Synagogues

1.       Origin of the name

The word "synagogue," which is actually a Greek translation of Beit K'nesset and means "place of assembly" (it's related to the word "synod").

2.       Functions of the synagogues

The synagogue is the Jewish equivalent of a church, more or less. It is the center of the Jewish religious community: a place of prayer, study and education, social and charitable work, as well as a social centre.

3.       Structure

Synagogues are generally run by a board of directors composed of lay people. They manage and maintain the synagogue and its activities, and hire a rabbi for the community

4.       Items found

The most important item in the synagogue is the Torah Scroll, which is their bible. It is held in the ‘Ark’ which is also called the Aron Kodesh (‘holy cabinet’).

Another important item is the menorah which is a candelabrum which symbolises the menorah in the Temple but instead of having 7 branches like the one in the Temple they only have 6 or 8 because to copy the menorah in the Temple is considered improper.

The bimah is a pedestal that holds the Torah scroll when it is being read.

The Torah Scroll

How is the Torah scroll made?

-          A Torah scroll is mare from sheets of parchment, which is made from the skin of a koshers animal

-          It is written b hand in Hebrew by professional scribe, called a sofer. Hebrew is read right to left

-          The sofer takes at least one year to write about the Torah

-          He is not allowed to write from memory. He must copy from a book of the Torah, and keep checking for mistakes. Letters must not be smudged or touch another letter

How is the Torah revered?

Torah means “teaching” and refers to the five books of Moses- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Genesis: The beginning of the world

Exodus: Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt.

Leviticus: The “Handbook” for the Priests

Numbers: About the Jewish wandering the desert and preparing them for the Promise Land (Israel)

Deuteronomy: Moses’ farewell

Kosher Food

Kosher Food

·         Kosher=Food which is allowed

·         Treyfah=Food which is NOT allowed

·         All plants are kosher, but not all animals, birds or fish are

·         Animals must also be killed in a special manner and have all the blood removed before the meat can be eaten by Jews

How are animals killed?

Jews may only eat animals and birds that have been killed by Shechitah

Shechitah is killing the animals by slitting the throat with a very sharp knife.

This has been shown to be painless to the animals, as causing pain to living things is against Jewish law.

The theory is that the sharp knife cuts the carotid so that the animal loses consciousness before they are able to feel pain.

1.  What is kosher food?

Kosher food is food that is ok for Jews to eat.

2.  Where is the list of food which are allowed, found?

They are found in the Torah, Leviticus 11:2-3.

3.  Why do many Jewish homes have two sets of cutlery?

Many Jewish homes have 2 sets of cutlery because they don’t want to mix their meat cutlery with their dairy cutlery. (For preparation of separate foods)

4.  Why do you think Jews are so careful about the food they eat?

They are careful because it is God’s word as to what they can or cannot eat.

5.  Neatly copy the table below.

Kosher	Non-Kosher
Chicken	Pig
Sheep	Rabbit
Cow	Camel
Fish with fins	Eel
Goat	Most birds
	Hare
	Weasel
	Mouse
	Tortoise