LITURGY AND HOLY DAYS

The Jewish religion makes much use of rituals, or ceremonies, that dramatize and make vivid a great ideal. Notice how each of the holy days described in the following paragraphs carries a moral lesson.

Passover

Passover is celebrated every spring for a period of eight days. Passover is the Jewish symbol of liberty, recalling the march to freedom of the ancient Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

Shevuoth

Celebrated in June, Shevuoth ^{commemorates the} giving of the Ten Commandments.

Rosh Hashanah

Observed in September or October, Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is the time for examining one's deeds of the past 12 months and resolving to live a better life. The Shofar, or ram's horn, is blown to mark the beginning of Rosh Hashanah.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is the Jewish day of atonement. It is a solemn period for asking God's forgiveness.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, the Feast of Lights, is celebrated in December. For eight days, candles are lit as a reminder of the Jews' battle for religious freedom in ancient Palestine.

Sabbath

The Jewish Sabbath is observed from Friday at sundown until Saturday at sundown. The Sabbath involves many rituals, such as the lighting of candles and the drinking of wine. The wine ceremony is called the Kiddish. Other rituals of the Sabbath, such as the songs, length of the service, language (use of Hebrew or English), and other practices, may vary.

The basic equipment required for a Jewish worship service is shown in figure 1-13. The basic order of worship for a Jewish service is shown in figure 1-14. Following the Jewish service of worship is the Oneg Shabbat, a time of fellowship, pleasant conversation, and light refreshment.

Religious Leaders

A rabbi, or teacher, is the appointed spiritual leader who guides and represents the Jewish faith group. The rabbi conducts the worship services. The rabbi is often assisted by a cantor, who is a synagogue official who sings or chants liturgical music and leads the congregation in prayer. There are also elected lay readers, both in the congregation and the community. Any approved lay person knowledgeable in worship can conduct a service in the absence of a Jewish chaplain or rabbi.

Public Worship

There are fixed times for public worship. A minyan of 10 males is needed for a public worship service. When the minyan is not available, individuals must worship privately.

The public place of worship for Jews is the synagogue. It is usually oriented to the east so that worshipers can face Jerusalem when they pray. The

synagogue contains the Ark which houses the Torah.

Dietary Laws

Judaism requires an observance of certain dietary laws or restrictions called Kosher. In the strictest sense, Jews are forbidden to eat pork and its derivatives. Animals that do not have split hooves and chew their cud are forbidden sources of food. Seafood without fins and scales and certain fowl are also forbidden. There must be a complete separation of milk and meat, including separate utensils to be used in the preparation of milk and meat.

The degree of adherence to Jewish dietary traditions varies widely among Jewish personnel. You can rely upon Jewish chaplains and Jewish lay readers to help you in matters concerning dietary laws. Frequently, a food service officer or a Mess Management Specialist can make available foods that are permitted, even to a strict observer of Kosher. These foods include fruit, juice, dry cereal, eggs in the shell, canned salmon, tuna fish, sardines, and raw vegetables. At some installations, you can obtain permission for Jewish service personnel to have kosher food heated separately

Figure 1-13A.-Essential gear for Jewish worship.

Figure 1-13B.-Essential garments for Jewish worship. 1-30

Figure 1-13C.--Essential elements for Jewish worship. 1-31

Figure 1-14.-Jewish order of worship.

in the unit mess. It may also be possible for Jewish personnel to apply for separate rations.

For strict Kosher observance, the National Jewish Welfare Board provides canned kosher foods. These tamed foods are intended as supplements to the diet of Jewish service members observing Kosher who have no households of their own. A full brochure, Kashrut Observance in the Military Establishment, is available from the Jewish Welfare Board (JWB), 1515 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010.