JEWISH CULTURE Jayden Dunn, Casey Infante,

Lindsey Loboy, Mara McCauley,

Ana Zarlinski, Alyssa Zorzi
OVERVIEW
vOrigin: highest numbers in California, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, & Illinois
vResidence: 3rd, 4th, 5th generation descendant’s of immigrants from the last two
decades of the 19th & 20th century primarily reside within the United States
vEconomics: primarily middle or upper class
vPolitics: left of center, meaning that this group of people would support social
equality & the radical/liberal political party system
vAmerican-Jewish families have been subjected to acculturation to the American
society. This means they have blended in and adapted to the average norms & values
of the American lifestyles, while continuing their own personal choice of lifestyle.
HERITAGE
vJewish holidays are usually highly significant for patients, especially Passover in the
spring and Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur in the fall. These holidays may affect the
scheduling of medical procedures and may involve dietary changes (related to a
need for special food or to a desire to fast). All Jewish holidays run sundown-to-
sundown.
SPIRITUALITY
vJewish practice a religion called Judaism
vThey practice in synagogues
vThe written law for them is called the Torah
vJudaism is the oldest of all three monistic religions.
vPeople who practice Judaism believe that there is only one eternal God that exists who is the
creator and the ruler of the universe.
vThe essences of Jewish faith is in the biblical “Shema”, which is recited every morning.
v Jewish people have high respect for health professionals.
vThree different types of Jewish a are Orthodox, conservative, and Reform.
SPIRITUALITY
vOrthodox are very strict and believe in a traditional interpretation of the Torah.
vStrict traditional interpretation of laws and commandments.
vConservative Jews believe in acceptance of traditional and modern religious observances.
Conservation for Jewish tradition, but change to fit modern times.
vReform Jews believe in the freedom to interpret the Torcised God ensured his promise of
fertility to the Jewish and choose religious observances.
vPractice in synagogues;
v- The goal of Jewish life is to live out the Torah. The Torah is the written word of God through
the life and experience of the Jewish people. It shows insight and teaches that as Jews they
have the opportunity to take the wisdom of their traditions and make it in the real world which
they live. The meaning of their life is to make spiritual and ethical insights of the Torah the
foundation of their lives. They believe that they have to embody the Torah,, that they have
become part of the Torah, and through wisdoms and insights can pas it on as their legacy.
THE SABBATH
vThe Sabbath day is the day of rest. It is a weekly day devoted to God through
religious activities. It is considered to be the most important of all Jewish holidays.
vNo work is to be done on the Sabbath day.
vNo work includes not using certain tools or engaging in tasks that initiate the flow of
electricity like writing, flipping a light switch, or pushing buttons to call a nurse.
Tearing of paper is considered work, so rolls of toilet paper should be replaces with
an open box for individual sheets. Medical procedures should not be scheduled
during the Sabbath or religious Holiday unless life –saving. Hospital discharges
should also not be done during this time.
PREGNANCY & BIRTH
vInvitro fertilization and sperm and egg donors are allowed because “it is clear that
the scriptures have directed Jews to procreate, and this directive is so critical that
torah scholars agree it could be accomplished by natural or artificial means.”
vDuring birth, men are not allowed to directly observe their wives while they are
immodestly exposed, maintaining their wife’s dignity.
vIn place of the father, allow the presence of female labor companion if the mother
desires.
CIRCUMCISION
vIn the Torah, it is noted that God says to Abraham that circumcision is a part of the
Brit Milah Covenant (man’s promise to God). By being circumcised, God ensures his
promise of fertility to the Jewish.
vDone as a hygienic measure.
vPerformed on 8th day of life.
vIf performed by a regular physician, it does not qualify.
vMUST be performed by a religiously qualified professional.
POSTPARTUM CARE
vHuman life does not begin until child is halfway emerged from the mother’s body.
vCaesarean section is permitted.
vMother must remain sexually separated from husband for a period of 7 days after
the birth of male child, or 14 days after the birth of a female child.
WORKFORCE & SCHOOLING
vJewish people are very active in the workforce in the United States.
vCurrently, both Jewish men and women have equal opportunities and abilities to
earn a higher education and obtain a good job as do non-Jews.
v“The differences in educational attainment between Jews and non-Jews are striking.
