The Ways in Which Shabbat is Observed in Jewish Homes and in the Synagogue
Shabbat, the Jewish holy day, begins at sunset on Friday night and
ends Saturday night when the first star appears. It usually lasts 25
hours. Jewish people observe Shabbat in many different ways.
On Shabbat, Jews are forbidden to work. This is because they believe
that on their holy day they should devote themselves entirely to
praying, worshipping God and studying the Torah. Rabbi Saadia Gaon
stated that Jews must not work on the Shabbat "to achieve rest from
the abundance of one's toil…"
All preparation, such as cooking and cleaning, must be completed prior
to Shabbat because the Torah forbids work on the Jewish holy day.
Exodus 20:10-11 states "God made the seventh day holy by resting after
making the world". As the Jewish week begins on Sunday, Shabbat is the
seventh day.
On the Friday night the mother lights a candle just before sunset to
mark the beginning of Shabbat. It is the mother that does this because
home is central to Judaism and it is traditionally she who looks after
it. This Shabbat tradition is derived from the Berachah of God "King
of the universe, who hast hallowed us by the commandments, and
commanded us to kindle the Sabbath lights."
Before the Shabbat meal, the father blesses the children. This is to
pray that they will grow up to follow the examples of noble men and
women of Jewish history. The father then recites the Kiddush. This is
a blessing to thank God for giving Jews Shabbat.
The family all wash their hands. This is an act of purification. They
gather around the table while the Father recites a blessing over the
two loaves of Challot. This is another blessing to thank God, this
time for "bringing bread out of the ground" when the Jews were in the
wilderness. There a two loaves of Challot to represent the extra food
that had to be gathered the day before Shabbat so that the Jews could
rest on their holy day.
The Jewish Holiday, Rosh Hashanah, is celebrated in the month of Tishre. On the first day of Tishre the blowing of the Shofar is sought to. The Shofar, better known as a Ram's horn, is symbolic piece that has been used at the beginning of all national events. For instance, occurrences at Mount Sinai, at the beginning of a war, or eve at the Advent of Peace.
only ever be a male rabbi, and all of the service will be read in
The Holocaust affected many individuals, but mainly the Jewish society; an individual may not realise how expansive the slaughtering of millions of Jews in the Holocaust was. In the book, And Every Single One Was Someone, the word “Jew” was repeated 4,800 times on a single page, and was concluded with a total of 6,000,000 words in the book! (Chernofsky) Not many people actually think about how big 6,000,000 people is, but this book gives a physical representation to how many innocent Jewish individuals were wrongfully killed in the Holocaust.
Hasidic Judaism is a branch of Orthodox Judaism established in Eastern Europe during the 1800’s that put spirituality and a connection with God through mysticism at the forefront of its beliefs. In order to understand Hasidic Judaism, one must understand that Judaism is not only a religion; it is also a philosophy and a way of life for the Jewish people. One of the oldest monotheistic religions, Judaism has evolved over the years since the time of the founding fathers. Like any culture or religion, however, Jews have never been without conflict or disagreement amongst its people. Schisms amongst Jews over long periods of time have led to a branching out of sects and Jewish institutions. What led to the separation of denominations within was a fundamental disagreement on the interpretation and implementation of Halakah (Jewish religious law). Before the 18th century there was little differentiation between sects of Judaism; Jewry was based on Talmudic and Halakhic study and knowledge. Constructed as an overly legalistic religion before the 18th century, the Hasidic movement popularized by Rabbi Israel Ben Eliezer sought to spread Judaism through the common man’s love of and devotion to God.
Shortly after Hitler's appointment as Reich Chancellor on January 30, 1933, the Reichstag (German parliament) began to institute a series of anti-Jewish decrees. Sections of these laws are quoted below:
Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. It is the
Orthodox Judaism is said to have begun in 1851 (OrthodoxJudaism). Orthodox Judaism is the practice of the traditional form of Judaism. They formed due to the reform movement that was changing the beliefs of the Jewish religion, and they wanted to keep the traditional beliefs (OrthodoxJuadism). Orthodox Judaism is the strictest form of Judaism (OrthodoxJuadism). They follow the Jewish laws very strongly (WhatO). The Jewish laws are rules about daily life. A source goes into detail by saying what these rules are, “what to do when you wake up in the morning, what you can and cannot eat, what you can and cannot wear, how to groom yourself, how to conduct business, how you can marry, how to observe the holidays and the Shabbat, and perhaps the most important, how to treat God, other people, and animals” (Rich). An example of some of the things that Orthodox Jews cannot eat is pork and shellfish. A source says, “How animals are slaughtered, prepared, cooked, and eaten. Food is kosher (permitted) and terefah (forbidden)” (Breuilly). Orthodox Judaism is a monotheistic religion which means they believe in one God. They believe that God will send a Messiah who will end all bad things ...
Saturday, November 30, 2013 marked the fourth night of Chanukah. It was also the day that my friend Brandon and I visited the Center for Jewish Life in Marlboro, N.J. According to the information I gathered from different online news articles, it is a fairly new reform Synagogue that opened its doors in another smaller location in 2004. The current site of the temple was the former Monmouth Worship Center. Rabbi Yossi Kanelsky, with the help of the members of the congregation, relocated to this 18,000 square foot building in 2011. The temple is currently located within a scenic community off of Route 79 surrounded by private homes. The Synagogue can accommodate more than 500 people and has 17 classrooms for various activities for both adults and children.
There are thousands of religions in this world, and of those, Hasidic Judaism is the most conservative. Throughout history Hasidism has not drifted from the rules and rituals of the 18th century. From the clothing, to the food, everything involved in Hasidic daily life is geared towards becoming closer to God. Around the world there are numerous Hasidic groups, and the largest population is in New York. Hasidic people live in small towns filled with members of the same group, and they all look towards their rebbe for guidance. The rebbe or the rabbi is the teacher of his followers and is responsible for inspiring his people. For Hasidic people everyday they must live by the 613 commandments of the Torah. Hasidic history, study, clothing, food, and communities prove that Hasidic Judaism is the most conservative and orthodox branch of religion for its time.
within 24 hours but not on a Shabbat or on the first day of any
The Jewish religious tradition of Rosh Hashanah celebrates the birthday of the world and a time of divine judgment. It is then followed by another holiday, called Yom Kippur ten days later. These two traditions are called the High Holidays. Rosh Hashanah encapsulates four major and interconnected themes, which are: The Jewish New Year, The Day of Shofar Blowing, The Day of Remembrance, and The Day of Judgment (Layton, 2014). This is the most significant time in the Jewish year, as it marks the chance for repentance and forgiveness in the eyes of God. During the High Holidays, Jews cleanse their soul and get the chance to start fresh with an unburdened conscience and the intention of doing better in the coming year (Layton, 2014).
rules were set by the Germans. Jews were confined to their homes for three days
Hinduism is a complex religion that has a variety of beliefs and traditions. In the nineteenth century, the British had to categorize the people living in the region of the Indus River for census purposes thus getting the name Hindus by foreigners. Today they have a preference of being labeled as "Sanatana Dharma (eternal religion)" (Pg 79)
Hinduism is easily the oldest major world religion that is still in use today. It has not only survived countless attacks but has also thrived and has changed little to none in the last 2500-3000 years. "The Aryans are said to have entered India through the fabled Khyber Pass, around 1500 BC. They intermingled with the local populace, and assimilated themselves into the social framework. The Aryans did not have a script, but they developed a rich tradition. They composed the hymns of the four vedas, the great philosophic poems that are at the heart of Hindu thought" (The Aryans and the Vedic Age, 2004, par. 2).