...Frank Greco Site Visit Dr.Elder March 26th, 2014 Congregation B’nai Israel Address: 2710 Park Avenue Bridgeport, CT 06604 Phone: 203-336-1858 Date: March 21st, 2014 Pre-Oneg 5:30p.m Kabbalat Shabbat 6:00p.m On Friday march 21st, my classmates and I went to go to a Jewish Ceremony. When we first arrived, James Prosnit, a very welcoming Rabbi met us and introduced us to this new and unfamiliar place. A Rabbi is similar to a priest in the Catholic Church; Rabbi’s are teachers of the Jewish religion whereas priests teach and preach about the Catholic religion, so this was somewhat familiar to me. After meeting James Prosnit, we were given a tour of the sanctuary. After that we made our way to the pre service gathering, which we soon learned was called a Pre-oneg. When the tour guide said we were going into a Pre-Oneg, at first I did not know what to expect. I soon learned that a Pre-Oneg is a festive and casual gathering that precedes the Shabbat service. The tour guide said that this gathering gives people the opportunity to have a social connection with each other while enjoying food and beverages. We learned that usually only wines and cheeses are served at a Pre-Oneg, but sometimes there are other types of refreshments. In the Pre-Oneg we were greeted by a lot of people. They seemed very interested about what we do and why we were there, asking us questions like where we attend school and what our majors are. This made us feel even more welcome. Next, James Prosnit...
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...Medias Synagogue By Julie Dawson and Letitia Cosnean The Mihai Eminescu Trust 63 Hillgate Place, London W8 7SS Tel. +44 20 72297618 Romania Str. Cojocarilor nr. 10, Sighisoara 545400 Tel. +4 0265 506024 The Mihai Eminescu Trust UK 63 Hillgate Place, London W8 7SS Tel. +44 20 72297618 with the Ten Commandments. The pediment is flanked by two carved wooden acroteria. The mural paintings along the interior walls depict artistic representations of a menorah, vegetal motifs, lions, Stars of David, the Ten Commandments and a fortress, probably a romantic depiction of Jerusalem. During Ceauşescu’s dictatorship, the Trust helped dissidents keep in touch with western academic thought; and by alerting the world to his plan to bulldoze Romania’s rural architecture, it played a part in saving hundreds of villages from destruction. After his death, the Trust turned its attention to the country’s cultural revival and rural regeneration. The Trust concentrates on the Saxon villages of Transylvania, a special case because of the age and richness of their past and the emergency caused by the mass emigration of the Saxon inhabitants to Germany in 1990, leading to the abandonment of many of their houses and a loss of awareness of the value of their heritage. These villages – farmers’ houses and barns built around fortified churches, substantially unchanged since the Middle Ages – lie in spectacularly beautiful surroundings, rich in wild flowers. Wolves, bears and wild boar roam...
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...Name: Instructors name: Course: Date: Jewish Holy Day of Hanukkah With many religions worldwide, there are special and dedicated times of the year where followers celebrate the associated holidays with the religion practiced. I had the privilege of celebrating one of the historic Jewish Holy Days called Hanukkah or Chanukah with my friends from the Jewish community. Chanukah or Hanukkah celebrates Jewish rededication of their temple in Jerusalem during the second century. Chanukah or Hanukkah as I came to learn means dedication in Hebrew and it commemorates a miracle which is oil based. The festival ran for eight consecutive days and each of the days was marked with games, dances, songs, oily fried foods, candle lighting and a lot of joy and laughter. Each day of Hanukkah we thanked God by reciting a complete ‘Hallel’ during the Morning Prayer service. We also inserted a special thanks giving prayer and read from the Torah. After each Morning Prayer service we ate oily fried foods such as fried potato pancakes also known as latkes, deep fried doughnuts also known as sufganiyot, cheese and a lot of dairy foods. We also got to play dreidel games. From the brief history given I came to learn that during the ancient days, the Greek oppressors banned Torah schools and so the young children would study deep in the forest. All this while, they would post sentry to make them aware of Greek patrols. When the soldiers came, the kids would hide or bury their texts into the...
