An exciting way to learn basic Jewish facts. The word maven means expert* - someone who knows a lot about a specific topic. It is important for Jewish people to know about our own heritage. These cards were created to help you learn and remembers these basic Jewish facts in a fun way. These cards can be used in many different ways. Your teacher or parents can help you figure out what is the best way for you to learn everything in these cards. This pack of Jewish facts includes facts about Jewish holidays, prayers, blessings and other cool Jewish facts. You may already know some of these facts from school or from Jewish books that you have read. Here they are all in one place, so that you can make sure that you know them all. A maven usually tries to share what s/he knows with others. So now that you know these Jewish facts who will you share these Jewish facts with? *Maven comes from the Hebrew word which means to understand and to know.
There are 613 Mitzvot. These are 613 opportunities to connect to Hashem and do what important to Him. There are 613 Mitzvot in the Torah. 1.016 The 613 mitzvot are divided into 2 categories: To Do Mitzvot - things that Hashem wants us to do. These Mitzvot strengthen our connection with Him. 1.017 Not To Do Mitzvot - things that Hashem does not want us to do. Doing those actions would damage our connection with Him. 1.018 We don t do all of these 613 Mitzvot every day some are for special days, or only for certain people. 1.019 There are 248 To Do Mitzvot and 365 Not to Do Mitzvot. 1.020
TZEDAKAH Tzedakah means doing the right thing and helping others. 1.007 We can do Tzedakah by giving money, or using our time and talents to help others. 1.008 Tzedakah with money should be given directly to someone in need, or placed into a Tzedakah Box so that the money can be used to help someone in need. 1.009 Give Tzedakah money at least once a day (except Shabbat and holidays). 1.010 It is important to give Tzedakah happily and with a smile. 1.011
BIKUR CHOLIM - VISITING THE SICK Caring for their needs. 1.012 Cheering them up and comforting them. 1.013 Praying for their recovery. 1.014 HACHNASAT ORCHIM - INVITING GUESTS Sharing your space with others 1.015
A Bracha is a special prayer recited to thank Hashem for something specific. When we stop to say a bracha before eating or doing something, it gives us time to stop, think and appreciate what we are about to eat or do. 2.001 There are different types of Brachot. The most common Brachot are those said before eating food. 2.002 Most Brachot start with these words: ב ר ו ך א ת ה ה' א לק ינ ו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם Ba ruch A tah A do nai E lo hei nu Me lech Ha O lam... Blessed are you Hashem, the King of the world 2.003
אמ ן Saying A MEN after hearing a Bracha A men means I too believe what was just said. 2.004 When you hear someone say a Bracha, make sure to answer A men. 2.005
On fruits that comes from a tree, such as apples, grapes, and nuts (except peanuts), we say the Bracha: ב ר ו ך א ת ה ה' א לק ינ ו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם בו ר א מ ר י ה ע ה Ba ruch A tah A do nai E lo hei nu Me lech Ha O lam Bo rei Pree Ha etz. Blessed are you Hashem, the King of the world Who creates the fruit of the tree. 2.009
On food that grows from the ground, such as vegetables, beans, peanuts, and foods that grow close to the ground, like some berries, bananas, and melon, we say the Bracha: ב ר ו ך א ת ה ה' א לק ינ ו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם בו ר א מ ר י ה א ד מ ה Ba ruch A tah A do nai E lo hei nu Me lech Ha O lam Bo rei Pree Ha a da mah. Blessed are you Hashem, the King of the world Who creates the fruit of the ground. 2.010
Simchat Torah is the holiday that celebrates the Jewish People and the Torah. ש מ ח ת ת ור ה Simchat Torah is on the 23rd day of the Jewish month of Tishrei, in the fall. 3.025 On Simchat Torah, we express our joy by dancing with the Torah. 3.026
