Judaism: Practices

What you'll learn

This guide covers all the essential Jewish practices you need for WJEC GCSE Religious Studies. You'll explore worship in the home and synagogue, major festivals throughout the Jewish calendar, and significant ceremonies marking life events. Understanding these practices demonstrates how Jewish beliefs are lived out in daily life and community worship.

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 shul or temple

Torah — The first five books of the Hebrew Bible, containing God's law given to Moses

Bar Mitzvah — The coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys at age 13, marking religious adulthood

Bat Mitzvah — The coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish girls, typically at age 12 in Orthodox Judaism or 13 in Reform Judaism

Kosher — Food that is permitted under Jewish dietary laws (kashrut)

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

Rabbi — A Jewish religious teacher and leader, trained in Jewish law and tradition

Core concepts

Worship in the home

Jewish home life centres on religious observance, with the family playing a crucial role in maintaining Jewish identity and tradition.

Shabbat observance

Shabbat begins on Friday evening at sunset and ends on Saturday evening when three stars appear in the sky. It is the most important day in the Jewish week.

Before Shabbat begins:

• The home is cleaned and preparations completed
• Cooking is done in advance as work is forbidden on Shabbat
• The table is set with the best items, including challah bread and wine

Friday evening rituals:

• The woman of the house lights at least two Shabbat candles and recites a blessing
• The family attends synagogue for evening prayers
• Upon returning home, Kiddush (blessing over wine) is recited
• Hands are washed ceremonially before breaking bread
• Two loaves of challah are blessed and shared, representing the double portion of manna God provided in the wilderness

The Shabbat day includes:

• Attending morning synagogue service
• Sharing festive meals with family
• Rest from work (39 categories of work are forbidden)
• Study and spiritual reflection

Havdalah ceremony concludes Shabbat:

• A multi-wicked candle is lit
• Blessings are said over wine and sweet spices
• The ceremony marks the separation between the holy day and the working week

Dietary laws (kashrut)

Jews who keep kosher follow detailed food regulations based on Torah commandments:

Permitted animals:

• Land animals must have split hooves and chew the cud (e.g., cows, sheep, goats)
• Fish must have fins and scales (shellfish are forbidden)
• Specific birds are permitted (poultry like chicken and turkey)

Forbidden foods:

• Pork and pork products
• Shellfish and seafood without fins and scales
• Mixing meat and dairy products in the same meal
• Blood (meat must be salted to remove blood)

Practical implications:

• Separate utensils, plates, and cooking equipment for meat and dairy
• Waiting periods between eating meat and dairy (typically 3-6 hours)
• Only consuming animals slaughtered according to Jewish law (shechita)
• Checking ingredients for non-kosher additives

Worship in the synagogue

The synagogue serves multiple functions as a house of prayer, study, and community assembly.

Features of a synagogue

Key elements include:

• Ark (Aron Hakodesh) — The holiest part of the synagogue, containing Torah scrolls, positioned on the wall facing Jerusalem
• Ner Tamid — The eternal light hanging above the Ark, symbolising God's eternal presence
• Bimah — The raised platform where the Torah is read
• Seating arrangements — In Orthodox synagogues, men and women sit separately (often with a mechitzah dividing them); in Reform synagogues, families sit together

Prayer services

Jewish men are required to pray three times daily: morning (Shacharit), afternoon (Minchah), and evening (Ma'ariv).

Communal prayer requirements:

• A minyan (quorum of ten men in Orthodox Judaism, or ten adults in Reform Judaism) is needed for certain prayers
• The Amidah (standing prayer) forms the core of each service
• The Shema declaration of faith in one God is recited

Religious objects

Orthodox Jewish men wear:

• Tallit — Prayer shawl with fringes (tzitzit) at four corners, reminding wearers of God's commandments
• Tefillin — Two small leather boxes containing Torah verses, bound to the forehead and arm during weekday morning prayers
• Kippah (yarmulke) — Head covering worn as a sign of respect for God

Festivals (1): Days of Awe

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)

This two-day festival in September/October marks the start of the Jewish year and begins the Ten Days of Repentance.

