Jewish Ritual: The Secret to Community?

Jewish Ritual: The Secret to Community?

For communities all over the world, keeping Shabbat is one of the most important parts of what it means to be Jewish.

 

With a never-ending cycle of festivals, traditions and practices, why did Shabbat rituals in particular - from hamotzi to havdalah - become such a defining part of what it means to be Jewish? And why have Jews gone to such great lengths to keep these millenia-old practices going, even in times of danger?

 

Related Articles

More From Traditions

Yiddish Part One

The Yiddish language is a western Germanic oral and written dialect used by the Ashkenazi Jews…
Yiddish Part One

Jewish Guide to Shiva Practices

Shiva is a weeklong mourning period following the burial of an immediate relative in a Jewish…
Jewish Guide to Shiva Practices
A bride and groom under a chupah, a large covering often used at weddings.

Jewish Wedding

A chupah is a large covering that is often used at weddings to cover the bride and groom.
Jewish Wedding
The Name

The Name

Throughout the ages the Jewish people have been extremely careful to honor the name of God.…
The Name

Magen David

The Magen David is the six pointed star also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally…
Magen David

Mezuzah

A mezuzah is a little box that is nailed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. The Hebrew word…
Mezuzah
The Shochet-Jewish Tradition

The Shochet-Jewish Tradition

Have you ever wondered what a shochet is? It is known that Torah observant believers keep a…
The Shochet-Jewish Tradition
Mekhitza

Mekhitza-Jewish Tradition

A mekhitza is a dividing wall or barrier that is used to separate men and women. It could be…
Mekhitza-Jewish Tradition
Plate of lox, as featured in Allan Sherman's song

There is Nothing Like a Lox

Do you like Jewish food? What is your favorite? Bagels and cream cheese? Blintzes?
There is Nothing Like a Lox

Shofar

The shofar, made from a ram's horn, has been used by our people for thousands of years. The…
Shofar

The Cantor

Music is very important in Jewish life and has a significant role in the worship services.…
The Cantor

Archie Bunker Does Shabbat

Carroll O'Connor and Jean Stapleton as Archie and Edith Bunker from All in the Family sit down…
Archie Bunker Does Shabbat

What is a Get?

A get is a divorce under halacha, or Jewish law. The word can also refer to the document that…
What is a Get?

Adopt a Jewish Mother

Rent a son! In Japan people actually hire someone to be a “father” or “friend” for a day.
Adopt a Jewish Mother

Pointing to the Torah

When reading sometimes it is helpful to have something to guide us so we don’t skip a line of…
Pointing to the Torah

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation