Rituals
Mikva'ot
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Mikva'ot (sometimes referred to as Mikveh) is a ceremonial bath. Mikveh is done on women, prior to marriage (men as well) and following the birth of a child. Mikveh is also performed on converts to the Jewish religion as part of their conversion ceremony. The bath is seen as a means to cleanse oneself spiritually. The water used in this ritual must be able to cover the participant. This bath is also performed in cases of infertility, illness, after a sexual assault or following divorce.
Brit Milah
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This is circumcision. It is the removal of the foreskin of a male baby's genital. Circumcision is seen as an essential practice for entrance into the Jewish community. Anybody can perform this, but it is preferable that the person be jewish.
Bar/Bat Mitzvah
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'Bar' and 'Bat' mean 'son' and 'daughter' respectively, and 'mitzvah' means 'commandment', so the two words mean 'son of the commandment' or 'daughter of the commandment'. According to Judaism, children are not obligated to the observe the commandments. A Bar (or Bat) Mitzvah ceremony indicates a child's ability to observe the commandments, as they have come of age. For boys this age is 13 years and girls, 12 years. On reaching this age, the boy can partake in religious activities, testify in court and form binding contracts. At the ceremony, the father of the celebrant says a blessing thanking God for freeing him from being accountable to his son's or daughter's sins.
Simchat Bat
This is the naming ceremony of a baby. Babies are usually named at the first public gathering. Male babies usually perform this ritual alongside circumcision. Female babies are named at the first public reading of the Torah.
Other Rituals and Ceremonies
Afikomen: This is the consumption of the last piece of bread at the Passover meal
Arba kosot: This refers to the four cups of wine traditionally drunk at the feast of Passover. Even the
poorest person is expected to observe this ritual during the Passover Meal.
Tohorah: This is the ceremonial washing of the dead body before burial. The body is to be held
upright while the ceremony is being held.
Tikkun hatsot: Jewish ceremony mainly among the mystics held at midnight as a means of restitution and
penance for sins.
Petihah: The ritual of opening the ark of the synagogue. It is performed during the service when the
Torah Scrolls are being taken out. The congregation stands while this is taking place.
Hakkafot: This is the ceremonial circular procession. It comes from the Israelites circling the walls
of Jericho. In some communities, the bride encircles her husband as part of this ritual.
Prayers
Shacharit: Morning Prayers
Observant Jews say prayers upon arising and upon donning the tzitzit, tallit and tefillin. They then say the morning blessings, which are followed by blessings for the Torah and readings from Biblical and rabbinic writings. Next comes Shema Yisrael. In Orthodox services this is followed by a series of readings from Biblical and rabbinic writings recalling the offerings made in the Temple in Jerusalem. The section concludes with the Rabbi's Kaddish. The next section of morning prayers is called Pesukei D'Zimrah, verses of praise, containing many psalms, and prayers made from a tapestry of biblical verses, followed by the Song at the Sea.Now begins Barechu, the formal public call to prayer, and an expanded series of prayers relating to the main recitation of Shema Yisrael. This is followed by the core of the prayer service, the Amidah or Shemoneh Esreh, a series of 19 prayers. The next part of the service, is Tachanun, supplications.
Mincha: Afternoon Prayers
Sephardim and Italkim Jews start the Mincha with Psalm 84 and Korbanot (Numbers 28:1-8), and usually continue with the Pittum hakketoret. The opening section is concluded with Malachi 3:4. Prayers then continue as follows. (Ashkenazim start here.) The Ashrei, containing verses of Psalms 84, 144, 115 and 141 and the entire Psalm 145, immediately followed by the Shemoneh Esreh (Amidah). This is followed by a shortened version of Tachanun, supplications, and then the full Kaddish. Sephardim insert Psalm 67 or 93, followed by the Mourner's Kaddish. After this follows, in most modern rites, the Aleinu. Ashkenazim then conclude with the Mourner's Kaddish.
