Jewish traditions. Jewish customs and traditions Jews in the family tradition

Introduction

History of Judaism , History of the Jewish people - history of religion and culture . It covers almost four thousand years and hundreds of other different peoples, their religion and culture, with which the Jewish people have interacted throughout their history. A significant part of Jewish history is connected with the territory that is currently called the state. . According to Jewish tradition, Jews are descended from biblical patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who lived in the land of Canaan from the 18th century BC.

During the Roman period, the Jews were dispersed and spread throughout the world in the so-called . After During World War II, the State of Israel was established. ( Modern history Israel are discussed in a separate article ).

Geographical position

Israel, a unique country, loved by all Jews, and a tasty morsel for many nations, is located in the southwestern part of Asia. Its territory is washed by three seas. In the west, it is washed by the waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and from south side- waters of the Red Sea. Oriental pass along the Jordan River and along the Green Line, established in 1949. On its lands there is another unique sea - the Dead Sea. Its magical healing properties are known far beyond the borders of the Israeli state.

today square is almost 27,000 square kilometers, of which the area of ​​Israel is 20,000 square kilometers, and the area of ​​the Gaza Strip and the West Bank is 6.2 square kilometers. If we talk about the geographical position of Israel, then in the north Israel is adjacent to such states as Lebanon, in the northeast side with Syria, with Jordan in the east, and with the state of Egypt in the southwest of the country.

The state of Israel has the most diverse relief - in the west of the country along the coast of the entire Mediterranean coast, the fertile lands of the Coastal Plain stretch, and in the northeast of the country there is a completely different relief - the Golan Heights. The east of the country is also mountainous - the Galilee Mountains are located here, the mountains of Samaria are also located here, the east of Israel is also the famous hollows - where the Jordan Valley is located, and where the most unique body of water in the world is located - the Dead Sea. In the south of Israel, most of its territory is occupied by sandy deserts - the Negev and the Arava. The reliefs of the entire territory of Israel dramatically change one another.

The highest point of the country is Mount Hermon, it is 2224 meters above sea level, while the lowest point of Israel is 418 meters below sea level, and this is the lowest point in the whole world.

His official city is Jerusalem. This Holy City is not just for Jews. It is the cradle for the most powerful world religions; their main shrines are concentrated here. But due to some events, in particular after Israel annexed East Jerusalem and issued the Jerusalem Law, many countries of the world respect the status quo, recognizing the capital of the State of Israel in the city of Tel Aviv. But, at the same time, the city of Jerusalem performs all the functions that need to be performed by a city that has the status of the capital of the state. All government agencies are located here, the Israeli parliament - the Knesset - works, the Israeli Supreme Court, ministries are located here in Jerusalem, the President and Prime Minister of the state work, in a word, political life goes on and the internal and foreign policy of the state is formed. Jerusalem is the internal capital of the Israeli state, while Tel Aviv is recognized as the international capital.

The geographical position of Israel also contributes to the development of such a promising area as tourism. The country's location in the Middle East, where from the west the country's lands are washed by the waves of the Mediterranean Sea, and in the south - by the crystal clear waves of the Red Sea - makes Israel an attractive resort town. The Mediterranean coastline stretches 230 kilometers along the west of Israel, and the Red Sea coastline stretches 12 kilometers along the south of the country. In the east, Israel is bounded by mountains - the Syrian-African Rift. The northern borders of the state of Israel pass near the borders of Syria, and the northeastern borders - with Syria, Israel neighbors in the east with Jordan, and in the southwest with Egypt. And although officially the borders of Israel are not fully accepted, their total length is about 1125 kilometers.

As for the geographical position of Israel, then naturally most of everything lives in flat areas, in particular on the Coastal Plain. The coastal plain stretches inland for 40 kilometers along the Mediterranean coast. Almost half of all the land of Israel is occupied by a desert - this is the Negev desert, which spreads its sands in the south of the country. But only 8% of the total population of Israel lives in these territories.

On the territory of the country there is only one freshwater reservoir - Lake Kinneret, also known as the Golan Sea. The Golan Sea is a very ancient body of water, mentioned more than once in the Bible. Many biblical stories and stories are connected with this sea. Lake Kinneret is located in the Jordan Valley, the most fertile valley in Israel. The geographical position in Israel of the Jordan Valley is from the borders of Jordan to the most deserted lands of the Arava, which are located south of the Dead Sea.

The largest and deepest river in Israel is the Jordan River. It passes through almost the entire territory of Israel, originating at the foot of Mount Hermon, filled with water from mountain streams, passes through the Hula Valley, flows into the Golan Sea - Lake Kinneret, which is most interesting - leaves it and, passing through the Jordan Valley, flows into Dead Sea.