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...Signature assignment: The Impact of Jewish life in Florida Michael Otero West Coast University Abstract This paper identifies and shows my reflection on the Jewish museum of Florida which exhibits the richness and diversity of Jewish life from 1763 to the present Jews, non-Jews, Florida residents and visitors alike. I examined how Jews during these times grew to develop a dynamic variety of ethnic groups, all seeking to balance the continuity and traditions of their heritage wit the values and customs of a larger society. This paper also explains the central issues rose from the museum and historical purpose it served as the Jewish community made its contributions in Florida. Topics * Identify and explain the central issues raised by the museum. * Formulate a distinct, individual point of view (personal reflection) that engages critically with various perspectives offered by the museum. * Evaluate the evidence that the museum offers for its point of view. * Consider how the site/exhibit/museum uses cultural, political, and (or) historical contexts to present its issues and purposes. * Exhibit your knowledge of how the museum presents and uses cultural worldview frameworks, and also how you use your own knowledge of those frameworks to engage the museum. The Jewish museum of Florida located in Miami was home to congregation Beth Jacob and was the first synagogue on south beach. The synagogue is the building in which congregation meets...
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...For the fieldwork project, I was primarily going to observe a Buddhist temple, but because of circumstances I wasn’t able to visit. So, I decided to observe a Jewish Synagogue instead. This synagogue goes by the name Congregation Beth Am. Congregation Beth Am is located at 2030 W Fletcher Ave, Tampa, FL 33612. The reason I chose to observe this religion was because it was a different denomination, though has some similarity and the difference from the Christian denomination. I am personally a Baptist Christian and was raised on that faith. When I made my parents aware of my observation of this synagogue they were both interested and concerned. They were interested because they know how much I enjoy branching out and educating myself on what...
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...Worship Observation Paper Assignment Sheet THRS 2105 Spring During the semester, you must attend/observe one service of Jewish worship and present your observations in a five page paper. (If you regularly attend a Jewish worship service, you should visit a different denomination.) A list of synagogues of various denominations will be posted on line. You are welcome to visit a synagogue outside the list as long as you check in with me first. There are three components to the assignment. 1) Preparation Once you have decided what synagogue you will visit, you are expected to do a minimal amount of basic research on the historical background of the denomination, the worship style, its institutional organization and its place in the American religious scene. You may also want to do some research into the specific synagogue’s community you plan to visit, especially if it is of historic interest. Many religious denominations (and many individual synagogues) have web pages with helpful information. This preparation is important as it will help make your visit more comfortable and will enable you to get more out of the experience. Your finished paper should include a brief (one and a half to two pages) introduction to the tradition. Keep in mind that you must cite in a footnote or endnote all sources which you quote or paraphrase, as well as works to which you refer or from which you have culled information. Take notes carefully so that you don't have to go back to relocate...
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...and the preparation of the divine services in the context of a secular or monastic liturgy. Chevra Kadisha - The organization of Jewish men and women who see to it that the bodies of the Jews are prepared for burial according to Jewish tradition and are protected from desecration, willful or not, until burial. El Malei Rachamin - A funeral prayer used by the Ashkenazi Jewish community. Hasped - This word has direct physical meaning of "enclosed with a hasp" as thus used in Garth's 'Dispensary'. Kaddish - Hymm of praises to God found in the Jewish prayer service. Central theme is the magnification and sanctification of God's name. Kever - The custom of visiting the graveside of parents or close relatives and praying there. ( grave of the fathers) Kriah - Hebrew word meaning tearing. It refers to the act of tearing one's clothes of cutting a black ribbon worn on one's clothes. Levaya - Hebrew word for funeral. Menorah - A 9 branched candelabrum lit during the eight day holiday of Hanukkah. Mogen David -Means "shield of David" but is used to refer to the six pointed Star of David. Rabbi - Jewish scholar or teacher of the Torah. Meaning "My Master" Shabbat - Jewish day of rest and the seventh day of the week, on which religious Jews remember the Biblical creation of the heavens and the earth. Shivah- Jewish Sabath - Mourning period following the funeral and lasting...
