Artefacts used in Jewish Worship (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

What are the copies of the Sefer Torah?

• Every synagogue has a Sefer Torah

  • The Sefer Torah is the Torah scroll

  • It is handwritten onto vellum by a specially trained scribe 

• The Torah is the most sacred text in Judaism

  • It includes the first five books of the Hebrew Bible:

    • Genesis

    • Exodus

    • Leviticus

    • Numbers

    • Deuteronomy

What is the significance of the Sefer Torah?

• The Sefer Torah is believed to be the word of G-d, given to Moses on Mount Sinai

• It is central to Jewish worship, law and tradition

• Due to its importance, the Sefer Torah is treated with the utmost respect

  • It is an honour to be asked to read from it at a service in the synagogue

  • It is dressed in decorations such as a mantle (cover), breastplate and crown

  • It is stored in the Aron HaKodesh (the Holy Ark in the synagogue)

  • Nobody is allowed to touch it with their bare hands

  • A pointer called a yad must be used instead

    • The yad is used to follow the handwritten words of the Torah while reading from the scroll

What is Shabbat?

• Observing Shabbat is one of the Ten Commandments

  • Jews observe a day of rest to commemorate G-d resting on the seventh day after he made the world

• Shabbat begins on Friday at sunset and lasts until sunset on Saturday

  • It is a time for family and community

  • During Shabbat, services at the synagogue are well attended

Preparations for Shabbat

What are the Shabbat candles?

• Shabbat candles are special candles lit by Jews every Friday evening to welcome the Sabbath (Shabbat), the weekly day of rest

  • Usually, two candles are lit, though some families might light a candle for each family member

  • The candles are traditionally lit by a female member (often the mother) of the household

  • The candles are lit 18 minutes before sunset on Friday

  • The person lighting the candles covers their eyes and says a blessing:

• After the blessing, Shabbat officially begins

What is the significance of the Shabbat candles?

• The candles have a spiritual purpose — they symbolise bringing peace and light into the home

• They also have a practical purpose — they mark the start of Shabbat, a time of rest, holiness and reflection

• The candles represent two key commandments:

  • “Remember the Sabbath” (Zachor)

  • “Observe the Sabbath” (Shamor)

• The candles help to create a sacred space for Sabbath to take place

  • The light helps create a calm, sacred atmosphere for prayer, meals and family time

• The practice is a tradition that unifies Jews all over the world, which can help to strengthen Jewish identity and continuity

What is the challah?

• The challah is a special braided bread eaten by Jews on Shabbat (the Sabbath) and during festivals

  • It is typically white, slightly sweet and made with eggs, flour, water, yeast and sugar

• In Jewish homes, a number of preparations are made before Shabbat

  • The house is tidied, food is prepared and two candles are placed on the dining table

  • Two loaves of challah bread are also placed on the table

  • Before eating, a blessing called the Hamotzi is said:

What is the significance of the challah bread?

• The challah bread represents the food G-d provided for the Jews when they were walking through the desert while fleeing Egypt

• The preparation of the bread is significant

  • Traditional Jewish law requires separating a small piece of dough before baking, in remembrance of Temple offerings (also called challah)

• The two loaves represent the double portion of manna that God gave the Israelites on Fridays while they were in the desert (Exodus 16) so they would have food for Shabbat

  • This teaches trust in God, that He will provide

• Challah is part of the Shabbat meal, a time for family, rest and spiritual reflection

  • Sharing challah symbolises hospitality, togetherness and gratitude

    • To demonstrate this, the bread is often passed around the table after being sliced or torn

What is the Kiddush cup?

• Kiddush is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify Shabbat, Jewish festivals and ceremonies:

  • The word Kiddush comes from the Hebrew word kadosh, meaning holy

  • It marks the beginning of sacred time, such as Shabbat or festival days

• A Kiddush cup is a special cup or goblet used in Jewish homes and synagogues to hold wine

• The cup is often made of silver, but any clean, respectable cup can be used

• The Kiddush cup is used on certain special occasions:

  • Shabbat (Friday evening and Saturday in the day)

  • Jewish festivals (for example, Passover, Rosh Hashanah)

  • Ceremonies, such as weddings or brit milah (circumcision)

Kiddush cup

What is the significance of the Kiddush cup?

• The Kiddush is recited over the wine in the Kiddush cup to mark the holiness of Shabbat or a festival

  • It reminds Jews that G-d rested on the seventh day and made that day holy

• Wine is a symbol of joy, blessing and spirituality in Judaism

  • The Kiddush sets the tone for a peaceful and holy celebration

• The Kiddush is a family tradition often led by the head of the family, bringing everyone together before the meal

  • It links the present to generations of tradition

What is the mikvah?

• The mikvah is a large bath where Jewish purification rituals take place and may be found in a synagogue 

  • The water in it must be non-flowing and from a natural source, such as a lake, sea or rain water

  • Jewish women are required to bathe in the mikvah before marriage

  • For many Jewish communities, being fully submerged in the mikvah is an important part of converting to Judaism

  • Some men use the mikvah before Shabbat, Yom Kippur or other holy days

The mikvah

What is the significance of the mikvah?

• Immersion in a mikvah is not about physical cleanliness but about spiritual renewal and purity

  • It represents a transition from one state to another, from impurity to purity or separation to holiness

• The Torah commands purification in certain situations

  • The mikvah allows Jews to follow these commandments

What is the mezuzah?

• The mezuzah is a piece of parchment scroll with the Shema prayer inscribed on it, which is kept in a small case:

  • The Shema prayer is important because in it G-d asks Jews to remember his commandments in both their heads and hearts

  • Jews will often touch the mezuzah as they go through the door

  • The instruction to do this comes from the Torah:

• The mezuzah can be found on the doorframes of many Jewish homes

  • It is placed at a slight angle on the right-hand side of every doorframe in the house

  • The bathroom door is the only doorframe in the house that the mezuzah is not placed on

• The words are written by a sofer: a person who is trained to write the Torah

• The parchment that it is written on must be from the skin of a kosher animal

Why is the mezuzah important?

• The mezuzah reminds Jews of G-d’s presence and their commitment to His commandments every time they enter or leave their home

• The mezuzah also fulfills the mitzvah (commandment) as instructed in the Torah and so is a way of obeying G-d’s law

• Having a mezuzah on the door is a public expression of Jewish faith and identity, and it unites Jews across the world through a shared tradition

• Many Jews believe the mezuzah brings blessing and protection to the home