Both the geographical position of Israel and the climatic data of this country contribute to the development of resort areas on its territory. The main and most famous resort city of the country is the city of Eilat, located on the Red Sea coast, near the Gulf of Eilat. Eilat is the southernmost point in Israel. The climate in Eilat allows you to work and receive guests in the resorts of the city all year round.

The water temperature of the Red Sea off the coast of Eilat never drops below +23 degrees Celsius, and therefore the swimming season can be throughout the year.

As for the geographical position of Israel, it is quite often distorted, as many believe that the state belongs politically to Europe. Observant people have noticed more than once that Israeli athletes take part only in the European Championships, and never take part in competitions in Asian venues. The international community resorted to such a cunning step in order not to inflate the already acute conflict between Arabs and Israelis. In addition, today one can argue for quite a long time about what nevertheless made the lands of Israel so desirable for many peoples: the favorable geographical position of Israel or, nevertheless, an increased interest in these places of divine powers. But be that as it may, for many hundreds of years this small piece of land, where history and geography are united, has attracted the increased attention of many peoples.

In Israel there are also mountains The State of Israel has the most Israel washed by three seas. varied relief (Mediterranean, Red and Dead)

State symbols

Flag The State of Israel is represented by two blue stripes on a white background, with a Star of David between them. The flag's cloth resembles a "talit" - a white Jewish prayer scarf with blue stripes. Approved as a symbol of the state on October 28, 1949.

National emblemIsrael is a seven-candlestick (menorah), framed by two olive branches (a symbol of peace), emanating from the name of the state written in Hebrew below. The golden menorah was one of the main cult objects in Jerusalem's First Temple in the time of King Solomon. Approved by the Provisional State Council.

Anthem of Israel

Hebrew Cyrillic transliteration Russian translation

כָּל עוד בַּלֵּבָב פנימה Kohl od balevav penim While inside the heart is still
נפש יהודי הומיה , Nefesh Yeudi Omiya Beats the soul of a Jew,
וּלְפַאֲתֵי מזרח קדימה Ulfaatey Mizrah Kadima And to the ends of the East, forward,
עין לציון צופיה , Ain le-Zion tzofiya The gaze is fixed on Zion, -

עוד לא אָבְדָה תקוותנו , Od lo avda tikvateynu Our hope has not yet perished,
התקווה בת שנות אלפים , ha-tikva bat shnot alpaim Hope, which is two thousand years old:
להיות עם חופשי בארצנו , Liyot am hofshi be-artzeinu To be a free people in their own land
ארץ ציון וירוּשָׁלַיִם . Erets Zion ve Irushalayim The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Nature of Israel

Israel is a land of contrasts. There are mountains, valleys, deserts. Inside the country is the lowest point on the globe - the Dead Sea (394 m below sea level). The highest point in Israel is Mount Hermon (2294 m above sea level). Two mountain ranges divide Israel into three regions that are completely different in relief:

Maritime (or Coastal) Plain;

Mountain area;

Jordanian valley.

1. Seaside plain. The coastal plain has a length of 190 km and a width of up to 40 km. It consists of the Zebulun Valley north of Haifa, the Hasharon Plain south of Haifa to Tel Aviv, and the Judean Plain south of Tel Aviv. Behind the narrow sandy shore is a strip of fertile cultivated land. The Maritime Plain is home to the majority of the population, the bulk of Israel's industrial and agricultural potential, and the main port cities of Haifa, Ashdod, and Tel Aviv, the country's leading industrial and commercial center.

2. Mountain area extends from the Lebanese mountains in the north to the Gulf of Eilat in the south. In the south it rises gently, forming chains of hills 200-400 m high. In the east, the mountains are steep and precipitous. The height of the mountains reaches 1280 m. The mountainous region is also divided into three parts: Galileo - in the north, the Central Highlands (Judea, Samaria and Shfelu) - in the center and the highlands of the Negev desert - in the south.

3. rift valley . This unique depression, often referred to as the Jordanian by the name of the river flowing here, is part of a large geological fault - the Syrian-African rift zone and includes the valley of the river. Jordan, sandwiched between the mountains of Judea and Samaria in the west, and the mountains of Jordan in the east; the Hula Valley between the mountains of Galilee and the Golan Heights; The Israeli valley between the mountains of Galilee and Samari, the Dead Sea depression and the longitudinal depression of Wadi al-Arab, connecting it with the Red Sea.

Flora and fauna

Small in area, Israel is distinguished by an incredible variety of physical and climatic conditions and an amazing wealth of flora and fauna. The length of the country from north to south is only 470 km, but at the same time, it shows such a variety of landscapes, which in other countries is possible only at distances of thousands of kilometers. In the north rises Mount Hermon with its snowy slopes and alpine fauna and flora, and in the south lies the Gulf of Eilat with its stunning beauty of coral reefs and fantastically colored fish representing tropical fauna. Between these two points lies a desert zone, blooming oases, Mediterranean forests and the Dead Sea depression - the lowest point on the earth's surface.

