NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Mikvah

Mikvah (or mikveh) (Hebrew: מִקְוָה, Standard Miqva Tiberian Miqwāh ; plural: mikva'ot or mikvot) is a specially constructed pool of water used for total immersion in a purification ceremony within Judaism. Its main uses nowadays are Hebrew redirects here. ... Hebrew redirects here. ... Tiberian Hebrew is an oral tradition of pronunciation for ancient forms of Hebrew, especially the Hebrew of the Tanakh, that was given written form by masoretic scholars in the Jewish community at Tiberias in the early Middle Ages, beginning in the 8th century. ... Ritual purification is a feature of many religions. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ...

A mikvah is central to an Orthodox Jewish community. A Jewish community is traditionally required to build a mikvah (for women) before they build a synagogue, and to sell a Torah scroll to build one if need be. This article describes some ethnic, historic, and cultural aspects of the Jewish identity; for a consideration of the Jewish religion, refer to the article Judaism. ... The menstrual cycle is the periodic change in a womans body that occurs every month between puberty and menopause and that relates to reproduction. ... Childbirth (also called labour, birth, partus or parturition) is the culmination of a human pregnancy with the emergence of a newborn infant from its mothers uterus. ... Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... Torah () is a Hebrew word meaning teaching, instruction, or law. It is the central and most important document of Judaism revered by Jews through the ages. ...

Requirements of a mikvah

The rules regarding the construction of a mikvah are complicated. The immersion itself must take place in a pool which is

Rainwater, certain springs, wells, rivers and lakes can therefore be used for the pool, as can snow and other naturally precipitated frozen water. There are also requirements for the manner in which the water can be stored and transported to a pool. In general, water must flow by gravity (it cannot be pumped or carried). As a result, tap water cannot be used for the "natural water" component of a mikvah, and a special construction is required. Most contemporary mikvas are indoor constructions involving rain water collected in a cistern (bor) with a duct to a regular bathing pool so that it can flow by gravity into the basin. Once the minimum required amount of "natural water" is added, regular tap water can be used to augment the amount, which has a connection to the pool of rain water. This later formula is often used so that the water used for immersion can be frequently changed. The duct can be closed to empty and replace the regular water without having to replace the rain water. A mikvah must contain a minimum of forty se'ah of water, approximately 200 gallons or 750 liters. If certain precautions are observed, the water in a mikvah can be heated. The environment of a contemporary mikvah is often not unlike a spa. A water tap In most developed nations drinking water is piped to homes and is available on tap. ...

History

Traditionally, the mikvah was used by both men and women for various purposes. Everyone was required to immerse in a mikvah after coming into contact with the dead or other ritually unclean (tamei) objects before they could be allowed to enter the Temple in Jerusalem (although to be purified from contact with the dead, sprinkling with the ashes of the Red Heifer was needed in addition to immersion in a mikvah). Nazirites were required to immerse in the mikvah upon completing their vows, Metzorot ("lepers") were required to immerse as part of the ritual followed upon healing, priests were required to immerse before performing certain Temple rites or before eating Terumah, men were required to immerse after having a nocturnal emission (this is still practiced by some as tevilath Ezra, "the immersion of Ezra"), and women after giving birth or their period of Niddah following menstruation. Tumah is a state of ritual impurity in Halakha (Jewish law). ... The Temple in Jerusalem or the Holy Temple (Hebrew: ×‘×™×ª ×”×ž×§×“×©, transliterated Bet HaMikdash) was the primary resting place of the Gods presence (shechina) in the physical world according to classical Judaism. ... In Judaism, the red heifer (Hebrew parah adumah) is a heifer that is sacrificed and whose ashes are used for the ritual purification of people who came into contact with a corpse. ... A Nazirite or Nazarite, (in Hebrew: × ×–×™×¨,Nazir), refers to a Jew who took an ascetic vow described in Numbers 6:1-21. ... Tzaraath (tzaraas, tzaraat, tsaraas, tsaraat; Hebrew ×¦×¨×¢×ª) is an affliction mentioned in the Tanach and other Jewish sources, starting in Leviticus 13â€“Leviticus 14. ... It has been suggested that Aaronites be merged into this article or section. ... Temple of Hephaestus, an ancient Greek Doric temple in Athens with the original entrance facing east, 449 BC (western face depicted) For other uses, see Temple (disambiguation). ... Terumah is a Hebrew word signifying gift, offering or donation. Historically, the Israelites would submit this tithe to the Kohanim during the times of the Temple in Jerusalem . ... A nocturnal emission is an ejaculation of semen experienced during sleep. ... Ezra is a name derived from Hebrew, written variously as ×¢Ö¶×–Ö°×¨Ö¸× ( Standard Hebrew ), Ê¿Ezra, ( Tiberian Hebrew ), Ê¿EzrÃ¢: short for ×¢Ö·×–Ö°×¨Ö´×™×Öµ×œ My help/court is God, Standard Hebrew Ê¿AzriÊ¾el, Tiberian Hebrew Ê¿AzrÃ®Ê¾Ä“l, Arabic: Ø¹Ø²ÙŠØ±. // The historical Ezra was a priestly scribe who is thought to have led about 5,000 Israelite exiles... Niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew), in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. ...

