Variants

What is a variant?

Two or more people or things that have slight differences in opinions. The three major variants or streams in Judaism are Conservative, Orthodox and Reform (Liberal or Progressive)

Orthodox

• Men and women sit separately in Orthodox synagogues and women do not participate in some of the rituals. 
• Synagogues are established by groups of Jews who raise their own funds and construct their own buildings.
• The Biblical law may be developed and interpreted only by processes of reasoning which maintain respect for its Divine origin.

• Orthodox is the most traditional out of the three; they speak Hebrew, have strict Kosher laws, make no changes to the Torah and no marriages are allowed outside their religion.

 Conservative

• Men and women sit together and women participate fully in the synagogue services, prayers and rituals.
• Follows the traditional liturgy, and it is mainly in Hebrew and similar to Orthodox services.
• Allows the use of electrical appliances on the Sabbath and to drive to the synagogue by car. It also permits the ordination of women rabbis.
• Laws can be changed

Progressive

• Progressive Jews regard the “sacred heritage” of the Torah as evolving and adapting over the centuries and continuing to do so.
• the full equality of women and the acceptance of all regardless of sexual orientation
• Relatively new 19^th century religion
• Allowed to marry with other religions

Secular Jews

 

Secular Jews don't describe themselves as religious believers, but still identify as part of the Jewis people and participate in Judaism.

 

http://www.ijs.org.au/variants-within-Judaism/default.aspx

• Relaxed practise and fits in society-Progressive
• Individual praying and occasional conversation in service-Progressive
• Traditional beliefs but addressing contemporary needs-Conservative
• Men and women sit separately in the synagogue-Orthodox
• Men and women sit together and participate fully in service, prayers and rituals-Conservative and Progressive
• Women do not practise in all rituals-Orthodox
• English used for part of service-Progressive
• Strict dress and dietary law-Orthodox
• They always worship in Hebrew-Orthodox
• Women can lead services and become Rabbis-Progressive

Being Jewish in the 21st century

 

Where are Jewish religious services held?

A Synagogue

What time do prayers begin at Antons school?

7:15am

For how many years had Judaism existed as a religion?

Around three and a half thousand years

How many Gods did Abraham believe in?

One.

What are Mitzvoth?

The Ten Commandments

What did Moses do?

He led the Israelites to freedom from slavery and led them across the Red Sea which he parted with Gods help. He also recieved the Ten Commandments and he wrote the Torah.

What is the Torah?
The law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

What is a Jewish religious leader called?
A rabbi.

When did Abraham leave the area now known as Iraq to settle in the area known as Palestine or Israel?
1800 B.C

What does Shabbat mean?
It is a ritual meaning rest.

How long does Shabbat last for?
Sundown on Friday through to nightfall on Sunday.

What is the purpose of blowing the ram's horn?
To remind people that change is coming.

What is Yom Kippur?
It is the most holy day of atonement for people to acknowledge their sins.

What does the festival of Hannukah celebrate?
It is the festival of lights and celebrates the Jewish people gaining freedom.

Which city did King David pronounce the capital for the Jews?
Jerusalem

What is the Western Wall?

The remains of a temple built by King David's son Solomon which many Jews make a pilgrimage to and store prayers in the cracks of the wall.

What does Bat Mitzvah mean?

It is a coming of age ceremony for Jewish people when they reach the age of twelve or thirteen to celebrate the passing from childhood to adolescence. Bat if for girls and Bar is for boys.

Kosher Menu

Breakfast

Kosher Cottage Cheese Pancakes (Dairy) click here

OR

Cheese Blintzes (Dairy) click here

Lunch

Kosher Chicken Turkey Soup (Meat) click here

OR
Moroccan Lemon Vegetable Salad (Parve) click here

Dinner

3 kinds of Falafel in pita with tahina and vegetables

Moroccan stewed vegetables

OR

Pizza Borekas (Dairy) click here

 Dessert

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream (parve) click here
OR
Homemade Crepes (Pareve) click here

This is a recipe for traditional Challah bread which is usually served on the Sabbath or special holidays.

Dough


5 pounds sifted all-purpose flour
2 ounces fresh yeast
2 tablespoons coarse salt
4 1/4 cups warm water (add an additional 1/4 cup for softer dough) 3/4 cup oil
1 1/3 cups sugar


5 egg yolks
Dissolve the yeast in 1 cup of warm water and add 1 tablespoon of sugar. Stir. When bubbles rise, the yeast has activated. In your mixer, combine the salt, 2/3 of the flour, oil, sugar, yolks, water and the activated yeast last. Set the machine on medium for 12 minutes. When you see the dough begin to form, add the remaining flour into the mixer and continue mixing.

Transfer the dough to a very large well-greased bowl, cover with plastic and allow to rise in a warm spot for 2 to 3 hours or until double in bulk. (Optional: punch dough down after 1 hour and let rise again)
Separate the challah and make a blessing. Form the dough into a braid or whatever shape your family has traditionally used.

Six-Braided Challah Divide the dough into 4 parts to make 3 large challahs and 6 small challah rolls. To make a six-braided challah, divide one large part into 6 small sections. Ro

ll each section out to a 12 inch strand. Connect the strands on top and place two strands to the right, two to the center and two to the left. Pull the center left strand up and the center right remains down. Grab the inner center right strand and the inner left strand and pull the outer left strand under. Pull the center left strand up and the center right strand down and then grab the center right strand and the inner right and pull the outer right strand under. Pull the center left strand down and the center right strand up and grab the inner center left and the inner left and pull the outer left strand under. Repeat "down and up and under" til you reach the end. Then take your six strands and tuck them neatly under the challah.

