The Jewish Faith

Judaism is based on the belief that there is one true and universal God who is revealed in the Torah, the Jewish holy book containing the divine laws that were revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai including the Ten Commandments. These are the basic tenets by which Jews must live their lives along with the values of loving one's neighbour and tolerance to one's fellow human beings. Jews believe that God will reward the righteous and punish the wicked at the end of time when there will be a resurrection of all the dead.

Jewish people worship in a synagogue,
which is often a centre for the many aspects of communal life. On the Eastern wall of the synagogue is an ark where the holy scrolls of the five books of Moses are kept. They are made of parchment and hand written by scribes and are treated with great respect and are removed during some services to be read by the Rabbi or other members of the synagogue. There are three daily services, with longer services on Saturdays and festival mornings.

There are a number of festivals throughout the year. This includes the Jewish New Year which includes two days of reflection and prayer. Ten days after this comes Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement which is spent in prayer and a 25 hour fast. In the spring there is Pesach or Passover which commemorates the delivery from slavery in Israel. Shabbat, the Jewish sabbath begins before nightfall on Friday and lasts until the sighting of the first three stars on Saturday night. It should be observed as a day of rest and Orthodox Jews will not write, travel, work or cook during it.

Judaism has a number of dietary laws. Food that has been prepared in a ritually acceptable way is known as kosher. For meat to be considered kosher it must have been prepared correctly, normally under rabbinical supervision. Pork, rabbit and fish without scales or fins are not considered kosher. Meat and dairy products should not be taken together at the meal.