The Synagogue and Jewish Prayer
The synagogue is for Jews what the church is for Christians and the mosque for Muslims – or is it?
Practice and observance
What Is Shabbat?
On the seventh day, God rested, Exodus tells us. Deuteronomy says the Sabbath (Shabbat) marks the Jews' release from Egypt.
Lighting Shabbat Candles: Dividing Between Light and Darkness
Some say the candles represent the two commandments to 'remember' and 'observe' Shabbat.
Havdalah: When Shabbat Comes to an End
The ritual involving a braided candle with two wicks, aromatic spices and wine ushers out Shabbat and distinguishes between holy and secular.
What Is Kosher and Jewish Food?
Keeping kosher means adhering to Jewish dietary laws, and it is not cuisine or particular dishes - for example cholent or gefilte fish - that determines if food is kosher.
Jewish Signs and Symbols: Mezuzah
The mezuzah is both a religious amulet and a means to spiritually elevate every entry to and exit from a Jewish house.
Jewish Signs and Symbols: Kippah
Over the years, keeping one’s head covered with a kippah (yarmulke) became a sign of humility before God.
Jewish Signs and Symbols: Tefillin
Wearing tefillin, or phylacteries, makes a pointed statement: We should worship God with both mind and soul, with thought as well as action.
Jewish Signs and Symbols: Tzitzit and Tallit
Tzitzit are the fringes that religious Jewish males wear under their shirts, while the tallit is the traditional Jewish prayer shawl.
Tzedakah, the Jewish Concept of Charity
Tzedakah is so hardwired into the Jewish faith that the Talmud says: 'Charity is equal in importance to all other commandments combined.'
Jewish life events
Jewish Weddings: A Guide to the Basics
From the ketubah to the chuppah, here's everything you need to know about the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony.
