Jewish Celebrations & Rituals
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 1.2.38
Jewish Celebrations and Rituals
Jewish rituals include Brit Milah for 8 year old boys, Bar Mitzvah at 13, and celebrations like Rosh Hashanah.
Brit Milah
- When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 8 days old, he goes through a Brit Milah (or ‘bris’) ceremony.
- Brit Milah is circumcision of the male foreskin.
- This ritual started when God told Abraham to circumcise his son, Isaac, along with all the male members of his household.
Bar Mitzvah
- When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 13, he celebrates Bar Mitzvah (‘son of the commandment’).
- Bar Mitzvah is a coming-of-age ceremony when a boy can now take on adult responsibilities.
Bat Mitzvah, Bat Chayi
- Girls have similar ceremonies, but at the age of 12.
- Orthodox Jewish girls have Bat Chayil (‘daughter of worth’).
- Reform Jewish girls have Bat Mitzvah (‘daughter of the commandment’).
Rosh Hashanah
- Rosh Hashanah is the celebration of the Jewish New Year.
- Rosh Hashanah is also a celebration of Creation.
Yom Kippur
- Rosh Hashanah is followed, after ten days of repenting, by Yom Kippur.
- Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement.
- Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Pesach
- Pesach is Jewish Passover.
- During Pesach Jews celebrate the night that Moses led the Hebrew people out of bondage in Egypt.
- During Pesach Jews have a seder meal on seder plates with six food items.
- That meal reminds them of the bitterness of slavery in Egypt.
Test yourself on Jewish Celebrations & Rituals
When a Jewish boy reaches the age of 13, what does he celebrate?
At what age do Jewish girls celebrate an event that means they can take on adult responsibilities?