Jewish Expressions Of Faith: Devotion To God

Judaism is one of the world's oldest religions, dating back nearly 4,000 years, and is considered the original Abrahamic faith. Jewish people show their faith to God by adhering to the Torah, which contains the laws given to the Israelites at Mount Sinai, and by observing the Ten Commandments, which are considered holy laws handed down to Moses by God. They believe in a monotheistic conception of God, characterised by transcendence and immanence, and view God as unique, perfect, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, and infinite. While Judaism has various sects, including Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist, all Jews share a long-accepted notion of a continuous and unbroken religious and cultural tradition.

Observing Shabbat

Shabbat is the seventh day of the week in the Jewish calendar, when God completed his work of creation and rested. It is a day of rest from the activities of the rest of the week, a day of peace and joy.

Preparing for Shabbat

As there are many activities prohibited on Shabbat, it is best to prepare in advance. Food shopping and laundry should be done the day before. It is also customary to shower and wear your best clothes.

Welcoming Shabbat

Shabbat is welcomed with prayers, the lighting of candles, Kiddush and challah prayers, and a festive dinner. Friday night services are also held at the synagogue.

Saturday Morning Services

Attend Saturday morning services at the synagogue. Prepare a Kiddush prayer for Saturday afternoon lunch.

Singing

Sing Hebrew songs at all meals, as Shabbat is a day of joy.

Restrictions

There are 39 tasks prohibited on Shabbat, and rabbinical authorities may vary in what they consider permissible. It is best to consult a rabbi when uncertain. These tasks include writing, using electronic devices, and outdoor work.

Spending Time with Family and Friends

Host a Shabbat dinner with traditional foods. Observing Shabbat can also include spending time reading, playing games, taking a nap, and enjoying activities that nurture your soul.

Following the Torah

The Torah is considered the word of God and provides a set of laws and commandments that guide the lives of observant Jews. It is through following these laws and commandments that Jews express their faith and devotion to God. Observant Jews strive to incorporate the Torah's teachings into their daily lives, shaping their actions and decisions.

One example of how Jews follow the Torah is by observing Shabbat, a day of rest and prayer. Shabbat typically begins at sunset on Friday and lasts until nightfall on Saturday. During this time, Orthodox and Conservative Jews may refrain from work, using electrical devices, or handling money. Instead, they may choose to read and discuss the Torah, attend synagogue services, or socialize with other Jews.

Additionally, the Torah's influence extends beyond individual actions and into the realm of community and worship. Jews gather in synagogues, led by spiritual leaders called rabbis, to pray and study sacred texts, including the Torah. The Torah is also central to Jewish holidays and rituals, such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Hanukkah. These occasions provide opportunities for Jews to connect with their faith and reinforce their commitment to God's commandments as outlined in the Torah.

Furthermore, the Torah's impact on Jewish identity and community formation cannot be overstated. For example, the story of Abraham, as recounted in the Torah, describes how he and his descendants were chosen by God to create a great nation. This sense of being "chosen people" has played a significant role in shaping Jewish identity and their relationship with God.

In conclusion, following the Torah is a fundamental aspect of Judaism. It serves as a moral compass, a source of spiritual guidance, and a link to their rich history and covenant with God. By adhering to the Torah's teachings and incorporating them into their daily lives, Jews demonstrate their faith and strengthen their connection to God and their religious community.

Worshipping in synagogues

A synagogue, also called a shul or temple, is a place of worship for Jews. It is a consecrated space used for prayer, study, assembly, and the reading of the Torah. Synagogues are not always necessary for Jewish worship, as adaptations were made during times of persecution. However, they are considered focal points for Jewish worship, with the Torah Ark, or Aron Kodesh, being the holiest spot in a synagogue.

Synagogues are built by a variety of Jewish groups and vary in architectural style, with no set blueprint. They often include a main sanctuary, smaller chapels, rooms for study, social halls, administrative offices, classrooms, and many places to sit and congregate. They may also display artwork and items of historical significance.

In terms of worship, synagogues host religious services and special ceremonies such as weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, choir performances, and children's plays. Services vary depending on the denomination of the synagogue (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, etc.), its leadership, and its unique customs and traditions.

There are certain expectations for behaviour when attending a synagogue. For example, guests are expected to dress formally, with men wearing a suit or slacks, and women wearing a dress or formal pantsuit. In more traditional communities, women wear hats and are discouraged from wearing pants. Guests are also expected to turn off their phones, refrain from taking pictures, not smoke, and maintain a respectful attitude towards the sanctity of the prayer service.

