Blog Post 21

1. The three functions of a synagogue are the following are House of Assembly, House of Study, and House of Prayer.

2. The Ark serves as the replacement for when the Torah is not used. The Holy ark also serves as the focal point while an individual is praying. Above the ark stands an eternal light that represents the eternal light of the Temple. The ark can be decorated in many ways and come in many different sizes, shapes, and materials. Also the Torah scrolls usually have a parakeet or curtain covering it. But ordinarily the Torah Scrolls are decorated with elaborate jewels and rhinestones The Ten Commandments are located below the Torah Scrolls

3. The rabbi is viewed not only as a spiritual leader but as a counselor, a role model and an educator. Rabbi literally means teacher.

-To become a rabbi one would usually train for about five years at seminaries such as Hebrew Union College  called yeshivot.

- Rabbi’s are different  because clergymen guide the members of the community while rabbi’s teach members of the community.

-A rabbi is viewed not only as a spiritual leader and role model and an educator.

 4. The nature of the Sabbath is a day of prayer spent in synagogues. But the nature of the Sabbath is to devote one day out of the entire week and focus on the more important things in life other than work and school primarily for one’s faith and observance. The Sabbath occurs on the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday.

 5. The Torah" refers to the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. But the word "torah" can also be used to refer to the entire Jewish bible. To Jews, there is no "Old Testament." The books that Christians call the New Testament are not part of Jewish scripture.The Talmud is the Oral Torah. There is a tradition explaining what the above scriptures mean and how to interpret them and apply the Laws.

6. Different branches of Judaism:

1.Orthodox: They believe God gave the whole Torah to Moses at Mt. Sinai,  Orthodox are sometimes called "modern" Orthodox

2. Reform: German rabbi Abraham Geiger suggested reforming Judaism by underplaying traditional beliefs, and have a greater focus instead on the acceptance and promotion of moral law and monotheism. These ideas eventually led to the start what is now referred to as  Reform Judaism

3.Conservative: Conservative Judaism believes that while sacred Jewish writings did come from God, there was a human component. Although Jewish law should be obeyed, it must adapt.

4. Zionist: While a few secular and some Orthodox Jews remain anti-Zionist, support for Israel is now overwhelming.

7. Hebrew was the language of the early Jews, but from 586 BC it started to be replaced by Aramaic.

8. Yiddish was the primary language of Ashkenazic Jews in the shtetl, found throughout eastern and central Europe.

9. Yiddish terms:

-Mazal Tov: "good luck/fortune" in Hebrew and has been incorporated into Yiddish, and is now used in English as well. It is often used in place of "congratulations."

-Shalom: Shalom means"peace." Peace is only one small part of the meaning. "Shalom" is used to both greet people and to bid them farewell, and it means much more than "peace, hello or goodbye.

-Mitzvah: a precept or commandment of the Jewish law.

10. Rites of Passage 

-Brit Milah (Bris): A part of Jewish birth is the ceremony of circumcision.Bar/Bat Mitzvah: From the age of 13 and a day onward, a Jew is counted as part of a minyan [the quorum required for public prayer], eligible to read Torah publicly, and obligated to fulfill the dictates of Jewish life.Jewish Marriage: Originally, a Jewish marriage was proposed in two stages: Kiddushin (betrothal) and Nisu'in (marriage). Through the Talmudic period, these two stages,  were acted one year apart; by the Middle Ages, they had been combined, as they are today. According to the Mishnah, a Jewish marriage is a legal contract which can be formed in three ways.

11. Holidays – Rosh Hoshanah- Rosh Hashanah occurs on the first and second days of Tishri. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means, literally, "head of the year" or "first of the year." Rosh Hashanah is commonly known as the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur- Many Jews who do not observe any other Jewish custom will refrain from work, fast and/or attend synagogue services on this day. Yom Kippur occurs on the 10th day of Tishri.Hanukah- Hanukah is Jewish Christmas, which mirrors many many of the Christmas customs, such as exchanging gift and various decoration. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan.

12.The idea that the "Sabbath" starts from Saturday.

 13. Their different branches of Judaism. 

 14. What is one aspect of Jewish tradition which is similar to a tradition in your life?

15. What is one aspect of Jewish tradition that is different from a tradition in your life?

One aspect of Jewish tradition that is different from my traditional way of life is their marriage system. It’s much more intricate than my traditional views of marriage.