This wealth is expressed in 2,600 plant species (of which 150 are found exclusively in Israel), 7 amphibian species, almost 100 reptile species, 500 bird species and approximately 100 mammal species. Israel serves as a meeting place for three plant belts: the Mediterranean, Iranian-Turanian and Sahara-Sindian and demonstrates an exceptional collection of herbs in its diversity, especially annual and geophytic, typical of all three belts. The Land of Israel is the northernmost limit for plants like the Egyptian papyrus, and the southernmost limit for others like the bright red coral peony.

HHolidays, religion, customs, life yt.

Israelis are amazing people. This is the only ethnic group in the world that for 2000 years did not have its own territory, but managed to preserve its language and culture. Only in the 20th century, by decision of the UN, did the Jews finally acquire their own state.

The Israelis have a multifaceted and multifaceted culture, honed by the main tool - time.The culture of Israel is a creative alliance of many subcultures of different communities living in Israel, their traditions and the achievements of many generations. This is a multinational country where not only Jews live, but also Palestinian Arabs, Armenians, Georgians, Bedouins, Circassians, Samaritans and even Russians.

There is no other culture in the world that is at least somewhat similar to the Jewish one. It is colorful, original, original. And despite all this cultural layer cake, the largest and most delicious "cake" is Jewish culture. Her influence is extremely great not only within her own country, but throughout the world as a whole, since she is a direct and indisputable witness to the events of the ancient times of Christ and stood practically at the very origins of the birth of the world.

Israel‐ the only country in the world where life revolves aroundJewish calendar.

This is its own "personal" national calendar along with the Gregorian. It is on him that the work of public and private enterprises depends, the time of school holidays, they celebrate holidays and put down signatures in documents, namely the Jewish moon calendar decides whether it is possible to have fun today, wash dishes at home or receive guests.

Saturday for Jews, it is a sacred day when everything in the cities “dies out”: on Saturday you won’t buy groceries at the market, but you won’t get where you need to by public transport. On this day, true Jews do not do any physical work, do not have fun, do not watch TV and do not answer the phone.Shabbat is a time of rest, a time for family and friendship. On Shabbat, you can’t turn on the lights; on Friday evening, a woman lights candles. They are put on the festive table. Before the meal, prayers are read over wine and bread. Wine is poured for everyone present.

One of the most interesting holidays is the Jewish New Year orRosh Hashanah , which, according to our usual calendar, falls between September 5 and October 5.

On the Jewish New Year's table, honey is always present, in which they dip the first piece of bread and an apple slice for a sweet life

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year. For twenty-five hours believing Jews fast, do not wash, do not wear leather shoes. They pray in the synagogue. The "Day of Atonement" ends with the lingering sound of the ram's horn - the shofar.
In November - December in Israel, Hanukkah. When evening comes, lamps (chanukiah) are lit above the entrance to the house or on the windowsill. Every day a new light is added until there are eight.
According to the custom, donuts and potato pancakes are prepared at this time. The kids are on vacation.
The most fun holiday - Purim - is celebrated at the end of February. Arrange carnivals, dance, have fun. On the festive table are sweets, wines, cakes and the most important Purim dish - gomentashen (triangular pies with poppy seeds and raisins).
In March - April, the Jews have Pesach (Easter). They prepare for the holiday in advance: all dishes from sour dough are taken out of the house. Matzo (unleavened flatbread) is served on the table and is eaten for seven days.

A wedding in Israel is called kiddushin, which means dedication. The bride dedicates herself to the groom. The wedding is usually celebrated outdoors. Above the heads of the bride and groom they hold a special canopy - hula. He symbolizes them common Home. Guests and hosts feast for seven days.

Historical reference

What people have the strongest roots on our planet? Perhaps this question is relevant for any historian. And almost every one of them will answer with confidence - the Jewish people. Despite the fact that mankind has been inhabiting the Earth for hundreds of thousands of years, we know our history at best for the last twenty centuries of our era and approximately the same time BC. e.

But the history of the Jewish people dates back much earlier. All events in it are closely intertwined with religion and consist in constant persecution.

First mentions. Despite their considerable age, the first mention of the Jews dates back to the time of the pyramids of the Egyptian pharaohs. As for the records themselves, the history of the Jewish people from ancient times begins with its first representative - Abraham. The son of Shem (who, in turn, is the son of Noah), he was born in the expanses of Mesopotamia.

As an adult, Abraham moves to Canaan, where he meets the local population, subject to spiritual decay. It is here that God takes this man under his protection and concludes an agreement with him, thereby putting his mark on him and his descendants. It is from this moment that the events described in the gospel stories, which are so rich in the history of the Jewish people, begin. Briefly, it consists of the following periods: biblical; ancient; antique; medieval; modern times (including the Holocaust and the return to the Jews of Israel).