During the service, there will be frequent directions to stand and sit at different points, which are signs of respect rather than religious affirmations. The service will be led by a rabbi or cantor, with members of the congregation participating in various roles such as reading from the Torah.

Celebrating Jewish holidays

One of the weekly observances is Shabbat, a day of rest and holiness celebrated on the seventh day of each week, from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. During Shabbat, observant Jews abstain from work and attend services. Many also refrain from driving, using electrical devices, cooking, and carrying things in public. It is a day to commemorate God's rest on the seventh day of creation and is often spent with family and friends, sharing meals and reading or discussing the Torah.

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a two-day holiday celebrated in the fall. It includes a synagogue service with the sounding of the shofar, an instrument made from a ram's horn. During Rosh Hashanah, people repent for their mistakes and resolve to improve in the coming year. This is followed by a ten-day period of introspection, known as the Days of Awe, which concludes with Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is considered the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. On this day, Jews attend synagogue, pray for forgiveness, and seek to right any wrongs they have committed. They abstain from work and undergo a 25-hour fast.

Sukkot, or the Feast of Booths, is a seven-day holiday that commemorates the Israelites' 40 years spent wandering in the wilderness. During Sukkot, Jews build and decorate temporary shelters called sukkot, and they perform a special prayer ritual using specific ritual objects. The festival ends with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, during which the Torah scrolls are carried around the synagogue in celebration.

Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem after the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Greeks in 164 BCE. Candles are lit each night and placed in a special Hanukkah menorah. Traditional Hanukkah activities include spinning a dreidel, eating fried foods, and exchanging gifts.

Passover, or Pesach, is a seven- to eight-day holiday that commemorates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt. Before Passover, Jewish homes are cleansed of leavened food to remember the haste of the Israelites' flight from Egypt, leaving no time for their bread dough to rise. The holiday includes a ritual meal called a seder, where symbolic foods are eaten, and songs, stories, and prayers are shared.

Reading and discussing the Torah

The Torah is the most important of the Jewish sacred texts. It is also referred to as the Pentateuch and the first five books of the Tanakh, or the Hebrew Bible. The Torah outlines the laws that Jews follow and explains the origins of the Jewish faith.

The tradition of reading the Torah out loud in the synagogue dates back to the time of Moses, who would read the Torah publicly on Shabbat, festivals, and Rosh Chodesh. The Torah is kept in the Ark, and at the time of the reading, the master reader removes it from the Ark and reads it at the bimah, a table at the centre of the Temple or synagogue. The master reader will then read that week's Torah passage in a special, reverent tune known as a trop. Before and after the reading, a group of men are called to the bimah, where they recite a short blessing to bless the reading.

The Torah is divided into 54 portions, one to be read each Shabbat, with two portions read together twice during the year. The entire reading is completed every calendar year. The basic pattern of Torah reading has usually remained the same, but since the 19th century CE, Reform and Conservative Judaism have made adaptations to the practice.

The Torah is read during the morning or afternoon prayer services on certain days of the week or holidays. On Shabbat mornings, a weekly section, known as a sedra or parashah, is read, selected so that the entire Pentateuch is read consecutively each year. On Sabbath afternoons, Mondays, and Thursdays, the beginning of the following Sabbath's portion is read. On Jewish holidays, Rosh Chodesh, and fast days, special sections connected to the day are read.

There are always at least three people on the bimah (a raised platform from where the Torah is read). This is because, according to the Talmud, one should not stand alone to emphasise that God gave the Torah through an intermediary. The person on the bimah is also there to correct the reader's pronunciation and "trop" (a series of musical notations that dictate the tune of how the Torah is read), since the Torah scroll has no punctuation or vowels.

The Torah scroll is stored in an ornamental cabinet, called a holy ark (aron kodesh), designed specifically for Torah scrolls. The Holy Ark is usually found at the front of the sanctuary and is a central element of synagogue architecture. When needed for reading, the Torah is removed from the ark by someone chosen for the honour from among the congregants; specific prayers are recited as it is removed. The Torah is then carried by the one leading the services to the bimah; further prayers are recited by the congregation while this is done.

The Torah is also discussed in the Mishna and Talmud, primarily in tractate Megilla.

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