Slide 1:JUDAISM THE SYNAGOGUE


Slide 2:The Synagogue Sanctuary


Slide 3:Contains the scrolls The reading desk. Inside the Synagogue


Slide 4:The layout of the building is rectangular, with seats arranged on three sides.  The fourth side is the most important, it holds the Ark.  Almost in the centre of the Synagogue is a raised platform called the Bimah.  At the foot of the Bimah is a group of seats reserved for elders of the synagogue.


Slide 5:The Bimah is used by the Rabbi to read the Torah scrolls from.  It is raised so that the congregation can see the Rabbi and he can see them.


Slide 6:The scrolls have crowns covering the top of the rollers and a metal plate, called a breastplate hanging around the crowns.  Covering the Torah scroll is a decorated cover called a mantle.  This is usually embroidered with a crown, representing King David.


Slide 7:Torah Scroll What is a Torah scroll? The Torah contains the Five Books of Moses, whose English and Hebrew names are:


Slide 8:Chapter 28 of the Book of Exodus contains a description of the garb of the High Priest. His special clothing included a tunic (the Torah mantle, or covering), a belt (the sash around the Torah scroll), a mitre (the crown of the Torah), and a breastplate. Each of these has been reproduced in some fashion for dressing and decorating the Sefer Torah.


Slide 9:Rabbi" means "teacher" and, through preaching from the pulpit, teaching classes, and individual counselling, teaching is the primary duty of a rabbi Some prayers are said by everyone, and some are recited aloud by the shaliach tzibbur, to which the congregation responds "Amen." The chazzan (cantor) is specially trained in the art of Jewish music and liturgy for this role.


Slide 10:Tallit - Before beginning to worship or pray the devout Jew will often put on a prayer shawl. The fringes on the shawl remind him of the many commandments (613) of the Torah. He will first cover his head completely with the Tallit.


Slide 11:The Tallit is a prayer shawl, worn around the neck during the service.   You can see the tassels or fringes hanging down.  Each one represents the laws Jews must follow in their lives.  This comes from a commandment in the Torah:


Slide 12:The Tephillin are two small boxes with leather straps attached to them.   You can see them in the picture next to the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book.   The tephillin contain a small portion of scripture from the Torah, called the Shema


Slide 13:Phylacteries or Tefillin - Phylacteries are small leather boxes that have long straps attached that are worn on the left forearm and on the forehead. Inside the boxes are passages from the scriptures, including the Shema.


Slide 14:Kippur or Yarmulke - On their heads the devout Jew always wears the Yarmulke, a small skull cap, which reminds them that they are always duty bound to follow the laws of God at all times and in all places.


Slide 15:The Menorah : The Menorah is the seven branched candlestick which was placed in the temple in Jerusalem, each home has a Menorah to remind them of the temple and of their hope that one day it will be built again


Slide 16:The Mezuzah : The Mezuzah is a small box fixed to the doorpost on your house, according to the command in scripture. If you look at a Jewish house there will be a small box fixed to the right hand side of the doorpost. Inside the Mezuzah is a small piece of parchment with the words of Deuteronomy 13-21 written upon it. You need to look this up in the Bible in the Old Testament.


Slide 17:The Magen David : The Magen David is the star of David, this is the representation of the state of Israel. It is more a political than a religious statement. The state of Israel was recreated by the United Nations in 1948.


Slide 19:Lev. 11:13-19 : These you shall regard as detestable among the birds. They shall not be eaten; they are an abomination: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, the buzzard, the kite of any kind; every raven of any kind; the ostrich, the nighthawk, the sea gull, the hawk of any kind; the little owl, the cormorant, the great owl, the water hen, the desert owl, the carrion vulture, the stork, the heron of any kind, the hoopoe, and the bat.


