Jewish Traditions
In all religions and traditions the people have customs and Rites of Passage to follow. In Catholicism for example there are sacraments that the parishioners are expected to fulfill. Baptism, Reconciliation, and Confirmation are just a few of the many sacraments to strive for as a Catholic child. The same ideas are carried over into the Jewish Tradition. These Rites of Passage date back many more years then many of the other religion's ceremonies; back to the time of Abraham. The Jewish Tradition has such Rites of Passage as circumcision, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, choosing a name, marriage and death. To talk about all of them would take days and many typed pages. For many outsiders circumcision and Bar/Bat Mitzvah seem to be very compelling. Each Rite of Passage is done for a certain reason and follows a certain process to fulfill God's will. When a Jewish woman is in her ninth month of pregnancy it is time to start thinking about the circumcision ceremony that will take place eight days after the birth of a son, assuming that is what she will deliver. The circumcision ceremony must happen the morning of the eighth day of life, unless the boy is in no condition to have it performed. If the boy is ill or hos
h the mother until, a "guest" is designated to retrieve him, whom is most likely to be the brother-in-law of the family. The boy is passed through the door to the designated person. Then "the Mohel temporarily places the child on "A Chair of Elijah" - symbolic of the hopes of redemption. After the actual circumcision, the child is handed to the father (or an honored guest) while the Mohel recites blessings in praise of God and for the welfare of the child" ( Fishabane, Michael "Judaism Revelation and Traditions" page 102). When the circumcision is complete all the assembled "guests" say the following "Just as he has entered the covenant, so may he enter the Torah, the wedding canopy, and good deeds." It is after the circumcision ceremony that the family announces the formal name of the child to all the honored "guests." 5. Hyman, Mollie. "Mollie Hyman". Interview with Robert Salberg. show that they have a commitment to being Jewish, and it is the parents way of saying, "I am raising my child Jewish." A boy that is circumcised enters into a personal covenant with God. 4. Blech, Benjamin (Rabbi). The Complete Guide Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism. 4. Blech, Benjamin Rabbi. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Judaism. 2. Holm, Jean. with Bowker, John. Unterman, Allen. "Rites of Passage" 1. Fishbane, Michael. "Judaism: Revelation and Traditions" Princeton: Pilkington Press Ltd, 1994
Some common words found in the essay are:
Bar Mitzvah, God's Jewish, Orthodox Jewish, Rites Passage, Bat Mitzvah, Sabbath Mohel, Mollie Hyman, Rite Passage, Jewish Law, Revelation Traditions, bar mitzvah, jewish people, rites passage, jewish life, mollie hyman, circumcision ceremony, hebrew school, jewish traditions, jewish males, jewish males circumcised, males circumcised, alpha books 1999, broadway alpha books, books 1999 5, judaism broadway alpha,
Approximate Word count = 2055
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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