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

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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.

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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 ...

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