Ma'ariv (or Arvit): Evening Prayers
This service begins with the Barechu, the formal public call to prayer, and an expanded series of prayers relating to the Shema Yisrael. This is followed by the Hashkiveinu This is followed by the Half-Kaddish, and the Shemoneh Esreh (Amidah), bracketed with the full Kaddish. Sephardim then repeat the Barechu and say the Mourner's Kaddish before concluding with the Aleinu. Ashkenazim do not repeat the Barechu, but conclude with Aleinu followed by the Mourner's Kaddish.
Kaddish
This is commonly known as a mourner's prayer. The prayer begins "May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed. May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days ..." The idea is to praise God even when faced with a loss, as many people might experience a separation from God during this time. The Kaddish is to be recited for an 11 month period, but can be done for a 12 month period.
Arba kosot: This refers to the four cups of wine traditionally drunk at the feast of Passover. Even the
poorest person is expected to observe this ritual during the Passover Meal.
Tohorah: This is the ceremonial washing of the dead body before burial. The body is to be held
upright while the ceremony is being held.
Tikkun hatsot: Jewish ceremony mainly among the mystics held at midnight as a means of restitution and
penance for sins.
Petihah: The ritual of opening the ark of the synagogue. It is performed during the service when the
Torah Scrolls are being taken out. The congregation stands while this is taking place.
Hakkafot: This is the ceremonial circular procession. It comes from the Israelites circling the walls
of Jericho. In some communities, the bride encircles her husband as part of this ritual.
Prayers
Shacharit: Morning Prayers
Observant Jews say prayers upon arising and upon donning the tzitzit, tallit and tefillin. They then say the morning blessings, which are followed by blessings for the Torah and readings from Biblical and rabbinic writings. Next comes Shema Yisrael. In Orthodox services this is followed by a series of readings from Biblical and rabbinic writings recalling the offerings made in the Temple in Jerusalem. The section concludes with the Rabbi's Kaddish. The next section of morning prayers is called Pesukei D'Zimrah, verses of praise, containing many psalms, and prayers made from a tapestry of biblical verses, followed by the Song at the Sea.Now begins Barechu, the formal public call to prayer, and an expanded series of prayers relating to the main recitation of Shema Yisrael. This is followed by the core of the prayer service, the Amidah or Shemoneh Esreh, a series of 19 prayers. The next part of the service, is Tachanun, supplications.
Mincha: Afternoon Prayers
Sephardim and Italkim Jews start the Mincha with Psalm 84 and Korbanot (Numbers 28:1-8), and usually continue with the Pittum hakketoret. The opening section is concluded with Malachi 3:4. Prayers then continue as follows. (Ashkenazim start here.) The Ashrei, containing verses of Psalms 84, 144, 115 and 141 and the entire Psalm 145, immediately followed by the Shemoneh Esreh (Amidah). This is followed by a shortened version of Tachanun, supplications, and then the full Kaddish. Sephardim insert Psalm 67 or 93, followed by the Mourner's Kaddish. After this follows, in most modern rites, the Aleinu. Ashkenazim then conclude with the Mourner's Kaddish.
Ma'ariv (or Arvit): Evening Prayers
This service begins with the Barechu, the formal public call to prayer, and an expanded series of prayers relating to the Shema Yisrael. This is followed by the Hashkiveinu This is followed by the Half-Kaddish, and the Shemoneh Esreh (Amidah), bracketed with the full Kaddish. Sephardim then repeat the Barechu and say the Mourner's Kaddish before concluding with the Aleinu. Ashkenazim do not repeat the Barechu, but conclude with Aleinu followed by the Mourner's Kaddish.
Kaddish
This is commonly known as a mourner's prayer. The prayer begins "May His great Name grow exalted and sanctified in the world that He created as He willed. May He give reign to His kingship in your lifetimes and in your days ..." The idea is to praise God even when faced with a loss, as many people might experience a separation from God during this time. The Kaddish is to be recited for an 11 month period, but can be done for a 12 month period.