Life Cycle
What is the name of a baby naming for boys and girls?
Girls- Brit Bat
What are some ways we celebrate Tu B'shvat?
~ eat fruit that grows on trees
~ plant trees (in Israel)
What year did Israel become an independent state?
1948
What does Ma La'asot mean?
It means "ethical" or "ethics." Choosing to do the right thing to help yourself and others.
What are different ways you can give tzedakah?
With money, energy, time, or goods
What does a b'nei mitzvah signify?
Jewish "adulthood" and the ability to be counted towards a minyan
Who was in battle during the story of Hanukkah?
The Maccabees and the Greeks
Why did Israel become an independent state?
So Jews had a safe place to live after the Holocaust.
Who must you take care of first when placed before an ethical dilemma?
Yourself. Then, once you're safe, you may take care of others.
What is the definition of Zionism?
That Jews have a right to an ancestral homeland
What does the breaking of glass at a Jewish wedding signify?
There are many different choices! Some common ones are:
~ to celebrate the joyousness of marriage
~ to reflect an old parable of rabbis finding weddings too rowdy
~ To signify the joy and sadness that go together in life
Rosh Chodesh is the start of the year. What is the difference between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? How are their celebrations different?
Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the New Year, while Yom Kippur is an opportunity to repent for your actions in the past year.
Why was "Hatikvah" chosen as the Israeli national anthem?
Because it reflects the hope Jews have for return to their ancestral homeland
If someone is in need of help, do you have an obligation as a Jew to help them?
Yes! Ethically, if there is something we can do, we must do it. Otherwise, we must get someone else who is capable of helping (firefighters, EMS, a teacher, etc.)
Why is food so important to Judaism (and other cultures)?
Because it gets passed down from generation to generation and connects all the different types of Jewish people in the diaspora
What does a family who is mourning a love one do for seven days after a loved one passes?
Sit shivah
Why do Jews dress up on Purim?
Esther had to hide her Jewish identity from the King until she had to save the Jews from Haman. So, Jews dress up to honor her sacrifice.
What are some cities you learned about in Israel?
Anything from our Israel chug counts!
Do we have a responsibility to animals as Jews?
~ We must feed our animals before we eat.
~ We must treat our "neighbors" animals as our own.
~ We must keep other people safe from our animals and our animals safe from other beings.
What are the five books of Torah?
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy
OR
Bereisheet, Shemot, Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim
Which of these is NOT a Jewish lifecycle event?
a. brit bat/milah
b. b'nei mitzvah
c. college graduation
d. wedding
What are the 10 plagues on Passover?
1. Blood (Nile to blood)
2. Frogs
3. Lice or Gnats
4. Flies
5. Death of Livestock
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Death of the Firstborn
Star of David: One of the first Jewish uses of the Star of David was as part of a colophon, the special emblem printed on the title page of a book. It honors the tradition that these books were considered Jewish with this symbol.
Stripes: To represent the tallis. The blue is chosen from the traditional blue/teal color tzitzit used to be.
What are some traditional ways we celebrate the Sabbath?
~ Don't turn on/off lights (or electronics)
~ No writing, cutting, tearing
~ No creating or extinguishing fire?
~ Rest and prayer
What is your favorite memory you have from Hebrew School this year?
I'm so glad we had a great year! :)