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Year 9: Dialogue and Encounter: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Orthodox Jew	A Jew who adheres to the principles and practices of Judaism due to devotion to the Torah.
Torah	The holiest book for the Jews – contains the law and history of the Jewish people.
Talmud	The oral Law written down.
Nevi’im	The writings of the Prophets – part of the TeNeKh.
Synagogue	The place of worship and community for the Jews – known as the Shul.
Reform and Liberal Judaism	A form of Judaism that has abandoned traditional principles and practices in order to bring the faith into the modern world by adapting the laws.
Secular Jew	A person who is born into the Jewish faith, ethnically Jewish, but does not observe the religious element of being Jewish.
Almighty	How the Jews refer to God.
Hashem	‘The Name’ a name used outside of prayer, to describe God.
Shekhinah	The divine presence of God on earth.
Messiah	‘Anointed One’. A great leader who will be sent by God to restore Jewish society.

Messianic Age	The time the Messiah will rule.
Tikkum Olam	Good deeds to bring about a better world – an active way of bringing the Messianic Age.
Covenant	An everlasting agreement between two parties – in Judaism between God and humanity.
Abraham	The founding father of Judaism who brought about the first covenant with God.
Moses	The most important prophet of Judaism – formed the final covenant with God.
Descendants	Those who are related to you but come after you in generations to come.
Mount Sinai	The place where Moses received The Decalogue from God.
Promised Land	In Genesis, Abraham is promised a land (Canaan) for his people to live in safety. This was further promised in the Covenant with Moses. Jews believe this is a modern day Israel.

Chosen People	The idea that the Jews were chosen by God to be his people – linked to the covenant of Moses.
Brit Milah	Known as Bris. The circumcision of the Jewish baby boy at 8 days old – makes them part of the covenant with Abraham.
The Decalogue	The Ten Commandments, the first ten sayings of the Jewish Law. Sealed the covenant with Moses.
Hebrew/Hebrews	A term used to describe the original Jewish tribe – the language of the Judaism.

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Year 9: Dialogue and Encounter: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

The Covenants

The Shekhinah

The Messiah

The Nature of the Almighty

Shekhinah literally means ‘dwelling.’
In Hebrew it means God’s divine presence in the world.
Jews believe that God, after creating the world, continues to work in it.
The tradition of the Shekhinah comes from the Tabernacle the Hebrews originally built for God to rest.
‘Build me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.’ Exodus 25:8.
The Tabernacle was built as a place for Jews to be and maintain a connection with God while they wandered in the desert.

Quality of God	What this means
Oneness of God	There is only 1 God
Creator	God created the Universe
Law Giver	God provides laws e.g. !0 Commandments
Judge	God decides what is right and wrong
Merciful	God is all loving
Almighty	God is all powerful

What will the Messiah be like and what will he do?

Prince of Peace.
A human being.
A great political leader. descended from King David.
A great judge who makes righteous decisions.
A great military leader who will win battles for Israel.
Return Israel.
A charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example.
Well versed in Jewish law and observe its commandments.
Rebuild the temple.
Restore Jewish Law.

Part 1 of the Covenant:

God asked Abraham to move to the promised land. Home and identity as God’s chosen people.

Part 2 of the Covenant:

Abraham will have many descendants. As many as the stars in the sky.

Part 3 of the Covenant:

As a sign of the eternal covenant Jews are circumcised at 8 days old. Identity, blessing and redemption.

The Abraham covenant is really important because:

It is the origin of

the Jewish faith

Reminder that at God will always care and protect His people
Gift of the promised land
Reveals God cares for His people.

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Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Yad	A pointer used for following the text in the Torah.
Bimah	A raised platform from which reading of the Torah are made and sermons given.
Kosher	Fir or proper. Used to describe the right and allowed things in Judaism, particularly food laws.
Trefah	Forbidden foods.
Mishneh Torah	Book written by Rabbi Maimonides explaining Jewish observance of the oral law.
Halakah	The list of 163 Jewish mitzvot which are a guide for a good Jewish life.
Kashrut	Jewish dietary laws.
Shiva	Seven days of mourning following the funeral for close relatives for the deceased.
Ark	Where th Torah scrolls are kept in the synagogue, faces Jerusalem, in honour of the ‘Holy of Holies’.
Menorah	Seven branches candle stick, a reminder of the Temple. Original symbol of Jerusalem.

Sukkot	Feast of the Booths. Celebration of the harvest and reminder of the years living in the desert.
Yahrzeit	The anniversary of the date of a death, marked by lighting a Yahrzeit candle.
Siddur	Book of daily prayers, literally means ‘order’.
Shabbat	From Friday sundown until Saturday sundown, the Jewish day of rest to worship God.
Amidah	Standing prayer- contains 19 blessings, a core part of all worship services.
Avelut	Mourning a close relative. Made up of Shiva, Sheloshim and the Year of Mourning.
Shavuot	The celebration of the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel.
Mezuzah	Small box placed on door posts containing a copy of the Shema.
Gehinnom	A place of punishment for unrighteous souls who neglect the Torah.
Sanctity of Life	The belief in the primacy of life, life is given by God and therefore is sacred and holy.
Mitzvot	613 rules or commandments given by God to Moses within the Torah.
Gan Eden	A place where righteous people go after they die.
Gemara	Rabbinical analysis of the Mishnah found in the Talmud.
Teffillin	Two small black boxes containing text from the Torah strapped to the wearer during prayer.
Pesach	Passover: the festival remembering the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.