Observances:

• Sounding the shofar (ram's horn) in synagogue, calling people to repentance
• Eating symbolic foods: apples dipped in honey (for a sweet year), round challah (representing the cycle of the year)
• Wearing white in synagogue to symbolise purity
• Attending extended synagogue services with special liturgy
• Tashlich ceremony — symbolically casting sins into flowing water

Significance:

• God judges every person and records their fate for the coming year in the Book of Life
• A time for reflection, repentance, and resolution to improve
• Emphasises themes of creation, God as King and Judge

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)

The holiest day in the Jewish calendar, occurring ten days after Rosh Hashanah.

Observances:

• 25-hour complete fast (no food or drink)
• Abstaining from washing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations
• Spending almost the entire day in synagogue prayer
• Wearing white clothing (kittel) symbolising purity
• Five prayer services, including Kol Nidre (opening service) and Ne'ilah (closing service)
• The shofar sounds once at the end, signalling the fast is over

Significance:

• The day when God seals the judgment for the year
• Opportunity for complete repentance and atonement for sins against God
• Reconciliation with others must occur before Yom Kippur
• Demonstrates complete devotion to God through self-denial

Festivals (2): Pilgrim and historical festivals

Pesach (Passover)

This eight-day spring festival (seven days in Israel and for Reform Jews) commemorates the Exodus from Egypt.

Preparations:

• Complete removal of chametz (leavened products) from the home
• Thorough cleaning and using separate Passover dishes
• Only eating unleavened bread (matzah) during the festival

The Seder meal:

• Held on the first two nights (one night in Israel and Reform tradition)
• Following the Haggadah (telling of the Exodus story)
• Seder plate contains symbolic foods:
  • Maror (bitter herbs) — slavery's bitterness
  • Charoset (apple and nut mixture) — mortar used by slaves
  • Karpas (vegetable) — spring and new life
  • Zeroa (roasted bone) — Passover sacrifice
  • Beitzah (egg) — festival sacrifice and new life
• Four cups of wine represent stages of freedom
• Asking the Four Questions about why this night is different
• Leaving a cup for Elijah the prophet

Significance:

• Central to Jewish identity as the foundational liberation story
• Teaches each generation to feel as if they personally left Egypt
• Celebrates freedom and God's faithfulness to His covenant

Sukkot (Tabernacles)

This week-long autumn festival commemorates the Israelites' wilderness journey and celebrates the harvest.

Observances:

• Building and dwelling in a sukkah (temporary hut with branches for a roof)
• Eating meals in the sukkah for seven days
• Waving the lulav (palm branch bound with myrtle and willow) and etrog (citrus fruit) in six directions
• Special synagogue services

Significance:

• Remembering God's protection during 40 years in the wilderness
• Recognising dependence on God for sustenance
• Thanksgiving for agricultural blessings

Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)

This eight-day winter festival commemorates the Maccabean victory and Temple rededication in 165 BCE.

Observances:

• Lighting the hanukkiah (nine-branched menorah), adding one candle each night
• Using the shamash (servant candle) to light the others
• Placing the hanukkiah in a window to publicise the miracle
• Eating foods fried in oil (latkes/potato pancakes, sufganiyot/doughnuts)
• Playing dreidel (spinning top game)
• Exchanging gifts (especially in Western countries)

Significance:

• Celebrates religious freedom and God's miraculous intervention
• Commemorates the oil that burned for eight days when only one day's supply remained
• Affirms Jewish identity and perseverance against oppression

Life cycle rituals

Birth ceremonies

Male circumcision (Brit Milah):

• Performed on the eighth day after birth (unless medical reasons prevent it)
• A mohel (trained specialist) performs the circumcision
• The ceremony includes naming the baby and celebrating with family
• Represents the covenant between God and Abraham's descendants

Female naming:

• Girls are traditionally named in the synagogue when the Torah is read
• Some families hold a Simchat Bat (celebration of a daughter) ceremony
• Growing practice in Reform communities of creating parallel ceremonies to Brit Milah

Bar/Bat Mitzvah

This ceremony marks religious adulthood when young people become personally responsible for observing Jewish law.

