Religious Studies Judaism

Define the Brit Milah

• circumsion
• baby boy 8 days old
• symbolises the entry of Jewish males into the covenant between God and the Jewish people (Abraham)
• takes places at home

Define Bar MItzvah

• coming of age ceremony
• boy aged 13
• means "son of the commandment"
• recognises that they are maturing and ready to be regarded with respecy from the wider community
• they promise to lead a responsible good jewish life

Define Bat Chayil

• coming of age ceremony
• girls aged 12
• means "daughter of excellence"
• recognises that they are maturing and ready to be regarded with respecy from the wider community
• they promise to lead a responsible good jewish life
• Orthodox jews- Girls can not read the Torah publically

Define Tallit

• prayer shawl
• 1.5m by 2m
• used for praying and as a burial shroud
• symbolises God's protection

Define Tzit

• made with natural material i.e cotton
• 613 to represent mitzvot
• 5 knots on each cornger
• represents 5 books of moses
• cut of when buried- no longer bound by miztzvot

Define Tefillin

• two black boxes attached to leather straps (kosher animal)
• contain hand written parts of the Torah
• one is attached to the arm reminder of serving God with their heart
• wrapped around the arm 7 times
• one is attached to the head reminder of serving God with their mind
• -mitzvah
• "bind them as a sign on your hand and as a symbol on your forehead"

Define the Kippar

• also called Capel and Yarmulke
• worn by boys +13yrs
• worn to the synagogue
• sign of respect, God looking down on you

Define Bimah

• Torah stand
• in a Bar Mitzvah the boy will read his portion here
• used in services
• at the front of the synagogue

Define Baruch Shepatrani

• giving thanks to god
• read at bar/bat mitzvahs to thank God for bringing their child to maturity
• recited by the father

Define Rabbi

• "my master"
• spiritual leader of the jewish community
• leads services
• involved with marriage, family, and religious problems

Define Shabbat

• also known as the Sabbath
• a day of rest for Jews
• from FRiday evening to Saturday evening
• remember the creation in Genesis and how God rested on the 7th day
• its a mitvah
• "keep the sabbath holy" Fourth commandment