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...Jewish Holidays Passover: 15th of Nisan (spring, March-April) The Passover in Hebrew is known as Pesach. It begins in the Sunset of Monday, April 10, 2017, and ends at the nightfall of Tuesday, April 18, 2017. The Pesach is depicted in the book of Exodus 12:23. It describes the day when God passed over Israelites. During the Passover, the Israelites usually celebrate their Liberation from the Egyptian bondage. This is when God delivered them from slavery in Egypt. The Passover is also considered to be one of the most theologically important holidays in the Jewish calendar. It normally goes for eight days but in other communities, it lasts for only one week. The Jews are prohibited to eat any bread or leavened food. They are only allowed to eat unleavened bread and traditional foods made of ground matzah referred to as matzah meal. Such foods may include gefilite fish, ponge cake cakes and cookies made from Nuts and macaroons (Hexham, 89). Other activities comprise of the Jewish reading the Haggadah to retell the story of the Exodus and their migration from Egypt. During the Passover, the firstborns of Israel must fast to thank God for being merciful and sparing them. The seventh day usually marks the day they crossed the Red Sea. On the last day, the Yizkor memorial prayer is recited for dead. Feast of Weeks: Shavuot Shavuot begins in the sunset of Saturday, June 11, 2016, and ends at the nightfall of Monday, June 13, 2016. The name Shavuot is a Hebrew name that means Weeks...
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...The Most Important Jewish Holy Day: Yom Kippur REL/134 February 28, 2012 The Most Important Jewish Holy Day: Yom Kippur The Holy Day of Yom Kippur is widely considered to be the most important of Jewish Holy Days. Yom Kippur translates to “Day of Atonement,” and is many times observed by even the most secular of Jews (Malloy and Hilgers 2010). It is observed on the tenth and final day of a period that begins with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. These 10 days are referred to as The Days of Awe. According to Jewish law, on Rosh Hashanah, God inscribes the names of the righteous in His book of life and declares the evil to death; people who fall between righteous and evil have until Yom Kippur to repent. As a result, observant Jews consider Yom Kippur and The Days of Awe a time for prayer, donations, community service, reflection on the past, and making amends with others ("Atonement, Day Of",2010). “...In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and you shall not do any work ... For on that day he shall provide atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins before the L-RD” (Leviticus 16:29-30). Yom Kippur is observed on the tenth day of Tishri, the seventh month of the Jewish year. Tishri occurs in September and October of the Gregorian Calendar. The traditions of Yom Kippur begin on the eve, just before the sun sets, with a fast that will last for the next 25 hours. During the fast, it is expected that...
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...the Jewish community. For the past two years, I have been attending high school at Frank Sinatra School of the Arts as a film major. I have been studying both the history of film and the production of film. I have created various films ranging from music videos to movie trailers. I hope to contribute to BIMA by sharing my knowledge and experience of films with my fellow BIMA participants. I hope to grow as an artist in that I hope to learn from my instructors to further develop and improve my film techniques in areas such as camerawork and editing. I also hope to learn new techniques and skills in the workshops and master classes that are ran by professionals in the field. I hope to collaborate with BIMA participants by creating films with them and learning from them as well. I attended Solomon Schechter day school from elementary school through middle school. I would therefore contribute my knowledge of Judaism and Shabbat with other BIMA participants. For example, I have experienced Shabbat in traditional ways such as attending services and eating a Shabbat dinner with my family. However, I would also look forward to growing as a Jew by exploring new ways to observe Shabbat. For example, meditation and yoga would be new ways that I could experience Shabbat and relax on the Day of Rest. Imagine a Jewish community whose members come from all kinds of geographic, cultural, educational, and Jewish backgrounds. How do you envision Shabbat in this diverse community? When...
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...Festival of Shavuot Audrey Brown-Sissoko REL/134 May 15, 2014 Kevin Schemuga Festival of Shavuot As like many religions, Judaism has many different holidays they celebrate around the Hebrew calendar. There are many religious practices, scriptural readings, and family events centered on all holy days. The Jewish holiday. I selected is Festival of Shavuot. Shavuot is a Jewish holiday meaning festival of the weeks that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June), it goes by the lunar cycle. It is the second of the three major Jewish Festivals. There are seven festivals or holidays celebrated by the Jewish faith: Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Purim, Hanukkah, Sukkot, Yom Kippur, and Shavuot. It usually is 50 days or seven weeks after Passover, hence its name. It is a two- day holiday celebrated here in the United States, and one day in Israel. It starts at sundown on the fifth day of Sivan, and last until nightfall on the seventh of Sivan.It began as a summer grain-harvest festival. “Later regained special meaning as an invitation to renew the covenant” (2010, para 10). Shavuot originated around 3300 years ago at Mount Sinai, commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel. “Biblical times, Shavuot originated as an agricultural Festival, celebrating the beginning (the first fruits) of the wheat harvest in Israel that continues through summer and ends with Sukkot in the fall” (October 2009, para 3). In times...
