Traditions
Kosher
Not published yetThe word “kosher” literally means “proper.” When kosher is used to describe food it refers to those foods that are proper to eat. The Bible outlines biblically kosher foods. Biblically kosher foods are described in Leviticus chapter 11.
Bar Mitzvah
Not published yetWhen a young boy reaches the age of thirteen he is termed a bar mitzvah, which literally means a son of commandments or son of good deeds. For girls the term is bat mitzvah. It is at this age that the child is considered old enough to start taking part in the worship service. According to Jewish custom the parents are accountable before God for the actions of the child up to this time. But at the age of 13 children are considered old enough to answer for themselves before God in the Day of Judgment.
Sha'atnez is the term used for clothing made with a mixture of wool and linen fibres. This mixture is clearly forbidden in two places in the Torah. In Deuteronomy it states: “You shall not sow your vineyard with different seeds (Kila'im); lest the fruit of your seed which you have sown, and the fruit of your vineyard, be defiled. . . . You shall not plough with an ox and an ass together. You shall not wear a garment of different sorts (Sha'atnez), like wool and linen together (Deut. 22:9-11).
The Accidental Talmudist posted this video the “Maccabeats Lead Havdalah - Partners In Torah Shabbaton 2014.” For those who may not speak Hebrew or understand what is being said, the video distraction provided a nice guide to understand what is going on.
It is very common to associate the color blue with the Jewish people. It is on the flag of Israel which was influenced by the prayer shawl, commonly worn during prayer in Jewish congregations, which often has blue on it as well. But what is with the blue? Well, the Torah states “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction’”(Exodus 24:9-1).
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