Judaism, Part 5

Question 1: Describe the Jewish rituals surrounding birth, coming of age, marriage, and death.

Answer 1: Jewish babies undergo different ceremonies, depending on sex, on their eighth day of life. Girls undergo a naming ceremony called a brit hayyim, while boys are ritually circumcised as a symbol of Jews’ commitment to their covenant.When girls are twelve and boys are thirteen, they undergo a ceremony called a bar mitzvah (for boys) or bat mitzvah (for girls), in which they willingly accept their responsibilities as adult members of the Jewish community and their obligations to know and follow Jewish law.Jewish weddings are called kiddushin (sanctification) and are held under a huppah (canopy). The couple drink wine together and the groom smashes a glass with his foot, symbolizing the destruction of the Second Temple and their commitment to the Jewish faith.After death, bodies are wrapped in a linen shroud, symbolizing the equality of all people in death. The body lies in its natural state for seven days and is never left alone, a ritual known as “sitting shivah.” Traditionally, bodies are not cremated, so that they may be reunited with the person’s soul in Resurrection.

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Question 2: Describe the kashrut laws of Judaism.

Answer 2: Kashrut, or Jewish dietary laws, are food taboos that are “make a fence around the Torah” in order to prevent inadvertent violations of Torah laws. Their origin is unknown, but they are detailed in the Book of Leviticus. Following kashrut serves the purpose of both accepting and following God’s law, though humans do not understand it, and social cohesion with other kashrut-following Jews.Meat that is kosher (clean) may only come from particular animals—those that chew cud and have cloven hoofs. Pigs, for instance, are not considered kosher. Particular slaughtering procedures, overseen by rabbis, must be employed in the production of meat. Kosher seafood includes only fish that have scales and fins (not, for instance, shellfish).In addition, meat and dairy products (a category that includes fish) cannot be eaten at the same meal, nor can they be prepared using the same utensils, appliances, or sinks.

Question 3: Describe the significance of the Sabbath and its practice in Judaism.

Answer 3: Sabbath day, or Shabbat, laws, guide Jews in acceptable and unacceptable behavior on the Sabbath. Shabbat in Jewish tradition lasts from Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown. During this time, Jews are obligated to worship and rest, in homage to God’s resting on the seventh day after creating the world. Reform Jews traditionally hold a Friday evening religious service, while other sects meet on Saturday morning.During this period, all work is forbidden, including the lighting and extinguishing of fires (including, in modern days, driving, which burns fuel), carrying objects, heating food, paying money, or completing circuits (e.g., by making telephone calls or turning on or off lights).At the beginning and end of Shabbat, a special short ceremony is held; the first is called Kiddush and the second halvadah. Candles are lit and sacred wine is drunk to demarcate clearly the sacred time.

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