Judaism: Practices

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the key practices of Judaism tested in CIE IGCSE Religious Studies. You'll explore how Jewish people express their faith through worship, festivals, dietary laws, and life-cycle events. Understanding these practices demonstrates how religious beliefs shape daily life and community identity.

Key terms and definitions

Shabbat — the Jewish day of rest from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, commemorating God's rest after Creation

Synagogue — the Jewish house of worship and community gathering, also called a temple or shul

Kosher — food that is permitted under Jewish dietary laws (kashrut); also describes anything ritually fit or proper

Torah — the first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Pentateuch), containing Jewish law and teachings

Bar/Bat Mitzvah — coming-of-age ceremony when a boy (13) or girl (12) becomes responsible for following Jewish law

Yom Kippur — the Day of Atonement, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, focused on repentance and fasting

Rabbi — a Jewish religious teacher and spiritual leader qualified to make decisions on Jewish law

Tallit — a prayer shawl with fringes (tzitzit) worn during morning prayers and on special occasions

Core concepts

The Synagogue and Worship

The synagogue serves three main functions: a house of prayer (Bet Tefilah), a house of study (Bet Midrash), and a house of assembly (Bet Knesset). Jewish communities gather here for communal worship, education, and social events.

Key features of a synagogue:

• Ark (Aron Hakodesh) — the cupboard where Torah scrolls are kept, usually on the wall facing Jerusalem
• Ner Tamid — the eternal light burning continually above the Ark, symbolising God's constant presence
• Bimah — the raised platform from which the Torah is read
• Seating arrangement — Orthodox synagogues separate men and women (mechitzah), while Reform and Liberal synagogues have mixed seating

Communal worship:

Orthodox Jews pray three times daily (morning, afternoon, evening). A minyan (prayer quorum of ten adult men in Orthodox Judaism, ten adults in Reform/Liberal) is required for certain prayers. Services include readings from the Torah and prayers such as the Shema (declaration of God's unity) and Amidah (standing prayer).

Shabbat services on Saturday morning are the most important weekly gathering, featuring Torah readings, prayers, and a sermon from the rabbi. Services are conducted primarily in Hebrew, though some progressive synagogues include prayers in English or other vernacular languages.

Shabbat Observance

Shabbat commemorates both God's rest after six days of Creation and the Exodus from Egypt. It begins eighteen minutes before sunset on Friday and ends when three stars appear on Saturday night.

Friday evening (Erev Shabbat):

• Lighting candles before sunset (performed traditionally by women)
• Reciting blessings over wine (Kiddush) and two loaves of plaited bread (challah)
• Festive meal with family, often including chicken soup and traditional foods
• Blessings for children

Saturday observance:

• Attending synagogue for morning service
• Torah reading and sermon
• Kiddush and lunch meal
• Rest, study, and family time
• Havdalah ceremony after nightfall marks the end of Shabbat with blessings over wine, spices, and a braided candle

Prohibited activities on Shabbat:

Orthodox Jews refrain from 39 categories of work (melachot), including:

• Lighting fires or using electricity (interpreted as fire)
• Cooking, writing, or carrying items in public
• Travelling by car or using technology
• Buying or selling goods

Reform and Liberal Jews interpret these restrictions more flexibly, focusing on the spirit of rest rather than strict legal observance.

Dietary Laws (Kashrut)

Kashrut refers to the complex system of Jewish dietary laws derived from Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

Permitted (kosher) animals:

• Land animals must chew the cud and have split hooves (e.g., cows, sheep, goats)
• Fish must have fins and scales (excludes shellfish)
• Certain birds are permitted (chicken, turkey, duck)
• Insects and reptiles are forbidden

Key requirements:

• Animals must be slaughtered humanely through shechita (ritual slaughter by a trained slaughterer called a shochet)
• All blood must be drained, as consuming blood is forbidden
• Meat and dairy products cannot be eaten together or prepared with the same utensils
• Separate sets of dishes and cookware for meat and dairy
• A waiting period (typically 3-6 hours) between eating meat and dairy

Reasons for keeping kosher:

• Obedience to God's commandments in the Torah
• Maintaining Jewish identity and discipline
• Ethical treatment of animals through humane slaughter
• Promoting mindfulness about food choices
• Strengthening community bonds through shared practice

Reform Jews may keep kosher selectively or focus on ethical eating without strict adherence to all laws.

