Traditions

There are several Jewish traditions surrounding the death loved ones. We say the mourner’s kaddish. It is not a mournful dirge, but rather praise to the Giver of Life. Mourners tear their garments, expressing their grief, and put soil on the casket after it is lowered into the ground, putting closure on the reality before us. For seven days we sit shiva (seven) mourning and remembering those who died.

As many readers know, there are videos on Shalom Adventure to help you learn Hebrew, but what about learning some Yiddish vocabulary as well?

When reading sometimes it is helpful to have something to guide us so we don’t skip a line of text.

Ever been invited to a bar or bat mitzvah and wonder what that even is?

The Western Wall is the western portion of the retaining wall of the Temple Mount where the Temple stood. The Hebrew for Western Wall is ha-Kotel ha-Ma'aravi, although it is usually called simply ha-Kotel, the Wall. Over the years, since the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, we have had intermittent access to the Wall depending on who was controlling Jerusalem at the time.

Kiddush is from the Hebrew word for holy or sanctify, to set apart as holy. God set the Sabbath apart as holy. Saying the kiddush on Friday evening dates back about 2,500 years.

Even though we have modernized we still hold some sacred old traditions dear amongst the Jewish community. Jewish wedding traditions are one such old tradition that is still held to this day. Depending on the conservativeness of the Rabbi Jewish weddings can be conducted under firm Jewish law traditions, or if done by a reformed Rabbi a more modernize take on the Jewish wedding can be done. One thing that stays the same though is the Jewish wedding rings. They are the heart and soul of a Jewish wedding.

Tzedakah is from the word meaning righteousness. A tzadek is a righteous person.