Halakha

Chapter One (1408) There were two types of people that gathered in the capital this time of year every year: the pilgrims coming in and the pilgrims going out. The Shetjlni would begin the long journey to dedicate their newborns in Shetjl. Meanwhile Taubish journey from Shtejl to Klowisrik had just ended. They would rest for the night and gather in the square the next day for the dedication of their own children. The whole process was supposed to be a solemn silent event. That…

Bread Givers, by Yezierska Anzia, takes place in 1925 and depicts the life of an immigrant, Jewish girl named Sara Smolinsky and the obstacles she faces in her struggle for independence. Two of the main obstacles Sara Smolinsky faces in her strive for personal independence are family obligations and gender discrimination, which she overcame by prioritizing her education over family, and actively searching for work and love (on her own terms). The first obstacle that Sara faces in her strive for…

Bat Mitzvah in Australian Society How effectively do the coming of age rituals of Judaism prepare a young person for full acceptance in contemporary Australian society? A coming of age ritual is a milestone that marks an important time of transition for every child and every family, welcoming that child as an official “adult” member of the Jewish community. In Judaism, there are two coming of age rituals – Bar Mitzvah (for boys), and Bat Mitzvah (for girls). While the ritual teaches many…

Being Jewish is about a community. Being a Jew you are taught that you are not just responsible for the other Jews in you family but that you are responsible for Jews all across the world because we are all apart of an extended family. Not many Jewish Holidays are celebrated in your house, almost all of them are celebrated in your community and with your extended Jewish family. Us Jews are caring towards each other. When we, the Israelites, were enslaved to Pharaoh, the Lord told other believers…

Many websites, articles, and blogs explain that Orthodox Judaism has separate but equally important roles for men and women. The Halakhah or Jewish Law is comprised of elements from three different sources the mitzvoth d’oraita or from the Torah, the mitzvoth d’rabbanan or from the rabbis, and minhag or arising from long-standing customs (Rich, 2011). The Halakhah lists 613 Commandments. Some commandments address all Orthodox Jews, some address the men only, and some address the women only.…

The Torah as contemporary Bible scholar James L. Frugal has written, is the “single term that might summon of every essence of Judaism”. Literally torah is a teaching. The role, place and the importance of the Torah in Judaism is fundamental and multifaceted, in its beliefs, practices and application to everyday life of its adherents. In order to attempt to explore this notion. I shall outline the origins of the Torah, describe its historical importance, explain the nature and primacy of the…

While religion and film are concepts that most believe to be separate I would instead argue that cinematography itself is a form of religion, fulfilling the role of worldmaking and establishing a code of conduct. Brent Plate’s book Religion and Film demonstrates the similarity between film and religion when explaining that “Religion and film are akin. They both function by recreating the known world and then presenting that alternative version of the world to their viewers/worshippers” (2).…

The ritual event that I have chosen is Jewish Circumcision known as brit milah. In Hebrew the word brit means covenant and in Yiddish form it is known as bris. I will go over the origins, laws and details of the ritual along with the person who performs the ceremony. I will also go over the location and the time in which the ritual takes place as well for the reasons this ritual is performed and what the significance of the ritual is. The brit milah is a life-cycle event that takes place right…

When it comes to religion Islam which is the second largest religion in the world with Christianity being the first is constantly increasing. There are many misconceptions about the Islamic beliefs, value, and goals, for example islamophobia. This paper will address the teaching of the Islamic religions and how the religion is interpreted in different countries and cultures in the world. This paper will address Islamic religions in the United States, Great Britain, the Middle East, India,…

For Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike, worship plays a vital role in their daily lives. Worship and ritual can be some of the most effective ways for someone to experience God. In each of these religions, worship is used not only as a means to communicate with God personally, but also as a cultural representation of the faith-believing body itself. Worship is said to “sustain(s) tradition and serve(s) as a medium in which evolving self-understandings of community can be expressed” (JCM 157).…