Judaism
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Although most mosques feature domes, the dome is purely a decorative and traditional architectural structure with no symbolic or other spiritual meaning, according to About.com. Other mosque parts, such as the minaret, have more spiritual significance.
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Q: Why do mosques have domes?
A: Although most mosques feature domes, the dome is purely a decorative and traditional architectural structure with no symbolic or other spiritual meaning, according to About.com. Other mosque parts, such as the minaret, have more spiritual significance. -
Q: Is swordfish kosher?
A: A swordfish is not considered kosher food. The Torah says a fish must have fins and scales to be kosher. Only fish that have visible scales that can be easily removed are considered kosher, and swordfish do not meet this requirement. -
Q: Why is the Western Wall important to the Jews?
A: The Western Wall is important to modern Jews because it is the only remaining relic of the Second Temple, which was a sacred center of the Jewish religion in ancient times. The building was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. -
Q: What are Jewish people not allowed to eat?
A: Some foods that Jews are forbidden to eat include pig products, such as pork, bacon and ham, seafood that has neither fins nor scales, such as lobster, crab or scallops, and anything that flies in swarms, such as insects. The Jewish dietary laws are called kashrut. -
Q: What is the holy book of Judaism?
A: The primary holy book of the Jewish faith is known as the Torah, which comprises the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy; these are also the first five books of the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, although "Old Testament" is not a term that followers of the Jewish faith typically apply to the Torah. The Torah can also be known as the Pentateuch, and it is accompanied by holy texts such as the Talmud, an authoritative book of biblical interpretations and Jewish oral traditions. According to Jewish religious tradition, God gave the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. -
Q: What are characteristics of Judaism?
A: Judaism is a monotheistic faith, which means members believe in only one god. Judaism teaches that all humans were created in the image of God and that God intends to send a person to remedy the ills of the world. The Torah is the reference text of Judaism. -
Q: What are rituals and practices of Judaism?
A: The Jewish religion has many rituals and practices that begin at birth for boys and girls, with baby-naming ceremonies for girls and Brit Milahs for boys. Following initiation into the Jewish religion at birth, Jewish boys and girls then celebrate the passage into adulthood with Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. Later, marriages and divorces involve religious rituals to keep with centuries-old traditions. -
Q: What does Shabba mean?
A: Shabba is a term that is used as a nickname of sorts for the concept behind Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest in which an observant Jew cannot work. On Shabbat, the day of rest, Jewish people do more than just sleep in late as they have time to set aside to appreciate the wonders of the world and reflect on their path with God. -
Q: What does an anointing oil recipe contain?
A: One recipe for anointing oil combines ingredients referenced in Exodus of the Bible and includes quantities of olive oil, sugar, salt, allspice seeds, cloves and cinnamon sticks. An optional mixture combines frankincense, myrrh and pine oils of balsam. A citrus-based spiritually uplifting anointing oil is made from combining the oils of lemon, lime, sweet orange, dark myrrh and frankincense. -
Q: Whom do the Jewish people worship?
A: The Jewish people worship YHWH, the sacred name of God as revealed to the prophet Moses in the Torah. It is a combination of the past, present and future tense of the word "howa," which means "to be." The proper pronunciation, as agreed by most scholars, is "Yahweh." -
Q: Why do Hasidic Jews wear curls?
A: Hasidic Jewish men wear their unique sidecurls as a way of preserving an aspect of Hebrew culture. In addition to their distinctive hairstyles, Hasidic Jews of both genders typically wear styles which were historically popular among Jewish people throughout Europe. -
Q: How do you find a Jewish calendar?
A: Various websites provide Jewish calendars, including Chabad.org and Hebcal. To find the calendar on Chabad.org, hover over Jewish Practice and click Jewish Calendar. Hebcal lists Jewish calendar options, including holiday dates and a date converter, on its homepage. -
Q: What is Judaism?
A: Judaism is a cultural and religious identity associated with Jewish people. The cultural aspects of Judaism includes food, holidays, rituals, customs and other traditions. The religious aspect refers to the tenets of the Jewish religion. A person is considered Jewish by being born into the Jewish lifestyle or by practicing and converting to the Jewish religion, so being Jewish is not exclusive to one nationality or race. -
Q: Where did Judaism begin?
A: The geographical origins of the Jewish religion can be traced back to the Fertile Crescent, an area of land on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea that is situated between the Nile, Tigris and Euphrates rivers. This early period is one of the only times in history that a unified Jewish community lived in a single location. -
Q: What are some facts about the Star of David?
A: The Star of David is also called the Shield of David. It did not emerge as a symbol of Judaism until the Middle Ages and was not popularly associated with Judaism until after World War II. Prior to its association with Judaism, it was also associated with Christianity and Islam. -
Q: What is a Jewish Minyan service?
A: A Jewish Minyan service refers to the congregation of a minimum of 10 adult Jews for a religious session. According to Jewish traditions, the 10 adults should be male and must have attained the age of 13 years. Females who have attained adulthood are not counted or considered to make up the Minyan service. -
Q: What are the different forms of Judaism?
A: Different branches of Judaism that are active in the modern world include Othodox, Reform, Conservative, Hasidic, Humanistic and Reconstructionist Judiasm. Messianic Judiasm is another form of the religion that, according to North Central University, some people argue is not a true part of the Jewish faith. -
Q: Who was the founder of Judaism?
A: Judaism does not have a specific founder, but rather it has major prophets that are considered the fathers of Judaism. Some of these prophets are Moses, Abraham and Noah. -
Q: Where is there a list of Jewish names?
A: The Internet offers a wide selection of sites, such as JewishGen, that offer lists of Jewish names. Users may select traditional names or search genealogy lists. -
Q: Where do Jewish people pray?
A: Jewish people pray and worship at a synagogue, which may also be referred to as a shul or a temple. In Israel, Jews also pray at the Wailing Wall, even leaving prayer messages tucked into cracks. -
Q: What are the different sects of Judaism?
A: The main sects of Judaism in the United States today are Orthodox, Reform and Conservative, according Judaism 101. About 5 million people practice Judaism in the U.S.
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