Judaism

HISTORY.

Judaism has been in existence for over five and a half thousand years.
Abraham was the first Jew after G-d revealed himself to him. There are around 13 million Jews in the world, 6 million in Israel and 300,000 in the UK.

The term Jewish can mean many different things. It is an ethnic and cultural, as well as religious label. In the British Jewish community there are many different groups, degrees of religious observance and a wide spectrum of belief. Some Jews are secular and have no religious beliefs and requirements.

The land of Israel is considered a Jewish homeland.

BELIEFS.

Religious Jews believe and worship one G-d.
G-d cannot be represented in any shape or form and is know only through personal relationship.

G-d is said to be merciful and just; it is humankind’s purpose on earth to serve G-d, live justly, perform good deeds and to study.

PRACTICE.

Jews practice the worship of G-d, carrying out the Ten Commandments and charity and tolerance towards fellow human beings.

Orthodox Jews follow a traditional interpretation of the torah and are usually more observant of religious and dietary laws than non-Orthodox Jews (including liberal, progressive and reform) who seek a modern Jewish interpretation of the ancient laws. The torah or law is way of life and it is inaccurate to view it as a set of legalistic restrictions.

SACRED TEXTS.

The holy books are what Christians refer to as the Old Testament of the Bible. The most important are the first five books, known as the Torah or Pentateuch – the Five Books of Moses and are know as the Written Law. The Torah can be read in book form and in the synagogue is written as a scroll, made out of leather parchment. This, the word of G-d, is the most holy object to be found there.

The Oral Law is a detailed commentary on the Written Law by distinguished Rabbis and has been compiled over centuries.

LANGUAGE.

Jews pray in Hebrew and speak the language of the country where they were born and live.

SABBATH, FESTIVALS AND FASTS.

The Jewish calendar is dictated by the lunar cycle.

The Sabbath (Shabbat) is of great importance to most Jews. It is a “day of rest” centred around synagogue services, studying texts, and the family. Sabbath begins before nightfall on Friday afternoon and ends with the sighting of three stars on Saturday night. On the Sabbath work is prohibited; work includes writing, travelling, switching on lights and electrical appliances, cooking, cleaning and handling money. The food served on Shabbat is as much a celebration of the day as going to the synagogue.

There are festivals throughout the year that have both a spiritual and historic significance.
These are:

Rosh Hashana – The New Year.
The beginning of the High Holy Days, commemorating the creation of man, and the completion of the creation of the world. At this time until the end of the Day of Atonement, Jews reflect on their deeds during the past year and through prayer, penitence and charity attempt to attain forgiveness for wrongdoings.

Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement.
A 25-hour fast day to focus on the request to the Almighty for forgiveness.

Succot.
The festival of Tabernacles, during which meals are taken in a temporary booth erected for the purpose, reminding Jews of the time when they lived in the desert before they reached the Promised Land. The festival also marks the autumn harvest and the last day of it celebrates the annual completion of the reading from the Torah scroll.

Chanukah.
Festival of Lights, which lasts for eight days commemorating the overthrow of the Greeks and rededication of the Temple by the Hasmoneans. On the first night one candle is lit in the eight-branched menorah (candelabra) and each subsequent night one more is added until all eight are lit.

New Year for Trees.
A minor festival to mark the end of the winter and the beginning of growth in trees and plants, celebrated by the custom of eating 15 fruits.

Purim.
Festival of Lots, commemorating the salvation of the Jews of Persia by Queen Esther and Mordechai from annihilation as told in the Book of Esther, which is read on this day.

Passover.
An eight-day festival, which commemorates the exodus of the Jews from Egypt. Marked by the eating of unleavened bread (matza) and leaven free food. A special service (seder) is held at home to tell the story of the miraculous events which led to the Jews leaving Egypt.

Yom Ha’atzmaut – Independence Day.
The celebration of the birth of the State of Israel in 1948.

Shavuout.
A celebration of the anniversary of the narration of the 10 Commandments. An early harvest festival, it is traditionally celebrated with the eating of dairy foods.

Fast of Tammuz.
A fast day (from dawn to dark) held to mark the initial breaches in the outer walls of the city of Jerusalem on two separate occasions. Three weeks later come the …

Feast of Av.
A full fast (25 hours), which commemorates the Destruction of the two Temples on the same day in 586 BCE and 70 CE.

DRESS.
Men are required to cove their heads when praying, usually with a skullcap or hat.
Jewish women are required to dress modestly. Orthodox women will often have their hair covered.

DIET.
The dietary Laws are laid down in the Torah and require Hews to only eat animals which eat grass and have a cloven hoof, fish that have both fins and scales, poultry which are not birds of prey and grains, fruits and vegetables. The animals and birds have to be killed in a specific way and then prepared so that as much of the blood has been removed, as blood is forbidden to Jews. Processed good has to be prepared in a special way according to Jewish Law (kosher) and meat and milk products cannot be eaten together.

RITES OF PASSAGE.

Birth.
Boys are given their name 8 days after birth, if the baby is well and over 5 lbs in weight. Circumcision, which is a sign of the Covenant made between Abraham and G-d, is performed by a person trained to do this according to Jewish Law.
There is no circumcision for girls, who are given their name in the synagogue on the first Sabbath after their birth.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
The age of 13 for boys and 12 for girls, is seen to be a spiritual ‘coming of age’ when young people can begin to have some spiritual responsibility and accountability.
This is marked in the synagogue and accompanied by a celebration party.

Marriage.
Marriage is an important milestone for Jews, who are required to marry other Jews. For the very Orthodox, arranged introductions are desirable as contact between unmarried boys and girls is not appropriate.
The marriage ceremony takes place beneath a wedding canopy and the bridegroom gives his wife a ring and promises to look after her according to the laws of Moses. The purpose of marriage is to enable two people who have love, friendship and support between them to create a Jewish home and family.
Sex before marriage is forbidden and within marriage there are specific laws of family purity.

Dying, Death and Burial.
A dying person should not be left alone and families may wish to sit with their relatives during the last days or hours. The patient may wish to recite special Psalms or prayers, including a confession.

Once death has taken place, burial must take place as quickly as possible. The body is washed and prepared for burial by members of the Jewish Burial Society – women attend females and men attend males. Everyone is buried wearing the same white burial garments and in a simple wood coffin with no accessories. Burial takes place in a Jewish cemetery. Jewish law forbids cremation.
Immediate family members have to cut a garment that they are wearing.
After the funeral, the close family returns home and stays there for a week, sitting on low chairs and not having to be concerned with external affairs in order to begin the grieving process. Other family members and the community attend to their needs and pay consolation visits. Memorial Prayers are said in the home.

Local Places of Worship.

The Jewish place of worship is called a synagogue - a Greek word meaning a gathering.
The nearest synagogues in the West Midlands are in Birmingham. Regular services are held in the three Orthodox* and one Progressive* Synagogues.
Further information about the West Midlands Jewish Community can be found on the internet at www.brijnet.org/birmingham or by contacting 0121 643 2688.

* A brief description of the difference between Orthodox and Progressive Judaism is a difference in fundamental belief and resulting practice.
Orthodox Judaism believes that all the Torah, which encompasses the 613 positive and negative commandments to be observed by Jews, was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai and cannot be changed
Progressive Judaism does not accept this and believes that the laws must be adapted to the times we live in.