1. Judaism The Characteristics By Katie Pyzowski A Torah The Star of David The Ten Commandments

4. Holy Writings The Torah -Judaism’s MOST sacred text. -2 scrolls -HAND-WRITTEN -Contains the Old Testament. -Treated like a queen. The Ten Commandments -Moses was given the Ten Commandments. -Contains the ten best ways to live from God. The Old Testament -Contains the Five Books of Moses. -Does not contain the story of Jesus. The Old Testament does not contain the story of Jesus. The Ten Commandments The torah is dressed like a queen

5. Holy Places Synagogue -Place of worship. -A community center. -An education center. -Rabbi work here. The West Wall -Greeks destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem and all that is left is the West Wall. -Very sacred. -Synagogues and buried people face toward the West Wall. Sanctuary -Has raised platform (bimah) -Ner Tamid (eternal light) -Ark and Torah (s) The ark at the new Temple B eth Elohim in Wellesley. A diagram of a sanctuary. The West Wall in Jerusalem.

6. Rites of Passage Bar or Bat Mitzvah -Celebrated after 13 th birthday for boys and 12 th birthday for girls. -Celebrates child becoming an adult. -Child reads from Torah. -Usually a big party is after the service. Marriage -Must sign ketubah -Wedding happens under chuph. -At end the groom stomps on glass cup. Death -Body is buried as soon as possible. -Tradition teaches that the body should be returned to Earth as fast as possible -Coffins made entirely of wood An example of a very pretty ketubah. A Jewish person might be buried in a pine box like this one. During the Bar or Bat Mitzvah the child reads from the Torah.

7. Symbols and Objects Tallit -Looks like a shawl -Fringes represent the 613 commandments on your shoulders Kippah -Small hat worn on head -Represents that humans are beneath or dependent on God. Star of David -Was on King David’s shield -Symbol is on the flag of Israel. - Has become more popular in the last 200 years. Shofar -Made from a ram’s horn. -Blown during Rosh Hashanah and at the end of Yom Kippur. -Purpose is to remind people the responsibility to ask forgiveness for their sins. The Star of David A Shofar made from a ram’s horn. Tallits come in many sizes and colors. A man wearing a Kippah.

8. Holidays and Celebrations Purim -Celebrated on the 14 th of Adar (March) -Celebrates the victory against Haman who tried to destroy the Jews. Triangular fruit-filled cookies are made for Purim and are supposed to represent Haman's three-cornered hat. Chanukkah -Starts on the 25 th of Kislev (November- December) -Remembers the destruction of the Temple -lasts 8 days Rosh Hashanah -Celebrated on the first an second days of Tishri (September-October) -The Jewish New Year. A menorah is lit, one candle for each day celebrated, during Chanukkah. Eating Apples in honey is a custom for Rosh Hashanah.