Moving to Egypt . In the lands of Canaan, Abraham starts a family, he has a son, Isaac, and from him, Jacob. The latter, in turn, gives birth to Joseph - a new bright figure in the gospel stories. Betrayed by his brothers, he ends up in Egypt as a slave. But still, he manages to free himself from slavery and, moreover, to become close to the pharaoh himself. This phenomenon (the presence of a miserable slave in the retinue of the supreme ruler) is facilitated by the closeness of the very kind of pharaoh (Hyksos), who came to the throne due to vile and cruel actions that led to the overthrow of the previous dynasty. Once in power, Joseph transports his father and his family to Egypt. This is how the strengthening of the Jews in a certain area begins, which contributes to their rapid reproduction.

The beginning of persecution. The history of the Jewish people from the Bible shows them as peaceful shepherds, doing their own thing and not getting involved in politics, despite the fact that the Hyksos dynasty sees them as a worthy ally, giving them the best lands and other conditions necessary for the economy. Before entering Egypt, Jacob's family consisted of twelve tribes (twelve tribes), which, under the auspices of the shepherd pharaohs, grew to a whole ethnic group with its own culture. Further, the history of the Jewish people tells of deplorable times for him. An army leaves Thebes for the capital of Egypt in order to overthrow the self-appointed pharaoh and establish the power of a true dynasty. She will soon be able to do this. They still refrain from reprisals against the favorites of the Hyksos, but at the same time turn them into slaves. Jews endure long years of slavery and humiliation (210 years of slavery in Egypt) before the arrival of Moses.

Moses and the Exodus of the Jews from Egypt The history of the Jewish people in the Old Testament shows Moses as coming from an ordinary family. At that time, the Egyptian authorities were seriously alarmed by the growth of the Jewish population, and a decree was issued - to kill every boy born in a family of slaves. Miraculously surviving, Moses ends up with Pharaoh's daughter, who adopts him. So the young man finds himself in the ruling family, where all the secrets of government are revealed to him. However, he remembers his roots, which begins to torment him. He becomes unbearable from the way the Egyptians treat his brethren. On one of the walking days, Moses kills the overseer, who severely beat the slave. But he turns out to be betrayed by the same slave, which leads to his flight and forty years of hermitage in the mountains. It was there that God turns to him with a decree to bring his people out of the lands of Egypt, while endowing Moses with unprecedented abilities. Further events include various miracles that Moses performs to the Pharaoh, demanding the release of his people. They do not end even after the Jews left Egypt. The history of the Jewish people for children (gospel stories) shows them as: the ten plagues of Egypt; the flow of the river before Moses; the fall of manna from heaven; rock splitting and formation of a waterfall in it and much more.

After the release of the Jews from the power of the pharaoh, the lands of Canaan, which were assigned to them by God himself, become their goal. That is where Moses and his followers go.

Education of Israel Moses dies after forty years. Right in front of the walls of Canaan, where he gives his power to Joshua. For seven years, he conquers one Canaanite principality after another. On the occupied land, Israel is formed (translated from Hebrew as “the God-fighter”). Further, the history of the Jewish people tells about the formation of the city - both the capital of the Jewish lands and the center of the world. Such famous personalities as Saul, David, Solomon and many others appear on his throne. A huge temple is erected in it, which the Babylonians destroy and which is restored again after the liberation of the Jews by the wise Persian king Crete. Israel is divided into two states: Judea and Israel, which are subsequently captured and destroyed by the Assyrians and Babylonians.

As a result, several centuries after the conquest of the Canaan lands by Joshua Nun, the Jewish people disperse throughout the earth, having lost their home.

Subsequent tenses After the collapse of the Jewish and Jerusalem states, the history of the Jewish people has several branches. And almost every one of them comes to our times. Perhaps there is not a single side where the Jews went after the loss of the promised land, just as there is not a single country in our time where the Jewish diaspora would not exist.

And in every state met " God's people" differently. If in America they automatically had equal rights with the indigenous population, then closer to the Russian border they were awaited by mass persecution and humiliation. And only in 1948, by the decision of the United Nations, the Jews were returned to their "historical homeland" - Israel

National clothes

The traditional clothing of the Jews is quite colorful, which allows them to stand out from the crowd by dressing in things in the national style.

Like all national costumes, Jewish traditional attire has a rich history.It was created with the expectation that Jews could assimilate in any country. The reason for this desire was the dislike of representatives of many countries for persons of Jewish nationality.The first traditional outfits were created under the influence of the Babylonians. Freed from slavery, the Jews continued to wear two shirts (one linen, the other woolen), a caftan and a wide belt.

