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Judaism Jewish Judaic Talmud
Glossary Terminology
Mezuzah (Mezuzot)
A small case affixed to the
doorpost of Jewish businesses, home, and synagogues, the upper exterior of the
mezuzah case is inscribed with a Hebrew letter which protects the klaf, a
small piece of parchment inscribed with several Hebrew Bible verses. Written in
Hebrew, the verses are Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Deuteronomy 11:13-21.
Halacha details the manner in which the mezuzah case should be permanently affixed to the doorpost within three inches of the doorways opening. Generally, the mezuzah must be placed on the right side of the door (from the viewpoint of a person entering the building). Before affixing the mezuzah a Jewish blessing is recited.
Observant Jews affix mezuzah on all the doors of their homes except bathrooms and tiny closets. The verses on the scrolls are written in Hebrew with great care in a single column on twenty-two scored lines, usually by a sofer (scribe) to ensure their validity. On the reverse side of the parchment one of the names of G-d is written that of Shaddai. Then like a Torah scroll, the parchment is rolled into a scroll.
The tightly wound scroll must be checked by a sofer (scribe) twice every seven years
to make sure that none of the Hebrew letters are cracked, flaked off or missing
entirely which would invalidate the mezuzah. According to Jewish custom, as an
expression to their devotion to the Torah, Jews touch the mezuzah and then kiss
their fingers everytime they pass through a doorway with a mezuzah. Artistic
external mezuzah cases are often given as gifts on special occasions, especially
at weddings.
Shabbat (The Sabbath)
Under Jewish law, the
Shabbat is a weekly holiday. Shabbat is a day of rest on the seventh day of each
week which begins at on sunset on Friday evening and ends at nightfall on
Saturday evening. The Halacha Jewish Law makes the Sabbath most important holy day on
the Hebrew calendar. It is the first holiday mentioned in the Tanakh and the
Sabbath has more Torah readings than Yom Kippur.
Star of David (Shield of David, Jewish Star)
A recognized universal symbol
of the identity of the Jewish people and Judaism, the Star of David is on the
flag of Israel. There is no archaeological validation for the use of the Jewish
Star in ancient times in the Holy Land even after the reign of King David. The
Shield Star of David was also not mentioned in rabbinical literature. Early
Jewish symbols included the Shofar (ram's horn), the Lulav (palm shoot), and the
Menorah (seven-branched candelabra). A Shield of David was found on a thirteenth
century ACE Jewish tombstone in southern Italy at Taranto.
Twelfth century ACE literary writings mention that a Tetragrammaton also known as a David's shield was used on amulets. It has been suggested that the Kabbalah might have initially obtained the Star of David symbol from the Templars. In the Kabbalah the symbol was placed on amulets, and, the ten Sephiroth spheres where arranged in a similar configuration.
A 1307 CE Tanakh manuscript belonging to a rabbi from Toledo, Spain had a Jewish Star on it. For hundreds of years, the Star of David has been placed o Jewish tombstones in Europe. Today many synagogues have the flag of Israel with the Star of David symbol prominently displayed close to the Ark containing the Torah scrolls.
The shape of the Star of David was that of a hexagram. The hexagram was an occult and magical symbol used by other belief systems long before the Jews adopted it as their primary symbol. According to Jewish legends the symbol was used on the magical signet ring (the Seal of Solomon) that King Solomen used to control demons and other spirits as slave labour forcing them to build his Temple. The Jewish lore also indicated that King David had a magical protective shield with the symbol on it. Some researchers have suggested that the symbol represented the astrological chart of either the moment David's birth or his anointment as king. The symbol was known by astrologers as the "Kings Star"
Ancient magical papyrus
artifacts indicated that pentagrams along with stars and other symbols were
often found on protective amulets bearing the Jewish names of G-d. The pentacle
was also used as a symbol by early Jews. A pentacle was used as an architectural
ornament on an ancient synagogue at Tell Hum. The fifteenth century CE Jews had
a red flag with two pentacles and two golden stars. A pentacle also occurs in a
1073 CE Jewish manuscript.
Tallit
A prayer shawl worn during
the Shacharit prayers of Jewish morning services. The tallit has tzitzit,
special knotted six inch fringes, that are attached to the four corners of the
prayer shawl. Only Jewish men and boys at different times in their lives are
obligated to wear them. Today non-Orthodox groups also allow women to wear
prayer shawls....
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Read Judaism Talmud Articles
Glossary Terminology,
Haggadah Shabbat and Seder,
Halacha and the Ten Commandments,
Jewish Holidays Begin at Sundown,
Judaic Lifecycle Events,
Judaism Spiritual Beliefs,
Menorahs Tallits and Yarmulkes,
Prayers and Jewish Principles of Faith,
Symbology of the Jewish Star of David,
Tefillin Mezuzah Hebrew Bible Verses,
Torah Talmud Tenakh Mishna Gemara
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Jewish Judaic Talmud Copyright © 2002-2008 Maureen Grace Burns, Blessings Cornucopia. All Rights Reserved.
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