פ ור ים Some Purim mitzvot and customs: Read the Megillah. We use a noisemaker called a gragger to drown out Haman s name during the Megillah reading. 3.035 Eat Hamentashen at a holiday meal. 3.036 Dress up in costumes. 3.037 Give Mishloach Manot gifts of food, to at least one friend. 3.038 Give extra Tzedakah. 3.039
Adam was the first man to be created. אד ם Adam was created on the sixth day of creation. 4.001 All mankind come from Adam and his wife Chava (Eve). 4.002 ח ו ה Chava was the first woman and Adam s wife. Chava was created from Adam s rib. 4.003 Chava was the mother of Kayin (Cain) and Hevel (Abel). 4.004
כ י פ ה The Kipah is the head covering worn by Jewish boys and men. 6.001 The kipah is a constant reminder of Hashem s presence. 6.002 מ נ ור ה We light the Menorah throughout the 8 nights of Chanuka to remember the miracle that happened with the Menorah in the Bet Hamikdash. 6.003 The Menorah in the Bet Hamikdash had 7 branches. The Menorah we light on Chanukah has 8 to remember the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days. 6.004
ק ו פ ת צ ד ק ה The Tzedakah box is a box used to put Tzedakah money in. 6.016 A Jew should give some of their own money every day (except Shabbat and holidays) to those in need or to a fund to help others who are less fortunate. 6.017 A Tzedakah box should be placed in a noticeable place in our home to remind us to give Tzedakah often. 6.018 A Tzedakah box is often called a Pushka. 6.019
מ ח ז ור The Machzor is a Prayer Book with the special prayers of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. 6.020 ש ופ ר The Shofar is a ram s horn which is blown on Rosh Hashana and at the end of Yom Kippur. 6.021 The Shofar was used many times throughout Jewish history. For example, at Mt. Sinai, together with the thunder and lightning there were loud shofar blasts that caused the mountain itself to shake. 6.022
Tefillah is the way we connect to Hashem. We thank, praise, and ask Him for our needs. מ וד ה א נ י We thank Hashem for returning our soul to us and giving us a brand new day. Modeh Ani should be said immediately upon waking up in the morning. מו ד ה א נ י מל נ י ך מ ל ך ח י מוק י ם ש ה ח ז מרת ב י נ משמ ב י מבח מל ה ר ב ה א מ ונ ב י ך Mo deh A nee L fa ne cha Me lech Chai V ka yam She he che zar ta Bee Nish ma tee B chem la Ra ba E mu na te cha. (short translation) I Thank You Hashem for giving my soul back to me. 7.001
There are 613 Mitzvot. These are 613 opportunities to connect to Hashem and do what important to Him. There are 613 Mitzvot in the Torah. 1.016 The 613 mitzvot are divided into 2 categories: To Do Mitzvot - things that Hashem wants us to do. These Mitzvot strengthen our connection with Him. 1.017 Not To Do Mitzvot - things that Hashem does not want us to do. Doing those actions would damage our connection with Him. 1.018 We don t do all of these 613 Mitzvot every day some are for special days, or only for certain people. 1.019 There are 248 To Do Mitzvot and 365 Not to Do Mitzvot. 1.020
KIBUD AV VA EM - HONORING YOUR PARENTS Listen to your father and mother. Treat your parents with respect. Care for your parents. 1.029 CARING FOR OTHERS Treating others with respect. Using kind words. Sharing. 1.030
The Aseret Hadibrot are often called the 10 Commandments. These are the 10 main categories of Mitzvot. Between a Person and Hashem 1. Belief in Hashem "I am Hashem, your G-d" 2. Do not worship any other gods "You shall not have other gods" 3. Do not swear "You shall not use the name of the L-rd your G-d in vain" 4. Special times (holidays) "Keep the Shabbat" 5. Respect parents and teachers "Honor your mother and father" 1.034
When we see a rainbow, we say the Bracha: ב ר ו ך א ת ה ה' א לו ק ינ ו מ ל ך ה עו ל ם זו כ ר ה ב ר ית ו נ א מ ן ב ב ר יתו ו ק י ם ב מ א מ רו Ba ruch A tah A do nai E lo hei nu Me lech Ha O lam Zo cher Ha breet V ne e man B v ree to V ka yam B ma a ma ro. Blessed are you Hashem, the King of the world Who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise. 2.015