Preparation:

• Years of Hebrew study and Torah learning
• Learning to chant from the Torah scroll
• Understanding Jewish law and responsibilities

The ceremony:

• Called to read from the Torah (aliyah) for the first time in synagogue
• Reading the week's haftarah (prophetic portion)
• Often delivering a d'var Torah (explanation of the Torah reading)
• Reception or celebration following the service

Significance:

• Now counted in a minyan and able to lead prayers
• Personally responsible for observing mitzvot (commandments)
• Taking on adult role in the Jewish community

Differences:

• Orthodox boys celebrate at 13, girls at 12
• Orthodox girls may have a smaller celebration rather than full Torah reading
• Reform Judaism treats boys and girls equally, both at age 13

Marriage (Kiddushin)

Jewish weddings establish a home following Jewish law and tradition.

Key elements:

• Signing the ketubah (marriage contract) before the ceremony
• Ceremony conducted under a chuppah (wedding canopy) representing the couple's new home
• Seven blessings (Sheva Brachot) recited over wine
• Exchange of rings with the declaration "You are consecrated to me..."
• Breaking a glass to remember the Temple's destruction
• Yichud (seclusion) — couple spends time alone immediately after the ceremony

Requirements:

• Both parties must be Jewish (or one must convert in Reform Judaism)
• Witnesses present
• Rabbi or qualified person officiating

Death and mourning

Jewish burial practices emphasise dignity, equality, and acceptance of death.

Burial customs:

• Burial should occur as soon as possible (usually within 24 hours)
• Body is ritually washed (taharah) by the Chevra Kadisha (burial society)
• Simple wooden coffin used (Orthodox) to demonstrate equality in death
• Body dressed in simple white shroud (tachrichim)
• Keriah — tearing of garments by close relatives before funeral
• Hesped (eulogy) and Kaddish (memorial prayer) at the funeral

Mourning periods:

• Shiva (seven days) — family stays home, receives visitors, prays together
• Sheloshim (30 days) — gradual return to normal life
• First year — reciting Kaddish daily for parents
• Yahrzeit — annual commemoration on the Hebrew anniversary of death

Beliefs reflected:

• Respect for the dead body as God's creation
• Supporting the bereaved community
• Acknowledging grief while affirming life continues

Worked examples

Example 1: Explain two reasons why Shabbat is important to Jews. [4 marks]

Model answer: One reason Shabbat is important is because it fulfils the Fourth Commandment to "remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." By observing Shabbat, Jews obey God's direct command given at Mount Sinai, which strengthens their covenant relationship with God. [2 marks]

Another reason is that Shabbat provides dedicated time for family and spiritual matters. The prohibition on work allows Jews to focus on prayer, Torah study, and quality time with family without modern distractions, which strengthens both family bonds and religious identity. [2 marks]

Mark scheme guidance:

• One mark for identifying a reason
• One mark for development/explanation
• Repeat for second reason
• Look for explicit explanation of importance, not just description

Example 2: "Celebrating festivals is the most important part of Jewish practice." 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:

Introduction: Present the statement and indicate you will examine arguments for and against.

Arguments supporting the statement:

• Festivals like Pesach are central to Jewish identity, retelling foundational stories like the Exodus that define what it means to be Jewish. The Haggadah instructs Jews to see themselves as personally leaving Egypt, making festivals essential for transmitting identity across generations.
• Festivals bring the community together for shared celebration and worship, strengthening communal bonds. The requirement to gather for Seder meals and attend synagogue during High Holy Days reinforces belonging to the Jewish people.
• Many festivals fulfil biblical commandments, making them religiously obligatory. For example, the Torah explicitly commands observance of Pesach, Sukkot, and Yom Kippur.

Arguments against the statement:

• Daily practices like prayer and keeping kosher demonstrate constant devotion to God, not just seasonal observance. Praying three times daily and maintaining dietary laws require ongoing commitment that arguably shows deeper dedication than annual festivals.
• Life cycle events like Bar/Bat Mitzvah and marriage ceremonies may be more personally significant as they mark individual spiritual development and major life transitions, creating lasting memories and responsibilities.
• The weekly observance of Shabbat could be considered more important than annual festivals because it occurs 52 times per year, regularly sanctifying time and providing consistent family unity and rest from work.

