"It strengthens the Jewish family to share religious rituals in the home."

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“It strengthens the Jewish family to share religious rituals in the home.”

        The home is central to Judaism as it is the setting in which a husband and wife mature together and where children are taught about their religion through example and direct instruction.  Both Orthodox and Liberal Jews will share rituals as a family at home but will not share the same attitudes and degree of discipline.  This can lead to different behaviour.

        Sharing rituals in the home can bring a family closer together because they are spending time together and are unified by their faith.  The Shabbat meal can bring the family together because the family are sharing the Challot and teaching and learning about their faith.  This creates a sense of unity.  

The mother’s role in Shabbat, where she lights the candles to welcome the Sabbath, highlights the valued role of the mother and the religious importance of women.  This may strengthen a Jewish family because the mother is shown to be a significant part of the festival and it is not just the men in the family who perform the rituals.  

The reciting of the Kiddush may unify the family as they are sharing a holy moment and all focusing on thanking God for giving Jews Shabbat.  In Liberal households, where the Kiddush may be recited by a female, women may feel they have an important role, in the same way they might when they kindle the Sabbath lights.  

When the wine, a symbol of sacrifice for the poor, is shared at the Shabbat meal, sharing the same thoughts may unify the family.  

When the Rabbi performs Havdalah to show separation of the Shabbat from other days, the Sabbath is shown to be special and this could bond a Jewish family because spending a special time with your family shows that your family is special.

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        However, Shabbat may not strengthen a Jewish family but instead cause tension.  This may be brought about by some family members, especially children and teenagers, not wanting to follow the Shabbat laws if they feel excluded from their friends.  They may also resent the repetitiveness of the celebrating Shabbat every week.  If the mother in a Jewish family grew to resent having to make such extensive preparations every week, this too could cause tension.

        Sharing this type of family ritual could become monotonous if performed weekly and I think I would come to feel anger towards my parents if they ...

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