Festivals and Holy Days

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year):

• Two-day festival in September/October (Tishrei 1-2)
• Begins the Ten Days of Repentance leading to Yom Kippur
• Sounding the shofar (ram's horn) in synagogue to call people to repentance
• Symbolic foods: apples dipped in honey (for a sweet year), round challah
• Themes of judgement, renewal, and God's kingship

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement):

• Holiest day in the Jewish calendar, ten days after Rosh Hashanah
• 25-hour fast from sunset to nightfall the following day
• Wearing white clothing symbolising purity
• Five synagogue services including Kol Nidre (evening service) and Neilah (closing service)
• Confessing sins and seeking forgiveness from God and others
• Ends with a single blast of the shofar

Pesach (Passover):

• Eight-day spring festival (seven days in Israel) commemorating the Exodus from Egypt
• Seder meal on first two nights with ritual foods and retelling the Exodus story from the Haggadah
• Eating matzah (unleavened bread) and avoiding all leavened products (chametz)
• Four cups of wine representing God's promises of redemption
• Seder plate items: bitter herbs (maror), charoset (apple and nut mixture), roasted egg, roasted bone, parsley, salt water

Sukkot (Tabernacles):

• Seven-day autumn festival remembering the Israelites' journey through the wilderness
• Building and dwelling in a sukkah (temporary hut with leafy roof)
• Waving the lulav (palm branch) and etrog (citron) in six directions
• Celebrating the harvest and God's provision

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights):

• Eight-day winter festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BCE
• Lighting the menorah (nine-branched candelabrum), adding one candle each night
• Traditional foods fried in oil (latkes, doughnuts) recalling the miracle of oil
• Playing with the dreidel (spinning top) and giving gifts or money (gelt)

Rites of Passage

Birth and early childhood:

• Brit Milah (circumcision) for boys on eighth day of life, signifying the covenant with Abraham
• Baby girls named in synagogue with prayers
• Pidyon haben (redemption of the firstborn son) ceremony 31 days after birth

Bar and Bat Mitzvah:

• Boy becomes Bar Mitzvah at 13, girl becomes Bat Mitzvah at 12 (or 13 in Reform communities)
• Assumes responsibility for following commandments
• Typically reads from the Torah in synagogue and may lead prayers or give a speech
• Celebrated with family gatherings; often includes charitable giving

Marriage:

• Performed under a chuppah (wedding canopy) symbolising the couple's future home
• Groom places a ring on the bride's finger with specific Hebrew vows
• Reading of the ketubah (marriage contract) outlining the husband's responsibilities
• Drinking wine from a shared cup
• Breaking a glass to remember the destruction of the Temple
• Seven marriage blessings (Sheva Brachot)

Death and mourning:

• Burial should occur quickly, ideally within 24 hours
• Simple wooden coffin to show equality; body wrapped in a shroud
• Shiva — seven-day mourning period at home with family and community
• Reciting the Kaddish (prayer sanctifying God's name, associated with mourning)
• Unveiling a headstone typically within the first year
• Yahrzeit — annual commemoration of death with candle-lighting and Kaddish

Prayer and Religious Observances

Daily prayer (Tefillah):

Orthodox Jewish men pray three times daily wearing tefillin (phylacteries — small leather boxes containing Torah verses, bound to the forehead and arm) during weekday morning prayers and a tallit.

Mezuzah:

• Small case containing the Shema affixed to doorposts of Jewish homes
• Touched and kissed when entering or leaving as a reminder of God's presence and commandments
• Fulfils the Torah's instruction in Deuteronomy 6:9

Study:

Religious study is considered an act of worship. Many Jews attend Torah study classes, and children receive Jewish education through Hebrew school, supplementing secular schooling.

Worked examples

Example 1: (d) question (6 marks)

Question: Explain why celebrating Shabbat is important for Jewish families.

Model answer:

Celebrating Shabbat is important for Jewish families because it fulfils a biblical commandment to observe the day of rest, which is one of the Ten Commandments given by God at Mount Sinai. This demonstrates obedience to God's will and maintains the covenant relationship between God and the Jewish people.