Ancient mikvahs dating from Temple times (predating 70 CE) can be found throughout the Land of Israel, as well as in the diaspora. Satellite image of the Land of Israel in January 2003, including portions of the State of Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon. ... Look up Diaspora in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Present situation

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3273x2233, 2279 KB) Judenbad, Mikvah (or mikveh) (Hebrew: ×žÖ´×§Ö°×•Ö¸×”; Tiberian MiqwÄh, Standard Hebrew Miqva) (plural, mikvaot) in Speyer, first mentioned in the year 1128. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3273x2233, 2279 KB) Judenbad, Mikvah (or mikveh) (Hebrew: ×žÖ´×§Ö°×•Ö¸×”; Tiberian MiqwÄh, Standard Hebrew Miqva) (plural, mikvaot) in Speyer, first mentioned in the year 1128. ... Speyer (English formerly Spires) is a city in Germany (Rhineland-Palatinate) with approx. ... Events Pope Honorius II recognizes and confirms the Order of the Knights Templar. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1944x2592, 1490 KB) Judenbad, Mikvah (or mikveh) (Hebrew: ×žÖ´×§Ö°×•Ö¸×”; Tiberian MiqwÄh, Standard Hebrew Miqva) (plural, mikvaot) in Speyer, first mentioned in the year 1128. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1944x2592, 1490 KB) Judenbad, Mikvah (or mikveh) (Hebrew: ×žÖ´×§Ö°×•Ö¸×”; Tiberian MiqwÄh, Standard Hebrew Miqva) (plural, mikvaot) in Speyer, first mentioned in the year 1128. ...

Orthodox Judaism

Among Orthodox Jews, women are required to immerse in a mikvah after childbirth or menstruation before they have intercourse with their husbands. Women immerse themselves before the day of their wedding in order to be ritually pure for their wedding night. Converts to Orthodox Judaism, whether male or female, are required immerse in a mikvah. Men are required to immerse in a Mikvah before Yom Kippur. Some men, especially in hasidic circles, also use the mikvah regularly, before certain Jewish holidays, before Shabbat, on the morning of Shabbat and Jewish Holydays or even daily. Orthodox Judaism also requires the immersion in a kosher mikvah of vessels and utensils used for food, when bought by a Jew from a gentile. In some Orthodox communities, men may immerse before their wedding. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... Childbirth (also called labour, birth, partus or parturition) is the culmination of a human pregnancy with the emergence of a newborn infant from its mothers uterus. ... The menstrual cycle is the periodic change in a womans body that occurs every month between puberty and menopause and that relates to reproduction. ... Yom Kippur (×™×•× ×›×™×¤×•×¨ yom kippÅ«r) is the Jewish holiday of the Day of Atonement. ... It has been suggested that Hasidic philosophy be merged into this article or section. ... Jewish holiday, (or Yom Tom or chag or taanit in Hebrew) is a day that is holy to the Jewish people according to Judaism and is usually derived from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Torah, and in some cases established by the rabbis in later eras. ... The shabbos table is set: two covered challahs, a kiddush cup, two candles, and flowers. ...