Three-Braided Challah Divide a large piece of dough into 4 parts. From 3 parts roll out three 12 inch strands. Divide the fourth part into 3 and roll out three small strands.

Braid the large strands as if braiding hair until you form your challah. Then braid the smaller strands into a mini challah. Place the mini on top of the larger challah.

After you have formed your challahs allow them to rise for 20 minutes in greased baking dishes. Paint the challahs with beaten egg yolks and sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for the first 15 minutes then, reduce to 350 degrees for another 30 to 45 minutes.

Kosher

Kosher=Food which fits the Jewish dietary requirements and Jews are allowed to eat

Treyfah=Food which Jews are not allowed to eat

In Leviticus, it says

• All plants are Kosher, but not all animals, birds or fish are
• Animals must also be killed in a special manner and have all the blood removed before the meat can be eaten by Jews.

How are animals killed?

• Jews may only eat animals and birds that have been killed by Shechitah.
• Shechitah is killing the animals by slitting the throat with a very sharp knife.
• This had been shown to be painless to the animals, as causing pain to living things is against Jewish Law
• The theory is that the sharpe knife cuts the carotid so that the animal loses consciousness before they are able to feel pain.

All vegetables and fruit and dairy products are kosher
A Kosher kitchen

• Jews who keep Kosher kitchens do not eat meat and dairy foods together. 
• Seperate sets of crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils are used.
• After eating meat strict Jews will wait several hours before eating dairy products.

The Torah

Torah means “teaching” and refers to the five books of Moses- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

A Torah scroll is made from sheets of parchment, which is made from the skin of a kosher animal.

It is written by hand in Hebrew by a professional scribe, called a sofer. Hebrew is read from right to left.

The sofer takes at least one year to write out the Torah.

He is not allowed to write from memory. He must copy from a book of the Torah, and keep checking for mistakes. Letters must not be smudged or touch another letter.

If the sofer makes a mistake; he scrapes of the letters using a glass tool.

The most sacred word that he writes is the Hebrew name for God. He cannot correct this-he must start the whole sheet of parchment again. The sheet with the error on it is buried in Jewish cemetery.

When all sheets of parchment are finished they are sewn together  and wound around wooden rollers.

The Torah is regarded as holy and is decorated as beautifully as possible.

Judaism Part III

The questions come from the Clickview movie called - Behind the News, Religion, that we watched in class.

You can use this video or the internet to answer the question, I will need to check these on Friday.

What language do the Jewish people speak?
Jewish people read Hebrew

How do the Jewish people read Hebrew?
It is read from Right to left

Why is Israel important to the Jewish People?
Israel is important to the Jewish people because it was the Promised Land, promised to Abraham and Moses by God.

When was the present state of Israel formed?
After World War 2, in 1948.

What makes it unique in the world?
Israel is the only Jewish state in the world

Who is the chosen prophet of Judaism?
Moses is the chosen prophet

 

What do the Jews believe God thinks of their people? How do the three main religions differ in their view of Jesus?

They believe God thinks they are the Chosen people who have a special covenant with God

Christianity, Judaism and Islam differ in their view of Jesus. In Judaism it is believed that Jesus was not the Messiah, in Christianity it was believed that Jesus was the peoples saviour.

Why do the Jewish people not celebrate Christmas?

Jewish people do no celebrate Christmas because Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ the saviour and the Jewish do not believe Jesus was the saviour/Messiah.

What festival do they celebrate instead?
Hannukah, also known as the 'Festival of Lights'.

What event is celebrated at this festival and what is the significance of the number 8? It celebrates the rededication of the Holy temple.

The number 8 is significant because the after Greek soldiers seized the Jewish temple in 168 B.C.E it was regained and then cleansed by burning ritual oil for 8 days. It was said that the oil they had would only last 1 day, but miraculously it lasted the full 8 days.

What is the name of the sacred text of the Jewish people?
The Torah is the sacred jewish text

How is their text similar to the Christian Bible?
The torah is the same as the Old testament of the Christian bible

How many commandments do the Jewish people have to follow?
613 commandments

What is the name of the leader of a Jewish religion?
A rabbi

What is a Talis?
A Jewish prayer scroll.

What is a Tefilin?
Small prayer boxes bound to the head and arms during prayer. They contain of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah

What is a Kippah?
A jewish skull cap

What is the word used to describe the food Jewish people can eat?
Kosher. It is food that conforms to the regulations of the Jewish Law.

Where is the only Kosher Mc Donalds?
Israel and Buenos Aires.

Why is a Cheese burger not Kosher?
Because Jews can't have dairy and meat together.

Judaism Part II

The term "Jewish" can be used to describe a race and a culture rather than a religion., so some who identify themselves as Jewish may have little interest in the beliefs and practices associated with the religion of Judaism.

The Jews believe in the teaching of the Bible, known as the Torah. This is the First Testament of the Christian Bible. There is no Second Testament or New Bible for Jews.

Why is there no Second Testament or New Bible for Jews?
Because they don't believe Jesus was the Messiah.

What are the first 5 books of the Torah?
1. Bereishit -Genesis
2. Shemot -Exodus
3. Vayikra -Leviticus
4. Bamidbar -Numbers
5. Devarim-Deuteronomy

Written Law and Oral Law

613 commandments found in Torah (written law) Talmud (oral law)-commentary of ancient rabbis that elaborates on how to apply God’s Law in everyday life through:

Ø  Dietary rules (Kashrut/Kosher)

Ø  Dress and other symbols

Ø  Prayer and devotion to one God

Ø  The Temple and Temple rites

Ø  Observance of Holy days

Ø  Proper social relations between male and female, in business, judicial rulings, etc.