During the reign of Solomon, Jewish attire became more luxurious - light airy fabrics were used, costumes were decorated with gold embroidery and precious stones. Noble women liked to weave strings of pearls even into their hairstyles, emphasizing their social position.

But over time, such luxury disappeared from the outfits of ordinary Jews. Traditional clothing has become more restrained, with a lot of attention paid to detail and tothe outfit emphasized the religiosity of a person and his belonging to a particular community.

Jewish culture has always been exclusively urban. Therefore, women did not manufacture the material themselves, but bought it. The materials used are very different, from cheaper to expensive.

Traditionalmen's suit consists of a simple black frock coat and cape.

The Hebrew name for this cape is "tallit katan". This is an integral outfit of the national attire, which is a black fabric rectangle with a slit for the head and special tassels along the edges. Each of them ends with eight threads.

Women's national costume consists of a dress or blouse with a skirt and an apron.. The apron performed not only the function of protection against household dirt, but also protected from the evil eye.

Women's dresses old faith were long and decorated with hand embroidery or lace. The arms were hidden behind long sleeves that tapered to the wrists. In such a dress there was also a stand-up collar, decorated with lace and tightly wrapping around the neck. A leather belt also wrapped around the waist in a tight ring.

Each Jew complements his traditional attire with a headdress.. Sometimes there are even several of them at once - a yarmulke and a “casket” or “dasha” on top of it. "Caskets" appearance resemble caps of the old style and are widespread among Jews living in Russia and Poland.

IN Everyday life a black hat is part of the traditional Jewish costume. This laconic headdress, despite its apparent simplicity, can tell a lot about its owner.

IN modern world traditional Jewish costume is still quite popular. Religious Jews yarmulkes and traditional capes are also used. A full suit is used for various ceremonial events and gatherings.

The traditional Jewish costume is a reflection of all the features of the worldview of this nation. No matter how changeable the world around is, the Jews successfully adapt to the changes in it. So their national clothes, changing depending on the era and habitat, remain unique and not like the costumes of other nationalities.

A national dish

Dishes created by Jewish cuisine can tell about the history, lifestyle, national tastes of the people. Religious customs left a certain mark in Jewish cuisine, which imposed specific restrictions on the selection and mixing of certain types of products. So, neither in dishes nor in the menu can you combine meat and milk. Blood and pork are not allowed to be consumed.

In Jewish cuisine, elements of rational nutrition are also clearly visible. Of the products of animal origin, the most popular are fish and poultry meat, which are products of high nutritional and biological value.

In Jewish cooking, the use of spices is limited both in terms of assortment (onions, garlic, horseradish, dill, black pepper, ginger, cloves, cinnamon) and in quantity. Everything is aimed at preserving the unsharp, natural taste of the dishes. In general, the originality of Jewish cuisine lies in the simple composition of dishes and their quick preparation.

Here is the recipe for one of them:

Traditional Jewish dish - Latkes

Latkes - This is one of the many traditional dishes that are most often prepared for Hanukkah. Abundance on this day for which everyone is preparing , is completely unlimited.

What is the essence of this holiday? According to legend, when the Jews climbed the Temple Mount and cleansed the Temple, they had to consecrate it with a lamp lit with special oil. But when they began to search for oil, they found only one jar, which would have been enough for a single day of burning the lamp. But there was nothing to do, the menorah was still lit, since the Temple needed to be consecrated. And a miracle happened! The golden menorah burned for eight days! That is how long it takes to prepare a new oil. And now the bright holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated for exactly eight days, exactly as long as the miracle lasted.

During this holiday, people light a large number of candles and cook a variety of treats using a large amount of vegetable oil, which we mentioned earlier. One of these treats is just latkes, or pancakes in our opinion. You will learn how to cook a classic Jewish latkes from our recipe, and step-by-step photos will help you visualize the cooking process.

Ingredients:

Potatoes (3 medium tubers);

Onion (1/4 pc.);

Chicken egg (1 pc.);

Flour (1 tablespoon);

Parmesan cheese (1 tablespoon);

Ground black pepper to taste;

Salt (to taste);

Oil for frying.

1. To begin with, we take all the ingredients and lay them out on the table in front of us to make sure that we have not forgotten anything. If everything is in order here, then you can safely proceed to the next step.

2. Take the potatoes and chop on a coarse grater. Onions can be chopped with a blender. Then squeeze out the excess juice from the potatoes. The drier it is, the better.Mix the ingredients shown in the photo below in a convenient bowl.

3. Pour the pan abundantly with vegetable oil. Don't overdo it, latkesshould not be drowned in oil! We heat the pan, then take the potato mass (1-2 tablespoons) and put it in the pan. Using a spatula, flatten the mass and wait until it is fried until golden brown.

5. Now we can remove our dish from the fire, put it on plates and serve it to the table, seasoned with sour cream and without waiting for the latkes to cool down.