In accordance with Orthodox rules of tzniut (modesty), men and women are required to have separate mikvah facilities in separate locations, or have different designated times to use the same mikvah. Tzniut or Tznius (also Tzeniut) (Hebrew: ×¦× ×™×¢×•×ª modesty) is a term used within Judaism and has its greatest influence as a notion within Orthodox Judaism. ...

For certain purposes in Orthodox Judaism, both men and women are required to wash or immerse in water which does not have to meet the "living water" requirements of a Mikvah. This includes a requirement of hand-washing both in the morning and before meals. Certain other practices involving washing or immersion, such as immersion after a seminal emission (in the minority of communities which practice it), do not require "living water" and the water can be tap water. Horse semen being collected for breeding purposes. ...

A Jewish funeral home may have a mikvah for immersing a body during the purification (tahara) procedure before burial. A funeral home or mortuary is a place where a wake is arranged. ...

Those Orthodox authorities which permit Jews to ascend the Temple Mount (most forbid it) require both men and women to immerse in a mikvah prior to ascension. The contemporary Temple Mount remains a unique circumstance in which all the classical immersion requirements (including following a seminal emmission) are in contemporary effect, and authorities recommend always immersing prior to ascension just in case. The Temple Mount as it appears today. ...

Conservative Judaism

Conservative Judaism still requires immersion in a mikvah meeting the same requirements, and used under most of the circumstances as Orthodox Judaism. Issac Klein's A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice contains chapters on the laws of women's immersion following menstruation and childbirth. Until the late 1990s, these practices largely fell into disuse among Conservative Jews, although immersion continues to be practiced as part of conversion. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not include all significant viewpoints. ...

In recent years, however, there has been some evidence of a resurgence of interest in the mikveh and its uses in some Conservative circles. ^{[citation needed]}

Conservative Judaism does not require immersion of utensils, immersion by men before Yom Kippur, or immersion after a seminal emission.

Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism

Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism have abolished all or almost all general uses of a mikvah, and historically have used one only to perform conversions. Some Reform rabbis do not use a mikvah to perform conversions, and mikvahs used for reform conversions do not necessarily meet the traditional requirements of mikvahs used in Orthodox and Conservative practice. Reform Judaism can refer to (1) the largest stream of Judaism in America and its sibling movements in other countries, (2) a branch of Judaism in the United Kingdom, and (3) the historical predecessor of the American movement that originated in 19th-century Germany. ... Reconstructionist Judaism is a modern Jewish movement marked by views and practices including: Personal autonomy should generally override traditional Jewish law and custom, yet also take into account communal consensus Modern culture is accepted The view that Judaism is an evolving religious civilization Traditional rabbinic modes of study, as well...

Boston

The Mayyim Hayyim Community Mikveh and Education Center in Boston (website [1]) attempts to foster use of mikvahs within liberal judaism in situations outside a mikvah's traditional ritual context, including occasions such as bar and bat mizvahs, cancer survivors, healing following a divorce, sexual abuse and other circumstances.

Reasons for immersion

Except as noted, Tevilah (immersion in a mikvah) is required in contemporary Orthodox Jewish practice in the following circumstances Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ...

Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not include all significant viewpoints. ... Niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew), in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. ... This article is about sexual intercourse in humans and its societal implications. ... Niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew), in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. ... Jewish holiday, (or Yom Tom or chag or taanit in Hebrew) is a day that is holy to the Jewish people according to Judaism and is usually derived from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Torah, and in some cases established by the rabbis in later eras. ... Minhag (Hebrew: ×ž× ×”×’ Custom, pl. ... The shabbos table is set: two covered challahs, a kiddush cup, two candles, and flowers. ... Jewish holiday, (or Yom Tom or chag or taanit in Hebrew) is a day that is holy to the Jewish people according to Judaism and is usually derived from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Torah, and in some cases established by the rabbis in later eras. ... Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Minhag (Hebrew: ×ž× ×”×’ Custom, pl. ... The shabbos table is set: two covered challahs, a kiddush cup, two candles, and flowers. ... Hasidic Judaism (Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... Haredi or Charedi Judaism, often referred to as Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, is the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism. ... Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... Conversion to Judaism (Hebrew ×’×™×•×¨, giur, conversion) is the religious conversion of a previously non-Jewish person to the Jewish religion. ... Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not include all significant viewpoints. ... Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonized in the Talmudic texts (The Oral Law) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... The Temple Mount as it appears today. ...

