What's covered
Key facts
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
Bar mitzvah takes place at the age of 13.
Festivals: Passover, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, lasting eight nights.
Orthodox and Reform Judaism
Conservative Judaism sits between Orthodox and Reform on most issues of practice.
Shabbat: The Day of Rest
Challah is the special braided bread eaten on Shabbat.
The Shema and Daily Prayer
A mezuzah is a small case containing the Shema, fixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home.
The Synagogue: Inside and Out
The Aron Kodesh is the Ark: the cabinet holding the Torah scrolls.
Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah
Bar mitzvah is the coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish boys.
Festivals: Passover, Yom Kippur, Hanukkah
The Hanukkah menorah (hanukkiah) has nine candle holders: eight for the eight nights plus the shamash (helper).
Orthodox and Reform Judaism
Conservative (Masorti) Judaism is the middle path between Orthodox and Reform.
Shabbat: The Day of Rest
Hadlakat Nerot is the blessing over the Shabbat candles.
Practice questions with answers
A taste of the 52 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What does bar mitzvah literally mean?
- •A festival meal day
- •A new family member
- •A reading at the synagogue
- ✓Son of the commandment
What does Passover celebrate?
- •The Day of Atonement
- ✓The Exodus from Egypt
- •The giving of the Torah
- •The rededication of the Temple
What are the main branches of Judaism in the UK?
- •Catholic and Protestant traditions
- ✓Orthodox, Reform and Liberal
- •Sunni and Shia denominations
- •Theravada and Mahayana schools
When does Shabbat begin?
- •Friday at midday
- ✓Friday at sunset
- •Saturday at sunrise
- •Thursday at sunset
What is the Shema?
- •a daily Jewish blessing over bread
- ✓Central Jewish prayer declaring God's oneness
- •the Jewish coming-of-age ceremony
- •the Jewish winter festival of lights
What is a tallit?
- •A festival meal
- ✓A Jewish prayer shawl
- •A type of Bible scroll
- •An ancient Hebrew letter
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