Jewish Israeli Culture: Identity

Transcription

1 Jewish Israeli Culture: Identity Anna Rosenstein 10th December 2016 Abstract All of the following information is from books, websites, and my own personal knowledge about Jewish identity and the Sabbath, which is an extremely fundamental part of Judaism.

2 Contents Contents i 1 Introductory comments 1 2 Identity Israeli National Anthem The Sabbath Bibliography 11 i

3 1. Introductory comments The identity section begins with the national anthem because it perfectly captures the Jewish people and their values. The Sabbath is then described in detail because it is one of the core aspects of Judaism and has acted as the glue that has held the nation together, generation after generation. The topics being discussed are: The Israeli National Anthem The Sabbath Blessings Forbidden Acts Figure 1.1: Candles, challah, and wine (Wikipedia, n.d.) 1

4 2. Identity 2.1 Israeli National Anthem The name of the Israeli national anthem is HaTikvah, which means The Hope in Hebrew. The words were written by Naftali Herz Imber ( Israeli National Anthem (HaTikvah) Jewish Virtual Library 2016) in 1886 and the melody was written by Samuel Cohen. The powerful words of the anthem are about the Jewish people s unwavering hope to one day be released from exile and return to their homeland - Israel. English translation: In the Jewish heart A Jewish spirit still sings, And the eyes look east Toward Zion. Our hope is not lost, Our hope of two thousand years, To be a free nation in our land, In the land of Zion and Jerusalem. Hebrew-English translation: Kol ode balevav P nimah - Nefesh Yehudi homiyah Ulfa atey mizrach kadimah Ayin l tzion tzofiyah. Ode lo avdah tikvatenu Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim: L hiyot am chofshi b artzenu Eretz Tzion v Yerushalayim 2

5 2.2 The Sabbath More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel. - Ehad Ha am. The sages call the Sabbath Yesod Ha emunah, the very foundation of our faith. This is no exaggeration. For the noblest thoughts by which Judaism has enhanced the human mind, the highest ideals for which the nation has been striving for thousands of years at the cost of innumerable lives, are all centered in the Sabbath. The observance of Sabbath has been central to Jewish identity and maintaining that identity from the beginning of time. A blessing that flows from the Sabbath is Menucha, the blessing of rest. However, Sabbath rest is much more than just physical rest. It is a mindset and a spiritual state that is induced by the experience of the Sabbath and the joy of being released from bondage to the pressing demands of everyday life (Millgram 5705). Sabbath observance is a commandment in the Bible. The commandment actually appears twice, each time focusing on a separate aspect of the importance of the day. In Exodus 20:8-11, God commands the people not to work on the seventh day of the week because God rested on the seventh day at the end of the creation. Sabbath is holy, as it is a way of separating the seventh day from the rest of the week. Deuteronomy 5:12-15 also prohibits work on the seventh day, but here, the motive for the Sabbath is to create a holy people, free from bondage, exploitation, oppression, and a day where one is free to praise God. The Sabbath is the guiding light of the Jewish people. The atmosphere that Shabbat brings is so divine it is almost tangible. Sages say, The Sabbath will never disappear from Israel. They say that, all institutions for which Israelites have sacrificed their lives have been firmly and everlastingly established in their midst (Shoys 1996) The institution that has the power to do such a thing is the Sabbath. It is a historical fact that the Jews have sacrificed their lives for the Sabbath. One example of this is during the Maccabean War of the 2nd Century B.C.E. when hundreds of Jews preferred a martyr s death to violating the Sabbath. Jewish loyalty to the Sabbath has been challenged countless times throughout history. But, time and time again, Jews prove their devotion by remaining true to themselves and true to God s commandments. Despite the difficulties that come with keeping this holy day, the fight to pursue the Jewish Sabbath must and will continue, for Sabbath is the secret to Jewish existence. 3

6 Blessings Lighting the Candles At the start of the Sabbath it is customary to light two candles at sundown and say a blessing ( Shabbat Evening Home Ritual Jewish Virtual Library 2016). This signifies that the Sabbath has begun. These candles are a symbol of the joyful delight that fills the home on the Sabbath. The blessing you say on the candles is: English translation: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to light Shabbat candles. Hebrew-English translation: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha olam asher kid shanu b mitzvotav v tzivanu l hadlik ner shel shabbat ( Blessings for Shabbat & Holidays - My Jewish Learning 2016). Blessing on the Wine Also known as Kiddush, this blessing is recited while holding a glass of wine or grape juice. English translation: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. Hebrew-English translation: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha olam borei p ri hagafen. Washing the Hands Before the meal begins, you are supposed to wash your hands by filling a cup with water and pouring it over the top and bottom of your right and then left. Before drying your hands you recite the following blessing. English translation: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to wash hands. Hebrew-English translation: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha olam asher kid shanu b mitzvotav v tzivanu al netilat yadayim. 4