Requirements for immersion

Tevilah, immersion in a mikvah, has a set of requirements to be valid under traditional Jewish law. Among these requirements, the water must cover the entire body. To make sure that water literally touches every part of the body, All clothing, jewelry, and even bandages must be removed. In contemporary mikvaot for women, there is always an experienced attendant, commonly called the "mikvah lady", to watch the immersion and ensure that the woman has been entirely covered in water. Image File history File links TBE-mikveh. ... Image File history File links TBE-mikveh. ... For other temples called Beth-El see Temple Beth-El. ... Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ...

Hair

There is some debate about the requirements for hair. In order to make sure that the water touches all parts of the hair, one cannot wear braids. The debate comes as to whether the hair must be combed straight so that there are no knots. Typically, Sephardic Jews are ethnically darker, with curly hair. This can be almost wiry, and difficult to comb. Black Jews also take issue with this primarily Ashkenazi stance, particularly when it comes to dreadlocks. One must consult their rabbi to issue a psak (ruling). This ruling must be obtained in all instances, because it may vary even within a community, based on the person's hair. In the strictest sense, a Sephardi (ספרדי, Standard Hebrew Səfardi, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄ardî; plural Sephardim: ספרדים, Standard Hebrew Səfardim, Tiberian Hebrew Səp̄ardîm) is a Jew original to the... Black Jews may refer to a number of different religious and ethnic groups. ... Ashkenazi Jews, also known as Ashkenazic Jews or Ashkenazim (Standard Hebrew: sing. ... Dreadlocks, sometimes called simply dreads or locks, are matted ropes of hair which will form by themselves if the hair is allowed to grow naturally without the use of brushes, combs, razors or scissors for a long period of time. ...

Rebbe which means master, teacher, or mentor is a Yiddish word derived from the identical Hebrew word ×¨×‘×™. It mostly refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement. ... Chabad Lubavitch, or Lubavich, is one of the largest branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi . ...

Other uses of the term Mikvah

The prophet Jeremiah

The Hebrew word mikvah also means "hope". The prophet Jeremiah repeatedly refers to this dual meaning in using rain, living water, and the mikvah itself as a symbol of hope in and from God: Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Jerusalem by Rembrandt van Rijn. ...

Bold text The Book of Jeremiah, or Jeremiah (×™Ö´×¨Ö°×žÖ°×™Ö¸×”×•Ö¼ Yirmiyahu in Hebrew), is a book that is part of the Hebrew Bible, Judaisms Tanakh, and later became a part of Christianitys Old Testament. ... Bold text The Book of Jeremiah, or Jeremiah (×™Ö´×¨Ö°×žÖ°×™Ö¸×”×•Ö¼ Yirmiyahu in Hebrew), is a book that is part of the Hebrew Bible, Judaisms Tanakh, and later became a part of Christianitys Old Testament. ...

Rabbi Akiva

Mishna tractate Yoma ends its discussion of the holiday of Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement, with a section on repentance and atonement, culminating with a quote from Rabbi Akiva further comparing the relationship between God and Isreal with immersion in a Mikvah: Moed (Festivals) is the second Order of the Mishnah (also the Tosefta and Talmud), Of the six orders of the Mishna, Moed is the third shortest. ... Yom Kippur (×™×•× ×›×™×¤×•×¨ yom kippÅ«r) is the Jewish holiday of the Day of Atonement. ... Akiba ben Joseph (or Rabbi Akiva, Rebbi Akiva, c. ...

Ezekiel the Prophet of the Hebrew Scriptures is depicted on a 1510 Sistine Chapel fresco by Michelangelo. ... The Mishnah (Hebrew משנה, Repetition) is a major source of rabbinic Judaisms religious texts. ... Moed (Festivals) is the second Order of the Mishnah (also the Tosefta and Talmud), Of the six orders of the Mishna, Moed is the third shortest. ...

