-Faith+Expressions-

~ Faith Expressions ~

' If we are people of faith, we seek ways to express our faith. These faith expressions show the deepest values of our religion. Expressing our faith in these ways help us understand out faith more and more deeply; and it helps us develop those values within ourselves. '

**//1. Chanukah Dreidel//** dfgh In the Hebrew language, Torah means 'derived from the root' which in hifil ( Hebrew grammar ) conjugation means 'to teach'. The Torah is the most holy of all of the Jewish scriptures. According to the Talmudic teaching, the Torah was created 2000 years before the world was created and was used as the blueprints to help God create the world. The purpose of all living things is to carry out the word of the Torah. fghj fhj hjk hjkl
 * //2. Torah//**
 * //3. Star of David//**
 * //4. ?//**
 * //5. ?//**
 * //6. Menorah//**

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 * // Key Beliefs: //**
 * Jews believe in the one living God who is transcendent, omnipotent, just and who reveals himself to human beings. The Hebrew word for this one true God is JHWH, or Yahweh.
 * Shema: Jewish profession of faith. “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One” – recited at morning and evening service.
 * Central text is the Torah, or Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible, revealed to Moses).
 * Talmud: written interpretation and development of the Hebrew scriptures, in two versions, Palestinian and Babylonian.
 * Orthodox Jews follow strict dietary laws. Kosher (suitable) is the word used to describe food prepared in accordance with religious law.
 * __There is no instinctive evil, original sin or fundamental impurity in human beings since people are made in God’s image.__

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Judaism has a rich tradition of festivals. While the main festival is the weekly Sabbath, other festivals are performed only once a year, while some only once in a lifetime.  The Sabbath is the holy day of rest, which is on the 7th day of the week, Saturday, in accordance to the creation story, to remind us that God thought that the world was good and rested on this day. The Sabbath is also the celebration the Hebrews' liberation from Egypt. During this day, Jews eat a lot more leisurely and families get together to celebrate and rest for the upcoming week. Bar Mitzvah is a celebration of entering adulthood. It is commonly celebrated for children at the ages of 13 for boys and 12 for girls. They become obligated to observe the commandments, the right to take part in leading religious services, to be counted as a member of the synagogue and to testify before religious courts and marriage. Hanukkah is a yearly festival celebrated by the Jews on the 25th in the Jewish month of Kislev, which is normally in December. This festival commemorates the rededication of faith to God after being oppressed for years by the king of Syria and dictator of Palestine.  Traditionally, Jewish pray three times a day. The study of Torah is also considered to be an act of worship. On every Sabbath day, the Torah is read. The Sabbath is spent with prayers, study and rest. Over the whole year, all of the Torah will have been read on the Sabbath and celebrations. The Synagogue is an assembly house for praying, meeting and studying to the Jewish. Modern Jews now use the word temple, rather than synagogue. Each synagogue has a different design and style, but all of them have these in common: the ark where the Torah scrolls are held must face the wall which is facing Jerusalem and the everlasting flame must be lit in front of the ark.

Theresa Le