Bar/ Bat Mitzvah

Name of the celebration. Did the name come from anywhere?

•       Bar Mitzvah (Boy) or Bat Mitzvah (Girl)

•       B’nai Mitzvah (Plural)

•       The name means ‘son/daughter of commandment’.

•       The word ‘bar’ means ‘son’ and the word ‘bat’ means ‘daughter’ in Hebrew.

•       ‘Mitzvah’ is Hebrew for ‘commandment’.

Why do they celebrate it? What does it signify?

•       When a child turns 13 (girls can celebrate it when they are 12), they are able to celebrate their B’nai Mitzvah.

•       It is known as a ‘coming of age’ ceremony.

•       It signifies how a boy or girl have become an adult and they become responsible for their decisions and actions.

When do they celebrate this? How often? How long does it last?

•       B’nai Mitzvah is usually celebrated on Shabbat or on a Monday or Thursday morning service.

•       It is only celebrated for one day and involves a service, then family and friends gather for a special meal afterwards.

•       Some families delay for reasons such as availability of a Shabbat during which no other celebration has been scheduled.

Do they wear anything special?

•       During the service, the child has to wear a special prayer shawl called a Tallis.

•       For the celebrations they just wear nice formal clothes.

Do they eat anything special?

•       After the service, a big feast is prepared for the celebrations afterwards. They eat a lot of traditional Jewish food.

•       The range of food they eat is soups, breads and cakes, meats and fats, sweet and confections and some side dishes.

Do they have a service/ceremony? What happens in the service/ceremony?

•       There is a special B’nai Mitzvah service/ ceremony in the Synagogue.

•       During this time the boy/girl reads the Torah in Hebrew, before receiving a blessing from their father. This blessing means that their father is no longer responsible for the child’s sins.

Bibliography

•       http://judaism.about.com/od/lifeevents/a/whatisabarmitzvah.htm

•       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bar_and_Bat_Mitzvah

•       http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=44006

Variants in Judaism

What is a Variant?

Two or more people or things that have slight differences in opinions. The three major variants or streams in Judaism are Conservative, Orthodox and Reform (Liberal or progressive)

Variants
Orthodox	U  Strict, many rules U  No driving on Saturdays U  Women and men separated in Synagogue for prayer and rituals U  Don’t accept the changes of reformed Jews U  Orthodox Judaism is distinguished by its maintenance of the traditional forms of worship in the Hebrew language U  Women do not participate in some of the rituals U  Men and women sit together and participate fully in service, prayers and rituals U  Strict dress and dietary law U  Always worship in Hebrew
Conservative	U  Believe Jewish laws can be changed U  Women and men separated in Synagogue U  Traditional beliefs but addressing contemporary needs. U  Men and women sit together and participate fully in service, prayers and rituals
Progressive	U  Allows people to live a contemporary life in Modern society U  Allowed to marry other religions U  Don’t believe the Torah was written by God and given on tablets of stone U  Relaxed practice and fits in society U  Individual praying and occasional conversation in service. U  English used for part of service U  Women can lead services and can become a rabbis

Synagogue

Origin of Name

Synagogue means assembly, meaning house of assembly. It is also known as a ‘shul’ or ‘temple’ but the word synagogue is mainly used because everyone knows what it means.

Functions

Synagogues were built as a purpose space for worship, or rooms originally constructed for some other purpose but reserved for formal, communal prayer, however, existed long before the destruction of the Second Temple.

Structure

Synagogues do not have a set architectural design as wherever the synagogue is place it is designed to the style that style. The earlier synagogues were designed to resemble the temples of the eastern Roman Empire. Synagogues have many spiritual items including a Bimah, a table from which the Torah is read, and a desk for the prayer leader. The torah ark is a cabinet where the Torah is kept and the Ark of the Convent which holds the table with Ten Commandments.

Star of David is one of the special symbols for Jewish people.

Items Found

Mezuzah

This special box called a mezuzah contains some special words from the Shema. The Shema is a passage from the Jewish Bible, called the Tenakh, which talks about what Jews should believe. It can be found in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. The Shema is the first prayer that any Jew will learn.

