Starter Activity

Look at this picture of a synagogue. Can you name and tell me the use of each of the things in the picture?

A

B

C

D

E

Ner Tamid

Menorah

Bimah

The Ark

Torah

• To examine parts of daily life for a Jewish person.• To examine parts of daily life for a Jewish person.

• be able to explain differences between how a Jewish person goes about daily life and how a non-Jewish person does the same.

• be able to explain differences between how a Jewish person goes about daily life and how a non-Jewish person does the same.

The Home Dress

Food Responsibilities

          

The Home

You can tell a Jewish home from other houses by

looking for a MEZUZAH. This is a small container made of wood, plastic or

metal and inside it contains a small piece of parchment

containing some of the most important words from

the Torah.

The Mezuzah• The mezuzah is fastened to

the right hand door posts of Jewish homes.

• Inside is a piece of parchment known as the ‘klaf’. The words in the passage are written in Hebrew by a specially trained Jewish scribe called a sofer.

• Every member of the family will touch the mezuzah before they enter the house. This reminds them that God is always present in their home.

• Every 3 years the klaf inside the mezuzah case must be taken out and checked by a scribe. If the ink has faded or cracked then it must be replaced. The mezuzah is a very holy and special object for Jewish people

Here are a selection of different MEZUZAH. If you look carefully, you can see some of the

parchment scrolls.

Activity 1

• Copy and complete the worksheet on the Mezuzah and The Shema in your jotter.

Responsibilities

The Torah sets out very clear responsibilities for the Mother and Father in Jewish homes.

• Support his family.

• Study the Torah.

• See that his children study the Torah.

• Feed the family as the Torah instructs.

• Make sure her son and husband have the right clothes.

• Prepare the home for festivals and the Sabbath.

• Prepare their daughter for when she has her own home.

American Ex -President George.W.Bush at the Wailing

Wall in Jerusalem.

Prince Charles visiting a Synagogue.

The Kippah (skull cap)This is a small cap that is worn during religion ceremonies although some Jews will wear it all of the time. It shows

respect for God.

Here are range of different Kippahs.

Other traditional clothes

These are Tefillin. They are two small leather

boxes with words from the Shema in them. One is worn on the forehead

(Shel Rosh) and the other is worn on the upper left

arm (Shel Yad).

This is prayer shawl called a Tallit. It has tassels on the edge of the shawl to remind people who look at them of the commandments of the

Lord.

Food Glorious Food!

Where do we have ?

Kashrut Food Laws

These are the religious laws that tell Jews what they can

and cannot eat.

Kosher Labelling

Kosher Label

• The Ten Commandments are in the 2nd book of the Torah – called ‘Exodus’.

• There are a total of 613 laws that Jews have to follow.

• The food laws are in the 3rd book of theTorah – called ‘Leviticus’.

Where are the food laws ?

Kosher ך כש

• Food that Jews are allowed to eat is called, ‘Kosher’.

• Kosher means = “fit to eat”.• All plants (tomatoes, potatoes, fruit etc…) are Kosher so Jews are allowed to eat

those. • Food that isn’t meat or dairy is called

“pareve”.

Pareve food

Treifah ה רפ ט

• Food that Jews are NOT allowed to eat is called, ‘treifah’.

• These foods that are forbidden in Jewish law are known as “unclean” e.g. insects.

Why do Jews keep these ancient laws?

• Short answer = because the Torah says so!

• Long answer = because being Jewish is knowing the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, pure and unclean. Keeping these rules is another method of self control.

Kosher fish

• Jews are allowed to eat fish but the laws are very strict.

• This means that Jews can only eat certain types of fish.

• Kosher fish have fins and scales.

Fins and scales

Fish that are forbidden

• Jews cannot eat fish that do not have fins or scales – like shellfish and eels.

Shellfish

Kosher birds

• Kosher birds

are the ones

that are called

‘poultry’.

Poultry

The only meat that can be eaten has to be from an animal that:

Kosher food laws: Meat

• Has cloven hooves (split hooves)

• Chews the cud

Eat grass, split hoof

Animals that are forbidden

• Any animals that have a solid hoof and do not eat grass.

Meat and milk

• There are also strict laws

about mixing meat and

milk.

• Jews are not allowed to eat

meat and dairy products

together.

• This means that Jews

cannot use butter in a meat

sandwich.

Jewish kitchens

• Because the food laws tell Jews to separate meat and milk – Jewish kitchens have two separate sections.

• One section is for meat.• One section is for milk.

KOSHER? OR NOT KOSHER?

KOSHER? OR NOT KOSHER?

Lesson ObjectiveTo understand the importance of Jewish food laws

Could the following meals be eaten?

Cheese burgerBacon sandwichRoast beef and vegetablesFish and chipsChicken and roast potatoesHam sandwich

What did you have for tea last night? If you were Jewish would you have been

able to have it?

Kosher or not?

yesno

Is it difficult to keep Kosher?

• It’s not difficult to keep Kosher – what makes it difficult is that the rest of the world doesn’t follow the same rules.

• It’s difficult in a non-Kosher restaurant or in the home of a non Jewish friend.

• It’s difficult if you can’t afford two of everything for your kitchen!

But why do you think these rules are important?

• Obeying God – written in the Torah• Love of God• Uniqueness of Jewish people• Tradition• Health

Your task –(practical)Plan a menu for a Jewish

(Kosher) restaurant.

• Starter• Choice of main courses.• Puddings (can have milky

ones if you have included a vegetarian

main course)• Drinks

Include illustrations of the food.