Rites of PassageRites of Passage

Unit 4: JudaismUnit 4: Judaism

HRT 3M1HRT 3M1

B’rit Milah (Bris)B’rit Milah (Bris) Jewish baby boys are circumcised Jewish baby boys are circumcised

when they are eight days old. when they are eight days old. The foreskin is removed by a The foreskin is removed by a

trained rabbi known as a trained rabbi known as a mohelmohel in in a ceremony called a ceremony called B'rit MilahB'rit Milah (the (the covenant of circumcision). covenant of circumcision).

It is a time of great rejoicing and It is a time of great rejoicing and celebration. celebration.

A male relative has the honour of A male relative has the honour of performing the role of performing the role of sandeksandek; ; seated, he holds the baby firmly seated, he holds the baby firmly on his lap, on a cushion, while the on his lap, on a cushion, while the circumcision is carried out. circumcision is carried out.

During the ceremony, the child's During the ceremony, the child's name will be announced.name will be announced.

B’rit Milah (Bris)B’rit Milah (Bris) Abraham, the great ancestral Abraham, the great ancestral

father of the Jews, who lived some father of the Jews, who lived some 4000 years ago, was the first to 4000 years ago, was the first to accept the sign or covenant of accept the sign or covenant of circumcision as a mark of his circumcision as a mark of his covenant with God.covenant with God.

There is no ceremony for a girl, but There is no ceremony for a girl, but her name will be announced in the her name will be announced in the synagogue a week after her birth.synagogue a week after her birth.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y7fwQ4ci08

Bar MitzvahBar Mitzvah In Judaism, a boy is considered to be old enough In Judaism, a boy is considered to be old enough

to take on his religious duties when he is 13 to take on his religious duties when he is 13 years of age. In the years of age. In the OrthodoxOrthodox Jewish community, Jewish community, boys prepare for their boys prepare for their Bar MitzvahBar Mitzvah carefully, carefully, particularly in learning Hebrew and practicing a particularly in learning Hebrew and practicing a reading from a scroll of the Torah in the reading from a scroll of the Torah in the synagogue.synagogue.

On the sabbath following his 13th birthday, at On the sabbath following his 13th birthday, at the Saturday morning service, the boy will be the Saturday morning service, the boy will be called up to the Bimah, the central platform in called up to the Bimah, the central platform in the synagogue, to read from the Torah scroll. It is the synagogue, to read from the Torah scroll. It is a great honour and marks his arrival as an adult a great honour and marks his arrival as an adult male member of the community. The title, Bar male member of the community. The title, Bar Mitzvah, means Mitzvah, means

'Son of the Commandment'.'Son of the Commandment'.

Bar/Bat MitzvahBar/Bat Mitzvah For the reading, he will wear a For the reading, he will wear a TallitTallit

(prayer shawl). It is his duty as an (prayer shawl). It is his duty as an

adult male to say prayers three times adult male to say prayers three times

a day. a day.

For girls the For girls the Bat MitzvahBat Mitzvah (daughter of the (daughter of the commandment) ceremony is similar. It occurs when commandment) ceremony is similar. It occurs when girls reach the age of 12 years. girls reach the age of 12 years.

Orthodox synagogues do not observe this practice.Orthodox synagogues do not observe this practice.

http://www.youtubhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27FSbztRPo8e.com/watch?v=27FSbztRPo8

Kiddushin (Marriage)Kiddushin (Marriage)

The Jewish word for marriage is The Jewish word for marriage is KiddushinKiddushin, which literally menas , which literally menas "made holy." "made holy."

In a Jewish wedding, the bride In a Jewish wedding, the bride stands on the right hand side of stands on the right hand side of the groom. The wedding the groom. The wedding ceremony takes place under a ceremony takes place under a four-poster canopy called a four-poster canopy called a HuppahHuppah (or (or ChuppahChuppah), situated in ), situated in the synagogue in front of the the synagogue in front of the BimahBimah. .

Sometimes, especially in Israel, Sometimes, especially in Israel, the ceremony takes place in the the ceremony takes place in the open-air. The Huppah represents open-air. The Huppah represents the future home of the couple. the future home of the couple.