In a house of mourning

It is customary, in a traditional Jewish house of mourning following a funeral, to read the seventh chapter of the Mishnah Tractate Mikvaot on the laws of the mikvah, which begins with: Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut; mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... The Mishnah (Hebrew ×ž×©× ×”, repetition) is a major source of rabbinic Judaisms religious texts. ... Tractate Mikvaot (Hebrew: ×ž×§×•××•×ª, lit. ...

The fact of Jewish law that "living water" retains its life while in the apparently lifeless frozen state, and will be living water again, is remembered by Jews who adhere to the traditional Jewish belief in resurrection. Akiba ben Joseph (or Rabbi Akiva, Rebbi Akiva, c. ... Ishmael ben Elisha (90 - 135 CE, commonly known as Rabbi Ishmael) was a Tanna of the first and second centuries (third tannaitic generation). ... Halakha (Hebrew: ×”×œ×›×”; also transliterated as Halakhah, Halacha, Halakhot and Halachah) is the collective corpus of Jewish religious law, including biblical law (the 613 mitzvot) and later talmudic and rabbinic law as well as customs and traditions. ... Judaism affirms a number of basic principles of faith that one is expected to uphold in order to be said to be in consonance with the Jewish faith. ... Look up Resurrection in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

See also

Niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew), in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. ... Baptism in early Christian art. ... Ablution in Judaism. ...

External links

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ...