Kippah

Before they enter the main room Jewish men will cover their heads with a kippah as a mark of respect for God.

SHABBAT CANDLES

These candles are lit at the start of Shabbat on Friday night. A special prayer called a blessing is said. Jews look forward to Shabbat each week. There are two candles to show that it is more special than other days of the week.

CHALLAH LOAF

Jews eat this plaited bread called challah as part of their family meal on Shabbat. It is plaited to make it look different from ordinary bread.

KIDDUSH CUP

On Shabbat, Jews drink wine from a special cup called a kiddush cup. Another blessing is said over the wine.

Kosher Recipe

Spicy Fish

• 3 Tomatoes
• 2 Jalopeno Peppers
• 5 Garlic Cloves, Chopped
• 4 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 Cup Fresh Parsley,Chopped
• 3 Red Peppers
• 1 Tsp. Salt
• 1 Tsp. Black Pepper
• ½ Tsp. Curry
• 1 Tsp. Garlic Powder
• 2 Pounds Cod, Flounder or other White Meat Fish

Brown garlic in Olive Oil,slice wedges of tomatoes and layer pan with tomatoes, peppers, fish, parsley and add spices mixed with ½ Cup water. Cook on low flame covered For 2 hours. HOT BUT DEEEEEELICIOUS.

Kosher Food

Kosher= Food which is allowed

Treyfah= Food which is NOT allowed

·         All plants are kosher, but not all animals, birds or fish are.

·         Animals must also be killed in a special manner and have the blood removed before the meat can be eaten by Jews.

·         Jews may only eat animals and birds that have been killed by Shechitah.

·         Shechitah is killing the animals by slitting the throat with a sharpe knife.

·         This has been shown to be painless to the animals, as causing pain to living things is against Jewish law.

·         The theory is that the sharpe knife cuts he carotid so that the animal loses consciousness before they are able to feel pain.

1.       What is Kosher food? Food that Jews are allowed to eat.

2.       Where is the list of food which are allowed, found? In the Torah in the book of Leviticus.

3.       Why do many Jewish homes have two set of cutlery? In order to keep meat and dairy foods separate.

4.       Why do you think Jews are so careful about the food they eat? It is in order to obey God’s rules and it is part of their rules as well.

5.       Neatly copy the table below and draw the pictures.

Kosher	Non-Kosher
Chicken	Pig
Sheep	Rabbit
Cow	Camel
Fish with fins	Eel
Goat	Most birds; vultures, owls, eagles, ossifrage and the ospray,
	Swine
	Hare

All vegetables and fruit and dairy products are kosher.

Being Jewish in 21st Century Australia- During the Program

1. Where are Jewish religious services held?
Synagogue

2.  What time do morning prayers begin at Anton’s school?

7:15am

3. For how many years has Judaism existed as a religion?

3800 years.

4.     How many gods did Abraham believe in?

One God

5.     What are mitzvoth?

The commandments

6.     What did Moses do?

He led their people out of Egypt. He received the 10 commandments on Mount Sinai.

7.     What is the Torah?

The Jewish bible/ the Holy book

8.     What is a Jewish religious leader called?

A Rabbi

9.     When did Abraham leave the area now known as Iraq to settle in the area now known as Palestine or Israel?

Around 1800 BC

10.     What does Shabbat mean?

A ritual which means rest

11. How long does Shabbat last for?

From sundown Friday night to sundown on Saturday night

12.     What is the purpose of blowing the ram’s horn?

To remind people a change is coming.

13.     What is Yom Kippur?

The Day of Atonement; where you reflect on your sins and is a day of fasting.

14.     What does the festival of Hanukkah celebrate?

The freedom to practice their religion, it lasts for eight days.

15. Which city did King David pronounce the capital for the Jews?

Jerusalem is the capital city for the Jews.

16.     What is the Western Wall?

The Wailing Wall; this was the remaining wall of the temple that was built by King Solomon.

17.     What does Bat Mitzvah mean?

A coming of age ceremony when they turn twelve or thirteen