Judaism Questions

Judaism:Holy Items:
1.) What are the three functions of a synagogue?
      1. Beit Knesset (House of Assembly): The synagogue is a place for Jews to meet and share in the community of their neighbors. (the "hub" of the Jewish community).
      2. Beit Midrash (House of Study): People gather in the synagogue to study the Torah, as study is a form of worship for Jews.
      3. Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer): It serves as a place to pray to God, and it brings the members of the Jewish community together.
2.) What does the layout of a synagogue look like? Check out the various items and then identify the purpose and location of the following:
- Ark: The Holy Ark is located along the Eastern wall of the Synogogue. The Ark holds the Torah scrolls (when they are not being used). It sits underneath the ner tamid, "the eternal light", and is covered with a parokhet (a special curtain that covers the ark. ). "The ark serves as the focus of [a Jew's] prayers."

- Torah Scrolls: The Torah Scrolls are located in the Ark (when they are not in use). They are covered by cloth "mantles", which are designed very elaborately. They are open at the bottom, and have two holes at the top for the two handles of the Torah.


- Ten Commandments:

3.) What is a rabbi/

- How does a Jew become a rabbi?

- How does a rabbi differ from a clergyman?

- What is the rabbi's role?

4.) What is the nature Shabbat (also aknown as Sabbath)? When does it occur?

5.) What is the Torah? What is the Talmud?
This is what a Torah Scroll looks like:

6.) There are different branches of Judiasm. Describe the following:
     1. Orthodox:

2. Reform:

3. Conservative:

4. Zionist:

Language:

7.) What is Hebrew?

8.) What is Yiddish?

9.) Define the following Yiddish terms:

10.) Rites of Passage- Define and describe the following:

1. Brit Milah (Bris):

2. Bar/ Bat Mitzva:

3. Jewish Marriage:

11.) Holidays:- define the following:

1. Rosh Hashanah:

2. Yom Kippur:

3. Hanukah:

4. Passover:

12. What is something you knew about Jewish traditions that this confirmed?

13. What is the most interesting (or surprising) information out of all of this?

14. What is one aspect of Jewish tradition that is similar to a tradition in your life?

15. What is one aspect of Jewish tradition that is different from a tradition in your life?