Traditions

The Magen David is the six pointed star also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally means "shield of David." It is not certain when the star became a Jewish symbol, but it was used on synagogues as far back as the fourth century as is seen in the remains of a synagogue in Capernaum, Israel.

The custom of reading from the Torah on Saturday mornings is so old that it is difficult to be certain when it first started.

Why do we hang a mezuzah? Find out in 60 seconds.

Many cultures have different ways of dealing with death. One Jewish custom is to place a stone on the grave of someone who died.

Many understand the Torah to be the five books of Moses.

And that is true but what many Jews call Torah is not the Torah but what is commonly referred to as the Oral Torah. The Oral Torah contains statements made by Jewish teachers/Rabbis that helped shape modern Judaism and is responsible for instituting many Jewish traditions and interruptions of the Bible.

“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel.

Bread plays a very important role in Jewish tradition. In the Torah when Holy visitors come to visit Abraham we read, “Abraham hurried to the tent where Sarah was and said to her, ‘Hurry, prepare twenty quarts of fine flour, and make it into loaves of bread.’” Genesis 18:6.

Music is very important in Jewish life and has a significant role in the worship services. Because of this a special person known as a cantor (sometimes also referred to as a chazzan) is put in charge of leading out in religious songs in the synagogue.