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...important to a Jew wherever they may be, in a synagogue; at home and even if they are out and about. Yet some may say that it is more important to daven in a minyan, this is a group of ten men. This can usually only be obtained at a synagogue. Worshipping in a minyan means one can say even more prayers to G-d and therefore, making the synagogue an important place of worship because it means we can say as many prayers as possible to G-d. One of the main importance’s of worshipping with a minyan in the synagogue is that a mourner can say the prayer of Kaddish which is said during the year after a relative’s death. This prayer can only be said amongst a minyan and therefore gives prayer in a synagogue a significant amount of importance for the Jewish people. The Torah is an extremely important act...
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...Marriage in Judaism Chair Throne for the bride (Figure 2) Singing, celebrating of the chatan (Figure 4) Breaking of the Glass (Figure 3) Religious Symbol for Judaism (Figure 1) Marriage in Judaism is an important of the Jewish tradition. Judaism believes in the concept of soul mates, called bashert. The purpose of marriage is love and companionship, not just childbearing, but it is traditionally expected to fulfil the commandment to have kids. The husband and women are believed to merge into a single soul once married. The wedding can be held on any day of the week apart from during the Jewish Sabbath and also on major Jewish festivals such as the Day of Atonement or Jewish New Year (when Jews are required to refrain from work. Nine major festive held on the Jewish weddings are the Kabbalat Panim, The Badeke, The Chuppah, The Blessings of Betrothal (Kiddushin), The Giving of the Ring, The Ketubah (Marriage Contract), The Seven Blessings, The Breaking the Glass, The Yichud and finally The Festive Meal (Seudah). Within four days before the wedding, the bride performs the ritual of 'mikvah', a ritual bath fed by pure rain or spring water. It is accompanied by a blessing and an appropriate prayer this is to effect spiritual purification in preparation for the physical relationship of marriage. Kabbalat Panim The first festive Jews celebrate is the Kabbalat Panim this is where the chatan (groom) and the Kallah (bride) are not to see each other for one week prior to...
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...Paper 3 In 1084 Bishop Rudiger of Speyer issued an official charter inviting Jews to settle in the city of Speyer (Germany) and establish a community there. It is one of the earliest documents of such sort. The charter provides important clues about the nature of Jewish communities in Medieval Europe, their legal status and their relationships with neighbors. The Hebrew report on p. 59 describes the circumstances under which Rudiger’s charter was given. Analyze both documents and what they tell us about the nature of Medieval Jewish communities in Europe. Answer the following questions: Why did Bishop Rudiger decide to invite Jews to settle in the city of Speyer? What, do you think, were an immediate cause and deeper reasons for his decision? What professional occupations were the Jews involved in? What was the legal status of the Jewish community? What rights and privileges did it have? What were its obligations? Who are the burghers? What were the relationships between them and the Jews? Why? A well-written paper will have a concise introduction to the general topic of the paper, a clear thesis statement, and a carefully developed argument with specific examples supporting the thesis statement. Your paper should be written according to the following guidelines. Your paper should be no longer than two pages (typed, double-spaced) and should concisely, clearly express the results of careful thought and prior drafts. In the paper you turn in, don’t waste space...
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...Brief bio Elizabeth (Betsy) Hausman was an AJWS Global Justice Fellow in 2013- 2014 and has supported AJWS annually since 2012. She is currently director of marketing and event planning for Huckleberry Youth Programs, a counseling center for at-risk, homeless and runaway youth from the San Francisco and Marin counties. She has been a board member of the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center for 10 years and is a court-appointed special advocate for a foster child. She is a past board member of the Jewish Community Federation. Before taking a break to raise her children, she had been marketing and business development manager at Charles Schwab & Company in its San Francisco office and was a registered commodities trader from 1981-1985. She has and M.B.A. from Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from Brown University....
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