A Basic Intoduction to the Jewish Religion

The Torah | The Jewish Calendar | The Festivals | Miscellaneous

The Torah

The Torah refers collectively to all Jewish writings. It consists of two parts; the Written Law and the Oral Law. The Written Law refers to the 24 books that are what Christians call The Old Testament. These books are split into three groups; The Five Books of Moses, The Prophets and The Writings. The Oral Law comprises the Mishna and the Talmud and all subsequent works that analyse and explain both the Written Law and earlier Oral Law works. All Halacha (Jewish Law) is based on the discussions in the Talmud.

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The Jewish Calendar

The Jewish calendar is lunisolar. It comprises 12 lunar months of either 29 or 30 days, thus totalling 354 days in a normal year. However, it also keeps in tandem with the solar year and therefore an extra month is sometimes added at the end of the year. Thus certain festivals will always occur in their correct season. Jewish days are from nightfall to nightfall.

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The Festivals

Shabbat

Shabbat (The Sabbath) is every 7 days lasting from nightfall on Friday to nightfall on Saturday. It is to remember the creation of the world by G-d. On this day all forms of productive work are forbidden. It is a time to pray and spend time with the family to strengthen family unity and belief in G-d.

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashono (The New Year) celebrates the beginning of the year. It is a time to reflect on the past year and plan ahead for the next one. We blow the Shofar (a ram's horn) to awaken us to introspection. On this festival G-d judges us for our actions over the last year. It is also the start of a ten day period of repentance which culminates in Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. We spend all day (starting at nightfall) fasting and praying for forgiveness for our sins. This day is more holy than all other festivals. At the end of the day the Shofar is sounded to signify redemption, as we firmly believe that those who repented fully have achieved forgiveness.

Succoth

Succoth (Tabernacles) celebrates the miracle of G-d's protection while our ancestors wandered through the desert. It always occurs at the end of the harvest season, and is the third pilgrimage. During this festival we eat our meals in a Sukka (a hut) with the aim of remembering that despite all our efforts it is G-d who provides for and protects us.

Chanukah

This festival is one of two that were instituted by the Rabbis. It is to celebrate the repulsion of Greek oppression and the end of the attempts by the Greeks to prevent Jews from practicing their religion. It is celebrated by the lighting of candles each night for eight nights in memory of the miracle of the oil; when a pot of oil, that held enough for just one day, lasted for eight days.

Purim

This is the second festival instituted by the Rabbis. It is to celebrate our survival of a plot by leading members of the Persian Empire to wipe out all Jews in the world. (At that time all Jews lived inside that empire). We celebrate by dressing up, giving presents to each other, reading the Megillah and giving extra charity.

Pesach

Pesach (Passover) celebrates the Exodus from Egypt. During this period no leavened bread may be owned by a Jew. This is the first of the three pilgrimage festivals, when Jews would go to the Temple at Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. On the second night of Passover Jews start to count the Omer for 49 days.

Shavuot

On the day after the Omer is finished we celebrate Shavuot (Pentecost). This festival celebrates the Revelation on Mount Sinai and the giving of the Torah. It is the second pilgrimage festival. There is a tradition in many communities to eat milky foods.

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Miscellaneous

Prayers

A normal day has three prayer services, in the morning, afternoon and evening. They can be said anywhere but it is preferable that they be said in a group of 10 men over the age of 13. On Shabbat (Sabbath) and other festivals an extra prayer service is included, and a fifth service is added on Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement).

Kosher

Jews must follow strict dietary laws, which prohibits the eating of some animals, and requires a separation of milk and meat