The Encyclopedia of World Religions

246 S Judaism

stand, and the glass that the groom breaks with his foot at the end of the ceremony. Judaism also has distinctive funeral practices. When Jews learn that a close relative has died, they are supposed to tear their clothes. They also observe various periods of mourning; the most intense lasts from the moment of death until burial is over. Judaism does not as a rule allow cremation. Embalming is forbidden, and ideally the corpse should be buried within 24 hours. ORGANIZATION Judaism is organized according to local congre gations that join together to form national orga nizations. A congregation maintains a synagogue, which is a place for prayer, study, and fellowship. It also supports a rabbi, a person who, after inten sive study, is ordained to serve a congregation’s spiritual needs ( see ORDINATION ). In Reform, Recon structionist, and more recently Conservative Juda ism, women have been ordained to the rabbinate. Orthodox and Hasidic Jews ordain only men. Rabbis are generally respected for their learn ing and their service to the community, but within Hasidism, the rabbi, or rather the rebbe, assumes an extraordinary position. The leader of a commu nity that may span the globe, the Hasidic rebbe is thought to be blessed with special insight into God’s revelation and will. His person is especially revered, his word is taken as close to divine revela tion, his advice is sought on all matters, and even his presence is spiritually uplifting. The state of Israel, established after the Holo caust, has a special place in the Jewish world. Its political leaders have no religious authority, but by its constitution every Jew in the world may become an Israeli citizen. Most Jews outside Israel strongly support the state. A few Hasidic Jews have rejected Israel as a human attempt to do what only God should do, restore the glories of ancient Israel. JUDAISM IN THE WORLD TODAY One important topic for modern Jews is what it means to follow HALAKHAH , the Jewish “path.” Many followers still consider halakhah to embody

The central Jewish observance is keeping the Sabbath, the time from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. Jews rest on the Sabbath in imitation of God’s resting on the seventh day of creation. Sab bath observance varies in strictness in the different Jewish movements, but the ideal is always one of a Sabbath rest. At the Sabbath meal on Friday eve ning, the mother of an observant family will light the Sabbath candles and welcome Queen Sabbath. Observant Jews also generally attend a service at the SYNAGOGUE or temple on Saturday morning or, among the more liberal, on Friday evening. This service con sists of readings from the Bible, PRAYERS , and songs. During the course of the year, there are several major and many minor festivals ( see J EWISH FESTI VALS ). The most holy days are Rosh ha-Shanah (the New Year) and Yom Kippur (D AY OF A TONEMENT ), which occur in the fall. On Yom Kippur, Jews fast, collectively confess their SINS to God, and receive God’s forgiveness. The other major festivals are Pesach (P ASSOVER ), Shavuot (Pentecost or Weeks), and Sukkot (Tabernacles). Originally celebrations of the harvest, these festivals were later connected with the liberation of the people of Israel from slav ery in Egypt ( see E XODUS ), the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai, and the wanderings in the wilderness. The minor festivals include H ANUKKAH , P URIM , Simhat Torah, and Holocaust Day. Like most other religions, Judaism sancti fies the rhythms of life. During RITUALS performed soon after birth, Jews enter into the covenant with God and receive their names. The ritual for boys is CIRCUMCISION , known as brit milah, “covenant of circumcision,” or more colloquially as bris and performed on the eighth day of life. Rituals for girls vary; the traditional ritual is for fathers to introduce baby girls to the community at the synagogue service. When boys and, in the more liberal traditions, girls reach the age of 12 or 13, they become BAR or BAT MITZVAH , “son or daugh ter of the commandment” respectively, that is, members of the adult Jewish community. The ceremony involves reading a portion of the Torah in Hebrew and then commenting upon it. Distinc tive features of a Jewish wedding include the hup pah, the canopy under which the bride and groom