The Jewish Home Is More Important In Sustaining Judaism Then The Synagogue. Do You Agree?

GCSE Religious Studies (Philosophy & Ethics)

Jamilla Miriam Flaherty 11Hg 27/10/2007

A03

“The Jewish Home Is More Important In Sustaining Judaism Then The Synagogue.” Do You Agree?

Some Jews believe that the home is more important in sustaining Judaism then the Synagogue because it is at home where Jews are the majority of the time and it is the home where children learn from the parent’s practise. For example, many of the mitzvot are practised in the home and this is where the children will learn them, not at the Synagogue. Kashrut laws and the Niddah or purity laws are some of the laws followed at home, however these are negative mitzvah so may not be observed by Reform Jews, as these mitzvah have no apparent reason. Other practices followed at home include some rites of passage and some festivals. Every week Jews celebrate the festival of Shabbat, mainly at home spending time as a family learning Hebrew and different laws and teaching. At Passover, the whole family is involved and the youngest child asks four questions during the celebration. Often there is a fun search for the Chametz involving the children making the festivities fun. Rites of passage in the home include the Brit Millah and Marriage. These are very important rites the first showing the entrance into the covenant of Judaism and the second the joining of two people and the allowance of sex and so the creation of children.

On the other hand, some Jews would say the Synagogue is more important in sustaining Judaism then the home because of its many different functions and its beginnings from the exile of Jews from Egypt and the destruction of the Temple. This meant that the Jews had no where to meet and pray so people began to meet in each others houses and then built buildings to meet in however, as the Jews were spread out so could not pray in one place many were built and so we have the many Synagogues. The Synagogue was seen as essential ...

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On the other hand, some Jews would say the Synagogue is more important in sustaining Judaism then the home because of its many different functions and its beginnings from the exile of Jews from Egypt and the destruction of the Temple. This meant that the Jews had no where to meet and pray so people began to meet in each others houses and then built buildings to meet in however, as the Jews were spread out so could not pray in one place many were built and so we have the many Synagogues. The Synagogue was seen as essential in passing on the teachings then and so is now. The Synagogue’s different names showing the different functions of the Synagogue, for example Shul showing it as a place of learning, Bet Ha Knesset or house of assembly showing it as a social place and Bet Hatephilsh which means house of prayer. All these names show the Synagogues role in Jewish community. As with home important rites of passage and festivals are performed at the Synagogue such as, the Bat Mitzvah which is entrance of boys aged 13 into Judaism. A key part of the ceremony is reciting the Torah so this must be performed at the Synagogue. In addition, the Pidyon HaBen or redemption of the firstborn must be performed with a Minyan of 10 men and the only place where this is guaranteed is the Synagogue. Important festivals include Yom Kippur which is a 25 hour fast, most of which is spent at the Synagogue praying and reading from the Torah and Simchat Torah where one cycle of reading the Torah is completed and the Torah paraded around the Synagogue.

Other Jews would say that during times of persecution the home was a safe place where Jewish people could practice their religion safely and pass on the practices to their children. In the Holocaust this was especially true and they only was to pass on the faith in some places was teach people the privet of their own homes. The exile of the Jews from Egypt and the destruction of the Temple also made the home essential for Judaism, as there was nowhere else until the invention of the Synagogue to meet and pray. The Synagogue is also not an essential feature of a Jewish woman’s life and they do not have to attend however, in Judaism a person is not a Jew unless they have a Jewish mother as a parent, which shows that the Synagogue is not as important as the home in passing on Jewish beliefs and practices.

On the other hand, the synagogue is a place where you can be certain that at certain times there will be the ten people necessary for a Minyan and so for all the services in Judaism. Similarly at the Synagogue is the Sefer Torah, which is necessary for many services and for true Torah study, as though people will have a copy at home it will be a simple translation not a full Hebrew one as, said by God. Two other things you can only find at a synagogue are rabbinic advice and social gathering. The rabbinic advice is very important as it helps people to know what is the right Jewish thing to do. The social events bring the community together making it stronger and happier. All of these things make the Synagogue very important in Jewish society.

In conclusion, the synagogue is a very important part of Jewish society but I think the home is more important in sustaining Judaism as through Jewish persecution and the lack of Synagogues Judaism has survived and grown. However, I think the Synagogue is an important part of this as it is the place where many services are performed and a place of community and learning.