It is not so difficult to imagine the way of life of our forefathers, Abraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov - just visit the Bedouin camp somewhere in the Judean Desert. You just need to first ask them to hide the generator and satellite TV dish. We also know the life of the Jews of the era of the Second Temple quite well: the life of this predominantly agricultural population is described in many details in the Talmud. But how was the life of our ancestors organized after the Exodus from Egypt and during the conquest of the Holy Land? When there were no cities and kings yet, and biblical prophets made history.

However, in the books of the prophets Yehoshua and Shmuel, as well as in the book of Judges, there are very few everyday details. Can archeology help us? Both archaeologists and text Holy Scripture united: first, the Jews settled in three mountainous regions of the country - in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley. Politicians who call these lands "occupied territories" probably mean that they were occupied by Jews 35 centuries ago.

Excavations show that around the XV century. BC. most of the towns and cities in these mountains were destroyed, and their population disappeared, although the Canaanites in the valleys and the Philistines by the sea continued to live for centuries. After a hundred years, settlements of a new people began to appear on the site of the destroyed settlements or near them. And it is known about this people that they did not eat pork - usually in Canaanite excavations pork bones make up about a fifth of all bones, not a single one was found in these excavations. And the found remains of dishes were almost identical to those that, several centuries later, would spread in the cities and towns of the Jewish kingdom. So, apparently, these were our ancestors.

The device of their houses was practically standard in all new settlements. When you entered the house, you entered a long open courtyard. There were usually two long rooms in the courtyard. One, closed, served as a kitchen, where they made ceramic dishes for household needs. Another is a covered courtyard where women spun and wove. The bread oven and the hearth for cooking were sometimes in the open, but more often in the covered courtyard. And in the depths there was a fourth room, which served as a bedroom.

Archaeologists have noticed that this absence of internal and passage rooms made it possible to instantly get from the central courtyard to any room and distinguished Jewish houses from other houses of that era. One can see this as an illustration of the greater equality inherent in Judaism.

The floor in the houses was always earthen, and a stone hand roller was an obligatory tool in the house, with which the floor was regularly rammed. The roof of the house also did not go to waste - fruits were dried on it, barrels of wine and oil were stored. Sometimes a small attic was arranged on it.

The settlements of the first centuries also have the usual general plan - a group of houses, similar to the one described, face the entrance to the center. Around a group of houses, as a rule, there was a wall, but not very high. Judging by its appearance, it was not so much a defensive wall as a pen in which cattle could be gathered for the night.

Interestingly, the described plan of the house was for some reason so important to our ancestors that they continued to use it even after several centuries - until the Babylonian captivity. However, in the beginning all the houses were on the same face, and it is absolutely impossible to identify the houses of the leaders or rulers, and in the time of the kingdom we already see houses big and small, rich and poor.

Naturally, there have been other changes over time. For example, for the first few hundred years, we do not find any written language among the Jews - unlike many neighbors. Only with the establishment of a firm central authority did literacy begin to spread among the people. For the manufacture of tools and weapons in the first centuries, the Jews used almost exclusively bronze, and only seven percent of the tools found were iron. By the time the kingdom was created, iron tools were already replacing bronze ones.

I have already started writing this article, when in the territory of our village Nokdim, located on the edge of the Judean Desert, archaeologists unearthed a small farm of almost those times - 8 or 7 centuries BC. And they found the same plan of a house with a warehouse and a corral for livestock. Archaeologists are sure that this was the only settlement on this hill - from the dawn of time to the founding of our village about forty years ago.

We stood on a hill and imagined their life: several houses, sheep in a paddock, a fire in the hearth. And around - a deserted desert for many kilometers, only to the west was a small city of those times - Tkoa. It seems that our ancestors lived in such lonely farms in the times described.

The prophet Amos in the first words of his book introduces himself: "The words of Amos, who was one of the shepherds in Tkoa." If not right on this, then on exactly the same farm, a great prophet grew up, at first predicting terrible punishments for injustice, but ending with words that now sound so good on the hills of Judea and Samaria: “And I will bring back the exiles of my people Israel, and They will rebuild deserted cities, and dwell in them, and plant vineyards, and drink wine from them, and plant gardens, and eat their fruits. And I will plant them in their land, and they will no longer be uprooted from their land which I have given them," he said. Lord Gd is yours".

Judaism as a way of life needs ritual. For Jews, any ritual reminds of what place God occupies in his life. Religious practice is seen as a discipline that contributes to the improvement of the character of everyone, as a form of instruction. It gives the Jew the opportunity to relive the experience of his people and thereby strengthens his devotion; it is a way for the survival of the people and the preservation of the faith.

