Judaism and Shabbat - Essay Example

Judaism and Shabbat Judaism is a religious belief that dictates the way of life and the philosophy of the Jewish people. The term Judaism is driven from the Greek word Ioudaismos. In Hebrew, the term originated from the term ????? that means Judah. Judaism is a monotheistic religion whose doctrines are pegged within the Hebrew Bible or the Tanakh. According to the Jews, Judaism is the relationship between them and the Almighty God that was developed by the children of Israel. Notably, the Rabbinic Judaism does believe that God revealed his commandments and laws to the Israelites through Prophet Moses on the Mount Sinai. In additional, they often believe that these laws and commandments were given to Moses both in written and in Oral Torah forms. However, a religious community, the Karaites movement, has historically challenged the notion that Moseswas given these laws and commandments in two forms (Herring 15). They have ever held that the laws and commandment given to Moses were only in a single form, that is, in written form but not in Oral Torah. The Karaites movement flourished during the medieval period and still has several followers in the contemporary world who have maintained that Moses was only given written Torah laws and commandments (Bank 22). Judaism has enjoyed historical continuity of over three thousand years; basically, three thousand eight hundred years since its foundation by Abraham. This makes it among the oldest monotheistic religions of the world that has survived until into the contemporary world (Miller 24). The Israelites or the Hebrew was already being referred to as Jews in the early books of Tanakh (Herring 24). The late books of Tanakh including the Book of Ester the name Jews were placed by the title the Children of Israel. The texts of Judaism, its tradition, and values had a strong influence on the subsequent Abrahamic religions that included Christianity, Baha’i Faith, and Islamic. Additionally, the effects of Judaism have had a wide influencing including in civil wars and the Western Secular ethics (Grishaver 15). Jews are considered to an ethnoreligious group in that it includes those who are born Jew and those who are converted in the faith. Up to about three hundred years ago, Judaism was still the major religion being practiced in most parts of the globe. By the year 2010, the entire world Jewish community was approximated to be roughly 0.2 percent or 13.4 million of the entire world’s population (Grishaver 71). Israel harbors around forty-two percent of the entire Jewish population. The same number is found in both United States and Canada with the majority of the remaining population found in Europe. Because of time and different understanding of concepts with a community, Judaism did split into movements. These movements rose due to different ideologies that might have cropped among the leaders of Judaism. The major Judaism movements of the world include Reform Judaism, Conservative Judaism, and the Orthodox Judaism. The latter movement includes sub-movements including the Modern Orthodox and Hareidi Judaism (Prager 77). There were believers who stark to the ideals of the conventional Judaism; thus, retaining the larger percentage of its teachings, beliefs, and laws. This group remained to the part of Judaism that was called Conservative movement believers who believed that the traditional and laws of Judaism should have only faced a slight changes to suit the time. The other movement that split out of the traditional Judaism was the Reform or Liberal, or the Progressive Movements. These sections of believers have the feeling that it is upon an individual believer to make a choice of the traditions and laws to follow (Herring 51). Therefore, the main course of the division may be pegged on the approach and concern to changes that should be enforced on the Jewish laws. However, Orthodox Judaism until to date maintains that the Jewish laws and Torah laws have defined origin, and are eternal and should never be changed; thus, should be followed strictly. This essay aims at addressing believes, traditions, rituals, among other practices of Orthodox Judaism (Grishaver 102). The Shabbat Written in English as Sabbath, it is the seventh day in the Jewish week and it means rest or cessation. Therefore, Sabbath is the Jewish day of resting. On this day, the Jews recoup the Biblical Creation. That is, the entire accounts that are recorded in the book of Genesis where God created everything. God created Heaven and Earth and all in it in six days, and on the seventh day, the Shabbat, He rested. Among the Jews, Shabbat is a festive day that they retire from all of their regular labor. Shabbat is the day that they take the opportunity to contemplate on their spiritual matter and get close to the Creator of Heaven and Earth (Herring 80). Moreover, families get the day close to each other as they spend time together. On this holly day, Shabbat observers evade numerous activities; actually, certain activities are prohibited including lighting fire as well as cooking (Prager 15). It is a tradition that the Jews often start to observe the Shabbat minutes before the sunset on the sixth day of their week. That fro Friday evening they witness the appearance of stars in the sky on the evening of Saturday. It is a tradition to usher in the Shabbat by lighting candles followed by reciting a blessing. Additionally, the usually engage themselves in eating three festive meals, that is, the first meal on the Friday night, followed by the next meal on Saturday