Judaism: Practices

What you'll learn

This revision guide covers the key practices of Judaism required for the WJEC GCSE Religious Education specification. You'll explore Jewish worship in the home and synagogue, the significance of Shabbat and major festivals, rites of passage, and the role of ritual in Jewish life. Understanding these practices will help you explain how Jewish beliefs are expressed through actions and traditions.

Key terms and definitions

Shabbat — The Jewish day of rest from Friday evening to Saturday evening, commemorating God's rest after creation.

Synagogue — The Jewish place of worship and community gathering, also called a temple or shul.

Torah — The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), also refers to the scroll containing these texts.

Rabbi — A Jewish religious teacher and leader who interprets Jewish law and conducts services.

Bar Mitzvah — The coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys at age 13, meaning 'son of the commandment'.

Bat Mitzvah — The coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish girls at age 12 (or 13 in some communities), meaning 'daughter of the commandment'.

Kashrut — The Jewish dietary laws defining which foods are kosher (permitted) and how they should be prepared.

Tenakh — The Hebrew Bible, consisting of the Torah (Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

Core concepts

Worship in the home and synagogue

Home worship

Jewish religious life centres significantly on the home, which is considered a small sanctuary. Key practices include:

• Daily prayers: Observant Jews pray three times daily (morning, afternoon, evening) using a prayer book called a Siddur. Men wear a tallit (prayer shawl) and tefillin (small leather boxes containing Torah verses) during morning prayers.

• Mezuzah: A small case containing the Shema prayer (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) fixed to doorposts, reminding Jews of God's presence and their covenant obligations.

• Family prayers: Parents lead blessings before meals and at bedtime, teaching children Jewish values and maintaining religious continuity.

Synagogue worship

The synagogue serves as the focal point for communal worship, education, and social gathering:

• Shabbat services: The main service occurs on Saturday morning, lasting several hours and including Torah readings, prayers, and a sermon from the rabbi.

• Key features: The Ark (Aron Hakodesh) contains the Torah scrolls and faces Jerusalem. The bimah is the raised platform where the Torah is read. The Ner Tamid (eternal light) burns continuously above the Ark, symbolising God's eternal presence.

• Minyan: A quorum of ten adult Jewish men (in Orthodox communities) or ten adults of any gender (in Reform/Liberal communities) required for certain prayers.

• Gender roles: Orthodox synagogues separate men and women during worship, with women in a gallery or behind a mechitzah (partition). Reform and Liberal synagogues practice mixed seating and gender equality in worship leadership.

Shabbat observance

Shabbat is the most important regular observance in Judaism, commanded in the Ten Commandments. It runs from sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday (approximately 25 hours).

Friday evening (Erev Shabbat)

• The home is prepared: cleaning, cooking (as no work is permitted on Shabbat), setting the table with challah bread and wine.

• Candle lighting: At least 18 minutes before sunset, women or girls light two candles, reciting a blessing. This marks Shabbat's beginning and represents peace and God's light.

• Kiddush: The blessing over wine, sanctifying Shabbat as holy time.

• Blessing children: Parents place hands on children's heads, blessing them with traditional words.

• Challah: Two plaited loaves represent the double portion of manna given to Israelites in the wilderness. A blessing is recited before breaking and sharing the bread.

Saturday observance

• Attending synagogue services for communal prayer and Torah reading.

• Prohibition of work: The 39 categories of forbidden activities (melachot) include writing, using electricity, cooking, and travelling. Orthodox Jews interpret these strictly; Reform Jews may be more flexible.

• Three festive meals are eaten, with prayers and songs.

• Havdalah: The ceremony marking Shabbat's end, using wine, a braided candle, and sweet-smelling spices in a special spice box. This symbolises reluctance to let Shabbat go.

Significance

• Obedience to the Fourth Commandment
• Imitating God's rest after creation (Genesis 2:2-3)
• Remembering freedom from slavery in Egypt
• Family bonding and spiritual renewal
• Distinguishing Jews from surrounding culture

Festivals and their significance

Rosh Hashanah (New Year)

• Occurs in September/October (1-2 Tishrei in the Jewish calendar)
• Marks the Jewish New Year and beginning of the Ten Days of Repentance
• The shofar (ram's horn) is blown to call people to repentance
• Symbolic foods include apples dipped in honey (for a sweet year) and pomegranates (representing the 613 commandments)
• Services focus on God as creator and judge
• Tashlich ceremony: symbolically casting sins into flowing water

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

• The holiest day in the Jewish year, occurring ten days after Rosh Hashanah
• A complete 25-hour fast (no food or drink) for adults
• Entire day spent in synagogue prayer and confession
• Wearing white clothing symbolises purity and the desire for forgiveness
• Kol Nidre service on the eve includes the haunting prayer annulling unfulfilled vows
• Final shofar blast marks the end of the fast
• Belief that God seals each person's fate for the coming year

Pesach (Passover)