Slide 20:Kosher animals There are two things that tell if an animal is kosher. Firstly its hooves are completely parted at the bottom to form two horny pads, and secondly if it chews the cud. Cows, sheep, goats and deer are the common animals that have both these features and so these are kosher. Pigs, whilst they do have split hooves do not chew the cud are so are not kosher, likewise camels while they chew the cud only have partially split hooves and so are also not kosher


Slide 21:All Vegetables and fruit are kosher, but they must be carefully checked for non-kosher foods like insects. All dairy products are kosher (Must be bloodless), but it must be checked that the product does not contain any meat based products (for example many cheeses contain rennet which is made from the stomach of pigs or cows and thus breaks two of the kosher rules (i) that meat and dairy must be separate and (ii) that products from the pig are treyfah). Also the kosher Jew must to sure that the milk is only from kosher animals (some farmers made a practice of topping up cow's milk with pig's milk - this would make the milk treyfah) All shellfish is treyfah.


Slide 22:Boys : After a boy child has been born a blessing is said and eight days later the child will be presented for the ceremony of circumcision. This may take place in the synagogue or in the home, or at the hospital. This is a very important ceremony and the only reason for delaying it is if the child is ill. The boy will be placed on the lap of the sandek (A bit like a Christian godparent). It is a great honour to be asked to perform this service. The circumcision is performed by the mohel , who may be a doctor but does not have to be. The circumcision of boys is a sign of the covenant that God agreed with Abraham (more about Abraham).


Slide 23:The ceremony of the Bar Mitzvah is a very important occasion for the young Jewish male. The ceremony, is normally held on the first Shabbat after his 13th birthday.


Slide 24:There are three main reasons why the Bar Mitzvah is so important for every Jewish male: The boy who has come of age is given the full religious responsibilities of the adult male. He is allowed to wear the ritual clothes the Tallit and the Tefillin, he can make up the minimum 10 males who must be present for a service to take place (the minyan), and he can take part fully in the worship in the synagogue. At any time in the future he can be called upon to read from the Torah. All Jews consider this to be a great privilege. In many synagogues this is seen as a serious statement of faith by the young adult. They acknowledge their faith and acknowledge that the responsibility for their spiritual life now passes from their parents to them.


Slide 25:. The Chuppah : The whole of the wedding service takes place under the Chuppah. This is usually a canopy supported by four poles and normally decorated with fringes and flowers. The chuppah is a symbol of the home that the couple will set up together after the marriage.


Slide 26:. Signing the KETUBAH : Before the bride enters the synagogue the bridegroom will sign the Ketubah, thus signifying the terms of the contract for the marriage. The Ketubah is a "bill of rights" for the woman since it sets out the responsibilities of the husband, the wording of the document is about 2000 years old.


Slide 27:The groom now waits for his bride under the chuppah, at a signal the bride enters in procession. The bride will come with a collection of close relatives and friends who take their place on either side of the chuppah. As the bride enters a special blessing is sung. The betrothal blessing is recited over a goblet of wine and God is praised for guiding humanity by giving laws about marriage. The couple then drink from the goblet and the groom places a ring on the right index finger of the bride.


Slide 28:The seven blessings of marriage are then recited. These are called the SHEVA BARACHOTH After the Sheva Baracoth a cup of wine is then drunk. The bridegroom then symbolically breaks a glass under his foot The priestly blessing is then said over the couple the couple leave to sign the registers.


Slide 29:When someone dies the family does something which non-Jewish observers would find very strange they take hold of a garment that they are wearing and tear it. This is an ancient Jewish customs and helps to vent the anger that they are feeling at the death of a loved one.


Slide 30:A candle is lit and placed at the head of the bed. One of the sons remains with the body and quietly recites some of the psalms. From now until the burial, the body would not be left alone. Arrangements are made for the funeral, for it is the tradition for the Jews to bury the body, if at all possible within 24 hours of death. The undertaker provides a simple coffin.


Slide 31:The Holocaust This took place during World War 2 when an attempt was made to wipe out all the Jews in Europe. Concentration camps such as Auschwitz: Belsen and Dachau were used. Approximately 6 million Jews died in these camps.


Slide 32:The mass slaughter of a race of people is called GENOCIDE. Think of an example of where this has happened or may be happening today.