Judaism Symbols Ritual Objects The Shema Recall that

Judaism Symbols & Ritual Objects

The Shema Recall that the Shema is an important Jewish prayer o Only looked at the 1 st line yesterday • First line emphasizes God as the centre of everything in life o You have the whole prayer on your handout, let’s read it and see what it does?

The Shema Cover you eyes with your right hand say: Hear, O Israel, the L-rd is our G-d, the L-rd is One. Recite the following verse in an undertone: Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever. You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart. You shall teach them thoroughly to your children, and you shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be for a reminder between your eyes. And you shall write them upon the doorposts of your house and upon your gates (Deuteronomy 6: 4 -9)

The Shema Recall that the Shema is an important Jewish prayer o Only looked at the 1 st line yesterday • First line emphasizes God as the centre of everything in life o You have the whole prayer on your handout, let’s read it and see what it does? The rest of the prayer emphasizes this point o Implore ppl to give their hearts, mind, & physical resources to God o Encourages them to share the Shema & all of God’s teachings o Carry the Shema wherever they go o Last line is of significant importance as some Jews that it literally • Wear the Shema on their hand, forehead, and inscribe it on doorposts

Signs & Symbols in Everyday Life: Mezuzah fulfills the doorpost mitzvoh of the Shema Is a small handwritten parchment or scroll containing the Shema & other biblical passages Placed inside a small decorative case o Affixed to right-hand side of the doorframe(s) o Cases usually made of wood, silver, or ceramic • NO rules about its appearance o Scroll inside must be handwritten • Makes it kosher (ritually fit) o Must be hung on an angle, ¾ up the doorframe

Signs & Symbols in Everyday Life: Mezuzah Dedication when hung ceremony held o Residents recite a blessing When passing through, they touch it & then kiss their fingers o Done to remember/honour God’s commandments & the Shema

Signs & Symbols in Everyday Life: Tefillin Shema instructs Jews to show God’s instruction on their “hand” & “forehead” Tefillin is a series of leather straps & small boxes are worn during prayer Inside boxes are tiny scrolls o Contain Shema & other biblical passages Tefillin is a physical reminder of God’s centrality in Jewish worship & the fulfillment of mitzvoh found in the Sherma o Tefillin literally binds praying Jews to God’s mitzvoh

Signs & Symbols: Tallit & Tzitzit Tallit is the prayer shawl o Rectangular in shape & covers shoulders o Corners of tallit have intricate fringes called tzitzit It is worn during morning prayer (as is tefillin) Tallit is not a mitzvoh HWR, tzitzit is o Referenced in Book of Numbers (15: 37 - 39) when the Lord speaks to Moses Tzitzit is the outward expression of their promise to obey God’s commandments Tallit was once worn @ all times HWR, today it is reserved for religious ceremonies & prayer

Signs & Symbols in Everyday Life: Kippah is the traditional skullcap worn by Jewish men o Sometimes women Worn to show respect for God during prayer No mitzvoh exists that states it must be worn HWR, it is a tradition to wear one while praying o Others wear it all the time o Signals idea that they are always standing before God

Signs & Symbols in Everyday Life: Shofar is the symbol of the Jewish New Year festival, Rosh Hashanah o Rosh Hashanah celebrates God’s creation & continuing renewal of the world A shofar is the horn of an animal (ram) that is used as a musical instrument Sounding of the horn fulfills a mitzvoh o In the 7 th month, in the 1 st day of the month, shall ye have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing trumpets, a holy convocation (Leviticus: 23: 24) Sounding the shofar dates back to Joshua’s conquering of Jericho Sounding the shofar acts as a reminder of God’s everlasting covenant with his creation

Signs & Symbols in Everyday Life: Chai is a Hebrew word that means “life” The word, is often crafted into jewellery such as this necklace Since God is the source of life, Jews wear the symbol of the word chai to show reverence for the gift of life Charitable donations are often given in multiples of 18 o 18 is the numeric value of the word chai (in Hebrew script)

Signs & Symbols: Hamesh Hand (“fivefingered hand”) is a symbol also found often on jewellery o Or tattooed Symbol represents the hand of God Hand is open o Suggests bountifulness, care, & blessings that God has for humanity

Symbols of the People of Israel: Menorah is a 7 branched candelabrum o dates to Temple of Jerusalem o Lit every night & cleaned every morning to fulfill a Torah commandment (Exodus 25: 30 -32) Embraced as a symbol of the covenant w/ God What do you think the 7 candles represent? 6 days of creation & the Sabbath!

Symbols of the People of Israel: Magen David aka the Star of David is most recognized symbol Two triangles are intertwinned; 1 faces up, 1 faces down What does that represent? Perfect representation of the covenant o Looks up to God & down to earth Appears on Israel’s flag & on the archways of synagogues Believed to be either o The symbol on King David’s shield OR actual shape of his shield