morning, and the last meal taken late Saturday evening. They begin their Friday night dinner by taking Kiddush as they undertake blessing recites over two challah loaves (Bank 181). Shabbat service On the Friday night, Jews believers usually undertake numerous activities and they include blessings over the candle. Other practices include the blessing of children that in cooperates blessing of both boys and girls differently; thereafter, blessing all the children collectively. Most of the orthodox Jews conduct their rituals and spiritual activities in the synagogues. In the synagogues, women and men are usually seated in separately. Men often cover their heads and in most cases, they worship in Hebrew (Prager 74). Additionally, the Jewish spiritual leaders have their own names, and they are often referred to Rabbis. Compared to leaders in certain faiths, rabbi is never considered a priest; thus, does not assume special religious status as it is in other faiths. However, the rabbis are people conducting and leading church services among other religious activities (Miller 89). During the Sabbath, Jews often put on special attires including a skullcap and a prayer shawl. The skullcap is referred to Kippah. It was realized that only the devout Jews who often use these caps on heads during the prayer service. The Kippahis usually used as a reminder of God’s laws in all places and at all the time, particularly to those wearing. In Hebrew, the prayer shawl is referred to Tallit. Per taking the activity of spiritual intervention, a devout Jew often wears a tallit. Notably, the tallit reminds the believers, particularly men of the numerous commandments of the Torah (Herring 120). The other wear often considered for prayers by the Jew is the Tefilin. This small leather box has a long leather straps. These boxes are worn particularly on the forehead and the left forearm. Internally, they contain passages from the Bible’s scripture. The tefilin that is contained on the left arm do an act as a reminder that one is obligated to keeping the laws of God with all your heart, since it is clear to the heart. On the other hand, the tefilin on one’s forehead is a remainder to the Jew to be concentrating on the Torah teachings with his full mind.It is worth noting that Tefilinscan be worn either during home payers or in the synagogues (Prager 58). The pass over Pass over is a kind of ritual between the Jew and it in cooperate during fortnight. Some of the practices associated with the Passover over. Ritual washing of Hands: In hand washing ceremony, Judaism Jews wash their hands naturally and dries them up. The hand washing business is never for hygiene but it is done as a ritual. Therefore, the hands are washed in a given manner. As a shared responsibility, each believer fills a vessel with water; thereafter, pouring water on the hands. (Herring 40) Most commonly, the water is first poured on the right hand up to three times, the process then proceeds with water pouring on the left-handed. However, the numbers of counts of water on both hands remain the same. After washing of these hands, they are dried normally in a benediction that is done in NitilatYaydayim are often recited. This traditional washing of hand is common among done with the main purpose of eating; therefore, there is no talking expected after hand washing until after meals. Blessing the bread: After washing of hand, two challah loaves are out on the Sabbath table. The loaves are symbolic since they represent the manna that was fed to the children of Israel in the desert as they coming from Egypt (Exodus 16:22). After being placed on the table, it is uncovered and thereafter, blessed in recitation. The blessing includes blessing and praising the name of God as He is being requested to send some bread from heaven. Grace after meals: after per taking of the meals, the Jews conduct grace after means. Recitation as per the Deuteronomy 8: 10 is as well allowed during the grace. This kind of thanks giving takes place in circles of five benedictions, all of which aims at giving gratitude to God the almighty. The benedictions in order of submission include Thanking God for blessing the food, blessing the good land, of His merciful restoration of Jerusalem, and not allowing Israel to perish (Prager 90). In conclusion, it was nice to learn the religious culture and other practices that define Judaism. Such practices are ways of understanding diversity and appreciating other religious cultures, beliefs, and practices among other norms. It is worth noting that, the Orthodox Judaism are highly embedded into the practices of traditional Judaism; thus, making it a more traditional religion whose routes can be traced back in 1850 BC. Additionally, such preserved practices make it the Orthodox Judaism the oldest religion to have ever existed on earth that believes on the existence of only one God. Works Cited Herring, Basil. The Jewish Imagination: Discourses on Contemporary Jewish Life. Hoboken, NJ: Ktav Pub. House, 1989. Print Prager, Dennis, and Joseph, Telushkin. The Nine Questions People Ask About Judaism. New York, N.Y: Simon and Schuster, 1986. Print Grishaver, Joel L, and Debr, Markovic. Shabbat. Los Angeles: Torah Aura Productions, 1990. Print. Miller, Yvette A. Angels at the Table: A Practical Guide to Celebrating Shabbat. London: Continuum, 2011. Print. Bank, Richard D, and Richard D. Bank. 101 Things Everyone Should Know About Judaism: Beliefs, Practices, Customs, and Traditions. Avon, Mass: Adams Media, 2005. 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