7 Blessing on the Two Challot (Bread) Directly after washing hands, and the last step before the meal can begin, the head of the household uncovers the two Challot, lifts them up and recites the blessing. It is then broken into pieces and passed around the table for everyone to share. English translation: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. Hebrew-English translation: Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha olam hamotzi lehem min ha aretz. Forbidden Acts The Hebrew word Sabbath means: You shall do no manner of work. This is repeated in the Torah over and over again as it is the center and the essence of the Sabbath observance. In order to fully understand this, one must consider what the Torah actually means by work. The Hebrew term Melacha does not mean physical strain or labor. Instead, the Rabbis interpreted it as the commandment that all activities necessary for the construction of the Sanctuary should cease on Sabbath (Exodus 31:13). The list of the 39 activities used to build the Sanctuary displays all the main types of human productive activity, and it is therefore those activities that are prohibited on the Sabbath. Therefore, Melacha is defined as any act that shows man s mastery of the world by the purposeful and constructive exercise of his intelligence and skill (Grunfeld 1981). The activities included, such as baking, sewing, slaughtering, writing, and building, bring about significant changes in one s environment for productive purposes. In this classification, it is not the physical nature of the activity, but its objective or purpose that is the deciding factor. The listed 39 restrictions are not the only restricted activities; they are simply the categories, known as the Avot Melacha, which all other restrictions fall under. Activities that fall under each category are known as Toladoth. For example, the eleventh category, baking, which is the Av Melacha, includes boiling and frying, which would be Toladoth. The categories are simply for practical purposes, as the Torah gives equal status to both an Av Melacha and a Tolada as restrictions on the Sabbath. Actions speak louder than words and actions can be more eloquent than words. By restraining from all Melacha, one is affirming that man has domin- 5

8 ion over all the earth by the will of God. Giving up Melacha is meant to be a positive act, which alleviates one from their everyday normalcy (White, Blackburn, and Plisco 2015). It is also believed that participating in a single act of Melacha on the Sabbath is denying God as the Creator and the Master of the world. This is why defying this commandment is equivalent in the eyes of the Torah to idol worship. Strict observers of the Sabbath believe that breaking the Sabbath is destroying what is most precious in that person, and that it breaks the link that binds that person to God and the Jewish nation. Therefore, we can understand that cessation from Melacha is the essential requirement for observing the Sabbath. The 39 restricted Melachot are: Sowing Plowing Reaping Binding sheaves Threshing Winnowing Selecting Grinding Sifting Kneading Baking Shearing wool Washing wool Beating wool Dyeing wool 6

9 Spinning Weaving Making two loops Weaving threads Separating threads Tying Untying Sewing two stitches Tearing Trapping Slaughtering Flaying Salting meat Curing hide Scraping hide Cutting hide up Writing two letters Erasing two letters Building Tearing a building down Extinguishing a fire Kindling a fire Hitting with a hammer Transporting an object from the private domain to the public domain 7

10 Team Member: Anna Rosenstein Figure 2.1: Anna (Anna n.d.) 8

11 Bibliography Anna. n.d. This is my Grade 12 school picture. Blessings for Shabbat & Holidays - My Jewish Learning Accessed December 6. http : / / www. myjewishlearning. com / article / blessings-for-shabbat-holidays/. Grunfeld, I The Sabbath: A Guide to Its Understanding and Observance. New York: Feldheim. Israeli National Anthem (HaTikvah) Jewish Virtual Library Accessed December 7. http : / / www. jewishvirtuallibrary. org / jsource/history/hatikva.html. Millgram, A. E Sabbath, the Day of Delight. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society of America. Shabbat Evening Home Ritual Jewish Virtual Library Accessed December 6. Judaism/Shabbat2.html. Shoys, Ḥ The Jewish Festivals: A Guide to Their History and Observance. New York: Schocken Books. White, J. L., A. M. Blackburn, and M. K. Plisco Rest as a Virtue: Theological Foundations and Applications to Personal and Professional Life. Journal of Psychology & Theology 43, No. 2. Wikipedia. n.d. Shabbat candles, challah, and wine. com/4/3328/ _422d jpg. Found using Google Images Tools, labeled for noncommercial reuse. 9