Can Jews Live in a Secular Britain?
Can Jews Live in a Secular Britain? I believe that Britain helps all religions to live together including the Jewish people. I believe that a multi religious country is better than a single religion country as it helps people to understand one another and live together more peacefully. When you live together you learn about one another's rituals and beliefs and start to understand them better. People of other religions can help each other like with turning on the lights and cooking for them on Shabbat. The Jewish people often live in a Jewish community helping each other wherever possible. To be a truly orthodox Jew can be difficult and expensive in a none Jewish state. The houses must be adapted, for example the kitchens need to include two sinks one for milk products and the other for meat products. Extra storage space is needed for two sets of cutlery and crockery, as this is not standard in a British home. Britain is a multi-cultural society and food served in restaurants and shops is not kosher so it is more difficult to buy food and to eat out although a lot of supermarkets now cater for kosher food, together with many specialist shops. Now that some shops open twenty-four hours a day it is easier to buy food after the Sabbath. Some of the disadvantages of living in Britain as opposed to Israel are that public holidays are held to a Christian schedule and are at
Explain Jewish Teachings about Equality
Explain Jewish Teachings about Equality (6 marks) Judaism has many teachings about equality. Firstly, there is the equality between men and women. All men are equal, but women are not equal to men. Their role is not inferior, just different. Therefore, all women are also equal. Women have the special and sacred role as child bearer, homemaker and transmitter of Jewish values, and they have the main responsibility for the children's upbringing. I think this is fair and although they aren't equal I think that both men and women have equally important roles in the Jewish society. Then, there is equality throughout history. The Jews have experienced a lot of discrimination, persecution and hostility from their neighbours through the Middle Ages, the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Their responses to the Anti-Semitism were: * Turning Inward - isolating themselves from non-Jews and focusing their efforts on the Jewish community * Supporting the Persecuted - the experience of persecution has created a positive resolve to support others suffering racism * Suspicion of Non-Jews - some Jews still fear those who have persecuted them and those responsible for genocide. * Protecting the Jewish Community - Some Jews take action to protect the Jewish community from attacks of violence, abuse, vandalism, threats etc. * Rejecting Judaism - turning away from Judaism. For them, anything
Describe the Main Features of a Synagogue and explain how Synagogues came into being.
Part A Describe the Main Features of a Synagogue and explain how Synagogues came into being. Anna Wieczerzak Main Features of a Synagogue Torah Scroll Also Known as the Pentateuch the Torah Scroll (the Law of Teaching) is one of the most important objects, and the Holiest object in the synagogue. It represents the Holy Covenant between the Jews and G_d. It teaches the basics of Jew life and has laws including food laws and laws concerning festivals. It contains of the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The books contain early history of the Jews, from creation of the world to the death of Moses. The Scroll is handwritten on a parchment in 250 columns in unpointed (no vowels or musical notes) Hebrew using traditional pen or quill. It is on average 60 meters long and is a year's work for a professional scribe. It is often made of animal skins stitched together. The parchment is bound to two staves called etz chaim (Tree of Life). It is read on a special platform the Bimah by a Rabbi four times a week and at festivals. Every effort is used not to touch it and a pointer in the shape of a pointing hand called the Yad (hand) is used to touch it. This is because is holy and the acid from the sweat of human fingers could damage it. The Torah Scroll is kept in the Holy Ark behind a curtain or doors called the Parochet to keep
The synagogue.
A)i)What does the word synagogue mean and how did synagogues come into being? ii) Describe the main features of a synagogue. ( 24 ) B) Explain why Jews variously describe a synagogue as : House of Assembly, house of study and house of prayer. What is the significance of these names for the life and beliefs of Jews today? ( 21 ) C) "Collective worship is essential for the orthodox Jew." Do you agree? Give reason s to support your answer and show that you have thought abut different points of view. ( 15 ) R.E GCSE Coursework A)i)What does the word synagogue mean and how did synagogues come into being? ii) Describe the main features of a synagogue. B) Explain why Jews variously describe a synagogue as : House of Assembly, house of study and house of prayer. What is the significance of these names for the life and beliefs of Jews today? C) "Collective worship is essential for the orthodox Jew." Do you agree? Give reason s to support your answer and show that you have thought abut different points of view. Part A i) A synagogue is the Jewish place of worship. Equivalents of other religions are churches and temples. The word Synagogue comes from the Greek Language, as Hebrew has no word meaning synagogue. The greek word 'synagein' is translated to mean 'to bring together'. It is called this because this is where the jewish community is brought together
a) Pesach is the biggest of the three pilgrim festivals, along with Sukkot and Shavuot and these all commemorate the period in history that the Jews pilgrimed from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel.
