Starter Activity

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? D Ner Tamid A The Ark Menorah B Torah Bimah C E

Aim • To examine parts of daily life for a Jewish person. Success! • be able to explain differences between how a Jewish person goes about daily life and how a non-Jewish person does the same.

Dress The Home Daily Life 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. BACK

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. Father Mother • 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. • Support his family. • Study the Torah. • See that his children study the Torah. BACK

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. Prince Charles visiting a Synagogue. American Ex -President George.W.Bush at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

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 (ShelYad). 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

Kosher = Food which is allowed Treyfah = Food which is NOT allowed!

Where are the food laws ? • 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’.

Kosher ךּכּשּׁ • 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 הּרּפּטּ • 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 

Kosher food laws: Meat The only meat that can be eaten has to be from an animal that: • 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?

Lesson ObjectiveTo understand the importance of Jewish food laws Kosher? Or Not kosher?

Could the following meals be eaten? Cheese burger Bacon sandwich Roast beef and vegetables Fish and chips Chicken and roast potatoes Ham 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.

Starter Activity