The

Rituals
&Holidays
&Traditions
&Customs
&Celebrations
of Judaism

byZackMortimer

[insert script]
For my final project, I have decided to explore history of
the Jewish religion. I myself am Jewish, deeming it a very
appropriate and personal topic.
The main purpose of this project will be to educate
viewers on the topic of the Jewish religion, specifically
discussing the various rituals, celebrations, customs
traditions, and holidays that the Jewish people partake
in during the year. There is a very long list, so my final
project will focus primarily on the ones most known and
most celebrated.
The production of my final project will feature an
infographic, music, animation, text, and narration.

What does it mean

to be Jewish?
In the simplest terms, being Jewish means to practice the Jewish
religion. Judaism has been active for over six thousand years, and
just like any other race or religion, being Jewish becomes part of your
identity.
Of course, not everyone has the same experience with Judaism. Some
Jewish people believe in God, some do not; some are Kosher and
orthodox, others are not. There is no one way to practice Judaism. The
meanings and stories behind Judaism encourage people to lead an
honourable life, bond and connect with fellow Jews, feel a strong pride
for Israel, and to think in Jewish ways.
My family does not celebrate every single Jewish holiday, nor do we
follow the Kosher and orthodox rules. However, we still consider
ourselves part of the Jewish community in our neighborhood.

the
Holidays

Chanukah
&Passover
&Yom Kippur
&Rosh Hashana
&Purim
&Sukkot
&Shabbat

The list of Jewish holidays is endless. Not to

many peoples knowledge, the Jewish calendar is
completely different than and not synced with our
modern Western one.
Chanukah, Passover, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashana,
Purim and Sukkot are the most widely celebrated
holidays in the Jewish religion, and are celebrated
differently, all with their respective rituals, feasts, fasts,
etc.
Some of these holidays happen once every year, and
others happen on a weekly basis.

ChanukahThe Festival of Lights

&PassoverLiberation from Egypt
&Yom KippurDay of Atonement
&Rosh HashanaThe New Year
&PurimLiberation from Haman
&SukkotFestival of Ingathering
&ShabbatThe Day of Rest
Each of these holidays has a completely different reason as to why it is celebrated, whether it be the
liberation of Jewish people at a certain point in time, mourning the death and suffering of the Jews
in the past, the beginning of a New Year, or simply resting after a long week. For some of these
holidays, Jewish people attend synagogue, which is essentially the Jewish equivalent of a Christian
Church. Instead of a pastor, the synagogue is run by a rabbi.

Jewish
Customs&Celebrations&Rituals
Being Jewish comes with responsibility. There are
certain rules to follow when it comes to following
Jewish customs. Some of these rules are stated
in what are called the ten commandments, said
to be inscribed by God on two stone tablets and
given to the Israelites at the biblical Mount Sinai.
These commandments include instructions to
worship the one and only God, keep the Sabbath,
and discourage murder, blasphemy, theft, and
dishonesty among other things. These ten
instructions are at the core of the Jewish religion,
and are valued quite intensely by some.
Another Jewish custom is to wear a kippa or a
yamulka, which is a small round cap that is worn
in order to separate you from God. It is worn at all
times by orthodox Jews.

Orthodox Jews have many more rules when it

comes to practicing Judaism, having to abide by
the many orthodox Jewish laws. Some of these
rules and laws include wearing a very specific
outfit, only driving and using electricity at certain
times of the day or week, and eating a kosher
diet.
A Kosher diet dictates what you can eat as well
as how it is prepared. Some people choose to be
Kosher simply because the Torah says so. The
primary rule of a Kosher diet forbids eating certain
animals, mainly meats, especially if not all of the
blood has been drained in a very specific ways.
There are many other obscure rules that have to
be followed.

Part of being Jewish is to perform an action called a mitzvah, of which there are
infinite possibilities. A mitzvah essentially means to do a good deed, which could
be to feed the homeless, volunteer your time, help the elderly, anything as long as
its an honourable act. Being an honourable and humble human being is a big part
of the religion.
Similarly, there is also a celebration called a bar or bat mitzvah, which is a
celebration of a Jewish man or woman coming of age - becoming an adult.
For a man, the bar-mitzvah typically happens at the age of thirteen, and for a
woman the bat-mitzvah occurs at the age of twelve. One is allowed to have a
bar or bat mitzvah at any time in their lifetime, although this is rarely done over
the age of twenty years old. During this celebration, there is a ceremony and a
celebration afterwards. During the ceremony, the boy or girl will read a portion
of the Torah scroll in Hebrew, which is the language of the Jewish and Israeli
people. This portion is read after a thorough learning of Jewish culture and the
Hebrew language, and of course the memorization of the portion. Afterwards, a
celebration ensues, typically in the prescence of family and friends.

For a male Jew, getting circumcised very soon after birth

is a Jewish custom. Circumcision is not done only by the
Jewish people, but other religions and races as well.
The reason why Jews circumcise the male genetilia is for
the simple reason that it is stated in, not the Torah, but
the Bible.
This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between
me and you and thy seed after thee; every man child
among you shall be circumcised (Genesis 17, 10-14)

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