Kiddushin (Marriage)Kiddushin (Marriage) Vows are said and then the Vows are said and then the

couple drink from a goblet of couple drink from a goblet of wine. The groom places the ring wine. The groom places the ring on the right index finger of the on the right index finger of the bride. bride.

Marriage, in Judaism, is a Marriage, in Judaism, is a contract, and the ketubah sets contract, and the ketubah sets out the contractual duties and out the contractual duties and responsibilities of the husband responsibilities of the husband towards his wife. towards his wife.

The rabbi then pronounces seven The rabbi then pronounces seven blessings, following which the blessings, following which the groom stamps on a glass to groom stamps on a glass to smash it. This represents the smash it. This represents the destruction of the Jewish Temple destruction of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE.CE.

Kiddushin (Marriage)Kiddushin (Marriage) Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov!

Means “good luck” in HebrewMeans “good luck” in Hebrew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfcywUB1ziA

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmiyyq_jewish-wedding-from-wedding-crashers-http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmiyyq_jewish-wedding-from-wedding-crashers-2005_shortfilms2005_shortfilms

Death & MourningDeath & Mourning In Judaism, the dead are In Judaism, the dead are always always

buriedburied. . When a Jewish person dies, the family When a Jewish person dies, the family

show their grief by tearing a piece of show their grief by tearing a piece of their clothing. their clothing.

A candle is lit and one of the family A candle is lit and one of the family remains with the body, possibly remains with the body, possibly reciting psalms. Funeral reciting psalms. Funeral arrangements are made immediately arrangements are made immediately for, if at all possible, the body must be for, if at all possible, the body must be buried buried within 24 hourswithin 24 hours. .

The body will be washed and, in the The body will be washed and, in the case of a man, wrapped in his tallith case of a man, wrapped in his tallith (prayer shawl). The fringes which (prayer shawl). The fringes which symbolise the 613 commandments symbolise the 613 commandments will have been removed since the will have been removed since the earthly obligation to keep them will earthly obligation to keep them will have ceased with the death of the have ceased with the death of the person. person.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLZWaZKFQnA&feature=related

Death & MourningDeath & Mourning After a brief service in the home After a brief service in the home

conducted by the rabbi, in which conducted by the rabbi, in which scriptures will be read and prayers said, a scriptures will be read and prayers said, a further service is conducted in The Prayer further service is conducted in The Prayer Hall at the cemetery. During this service it Hall at the cemetery. During this service it is usual for a tribute to be given by is usual for a tribute to be given by someone who has known the deceased someone who has known the deceased well. well.

At the graveside, as the coffin is lowered At the graveside, as the coffin is lowered into the grave, the Rabbi may say, into the grave, the Rabbi may say, "May "May he come to his place in peace."he come to his place in peace." All All mourners then shovel earth in the grave mourners then shovel earth in the grave to fill it.to fill it.

There is a final service at the Prayer Hall. There is a final service at the Prayer Hall. Before they enter, the mourners wash Before they enter, the mourners wash their hands, saying, "He makes death to their hands, saying, "He makes death to vanish in life eternal; and the Lord God vanish in life eternal; and the Lord God wipes away tears off all faces." During this wipes away tears off all faces." During this service a prayer called the service a prayer called the KaddishKaddish is said, is said, which glorifies God.which glorifies God.

Death & Mourning: ShivaDeath & Mourning: Shiva After the funeral there is a period After the funeral there is a period

of seven days called of seven days called ShivaShiva, it is , it is meant to be an emotional healing meant to be an emotional healing time for the family and friends. time for the family and friends.

Then, on the anniversary of the Then, on the anniversary of the death, (death, (YahrzeitYahrzeit), the Kaddish is ), the Kaddish is said and, on the eve of the said and, on the eve of the anniversary, a candle is lit and anniversary, a candle is lit and burns for 24 hours.burns for 24 hours.

Jews believe in a final resurrection Jews believe in a final resurrection at the at the Day of JudgementDay of Judgement (Yom (Yom Din). Their cemeteries are called Din). Their cemeteries are called ""Bet HayyimBet Hayyim" - this means House " - this means House of Life (or Lives). This confirms of Life (or Lives). This confirms the Jewish belief that death is not the Jewish belief that death is not the end.the end.