Religion Paper

Paper #1
The religion that I chose to do my paper on was Judaism. Throughout every religion people are expected to follow various rituals and understand important symbols. In particular the beliefs of Judaism include highly respected days and symbols that most members value and that most members are expected to follow and understand. The history of the Jewish religion over time has created different ceremonies, holidays, and expectations to practice. Judaism began with the covenant God made with Abraham. He was told to bring forth a separate nation unto Yahweh. He was first in his line to worship God. Judaism is largely defined in the first five books of the Bible that are credited to Moses as having been written. Many days of observation help people to reflect their beliefs about Jewish practices. Rituals in any religion help followers to evaluate themselves and allow members to come to have a better connection with their beliefs. Judaism includes the rituals of the Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Shvat, Purim, Passover, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and more. The Sabbath is considered to be one of the most important days of the Jewish calendar, calling it the climax of the Judaism ways. The Sabbath, which is celebrated at the high point of each week, is known to bring ritual into the Jewish home. The Sabbath lasts from sundown on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. The Sabbath does last for a full and complete twenty-four hours. It was once said by Ahan Ha Am a highly recognized scholar, “More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel” (Ehrlich). The Sabbath involves the lighting of candles at both the beginning and end of the ritual in respect of marking the division between the workweek and the holy suspension of worldly time. According to the rules of the Sabbath, no one is expected to work, and members are told that it is a universal day of study (Ehrlich 80). The day is meant to be filled with prayer and rest on every seventh day. The Sabbath is about stopping work in order to shift attention to the higher aspects of moment including the worshiping of God, the enjoyment of God’s blessings, and the nourishment of the soul (Carmody 23). The Sabbath is remembered as a family celebration, which involves everyday routines, life crises, and rites of passages, all of which make up the importance of this ritual (Marcus 5). These ideas have served to bind the Jewish people since ancient times (Ehrlich 80). In past experiences the Sabbath is celebrated with a dinner along with the lighting of candles. During the lighting, prayers are said by the children that have been Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The Jewish religion also brings about a new year through the holiday known as Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated during the seventh month of the Jewish year, which falls into either September or October. This holiday is important because it celebrates the annual renewal of God’s creative act at the moment that the agricultural cycle had come to a full circle (Ehrlich 81). Jewish Holidays often bring about observation that is based on the idea of the agricultural cycles in Israel. The observations foster an attachment to the ways of life that were known in the ancient homeland (Ehrlich 79). The New Year brings about a period of reflection lasting about ten days. The ideas of Rosh Hashanah bring about the opening period of the year. It is a time of “great solemnity”, sober judgment, and an awesome awareness of God’s power (Carmody 24). It is known as the “Days of Awe” also known as Yamim Noraim (Ehrlich 81). The day is considered a period of repentance, a return to God, and a time of renewal. The Jewish religion has the ritual of regulating time in a radically different way from most other systems of belief. The Jewish calendar is often considered to be unconventional because it is regulated under the lunar cycles of the moon (Robinson 77). During Rosh Hashanah all Jewish families should go to temple during the day and celebrate at sundown with a dinner. During the dinner, prayers are said over wine and bread. Rosh Hashanah is celebrated as a two night ritual with dinner at sundown on both days.
In the Jewish religion Hanukah is one of the most well known religions celebrated. Hanukah is the eight-day mid winter festival that is observed by all members of the Jewish religion. Hanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem during the times in 164 BCE (Ehrlich 83). The holiday celebrates the miracle of a measure of oil that was said to have burned for eight days instead of the one day expected. Hanukah commemorates the dedication of the Maccabees who were the liberators of Israel, from the pagan Greek power (Carmody 23). The Maccabees were Jewish warriors who had fought a lengthy civil war in the defiance of hellenization (Robinson 54). During the ritual the candles are placed in a candelabrum with nine candle holders. A common menorah only holds seven candles and is found usually in a synagogue. Each candle represents the eight days of the festival. The purpose of the ninth candle is to have the representation of kindling the other candles each night. The rituals performed throughout the life-cycle of the Jewish religion have been proven to be important in helping an individual pace through the years, as well as remembering the community of the passages that the members of the religion are undergoing (Carmody 25). During Hanukah in reformed Jewish families gifts are given to celebrate the Maccabees and the duration of the oil and candles. Often times the popular food choice for Hanukah is a potato lakah. Hanukah is celebrated each of the eight nights with one gift being given each night.