References

Categories: Articles with unsourced statements | Articles lacking sources from November 2006 | All articles lacking sources | Ritual purification | Jewish law and rituals | Jewish marital law | Hebrew words | Bathing Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert is currently serving as an assistant professor in the Religious Studies department of Stanford University. ... A Shalom Zachor (×©×œ×•× ×–×›×•×¨ Hebrew) is celebrated by most Ashkenazim on the first Friday night after a baby boy is born. ... Set of implements used in the performance of brit milah, displayed in the GÃ¶ttingen city museum Brit milah (Hebrew: ×‘Ö°×¨Ö´×™×ª ×žÖ´×™×œÖ¸×” [bÉ™rÄ«t mÄ«lÄ] literally: covenant [of] circumcision), also berit milah (Sephardi), bris milah (Ashkenazi pronunciation) or bris (Yiddish) is a religious ceremony within Judaism that welcomes infant Jewish... Zeved habat (also written Zebed habat) (Hebrew זֶבֶד הַבָּת) is the mainly Sephardic naming ceremony for girls, corresponding in part to the non-circumcision part of the Brit milah ceremony for boys. ... Hebrew names are names that have a Hebrew language origin, classically from the Hebrew Bible. ... Pidyon HaBen (Hebrew: ×¤×“×™×•×Ÿ ×”×‘×Ÿ) is the redemption of the first-born, a ritual in Judaism. ... The introduction of this article does not provide enough context for readers unfamiliar with the subject. ... A modern Wimpel with the name obscured A wimpel (Yiddish: ×•×•×ž×¤×¢×œ, from German, cloth, derived from Old German, bewimfen, meaning to cover up or conceal [1]) is a long, linen sash used as a binding for the Sefer Torah by Jews of Germanic (Yekke) origin. ... According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach the age of maturity (12 years for girls, 13 years for boys) they become responsible for their actions. ... Yeshiva or yeshivah (IPA: ) (Hebrew: ×™×©×™×‘×” pl. ... Ablution in Judaism. ... Listed below are some Hebrew prayers and blessings that are part of Judaism that are recited by many Jews. ... Birkat Hamazon (×‘×¨×›×ª ×”×ž×–×•×Ÿ), known in English as the Grace After Meals (lit. ... Judaism considers marriage to be the ideal state of existence; a man without a wife, or a woman without a husband, are considered incomplete. ... Bashert, (Hebrew: ×‘×Ö·×©×¢×¨×˜, also transliterated besherte, beshert or besherter) is a Yiddish word that means destiny.[1] It is usually used in the context of ones Heavenly foreordained spouse or soul mate, and thus has very romantic overtones. ... Shidduch (or shiduch) (Hebrew: ×©×™×“×•×š, pl. ... The role of women in Judaism is determined by the Hebrew Bible, Talmud (oral law), tradition and by non-religious cultural factors. ... Niddah (or nidah, nidda, nida; Hebrew), in Judaism, is technically a state of marital separation when a woman is menstruating and seven subsequent days until she immerses in a ritual bath known as a mikvah. ... Tzniut or Tznius (also Tzeniut) (Hebrew: ×¦× ×™×¢×•×ª modesty) is a term used within Judaism and has its greatest influence as a notion within Orthodox Judaism. ... A get (×’×˜, plural gittim or gittin) is the Hebrew word for a divorce document. ... Jewish feminism is a movement that seeks to improve the religious, legal, and social status of women within Judaism and to open up new opportunities for religious experience and leadership for Jewish women. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... Main article: Mitzvah 613 mitzvot or 613 Commandments (Hebrew: ×ª×¨×™×’ ×ž×¦×•×•×ª transliterated as Taryag mitzvot; TaRYaG is the acronym for the numeric value of 613) are a list of commandments from God in the Torah. ... Minhag (Hebrew: ×ž× ×”×’ Custom, pl. ... Torah study is the study by Jews of the Torah, Tanakh, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaisms religious texts, for the purpose of the mitzvah (commandment) of Torah study itself, meaning study for religious (as opposed to academic) purposes. ... In Jewish services, a Parsha or Parshah or Parashah, ×¤×¨×©×”, meaning Portion in Hebrew, is the weekly Torah reading text selection. ... Daf Yomi (Heb. ... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ... Tzedakah (Hebrew: ×¦×“×§×”) in Judaism, is the Hebrew term most commonly translated as charity, though it is based on a root meaning justice .(×¦×“×§). In Arabic, charity is sadakah (ØµØ¯Ù‚Ù‡) and an obligatory type of it, the Arabic term zakat, is considered to be one of the five pillars of Islam. ... Sefer Torah being read during weekday service. ... Tzitzit (Ashkenazi pronunciation: tzitzis) are fringes or tassles (Hebrew: ×¦×™×¦×ª (Biblical), ×¦×™×¦×™×ª (Mishnaic)) found on a tallit worn by observant Jews as part of practicing Judaism. ... The tallit (Modern Hebrew: ) or tallet(h) (Sephardi Hebrew: ), also called talles (Yiddish), is a prayer shawl cloak that is worn during the morning Jewish services (the Shacharit prayers) in Judaism, during the Torah service, and on Yom Kippur. ... Tefillin (Hebrew: ×ª×¤×œ×™×Ÿ), also called phylacteries, are either of two boxes containing Biblical verses and black, leather straps attached to them which are used in rabbinic Jewish prayer. ... Mezuzah (IPA: ) (Heb. ... A kippah (Hebrew: , also kipah, kipa, kippa, plural kippot; Yiddish: , yarmlke, yarmulke, yarmulka, yarmelke, less commonly called kapel) is a thin, usually slightly-rounded cloth skullcap worn by observant Jews (usually men, but not always; see below). ... Hanukiah, ChÄƒnukkiyah (×—Ö·× Ö»×›Ö´Ö¼×™Ö¸Ö¼×”, ×—× ×•×›×™×™×”) is a 9-branched candelabrum for Chanukkah. ... A shofar in the Yemenite Jewish style. ... The Jewish diaspora (Hebrew: Tefutzah, scattered, or Galut ×’×œ×•×ª, exile) is the dispersion of the Jewish people throughout Babylonia and the Roman Empire. ... Aliyah (Hebrew: ×¢×œ×™×™×”, ascent or going up) is a term widely used to mean Jewish immigration to the Land of Israel (and since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel). ... This article is becoming very long. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut; mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... A chevra kaddisha (Hebrew: holy society, better translated as burial society) is a loosely structured but generally closed organization of Jewish men and women who see to it that the bodies of Jews are prepared for burial according to halacha (Jewish law) and are protected from desecration, willful or not... This article is about Jewish event. ... Kaddish (×§×“×™×© Aramaic: holy) refers to an important and central blessing in the Jewish prayer service. ... Psalms (Hebrew: Tehilim, ×ª×”×™×œ×™×) is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut; mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... Bereavement in Judaism (××‘×œ×•×ª aveilut; mourning) is a combination of minhag (traditional custom) and mitzvot (commandments) derived from Judaisms classical Torah and rabbinic texts. ... Image File history File links Star_of_David. ... Image File history File links Menora. ...

Contents

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