• Spring festival (usually March/April) lasting seven or eight days
• Commemorates the Exodus from Egypt when God freed the Israelites from slavery
• All chametz (leavened products) removed from homes before the festival
• Seder meal: Special ritual meal on the first night (and second night outside Israel) following a set order in the Haggadah (story book)
• Seder plate contains symbolic foods: bitter herbs (slavery's bitterness), charoset (mortar for building), lamb bone (Passover sacrifice), green vegetable (new life), egg (new beginning)
• Four cups of wine represent four divine promises of redemption
• Eating matzah (unleavened bread) remembers the hasty departure from Egypt
• Children ask the Four Questions, maintaining tradition across generations

Sukkot (Tabernacles)

• Autumn harvest festival lasting seven days
• Families build and dwell in a sukkah (temporary hut) with a roof of natural materials through which stars are visible
• Remembers the 40 years Israelites lived in temporary shelters in the wilderness
• Four species are blessed daily: palm branch, myrtle, willow, and citron fruit (etrog)
• Celebrates God's protection and provision
• Emphasises the temporary nature of material possessions

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

• Eight-day festival in December
• Commemorates the Maccabean victory over Greek-Syrian oppression (165 BCE) and the rededication of the Temple
• Celebrates religious freedom and the miracle of one day's oil lasting eight days
• Hanukkiah (nine-branched menorah): one candle lit each night using the servant candle (shamash)
• Traditional foods fried in oil (latkes, doughnuts) remember the oil miracle
• Games with the dreidel (spinning top) and giving gifts, especially to children

Rites of passage

Birth and naming

• Brit Milah (circumcision): Male infants circumcised on the eighth day, entering the covenant between God and Abraham. A mohel (trained circumciser) performs the ritual. The baby receives his Hebrew name.

• Girls are named in synagogue, typically when the Torah is read. Some families hold a Simchat Bat (celebration of a daughter) ceremony.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

• Boys at 13, girls at 12 (or 13 in some communities) become responsible for following Jewish commandments
• The young person reads from the Torah in synagogue for the first time
• Often includes reading a portion from the Prophets (haftarah) and giving a speech (d'var Torah)
• Celebration party follows, though the religious obligation doesn't require this
• Marks entry into religious adulthood and accountability for one's actions
• From this point, the individual counts toward a minyan

Marriage

• Weddings typically occur on Sundays or weekdays (not Shabbat or festivals)
• Chuppah: Canopy under which the couple stands, symbolising their future home
• Ketubah: Marriage contract outlining the husband's responsibilities, signed before witnesses
• Seven blessings (Sheva Brachot) praising God and celebrating marriage
• Groom breaks a glass underfoot, remembering the Temple's destruction even in joy
• Marriage seen as fulfilling the first commandment to "be fruitful and multiply"

Death and mourning

• Body washed and dressed in simple white shroud (tachrichim), emphasising equality in death
• Burial occurs quickly, usually within 24 hours, without embalming
• Shiva: Seven-day mourning period when immediate family stays home, receiving visitors. Mirrors are covered; mourners sit on low stools.
• Kaddish: Prayer praising God recited by mourners, particularly by sons for deceased parents, daily for eleven months, then annually on the death anniversary (yahrzeit)
• Simple gravestones reflect Jewish values of humility
• Belief in resurrection of the dead at the Messianic age

Dietary laws (Kashrut)

Jewish dietary laws derive from the Torah, particularly Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.

Permitted foods (kosher)

• Mammals: Must have split hooves and chew the cud (cattle, sheep, goats, deer). Pork is forbidden.
• Fish: Must have fins and scales (cod, salmon, tuna). Shellfish and seafood are forbidden.
• Birds: Chicken, turkey, duck, and goose are permitted. Birds of prey are forbidden.
• Other: Eggs from kosher birds, fruit, vegetables, and grains are permitted.

Preparation requirements

• Shechita: Ritual slaughter performed by a trained shochet, using a sharp knife to cut the throat swiftly, draining blood completely. This is considered the most humane method.
• Meat soaked and salted to remove all remaining blood (Leviticus 17:10-14)
• Separation of meat and dairy: Cannot be cooked or eaten together (based on Exodus 23:19). Many Jews maintain separate utensils, dishes, and cookware.
• Three to six hours typically waited between eating meat and dairy

Reasons for observance

• Obedience to God's commandments
• Self-discipline and spiritual development
• Maintaining Jewish identity and distinctiveness
• Ethical treatment of animals
• Holiness and separation from impurity
• Community cohesion through shared practices

Worked examples

Example 1: AO1 question (5 marks)

Describe Jewish practices during Shabbat. [5 marks]

Model answer:

Shabbat begins on Friday evening when women light two candles and recite a blessing, welcoming Shabbat into the home. The family then recites Kiddush, a blessing over wine that sanctifies the day as holy. They share two challah loaves, representing the double portion of manna.

On Saturday, Jews attend synagogue for the main Shabbat service, which includes Torah readings and prayers. Throughout Shabbat, Orthodox Jews observe the prohibition against work, which includes 39 categories of forbidden activities such as writing, using electricity, and travelling.

Shabbat concludes with Havdalah, a ceremony using wine, a braided candle, and sweet-smelling spices. This marks the transition from sacred Shabbat time back to the ordinary week.