Fall Tishrei Cheshvan Kislev Winter Tevet Shevat Adar Spring Nissan Iyyar Sivan Summer Tamuz Av Elul September-October October-November November-December December-January January-February February-March March-April April-May May-June June-July July-August August-September 3.047
רא ש ה ש נ ה On Rosh Hashana we pray from a special prayer book called a Machzor. 3.061 The shofar is sounded on both days of Rosh Hashanah (unless the holiday falls on Shabbat, in which case we do not blow the shofar Shabbat). 3.062 After the prayers each night and during the day, we recite Kiddush on wine, make a blessing over the Challah, and enjoy a festive holiday meal. 3.063 We eat sweet foods because we want a sweet year. 3.064 The Shofar s sound is like a trumpet announcing the approach of a king or queen. When we hear it, we think of Hashem, the great Ruler over us all. 3.065
פ ור ים On Purim we celebrate: 1. The love of Hashem for the Jewish People 2. The downfall of our enemies There are 4 special mitzvot for the day of Purim: מ ש ל וח מ נ ות Mish lo ach Ma not -Giving gifts of food to a friend. 3.089 מ ת נ ות ל א ב י ונ ים Ma ta not La ev yo nim -Giving Tzedaka to at least two different charities. 3.090
We have a k a r ah/ seder plate on which we place all of the foods that we will eat throughout the seder: 3.097 1. Zeroa - a roasted chicken bone with most of the meat removed. This will represent the Passover offering. It will not be eaten. 2. Beitzah - a hard boiled egg, representing the special festival offering. 3. Maror - grated horseradish or romaine lettuce; the "bitter herbs." 4. Charoset - a paste made of apples, pears, nuts and wine, to remind us of the bricks the Jews were forced to make in Egypt. 5. Karpas - a bit of vegetable, such as an onion, potato, or parsley. 6. Chazeret - more bitter herbs, for use in the matzah -maror sandwich.
מ ר י ם Miriam was a great prophetess and Aharon and Moshe s older sister. At a young age, Miriam prophesized that her parents would have a son who would take the Jews out of Egypt. 4.045 At a risk to her life, Miriam cared for Jewish babies, although Pharaoh had commanded her to kill them. 4.046 Miriam led the Jewish women in song and dance after their Exodus from Egypt and the Splitting of the Sea. 4.047 In Miriam s merit, Hashem made a miracle, and provided water for the Jews in the middle of the desert. 4.048
ס פ ר ת ור ה A Sefer Torah is a Torah scroll. 6.025 A Sefer Torah contains the Five books of Moses handwritten in Hebrew. 6.026 The Sefer Torah must be written by a special scribe called a Sofer. 6.027 The Sefer Torah is written on parchment and rolled up on two wooden poles. The poles are tied together with fabric and then a cover is placed on top. 6.028 The Sefer Torah is kept in an Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark). 6.029 The Sefer Torah is read on Shabbat and holidays. 6.030 The first Sefer Torah written in history was dictated by Hashem and written by Moshe. Every Sefer Torah written since then is identical to the original. 6.031
ח ז ן The cantor who leads the congregation in prayer. 6.040 ג ב אי The Gabbai helps the Rabbi in the running of the Synagogue. 6.041 ב ע ל ק ור א The Torah is read by the Ba al Koreh. The Ba al Koreh reads the Torah in a special sing-song. 6.042
ת פ יל ין The Tefillin are two small leather cases containing parchments on which the Shema is written. The Tefillin are worn by Jewish men on the forehead and the left arm during morning Prayer. 6.043 The Tefillin remind us to dedicate all that we think, feel and do to the service of Hashem. 6.044 ט ל ית The Tallit is a prayer shawl with Tzitzit attached to its four corners. 6.045 The Tallit is worn by men during morning prayers. 6.046
ש מ ונ ה ע ש ר ה / ע מ יד ה This prayer is the main prayer. The Amidah has many blessings that can be divided into three categories: praise, request, and thanks. The Amidah prayer is recited quietly. When reciting the Amidah, stand with both feet together and do not speak or do anything to break the concentration. In the Synagogue, everyone recites the Amidah quietly. It is then said aloud by the Chazzan. 7.007