Prayer. The Jew is obliged to pray daily, three times a day. His prayers are supposed to be moral and not hostile to the interests of others. Prayer should be done in deep concentration, self-absorption. It is preferable to pray in a synagogue, as public prayer is more effective.

Food prohibitions are considered part of a special code of holiness that applies only to the Jewish people. They are not seen as desirable or obligatory for all mankind.

Holidays. Major holidays and sacred days include Shabbat (Saturday), a weekly rest day commemorating the creation of the world and the Exodus from Egypt; Rosh Hashanah ( New Year), the anniversary of the creation of the world and the day of spiritual and moral renewal; Yom Kippur (Judgment Day), the day of repentance and return to God through spiritual renewal and good deeds; Sukkot (Tabernacles), nine days (in Israel and the reformists eight), dedicated to the harvest of the autumn harvest and reminiscent of wanderings in the desert, the last day of the holiday - Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah); Pesach (Easter), which marks the onset of spring and liberation from Egyptian slavery; Shavuot (Pentecost), partly an agricultural holiday, but primarily a commemoration of the day when Moses received the Torah at Mount Sinai; Hanukkah (the Feast of Sanctification, or Lights), celebrated in honor of the victory of the Maccabees over the troops of Antiochus Epiphanes, as a result of which the Jews achieved freedom professing one's religion; Purim (the feast of Zhrebiev, or Esther), in commemoration of the defeat of Haman, who plotted to destroy the Jews; Tisha B'Av (Ninth Av), a day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

Rites of birth and coming of age. When a male baby is born, the foreskin is cut off so that the union-agreement with God is marked with a sign on the body. Boys are named when they are circumcised. Girls are given a name in the synagogue. The rite of redemption of first-born boys is carried out on the thirtieth day after birth. In connection with the beginning of the education of children, initiatory rites are performed. Upon reaching the age of 13, boys (and in conservative and some Reform communities also girls) participate in a bar mitzvah ceremony (for girls, a bat mitzvah), allowing them to enter the community of Israel as full members, responsible for their actions. In the 19th century in conservative and reformist communities, a confirmation ceremony was introduced for boys and girls, usually performed on the day of Shavuot.

Marriage ceremony. First, there is a solemn betrothal (engagement). Then, on the Saturday preceding the wedding, the groom is invited to the synagogue to read the Torah (not usually practiced in Reform communities). During the wedding ceremony, the bride and groom stand under a chuppah - a canopy (this is not always the case with reformists). Standing under the chuppah, the bride and groom sip wine from the same glass. The groom puts on the ring forefinger bride and pronounces an ancient formula proclaiming that a man takes a woman as his wife. Seven blessings are pronounced to the glory of God (the reformists have one). In memory of the destruction of the Temple, the groom breaks the glass from which he and his bride drank wine (this is not done in reformist communities). The final blessing is accepted by the reformists. In Orthodox communities, the marriage contract (ketubba) is also read out at the ceremony.

Funeral ritual. Before death, the dying confesses. Relatives of the deceased tear their clothes off (this custom is common among the Orthodox). A candle is lit in memory of the deceased. The body of the deceased is dressed in a white shroud (among the orthodox). During the burial, the Kaddish is read, a prayer glorifying God and expressing readiness to accept his will. Deep mourning lasts a week, during which the mourners do not leave the house (for the reformists this period is shorter). The mourners read the Kaddish in the synagogue for eleven months. After a year, a tombstone is placed on the grave. The anniversary of death (“Yortsayt”) is celebrated by lighting a memorial candle and reading “Kaddish”. On the holidays of Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot, they perform a memorial service, during which they read the Yizkor memorial prayer.

Who is rich? "... The one whose wife is affectionate and kind"

The Brit Chadasha (New Testament) says: “So husbands should love their wives as their bodies: he who loves his wife loves himself.” (Eph. 5:28)
In Jewish tradition, love and respect for a wife plays a big role. The Talmud says that a husband should love his wife as himself, and respect more than himself (Yevamot, 62b, Sanhedrin, 76b).

"" "A man should eat and drink less than his means allow; dress as his means allow; respect his wife and children more than his means allow" (Khulin, 846). This means that a man must make every effort (even to the detriment of his own needs) to ensure that his wife and children receive everything they need.
"In domestic affairs... a man must follow his wife's advice..." (Bava Metzia, 59a). "A man should be kind and picky in his house" (Bemidbar Rabbah, 89). "Who is rich?"<...>Rabbi Akiva said: "He whose wife is tender and kind" (Shabbat 25b).
"(Chaim Donin. Being a Jew. Chapter 7. Family life: the key to happiness http://www.istok.ru/jews-n-world/Donin/Donin_7.shtml)