Conclusion: Reach a justified personal conclusion weighing the arguments. For example: "While festivals play a vital role in preserving Jewish identity and community, Shabbat's weekly recurrence and the daily observance of prayer and kashrut demonstrate that Jewish practice encompasses much more than festival celebration. The most important aspect may be the combination of all practices working together to maintain covenant faithfulness."

Mark scheme guidance:

• AO1 (5 marks): Knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs and teachings
• AO2 (10 marks): Analysis and evaluation of points of view
• Higher level responses require detailed analysis, weighing different perspectives, and reaching a justified conclusion
• Use religious terminology accurately
• Support arguments with specific examples from Jewish practice

Example 3: Describe what happens during a Bar Mitzvah ceremony. [5 marks]

Model answer: During a Bar Mitzvah, the 13-year-old boy is called to read from the Torah in the synagogue for the first time, which demonstrates he has reached religious adulthood [1]. He will chant the week's portion from the Torah scroll in Hebrew [1]. He also reads from the haftarah, which is a selection from the Prophets [1]. After the readings, he may give a speech explaining what he has learned from the Torah portion (d'var Torah) [1]. Following the synagogue service, there is usually a celebration or reception with family and friends [1].

Mark scheme guidance:

• Award one mark for each distinct, relevant point
• Descriptions should be accurate and specific
• No need to explain significance for "describe" questions

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Confusing Reform and Orthodox practices — Be clear about which branch of Judaism you're discussing. Orthodox Judaism maintains traditional gender roles (e.g., men and women sit separately), while Reform Judaism embraces gender equality and modernity. If the question doesn't specify, acknowledge different practices exist.

• Mixing up festivals — Learn the distinctive features of each festival. Don't confuse Rosh Hashanah's shofar with Hanukkah's menorah, or Pesach's matzah with Sukkot's sukkah. Create memory aids linking each festival to its unique symbols and historical event.

• Describing instead of explaining — When asked to "explain why" something is important, don't just describe what happens. Always connect practices to underlying beliefs or effects. For example, don't just say "Jews light candles on Shabbat" — explain this fulfils the commandment to make Shabbat holy and creates a special atmosphere separating sacred from ordinary time.

• Ignoring command words — "Describe" requires factual detail about what happens. "Explain" requires reasons why something is done or important. "Evaluate/Discuss" requires weighing different viewpoints and reaching a conclusion. Adjust your answer style accordingly.

• Vague religious language — Use specific terms correctly: say "Torah" not "Bible," "synagogue" not "church," "Rabbi" not "priest." Demonstrate precise knowledge of Jewish terminology.

• Neglecting the "more than one point of view" requirement — In evaluation questions, you must present contrasting perspectives. Consider different Jewish views (Orthodox vs Reform), practical vs spiritual significance, or individual vs communal importance.

Exam technique for "Judaism: Practices"

• Know your command words: "Describe" = what happens (no explanation needed). "Explain" = why it happens or why it's important (give reasons). "Evaluate/Discuss" = consider different viewpoints and reach a justified conclusion.

• Use the mark scheme to guide detail: For 2-mark questions, give one point with brief development. For 5-mark questions, provide five distinct points or fewer points with more development. For 15-mark essays, ensure you present multiple perspectives with specific evidence and reach a clear conclusion.

• Structure evaluation answers: Begin with a brief introduction, present arguments supporting the statement (2-3 paragraphs), present opposing arguments (2-3 paragraphs), and conclude with your justified personal view weighing the arguments. Always include specific Jewish practices and teachings as evidence.

• Reference scripture and tradition appropriately: Mention Torah commandments, Talmudic teachings, or historical events where relevant. For example, reference the Fourth Commandment when discussing Shabbat, or Exodus 12 when explaining Pesach.

Quick revision summary

Judaism's practices demonstrate faith through action. Shabbat observance and kosher laws sanctify home life. Synagogue worship centres on Torah reading and communal prayer with distinct Orthodox and Reform approaches. The High Holy Days (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) emphasise judgment and repentance. Pilgrimage festivals (Pesach, Sukkot) commemorate historical events and harvests. Hanukkah celebrates religious freedom. Life cycle ceremonies (Brit Milah, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, marriage, mourning) mark transitions while affirming covenant identity. All practices reinforce Jewish belief in one God and membership in the chosen people.