Torah Blessings
What do we thank God for in the Torah Blessings?
1) for choosing us from all the nations
2) for giving us the Torah
What does God command us to do in this Blessing?
...wrap ourselves in the fringes or Tzitzit
True or False: The Bar’chu reminds worshippers that they need to be ready to pray.
True
Bonus: How can we get our hearts and minds ready to pray?
Close our eyes; remove distractions; pay attention
What does Sh’ma mean?
Hear or listen
Bonus: Why is it important to hear or listen to one another?
Translate V’ahavta
And you shall love
Bonus: Who shall you love and how?
And you shall love God with all your heart, soul, and might.
What word is used to describe the Torah in the “After” Blessing?
Torah of Truth
What do the fringes on the corners of a prayer shawl remind us to do?
Fulfill Mitzvot/Commandments
Bonus: How many Commandments are there?
613
What do we do with our bodies when we recite the Bar’chu?
We bow
Bonus: How does bowing make you feel?
Humble, Thoughtful, Respectful, Grateful, Receiving strength from God
The Sh’ma states the single most important theory in Judaism. What is it?
There is only one God.
The V’ahavta reminds us to love God by respecting and following these.
What are mitzvot or commandments?
Bonus: When are to perform mitzvot?
When we are home, on our way, lying down, getting up
What does the root “Nun-Tav-Final Nun” mean?
Give
What is a kippah?
Bonus: Why do we wear kippot?
A kippah is a head covering, worn as a sign of respect to God OR to help us achieve a special frame of mind for spirituality.
The Bar’chu is a “call-and-response” Prayer. What does that mean?
The prayer leader recites the first line; the congregation recites the second line; and then the prayer leader repeats the second line.
Bonus: What other blessing, that you have learned this year, also follows a “call-and-response” format?
The Torah Blessing Before the Torah Reading
What is the Hebrew word for “one?”
eh-chad
To whom are we commanded to teach God’s words?
Our children
Bonus: What would you like to pass on to your children one day? What have your parents passed on to you?
True or False: We stand when the Torah is out of the ark.
Bonus: When can we be seated?
True
...when the Torah is placed on the lecturn and we begin to read
What is a yad?
Bonus: Why do we use a yad?
A yad is a pointer.
Torah readers use a yad instead of a finger to follow along in the text. We are careful not to touch a Torah scroll directly, because the natural oils in our hands can damage the ink and parchment.
We praise God in the Bar’chu, and promise to continue to do so “l’olam va’ed.” What does this mean?
Forever and ever
What is the choreography associated with the Sh’ma?
1) We may stand or sit; many congregations stand
2) We close our eyes and/or cover them
3) We recite each word slowly and clearly
4) We hold onto the final word, אחד
The V’ahavta references two important Jewish symbols. Name at least one.
Mezuzah and Tefillin
Define Aliyah.
Bonus: 2 definitions
1) when we are called to the Torah
2) when we move to Israel
True or False: On the Shabbat date of your Bar Mitzvah, you will be the last person to read from the Torah.
Bonus: What is the word for the last person to read Torah?
True
Maftir
The Bar’chu focuses on being part of a community. It is only recited with a minyan present. Name three communities of which you are a part.
Examples: Temple Isaiah, school, camp, club, sports, family
Bonus: What role do these communities play in making you the person you are today?
True or False: The entire Sh’ma is in the Torah
False
Bonus: Which part of the Sh’ma is in the Torah?
The first sentence is in the Book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 6. In this section, Moses talks to the Israelites about how they should behave when they enter the land of Israel.
What is inside a mezuzah?
The Sh’ma and the V’ahavta
Bonus: Where are we told to place mezuzot?
On the doorposts of our houses and upon our gates