During the first month of the Jewish calendar, which falls into either March of April, are the traditional ideas of Passover. Passover was originally created to be a pilgrimage festival celebrating the first fruits of the agricultural year. As a commemoration of the Exodus of Egypt, Passover has overtime been remodeled into a new form and more reflective time (Ehrlich 83). Passover is about the times when the Lord had rescued Israel from bondage and set it on the path toward the reception of the Mosaic Covenant, the Torah, and the Promised Land (Carmody 23). One of the most important components of Passover is the lavish and ritual meal known as the Seder. The Seder is the part of Passover that represents the story of Exodus and is recounted from the “Heggadah” (Ehrlich 83). Throughout the time of Passover both young and old followers are required to find a way to view themselves as those whom are personally freed from bondage (Ehrlich 84). During Passover Bar and Bat Mitzvahed people cannot consume any products with yeast because when the Jews were in Egypt, and they were trying to bake bread, they were unsuccessful. But, they did make motzah. Motzah is bread without yeast. Also, Jews must not eat pork such as kosher families do. Focusing on the younger members of the Jewish religion are the traditions of the Bar Mitzvah and the Bat Mitzvah. These rituals are directed towards both young boys and girls and refer to the “son of the commandment” and the “daughter of the commandment” (Ehrlich 85). The ceremony involves the attainment of religious maturity, marking the first for different aspects of Judaism such as the first reading of the Torah (Ehrlich 85). The young individual can officially have the right to not only read the Torah, but also may now study the Torah, learn in the Torah, and to be subject in the Torah. In addition is the idea of the first time that the individual may read prayer with tefellin (Sherbok 534). The meal for families and friends that attend the Bar Mitzvah is held after the weekday morning service which is known as a third meal (Sherbok 535). The meal is consumed after the Sabbath and during the afternoon service. Traditional times have the ritual of having the meal on a more lavish scale. These ceremonies refer to the times when a young individual is obliged to fulfill the Jewish law (Sherbok 534). The rules of this ceremony included aspects such as the requirement that the candidate must be of thirteen years of age (Sherbok 534). These rituals are even more important because they express the importance of the continuation of the rituals. The repetition and the spread of Judaism are made possible through the teachings of the Jewish rituals, without the rituals, the religion would not continue (Goldstein). This ritual brings about the ideas of adulthood within the ideas of Judaism. The ideas of marriage are broken up into three main parts in the Jewish religion. The first part of marriage includes the signing of the marriage contract, formally known as the Ketubbah (Ehrlich 85). Under traditional circumstances, this contract is written in the Aramaic language. The Second part of the marriage is the ring ceremony referred to as the Huppah (Ehrlich 85). The name Huppah is taken from the portable marriage canopy that is used during the ceremony which is usually held in the traditional location of the synagogue (Ehrlich 85). The final stage of marriage is the Yihud which is the time when newly married couples are left alone (Ehrlich 85). In past traditions, the couple is left with the expectations to consummate the marriage (Ehrlich 85). In recent times this tradition has changed and couples are often given this time to have a break from their course of the past hectic day (Ehrlich 85). Overall, the importance of marriage in Judaism is indicated by the prayer in which one wishes that one’s children will grow up to a life filled with “Torah, marriage, and good deeds” (Ehrlich 85). Judaism has developed rituals for death which require strict rules when dealing with the burial and the handling of the body. The traditional ideas of death involve the confession of sins and affirmation of faith in hopes of preparing the dying individual for the Lord (Carmody 26). Those who die are put into white garments that are considered to be suitable for penance (Carmody 26). The individuals are then placed into simple wooden coffins and are buried to the recitation of the Kaddish. The families of the deceased individual receive condolences for seven days and mourn for a month; this is done mainly by attending synagogue and reciting the Kaddish (Carmody 26). The family should suspend mourning on the Sabbath, but the death functions for all whom it touches as a reminder of the frailty of life and the constant need for the Lord and his blessings (Carmody 26-27). In short, it is proven that the rituals of Judaism are plentiful throughout the year. There are many rituals performed daily, weekly, and monthly. It is important to remember that in every religion, each individual ritual is valued and contributes to a part of the religion. The ways of Judaism may seem extreme under some circumstances; however, followers respect the laws of the Jewish religion and accept what they are expected to do. Judaism rituals are performed throughout all times in life, from the beginning of life till death; the traditions will be carried on.

Works Cited
Ehrlich, Carl S. Judaism . Rosen Classroom, Sep 2009

Carmody, Denise L. Ways to the Center: An Introduction to World Religions. Cengage Learning, April 2005

Robinson, George. Essential Judaism. Pocket Books, September 9, 2001

Sherbok, Cohn. Judaism: History, Belief and Practice. Routledge, June 18, 2003

Goldstein, Niles. Judaism And Spiritual Ethics. Urj Press, Nov 1998

Cited: Ehrlich, Carl S. Judaism . Rosen Classroom, Sep 2009 Carmody, Denise L. Ways to the Center: An Introduction to World Religions. Cengage Learning, April 2005 Robinson, George. Essential Judaism. Pocket Books, September 9, 2001 Sherbok, Cohn. Judaism: History, Belief and Practice. Routledge, June 18, 2003 Goldstein, Niles. Judaism And Spiritual Ethics. Urj Press, Nov 1998