: Focusing on family, to mark a significant moment in their lives, Boys would have a Bar-mitzvah and girls would have a Bat-mitzvah.
A Bar- mitzvah, meaning “son of commandment” is compulsory in all Jewish males, it is a time where the males are taking responsibility for their own actions after the age of 13, where they are considered as adults. The Rabbi would prepare him with how to read the bar-mitzvah speech and read from the Torah.
At weddings the bride and groom would stand under a canopy called a “chuppah”.
Symbols
Tefillin: Sacred pouches that protect the Torah. They wrap this around their arm which symbolises their commitment to God and the covenant.
Menorah: It is the oldest symbol in Judaism. In a synagogue it is lit at night and cleaned in the morning with fresh candles and olive oil. It is a symbol of the nation of Israel and a reminder to follow the commandment to be the light to guide the nati
Yarmulke: It is a type of Jewish dress. It covers their head therefore representing that they are to follow God and that God is always above them. It is common for males to wear this however it is not mandatory.
Ethical principles or oral written codes of behaviour
There is a certain ritual and moral conduct for Ethical principles and written codes of behaviour, these include:
- I am the Lord your God, You shall have no other gods before me
- You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth
- You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God
- Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy
- You shall not murder
- You shall not steal
- You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, his house, his slave, ox or donkey or anything that belongs to him.
- Honour your father and mother
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour
religious experience and spirituality
Within Synagogues the Jews are separated by gender. Therefore women go into one room and the men in the other.
The Shavuot is a certain religious experience. This is when the Jews celebrate the handing over of the Torah for God to Moses. Jews usually eat dairy products for two days straight. Another religious experience is passover. Passover is usually celebrated for about 8 days and it is a time when they remember Exodus from Jesus.
The Shavuot is a certain religious experience. This is when the Jews celebrate the handing over of the Torah for God to Moses. Jews usually eat dairy products for two days straight. Another religious experience is passover. Passover is usually celebrated for about 8 days and it is a time when they remember Exodus from Jesus.
Social Structure
The ones who lead the service at the Synagogue is the Rabbi, they are teachers in the Jewish History and traditions
Chazans are the people who lead the Jewish congregations in prayer
Gabbais are volunteers who assist in reading the Torah
Kohien is believed to be the descendant of Aaron and is considered as the original high priest.
Levi - Descendants of biblical levites
Rebbe- leader of chasidic community
Tzaddik - person with divine power
Chazans are the people who lead the Jewish congregations in prayer
Gabbais are volunteers who assist in reading the Torah
Kohien is believed to be the descendant of Aaron and is considered as the original high priest.
Levi - Descendants of biblical levites
Rebbe- leader of chasidic community
Tzaddik - person with divine power