In every age group Jews averaged at least two more years of schooling than non-
Jews, were more likely to have completed college, and much more likely to have
earned an advanced degree. This is true for women as well as men, even for the
older cohorts when women’s educational attainment tended to be lower than that of
men”(Chiswick, 2009, pp.9).
vJewish men and women now have high educational aspirations for their children so
that they too can have many opportunities for employment.
EDUCATION
vReligion plays a key role as to whether Jews will go on to earn an advanced
degree and in turn have a better job.
v“People who identify as ethnic Jews, or who have Jewish backgrounds, but do not
consider their religion to be Judaism are also less likely to earn advanced
degrees”(Chiswick, 2009, pp.7).
vThe majority of Jewish people do go to college, but studies have shown that if they
don’t consider Judaism as their religion then they are less likely to finish college and
are more likely to not have secure, well-paid jobs.
OCCUPATION
vMarried Jewish men and women are also very engaged in the workforce.
vThe majority of married couples have both spouses employed. More than 80% of
Jewish women and 95% of Jewish men are a part of the labor force. When the
couples expand their families, “the working wives withdraw from the labor force
when their children are young, sometimes at the birth of a second child, and return to
the labor force in part-time or even full-time jobs when their children are
older”(Chiswick, 2009, pp.3)
vThat being said, married Jewish women are employed if not at the same rate then
more than other unmarried Jewish women.
vCurrently, both Jewish men and women have equal opportunities and abilities to
earn a higher education and obtain a good job as do non-Jews.
LIFESAVING PRACTICES
vLife saving measures are debatable in Judaism. Some families feel strongly opposed to the
idea. Family members often consult with a rabbi about the specific circumstances and decisions
regarding end of life care.
vAnyone who is Jewish and is t risk for death is allowed the opportunity to have a religious
confession with a Jewish religious authority. Cremation, embalming, and other defilements of
the body are strictly prohibited.
vAutopsies are only allowed if required by law and a Jewish authority figure must be present.
vIf there was an amputation with the deceased, a request may be to have it buried in
consecrated ground.
vOrgan donation can be seen as K’vod Ha-met( respect for deceased), which ‘brings healing
to life”. Certain organs or tissues are permissible and are concerned a mitzvah ( charitable of
beneficial act performed). A rabbi has to be considered in all cases of organ donation.
DEATH RITUALS / BURIAL
vWith exceptions of the Sabbath or certain religious holidays, a burial must be
completed by sundown of the next day.
vFamilies may request that a family member or representative constantly accompany
the body in the hospital, or morgue.
vThe value of saving a life is held extremely high in regard to Jewish traditions.
vA plain wooden coffin held together with wooden pegs must be used.
NUTRITION
vFood plays important role in culture.
vEspecially known for baked goods; also consume many beans, corn, fish.
vFollow a Kosher diet.
vOnly eat ritually slaughtered meat; abstain from pork, shellfish and mixing meat
with dairy products.
vDuring Passover, refrain from eating breads and other leavened products.
vSome Jews are deficient in Omega-3 and Calcium.
vIf consuming the correct portions of fruits and veggies, all minerals and vitamins
required should be met while following Kosher diet.
JEWISH PATIENTS
vPain: Expressing pain is acceptable; patients are more concerned with what is
causing the pain than the feeling of pain itself.
vHighest Jewish law is that you must do everything you can to save a life, even if it
breaks other laws.
vSome Jewish patients may have culturally-based concerns about modesty, especially
regarding treatment by someone of the opposite sex. However, Jewish tradition holds
the expertise of medical practitioners in high regard, and this fact may assuage
concerns about treatment by the opposite sex.
vLanguage Barrier: Jewish people speak many languages from Ladino, Yiddish,
Hebrew, to English. The majority of today’s population of American Jews tend to
speak in English with an accent from their native culture.
SOURCES
vChiswick, C. (2009, April). Occupation and Gender: American Jews at the
Millennium. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
vGalanti, G. (2012). Cultural sensitivity: A pocket guide for health care professionals
(2nd ed). Oakbrook Terrace, IL.: Joint Commission Resources.
vRich, T. R. (2011). Judaism 101: Birth and the First Month of Life. Retrieved
November 15, 2016, from http://www.jewfaq.org/birth.htm
vThomas, D. (2007). Menstrual Taboos in Religions and Cultures. Retrieved from
http://www.scribd.com/doc/20776809/Menstrual-Taboos-in-Religions-and-Cultures