Jewish Rituals and Festivals

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The extent to which Judaism is more orthopraxy rather than orthodoxy. Festivals and rituals are central to the way in which religions communicate: Shabbat, Passover, Yom Kippur, although there is a big book on laws, festivals and role of the calendar are viewed as more important, festivals is regarded as mitzvah. Role: transformative effect as the Jews relive the experiences of their ancestors in the past i.e salt on Pesach= sweat of the Jewish slaves in Egypt. History plays a key role in Jewish identity and this is kept alive in the present through festivals. Passed on from generation to generation: collective memory. Nature is key to the Jewish calendar and explains why many significant sacred celebrations begin at certain times. In the past there was no clocks, people measured time according to sunset and sunrise. Temple procedures begun at dawn and everything else such as the beginning of the day begun at nightfall. This explains the Sabbath commencing a little before Sunset on a Friday. If it begun at midnight few would be awake to celebrate and notice it. Celebrations begin when people take their evening meal, known as a great social institution. Prayers are attended in the synagogue, happy hymns and psalms are sung, the Kiddush (blessing of wine and breaking of bread) is recited. Family values even for the secular : all join on a Friday night. Central is the Foot Festivals/ Bible-Based festivals The journey undertaken by devotees to Jerusalem where festivals were commemorated the journey and the destination= liminal qualities= rite of passage. Temple was destroyed during the Babylonian Exile, festivals became domesticated and are performed at home rather than at the Temple. Three foot festivals : Pesach(Spring), Shavuot (Summer) Sukkot (Autumn) Festive joy is expressed by feasting with meat and drink, purchase of new garments for women. Each

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