Jewish Rituals and Practices

The boy has become a Bar Mitzvah, or "Son of the Commandments” at 13 and a girl becomes a Bat Mitzvah, "Daughter of the Commandments," upon turning 12. However, it doesn’t mean that Jewish law considers boys of 13 or girls of 12 ready to marry and become independent, even historically. The Talmud (Book of Jewish Learning and Law) states that 18 is the proper minimum age for marriage and 20 is the proper minimum age to start earning a living

Marriage is strongly encouraged in Judaism and derives from the view of the home and family as the centre of religious life. Therefore, if a rabbi was single, he or she would know little of actual married life so would be unable to assist with marital concerns. However, the participation of a rabbi is not required in order for a marriage to be binding under Jewish law, providing everything is done correctly

It is usual to pour the wine into a "kiddush" cup, which is a special ceremonial cup for the purpose of sanctification. This cup may be made of silver, pewter, glass, or ceramic and is often decorated with Jewish motifs and 'joyous' designs. One of these cups is often given as a gift to the boy on his bar mitzvah (coming of age) or to wedding couples in celebration of their marriage. For those who do not drink wine, it is permitted to use pure grape juice

He then asks, through blessings, for the health of both mother and child. If the child is a girl, she is named during this service. However, boys are named on the eighth day following their birth, as part of the rite of circumcision

The mashgiach (“supervisor”) is required whenever meat or fish is prepared or cooked for a group. They usually also check fresh eggs for blood spots before they are used in cooking, and have to inspect all vegetables for forbidden insects before use. A mashgiach, who is highly-trained in the ways of kosher food and kosher practices, may supervise at any type of food “service”. This could, at the bottom end be at a slaughterhouse, butcher or food manufacturer, and at the top end, a caterer, hotel, nursing home, restaurant or synagogue venue. The mashgiach works as the on-site supervisor and inspector, representing the policy decisions for what is or is not acceptably kosher for consumption

It was Emperor Charles IV of Czechoslovakia who first permitted the Jewish community to create its own flag and they chose the "shield of David" or "seal of Solomon" as it was popularly known then

Mourning is observed by the immediate relative of the deceased for 30 days following the burial, very passionately so in the first seven days in the actual house of mourning (the primary house where either the deceased lived or in the house of the primary immediate relative). Regular remembrances are performed each year following the death, including the lighting of a memorial candle on the Jewish anniversary of the death and a short memorial prayer for the dead on some (not all) High Holy Days in synagogue during the year. A tear is made in a favourite piece of clothing (usually a jumper or cardigan) and this is worn by the immediate relatives (parent, child, sibling or spouse) during the week of mourning

According to Jewish Law, men and women must be separated during prayer. This is usually either by a wall or curtain called a “mechitzah” or by women occupying the balcony or first-floor area of the synagogue. It was also because at the time Judaism was founded there were many pagan religious ceremonies which included much impropriety, and this separation allegedly discouraged that impropriety

The tallit is worn for morning (not afternoon or evening) prayer, during the week as well as on Shabbat and other holy days. Whoever leads the prayers in the synagogue always wears the tallit irrespective of the day or occasion. It is worn to remind all in the synagogue to observe all of God's commandments and to remind Jewish people that it was God who brought them out of the land of Egypt and to be their God. It is referred to in the Book of Numbers 15:37-41, the fourth of the Five Books of Moses

In nearly all traditional Orthodox, and a few Conservative circles, only male Jews above the age of 13 (bar mitzvah) are counted toward a “minyan”. In other non-Orthodox Jewish communities, females do count towards the minyan. The ritual is from a biblical belief by the ancient sages that wherever 10 or more Jewish men are congregated for prayer, the Divine Presence “dwells amongst them”