An encyclopedia of Jewish life
Traditions
Shabbat at Home
How Shabbat is observed at home: preparation, candles, kiddush, challah, shared meals and havdalah at the end.
Prayer and Blessings
The three daily prayers, the Amidah, the Shema and the short blessings with which tradition accompanies food, commandments and everyday experiences.
Kashrut
Jewish dietary laws: permitted animals, shechitah, separation of meat and milk, and food certification.
Birth and Naming
Ceremonies surrounding the birth of a child: circumcision and naming of a boy, naming of a girl, redemption of the firstborn.
Bar and Bat Mitzvah
Religious adulthood: a boy at 13, a girl at 12; the celebration differs considerably between movements.
Jewish Wedding
Jewish marriage: ketubah, chuppah, ring, seven blessings and breaking a glass; customs vary between communities.
Family Life
The family as a place of religious practice: honoring parents, raising children, peace in the home; approaches differ between movements.
Mourning and Burial
Caring for the dead and the bereaved: a prompt and simple burial, the chevra kadisha, shiva, shloshim and the year of mourning.
Daily Practice
A day in the rhythm of tradition: morning thanks, washing the hands, prayers, tefillin, blessings over food and the Shema before sleep.
Synagogue
A house of prayer, study and assembly: the aron ha-kodesh, the bimah, the Torah reading and its role in the community; in Prague, the Old-New Synagogue.
Torah Study
Study as a religious act: the Written and Oral Torah, study in pairs, yeshivot, daf yomi and women's study.
Community Life
The Jewish community: minyan, tzedakah, care for the sick and the dead, hospitality; in the Czech Republic, the Jewish communities and the Federation of Jewish Communities.
Clothing and Ritual Objects
Tzitzit and tallit, tefillin, kippah, head covering for married women, tzniut and shatnez; the difference between law and custom.