Shabbat provides essential family time in modern busy lives. The Friday evening meal brings the whole family together without distractions like work or technology, strengthening family bonds and creating weekly opportunities for parents to bless their children and share values.

Additionally, Shabbat connects families to their Jewish identity and heritage. By lighting candles, reciting Kiddush, and eating challah, families participate in traditions that Jews have observed for thousands of years, creating continuity between generations and reinforcing their place within the wider Jewish community.

Mark scheme guidance: Award 2 marks for each developed point. Good answers show understanding of religious significance, practical benefits, and connection to identity/community.

Example 2: (c) question (4 marks)

Question: Describe what happens during a Bar Mitzvah ceremony.

Model answer:

During a Bar Mitzvah ceremony, the 13-year-old boy is called up to read from the Torah scroll in synagogue, usually on a Shabbat morning. He will chant a portion from the Torah (parashah) and often also read from the Prophets (haftarah) in Hebrew. The boy typically wears a tallit (prayer shawl) for the first time and may lead some of the prayers. After the reading, he might give a speech (d'var torah) explaining what he has learned, and the rabbi and his father offer blessings. This ceremony marks the boy becoming responsible for following Jewish commandments and being counted in a minyan.

Mark scheme guidance: Award 1 mark per relevant point. Include specific details about Torah reading, wearing ritual items, and the significance of the event.

Example 3: (a) question (2 marks)

Question: State two reasons why Jews keep kosher.

Model answer:

One reason Jews keep kosher is to obey God's commandments in the Torah, which lists permitted and forbidden foods. Another reason is to maintain Jewish identity and remain distinct as a holy nation, as God instructed.

Mark scheme guidance: Award 1 mark for each valid reason stated. Accept: obeying God's law, maintaining discipline, humane treatment of animals, Jewish identity, or holiness.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing different Jewish denominations — Always specify whether a practice is Orthodox, Reform, or Liberal, as observance varies significantly. Don't assume all Jews follow the same practices.

• Mixing up festivals — Learn the unique features of each festival. Students often confuse Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur or mix up Pesach and Sukkot. Create a festival chart with dates, themes, and key practices.

• Insufficient detail in description questions — Saying "Jews pray" isn't enough. Specify where (synagogue), when (three times daily), what (Shema, Amidah), and how (facing Jerusalem, wearing tallit and tefillin).

• Ignoring the "why" in explanation questions — Don't just describe what happens. Explain the religious significance, connection to Torah, historical reasons, and impact on Jewish identity.

• Using imprecise terminology — Say "Torah scrolls" not "Bible," "synagogue" not "church," "Rabbi" not "priest." Accurate vocabulary demonstrates understanding and earns marks.

• Neglecting diversity within Judaism — Acknowledge that not all Jews practice the same way. Reform Jews may drive to synagogue on Shabbat, while Orthodox Jews would not. This shows deeper understanding.

Exam technique for "Judaism: Practices"

• Command words matter: "State" requires brief facts (1 mark each). "Describe" needs details about what happens (1 mark per point, typically 4 marks). "Explain" requires reasons and significance (2 marks per developed point, typically 6 marks). "Evaluate" means weighing different viewpoints (levels-based marking, typically 12 marks).

• Use the PEEL structure for explanation questions: Make a Point, provide Evidence from Jewish teaching or practice, Explain the significance, and Link back to the question. This ensures developed responses worth full marks.

• Include specific examples: Instead of "Jews celebrate festivals," write "Jews celebrate Pesach by eating matzah and holding a Seder meal to remember the Exodus from Egypt." Specificity demonstrates knowledge and earns higher marks.

• Balance in evaluation questions: For 12-mark questions, present arguments from different Jewish perspectives (Orthodox vs Reform) or different viewpoints on importance, then reach a reasoned conclusion supported by evidence from your arguments.

Quick revision summary

Judaism's practices express faith through daily, weekly, and annual rhythms. Shabbat provides weekly rest and family time from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall. Jews worship in synagogues featuring the Ark, bimah, and Ner Tamid. Dietary laws (kashrut) govern what and how Jews eat. Major festivals include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Pesach, Sukkot, and Hanukkah, each commemorating key events in Jewish history. Life-cycle events like Brit Milah, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, marriage under the chuppah, and mourning practices mark important transitions while reinforcing Jewish identity and covenant with God.