Pikuach Nefesh	The principle that states preservation of human life, overrides virtually every other religious law.
Yom Kippur	The Day of Atonement, a time to reflect on sins and to seek forgiveness.
Rosh Hashanah	‘Head of the Year’. The Jewish celebration of the new year. The first of the Days of Awe.

Modeh Ani	Prayer recited upon waking each morning, literally ‘I give thanks’.
Tallit	A fringed shawl worn during prayer.

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

The Sanctity of Life

Jewish Holy Books – The Talmud

Jews and Life after Death

Judaism teaches that life is sacred, that life is a gift from God.
Jews often talk of human life as being sacred. They refer to the sanctity of life when considering issues such as abortion, euthanasia, embryo research, the care of the disabled or the elderly.
They believe there is something special or holy about human life. Every human, Jews believe, is special to God.
They believe that God is the author of life, life itself is holy and must be valued and preserved.
It is up to God only who lives or dies.

A Jewish law that states the preservation of human life overrides virtually any other religious law.
Also known as the Primacy of life.

Pikuach Nefesh

Jewish Holy Books

Jews felt that they needed to pass down laws, from generation to generation, to prevent change when they found themselves under the rule of other nations.
Laws began to be handed down from father to son by word of mouth.
One son, Judah, asked why the laws were not written down and promised his father he would do this.
Over many years Judah made this book, finishing it in 200CE. This became the Mishnah, part of the Talmud.
Rabbis have continued to analyse and explain passages from The Torah. These are called the Gemara – part of The Talmud.

	Section of the Hebrew Bible and what it means	What is in this book?
T	TORAH = Law	This contains the 5 books of Moses. Also includes Jewish laws and History.
N	NEVI’IM = Prophets	There are 7 major and minor prophets. The prophets are people who speak Gods message.
K	KETUVIM = Other Writings	The writings. Including poems, songs and wise sayings.

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

The Mitzvot

How do Jews know and understand the Mitzvot?

What is the Halakah – why is it important for Jews?

The Torah contains all the Mitzvot, however these are woven into stories and the history that the Torah contains.

Halaka is often translated as ’Jewish Law’, although a more literal translation might be ‘the way to behave’ or the ‘way of walking’.

The Halakah is the complied list of all the Mitzvot.

How do Jews know and understand the Mitzvot?

The Sefer Madda:

Rabbi Moses Mainmonides, an influential Rabbi, complied a list of the 613 mitzvot. He wanted to provides a summary of Jewish Law. This list is on the Sefer Madda or Book of Knowledge, which is found within the Mishneh Torah.

This explains that the foundation of everything is God and therefore moral principles should also originate from God.

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Public Worship

Private Worship

Public worship involves services at the synagogue – mostly reciting written prayers. It reminds Jews if their part in the Jewish community and the Jewish nation as a whole. It allows:

Individuals to spend time in praise, thanks and request of God.
A sense of Jewish unity as the services are similar around the world.

The main public acts of worship take place within the synagogue :

Daily Prayers (x3 a day)
The Shabbat (Sabbath Services)
Festival Services (e.g. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur).

As many Jews cannot attend the synagogue daily, they replace this with private prayer or prayer at home. Individual prayer is encouraged as well as prayer with the family together.

Jews believe they must clear their minds and then focus only on God – this is the most important part of prayer for them.

‘Tremble and sin not; reflect in your hearts while on your beds and be utterly silent.’

Shabbat Prayer

Prayers are a huge part of Shabbat rituals. On Friday night, the Shabbat meal is prepared before candles are lit to welcome it.

Prayers are recited before meals begin and special blessings are said – this is called the Kiddush and it is a prayer of sanctification which:

Celebrates Gods creation
Remembers the freedom from slavery of the Jewish people.

After the Kiddush is said over the wine other blessing are made in the home. Stories of the Jewish history and Jewish worship songs can also be sung.

The connection of family and the connection between God and the Jewish people is considered the most important part of Jewish life.

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Why is prayer important for Jews?

Prayer shows obedience to the commandments.

Prayer builds the relationship between God and human beings – makes relationship with God stronger.

To give thanks and praise to God.

The Torah commands Jews to join together to thank God.

Prayer gives believers a way to communicate and connect with God.

Daily prayer allows regular prayer, God becomes part of what Jews do everyday.

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Shema and Amidah

Rituals

Why is the Shema important?	Why is the Amidah important?
It reminds Jews of their monotheistic belief. The first commandment is to worship the one God.	It fulfils the requirements set out by the great rabbis: praise, requests, thanks.
It reminds them of their need to observe the commandments.	Provides an opportunity to fulfil their spiritual and physical needs.
It reminds Jews to be thankful to God for liberating them from slavery thousands of years ago.	It is the major prayer in the Siddur (prayer book) and so must be the major prayer for Jews.
It reminds Jews that if they serve God, they will receive his blessing.	It helps Jews fulfil their service to God.