a) Pesach is the biggest of the three pilgrim festivals, along with Sukkot and Shavuot and these all commemorate the period in history that the Jews pilgrimed from Egypt to the Promised Land of Israel. The first day of Passover is the same day as the commemoration of the destruction of the temple and this is insisted by the Talmud. The symbolism of the name Passover reminds Jews of the tenth plague, the killing of the first born to the Egyptian families, when the Jews were instructed to put sheep's blood on their homes to identify their homes to God so he could Passover and know to not kill the first born in that house-hold. The history of the celebration of Passover is that it first started at the time of the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and was used to commemorate their release from slavery. Passover is not only learning and looking back on history but the confirmation of the fact that Jews believe in the future of Judaism and the coming of the Messiah. Passover concentrates not only on the history of Judaism but on the present and future as these times are all equally important in the Jewish faith. After Joseph, a wise and influential Jewish character, and his brother's died, the children of Israel grew strong in the land of Egypt. The Israelites held important, prosperous positions within Egypt and many Egyptian people grew tired of these, so called,
Y Synagogue: "Ty cwrdd, Ty Gweddi, Ty Dysg"
Aseiniad Gwaith Cwrs TGAU mewn Astudiaethau Crefyddol Y Synagog Iddewiaeth Cwestiwn 1 "Ty cwrdd, Ty Gweddi, Ty Dysg" Mae Synagog yn ganolfan gymunedol i'r Iddew heddiw ac mae fel petai'n ail gartref iddynt. Weithiau bydd y gymuned Iddewig yn ei chael hi'n anodd i godi digon o arian er mwyn prynu safle addas er mwyn cynnal gwasanaethau iddewig felly byddant yn mynd i dai eu gilydd. Dyna sut dechreuodd lawer o synagogau. Mae llawer o synagogau yn cynnal gwasanaethau bob dydd . Byddant yn cynnal gwasanaeth yn y bore a'r hwyr ac hefyd y gwasanaethau sy'n cael eu cynnal ar y Saboth ac ar ddyddiadau gwyliau'r Iddew. Ni fedr Iddewon addoli'n hawdd iawn ar ei ben ei hun oherwydd bod eu haddoli'n golygu cyd-drafod a gwneud cymaint o bethau ynghlwm âr bywyd iddewig gyda'i gilydd. Mae gan y rhan fwyaf o synagogau lawer o ystafelloedd er mwyn cynnal gweddi, cyfarfodydd a gweithgareddau cymdeithasol a hefyd i addysgu. Ond, mewn rhai synagogau hyn dim ond un ystafell fawr a geri o fewn y synagog sef y brif ystafell a ddefnyddir ar gyfer pob math o weithgareddau. Daw'r gair "Synagogue" o'r gair Groegaidd 'Sunageun'', a gelwir y synagog yn Shul neu teml gan Iddewon Almaeneg a hefyd yn Bet Haknesset. Mae tri enw arno; sef "Ty Cwrdd", "Ty Gweddi" a "Ty Dysg" aphob un ohonynd yn dweud rhywbeth am y ffordd y ddefnyddir yr adeilad. Serch hynny, "Ty Cwrdd" yw'r enw a ddefnyddir yn
Synagogue & Collective worship
Synagogue & Collective worship Synagogue comes from the Greek meaning, "Gather Together". It began in the Babylonian exile. Many aspects to do with the recent and standing synagogues relate back to the original temple in Jerusalem. Synagogues are used for lots of things today. It houses many social activities as well as being a place of learning for the young and old. Things like festivals would be held there, Jews assemble for all celebrations, worships and prayers. Hebrew classes are also held at the synagogue. Jews believe that prayer can be a communal activity and that they seek unity and gatherings such as this keep the tradition of the faith going. In the synagogue there are the torah scrolls that are used for lots of things. To Jews they are regarded as central to life and are highly respected. The way they are prepared, treated and kept is also very important. They are kept inside silk or velvet covers and decorative crowns are placed on top. Bells can be attached so they are heard when the torah is carried around. It is considered a great honour to read from the torah and is very special, they use an instrument called a Yad to prevent the scroll getting dirty. At 13 a Jewish boy will be called to read from the torah, as the torah is taken to the Bimah, man will lean forward and touch it with their tassels on their prayer shawls. In many synagogues, members who
The Jewish Home Is More Important In Sustaining Judaism Then The Synagogue. Do You Agree?
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
Worship in the synagogue and in the home.
It is very important to Jews to be able to keep the beliefs, values and traditions of their religion, but this can be difficult when mixing with communities that have a different or no religion. Many of these different situations need the support of the family and the synagogue. Many Jewish children go to non-Jewish schools where kosher food is not provided at lunchtime. Daily school collective worship will most probably have a broadly Christian bias. Although Jewish boys may want to wear their little hats (kippah) as a mark of respect for G-d. Many people live in an area where there is not a synagogue and have to travel a long distance for communal worship. Orthodox Jews are expected to walk. Apart from the inconvenience of this, it makes it harder for them to get to know other Jewish families. A minyan, a minimum of ten men, is needed for a service to take place in most synagogues. The Sabbath begins at sunset on Fridays. In order to be ready for it, some people may have to leave school or work early. It carries through to Saturday that means that no work should be done during this period of time. Jews must make sure that everything is kosher. There are relatively few kosher food shops and they tend to be only in areas where there is a substantial Jewish population. Most Jewish festivals are at different times from Christian ones and require time off from work and
The Magician of Lublin.
The Magician of Lublin From Fornicator to Holy Man Jewish American Literature 2nd semester 2004 Prof. Paul Gabriner Ronald Borst 9187944 The Magician of Lublin When you reach for a star/Only angels are there And it's not very far/Just to step on a stair Take a look at those clowns/And the tricks that they play In the circus of life/Life is bitter and gay There are clowns in the night/Clowns everywhere See how they run/Run from despair You can be thrilled/And you can be free "How?" But only my friend/If you'll listen to me When the fantasy bells/Of the universe ring You can fly through the sky/On a dragonfly's wing There is magic within/There is magic without Follow me and you'll learn/Just what life's all about Just what life's all about Copyright Kate Bush Music Ltd. In this essay I want to examine to what extent the main protagonist of The Magician of Lublin, Yasha Mazur, struggles with the ethical values of the Jewish religion, reluctantly being a Jew himself, and the final acceptance and embrace of his forefather's heritage. These values, as Gabriner has shown us in this course on American Jewish literature, permeate the Jewish culture and hence the work of the authors we have read and discussed. After a summary of the novel's content and its implications I will endeavour to draw parallels and seek contrasts between the various characters in this