Synagogue

A synagogue to a Jew is as a church is to a Christian or a mosque is to a Muslim. It is the center of the Jewish religions community. A synagogue, at its most superficial level, is a house of prayer. A synagogue may also serve as a town hall of sorts where matters that are important to the community can be discussed. Some also have a separate room for Torah study. Synagogues are often run by a board of directors which may hire a rabbi for the community--though a rabbi is not necessary. This is not to demean their importance, however, as they are a vital part any society serving as a teacher, counselor and religious leader.

Synagogues in the United States are often designed so that the front of the sanctuary, the part of the synagogue where prayer is held, is facing towards Jerusalem. Within the sanctuary is also a cabinet or recession in the wall called an Ark where the Torah scrolls are contained.

In Orthodox synagogues, men and women are kept separate. They are often separated from men in such a way that they may not be seen. Men are not allowed to pray in the presence of women, lest their mind wander from prayer to a young girl's pretty face.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/shul.html

Rabbi

A rabbi has no more authority over rituals than any other adult male member of the Jewish community. A rabbi is simply a teacher who has been formally educated in Jewish Law. Rabbi are the spiritual leaders of the community. A Jewish community does not need a rabbi, and it's not unusual for Jewish services to be conducted without one. Unlike a Catholic Priest, a rabbi cannot absolution of sins. Today, a rabbi can be a man or a woman.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/Rabbis.html

Passover

Passover is one of the better known Jewish holidays. Passover begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. This holiday celebrates the Exodus from Egypt after 400 years of slavery. The name "pass over" refers to the act of God "passing over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborns of Egypt.

The grain product eaten during Passover is called Matzah. It is a flat bread, cooked very quickly. This is the same bread that Jews made for their flight from Egypt, it is flat because they did not have time to let their bread rise because they were in such a rush.

Passover lasts for seven days, but eight if you live outside of Israel. There is also a minor fast for all firstborn males to commemorate the the fact that the firstborn Jewish males were spared during the final plague over Egypt.

This year, Passover will happen on April 3, 2007.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holidaya.html

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is perhaps the most important holiday of Judaism. During Yom Kippur you are to abstain from eating, drinking, wearing leather shoes, bathing or washing, putting on perfumes or lotion, and marital relations--better known as sex. Of course, these restrictions may be levied if they inflict upon ones life or health. For example, young children (under the age of 9) and pregnant women may not fast, even if they wish to do so. On this day, as the name would suggest, those who practice Judaism atone for their sins over the past year. Most of the holiday is spent in the synagogue, praying. It is also customary to wear white on this holiday.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday4.html

Torah

The Torah is the most important document in Judaism. It is the record of God reaching out to man, supposedly it was first presented to Moses. The Torah consists of what is known as the 'Old Testament' in the Christian Bible, but to Jews the 'New Testament' is no part of Jewish scripture and there is no 'Old Testament'. The Five Books' names of the Torah are as follows:

* Genesis ("In the beginning...")
* Exodus ("Names")
* Leviticus ("And he called...")
* Numbers ("In the desert...")
* Deuteronomy ("Words", "Discourses", or "Things")

What has been described is the Written Torah. It is also important to realize there is a second Torah, the 'Oral Torah'. The Oral Torah goes more into the finer details of what is described in the Written Torah. For example, in the Written Torah Jews are instructed not to 'work'. However, what is and is not 'work' is not described in the Written Torah, in order to find this information you must search the Oral Torah.

http://www.torah.org/learning/basics/primer/torah/oraltorah.html

Sabbath

Jews view Sabbath as a gift from God. It is a day to devote oneself to higher pursuits rather than the normal, day to day concerns. Sabbath is a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. Though there is a notable amount of prayer on this day, this is not what puts it above other rituals. Jews also eat more elaborately and leisurely on the day of Sabbath. This important ritual happens once every week on Saturday. It is one of the most important rituals in Judaism, and the only one one instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is stated as follows:

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/shabbat.html

The Great Revolt

63 BCE Pompy a Roman General takes over Judea for Rome. A civil war occurs between the Hasmonean Brothers which results in the loss of Jewish Independence. The reign of King Herod began in 37 BCE. He begins by starting a 46 year building project in Jerusalem. He rebuilds the 2nd Bet Hamikdash, enlarging the temple mount held up by four retaining walls including the Kotel. Herod places a Gold Eagle which is the symbol of Rome over the temple which angered Jews. The practice of worshipping idols is against the Jewish religion and religious Jews tried having the eagle removed but any one who tried this was ordered by Herod to be killed. In 6-66 BCE Roman Procurators governed Judea. In the beginning each ruled for ten years, their function was to keep the peace and collect taxes. The Roman governors overtaxed the Jews in order to get rich. They were corrupt and oppressed the Jews. Some roman governors were;

Procurator Pontius Pilate: was described as very cruel, he slaughtered the peaceful protesters, stole Temple treasury, put pagan symbols on the Jewish coins and crucified thousands of Jew including Freedom Fighters, anti-Roman protesters, and Zealots.

Procurator Cumanus: 30,000 Jews were killed, and Torah scrolls were burnt at large gatherings

Procurator Florus: Killed thousands of Jews, took the treasure of the Bet Mikdash, ordered his soldiers to kill children

A revolt began broke out and during Pesach 66 CE war broke out.

The Great Revolt of Judea against Rome was from 66-70 CE. Some main causes were Roman oppression and tension between Jew and non-Jews in Israel. Jerusalem is put under siege. On the 9th of AV 70 CE Titus destroys the Bet Mikdash. At the end of the Great Revolt resulted in the burning of the Bet Mikdash, 90% of Jerusalem’s population was killed and over half a million Jews were killed.

Posted By: JK