Mark scheme notes: Award 1 mark for each accurate point. Developed statements linking practices to their meaning or significance can earn up to 5 marks. This answer provides specific details (candle lighting, Kiddush, Havdalah) with explanation.

Example 2: AO2 question (15 marks)

"Celebrating festivals in the home is more important than celebrating them in the synagogue." Discuss this statement showing that you have considered more than one point of view. (You must refer to religion and belief in your answer.) [15 marks]

Model answer structure:

Arguments for: Jewish tradition emphasises the home as a "miniature sanctuary." Pesach's Seder meal occurs at home, allowing families to transmit the Exodus story directly to children through the Four Questions and symbolic foods. This fulfils the commandment to tell the story to future generations. The home environment creates intimate, meaningful experiences that strengthen family bonds and religious identity. Many Shabbat rituals (candle lighting, Kiddush, challah) occur at home before synagogue attendance, suggesting the home's central importance.

Arguments against: Synagogue worship provides communal celebration essential to Jewish identity. A minyan (ten adults) is required for certain prayers, which cannot be achieved alone at home. Public Torah reading on festivals and hearing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah require synagogue attendance. The synagogue serves as the focal point for community cohesion, allowing Jews to celebrate together and strengthen collective identity. Some Jews may lack family or knowledge to celebrate properly at home, making synagogue celebration vital.

Balanced conclusion: Both have importance in different ways. The home provides intimate, family-centred celebration where children learn traditions naturally. The synagogue offers communal worship, fulfilling obligations requiring a minyan, and supporting those without families. Most Jews would argue both contexts complement each other rather than compete, with home and synagogue celebration together creating the full experience of Jewish festivals.

Mark scheme notes: Level 5 (13-15 marks) requires sophisticated arguments from different perspectives, religious knowledge accurately applied, thorough analysis, and a well-argued conclusion. This answer presents balanced viewpoints with specific Jewish examples.

Example 3: AO1 question (2 marks)

Give two reasons why Jews observe dietary laws. [2 marks]

Model answer:

1. To obey God's commandments in the Torah, particularly Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
2. To maintain Jewish identity and distinctiveness from surrounding cultures.

Mark scheme notes: Award 1 mark for each valid reason. Answers must be simple and direct for 2-mark questions.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Remember Rosh Hashanah is the New Year when the shofar is blown multiple times, while Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement with fasting and one final shofar blast. They are connected but distinct festivals ten days apart.

• Stating all Jews practice the same way: Always acknowledge diversity between Orthodox, Reform, and Liberal Judaism. For example, Orthodox Jews separate men and women in synagogue worship, while Reform Jews practice mixed seating and gender equality.

• Mixing up Bar and Bat Mitzvah ages: Bar Mitzvah is for boys at age 13; Bat Mitzvah is for girls at age 12 (or 13 in some communities). Remember "Bar" for boys and the earlier age for girls in traditional practice.

• Not explaining the significance of practices: Don't just describe what happens—explain why. For example, don't just say Jews eat matzah at Pesach; explain it represents the unleavened bread eaten during the hasty departure from Egypt.

• Forgetting to use specific terminology: Use proper terms like shofar, tallit, tefillin, Siddur rather than generic descriptions. This demonstrates accurate knowledge and earns higher marks.

• Writing too generally in AO2 questions: Support arguments with specific examples. Instead of saying "festivals are important," reference particular festivals like Pesach and explain how the Seder meal transmission of the Exodus story to children demonstrates importance.

Exam technique for "Judaism: Practices"

• Command words matter: "Describe" (AO1) requires factual information without personal opinion. "Explain" needs causes, reasons, or significance. "Discuss" or "Evaluate" (AO2) requires different viewpoints and your reasoning. Match your answer style to the command word.

• Plan AO2 answers: Spend 2-3 minutes planning 15-mark questions. Note arguments for, against, and your conclusion before writing. This creates structure and ensures balanced coverage of different perspectives.

• Use specific examples: Generic answers earn lower marks. Reference particular practices (Kiddush, Havdalah, Seder), festivals (Pesach, Yom Kippur), or objects (shofar, mezuzah, tefillin) to demonstrate detailed knowledge.

• Mark allocation guides time: Spend roughly one minute per mark. A 5-mark question deserves 5 minutes; a 15-mark question deserves 15 minutes. Don't write excessively on low-mark questions at the expense of higher-mark ones.

Quick revision summary

Judaism expresses belief through practice. Worship occurs in both home (daily prayers, mezuzah, family rituals) and synagogue (Shabbat services, Torah reading, communal prayer). Shabbat, observed from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall, commemorates creation and the Exodus through rest, candle lighting, Kiddush, and Havdalah. Major festivals include Rosh Hashanah (New Year, shofar), Yom Kippur (fasting, atonement), Pesach (Seder meal, Exodus remembrance), Sukkot (temporary shelters), and Hanukkah (lights, religious freedom). Rites of passage mark life stages: Brit Milah, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, marriage under the chuppah, and structured mourning. Dietary laws (kashrut) require kosher food, ritual slaughter, and meat-dairy separation, promoting holiness and identity.