Birth	For Jews the child is born pure and free from sin. A new mother must enter a Mikvah (ritual bah) 7 days after having a boy and 14 days after having a girl. A girl’s name is officially given in the synagogue when the father reads from the Torah during the first Saturday after the birth.
Brit milah	Jewish ceremony of circumcision that symbolizes the covenant between God and Abraham, performed on male infants eight days after birth.
Bar mitzvah	Jewish coming-of-age ceremony for boys at age 13, marking their religious and moral responsibility under Jewish law.
Bat mitzvah	Jewish coming-of-age ceremony for girls at age 12, signifying their responsibility to observe Jewish commandments and participate fully in Jewish community life.
Bat Chayil	Orthodox Jewish girls do not celebrate a bat mitzvah. They celebrate a girl’s maturity and commitment to Jewish values, marking her transition into religious and family responsibilities. Presentation given, prayer said. They do NOT read from The Torah.

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

The Synagogue

The Jewish place of worship
Literally means bringing people together
The greater the number involved in worship the more honour to God
Designed to bring people together
The Aron Hakodesh is the centre focus
Synagogue always faces Jerusalem

Ner tamid an everlasting light. Represents Gods eternal presence. The mitzvah to keep a light burning at the temple in Jerusalem.

Ark precious, sacred and the most important place in the synagogue. Contains Torah scrolls.

The Torah Scrolls each scroll is hand written and contains several Torah scrolls.

Bimah where the Torah scroll is read. Central in Orthodox synagogues. Front in reform.

Yad used to read from the Torah, helps you point to the exact place. The Torah should never be touched.

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Jewish Festivals

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

Sukkot	Feast of the Booths. Celebration of the harvest and reminder of the years living in the desert.
Shavuot	The celebration of the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel.
Yom Kippur	The Day of Atonement, a time to reflect on sins and to seek forgiveness.
Rosh Hashanah	‘Head of the Year.’ The Jewish celebration of new year. The first of the Days of Awe.
Pesach	Passover: the festival remembering the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.

For Jews, there is a time for celebration and a time for commemoration. A passage from the Ketuvim states:

‘Everything has its season, and there is a time for everything under the heavens… a time to weep and a time to laugh’

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4

Festivals occur at set times within the Jewish calendar but do move slightly due to the lunar calendar.
Most festivals are based on Jewish history remembering positive events such as Pesach.
For these, Jews celebrate God’s involvement and intervention with his chosen people.
Festivals recognise God as Creator.
Some festivals focus on developing a closeness in their relationship with God.

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Jewish Festivals

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

Rosh Hashanah - Key facts about this festival

Rosh Hashanah literally means the ‘head of the year.
It is the first day of the Jewish year.
It is a happy time and remembers the story of creation.
It is the first ‘Days of Awe.’
Rosh Hashanah is a time for Jews to evaluate their behaviour, reflect in the past, make peace and ask for forgiveness. During the next ten days Jews consider their deeds in the last year and try to apologise to anyone they have done wrong to.
The celebration is instituted in Leviticus.

How the festival is celebrated

Special services are held in the synagogue.
Special foods such as pomegranate, apples and honey will be eaten to symbolise a sweet year ahead.
At the morning service a shofar (ram’s horn) is blown 100 times to represent the crying of the soul asking to be reunited with God.
Some Jews will perform tashlikh when they cast away the crumbs in their pockets to symbolise their sins being cast away.

Yom Kippur - Key facts about this festival

Often called Day of Atonement.
Holiest day of the year.
It is the end of the ten days of repentance.
A day of self-denial with a fast throughout the day.
Many people will spend the day in the Synagogue.

How the festival is celebrated

Often food and money is given to help the poor.
Some more observant Jews will visit the mikveh (pool of natural water).
During Yom Kippur, many Jews will fast for 25 hours.
In the Synagogue, the Kol Nidrei (All Vows) is sung and the story of Jonah is told. During prayers Jews will confess their sins to God. The service ends with reciting the Shema.
After nightfall, a single blast of the shofar marks the end of the service.

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What is it is like to be a Jew in British Society today?

Jewish Festivals

Year 10: Judaism Knowledge Organiser

Jewish attitudes towards festivals are diverse, varying by denomination, level of observance, and personal interpretation.

While some Orthodox Jews strictly adhere to traditional laws and rituals, others, such as Reform, interpret holidays in more flexible or secular ways, focusing on personal meaning, community, or cultural expression rather than the Halakah (Jewish Law).

Even within Orthodox circles, practices can differ, and approaches to secular life, such as work and diet, also vary significantly. For example:

Yom Kippur:

Some Orthodox Jews may take a ritual bath before the holiday and wear white robes for purity, while Reform Jews are less likely to follow strict dress codes.

Sukkot:

Practices vary from sleeping in the Sukkah every night to only having one night of camping or just having one meal there.

Pesach:

Orthodox Jews celebrate Passover for eight days, while Reform Jews observe it for seven days.