The role of marriage

In Jewish tradition, marriage plays an important role. "According to the Jewish conception, a relationship similar to the relationship between a man and Gd is the marriage union between a man and a woman. "If a husband and wife deserve it, God's Presence abides with them" (Sotah 17a). "Man cannot live without wife, a woman cannot live without a husband, and two cannot live without the presence of G‑d" (Berakhot 9:1)" (http://members.aol.com/Agunah/marriage.htm)
When there are good relationships in the family, there is a balance between self-interest and the interests of the spouse. We see a great example in the Jewish tradition. Three well-known questions

Hillel:
"If I am not for myself, who is for me?
And if I'm only for myself, then who am I?
And if not now, then when?" (William Berkson. Jewish Family Values ​​Today http://mentsh.com/PDFwebfiles/Jewish_Family_Values_Today.pdf)
Rambam said: "Know that the act of union (marriage - approx. V.N.) is pure and sacred, if carried out properly, at the right time and with the right intentions." ((Rambam, Igeret ha-Kodesh). Quoted from: Teila Abramov. The secret of Jewish femininity. Israel, p.24)

Prayer for children
Hana Sarah Radcliffe in the article "Being Jewish parents - what does it mean?" quotes a prayer for children, which was compiled by Chazon Ish:
"May it be Your will, Hashem, our Gd, to take pity on my child (name), to incline his heart to love You, and to fear of You, and to the desire to work diligently on Your Torah. Remove all obstacles from his path who can break this desire, and make sure that everything and everything on this path brings it closer to Your Holy Torah." (Chazon Ish, Kovets Igrot N 74. Quoted from: Khana Sarah Redcliffe "Being Jewish parents - what does it mean?" http://toldot.ru/rus_articles.php?art_id=1084)

About education
Below are some important parenting tips from the Tanakh ( Old Testament), Brit Hadash (New Testament) and other sources.
“Instruct the young man at the beginning of his path: he will not deviate from it when he is old.” (Prov. 22:6) “And you fathers, do not provoke your children, but bring them up in the teaching and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)
"What a child says on the street, he hears at home." (Sukkah 65b. Quoted from: Hana Sarah Radcliffe. "Love and power in Jewish education. Purity of speech." http://toldot.ru/rus_articles.php?art_id=1046)
"Rabbi Yehuda said: Whoever does not teach his son a craft or profession, teaches him theft. (Kiddushin 29a. Quoted from: Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. "Jewish Wisdom", Rostov-on-Don, 2001, p.143).
"You cannot promise something to a child and then not give it to him, because as a result the child will learn to lie." ).
"Yehuda ben Teima said: "Be bold as a tiger, and swift as an eagle, swift as a deer, and mighty as a lion, doing the will of your Father in heaven." (Pirke Avot, 5:20 http://www.chassidus.ru/ library/avot/5.htm)

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Girsh says: “You, who are entrusted with the nurturing of young minds, first of all take care that children treat both the smallest and the largest living creature with respect and care. Let the children remember that all living beings like a man, created to enjoy life. They, too, are given to feel pain and suffering. Do not forget - a boy who enthusiastically, with cruel indifference, watches a wounded bug or an animal rushing about in agony, will be deaf and to human pain." (Rabbi Shimshon Refael Girsh, Horev p. 293. Quoted from: Hana Sarah Radcliffe. Love and power in Jewish education. Education and love for all the creatures of the Almighty. http://toldot.ru/rus_articles.php?art_id= 1034)

""The fundamental principle in raising children is" left hand(i.e. discipline) repels, and right hand(i.e., love and kindness) brings you closer. "But, despite the fact that the words about the" left hand "come first, the" right hand "is more important than the left, because it gives the child the necessary feeling that he is loved. The child will obey discipline, only if it is based on love, because then he understands that strictness is for his own good, because his parents love him and try to help him improve his behavior. "" (Rabbi Yoel Schwartz, The Eternity of the Jewish Home. Jerusalem, Jerusalem Academy Publications , 1982. Quoted from: Hana Sarah Radcliffe "Love and power in Jewish education. To gain authority" http://toldot.ru/rus_articles.php?art_id=789)

"Let the honor of other people be as important to you as your own," says the Pirkei Avot ("Teachings of the Fathers"). In Judaism, actions are important, and parents can show this in practice. Two challahs on the table on Shabbat can serve as a good example for us. Why do we cover these challahs with a napkin while saying kiddush? "Bread is a symbol of sustenance, and with a blessing over bread, an ordinary, everyday meal begins. On Shabbat, the first blessing is supposed to be pronounced not over bread, but over wine. Therefore, a custom has been established: before kiddush, cover Shabbat challah with a napkin so as not to "offend the bread." ( Shabbat: An Island of Peace, Jerusalem, 1993, p.30)
If we have such a pity for bread, then all the more we need to have such feelings towards people! (HELEN MINTZ BELITSKY. Beginning at Home: Raising Menshes http://www.socialaction.com/families/Beginning_at_Home.shtml)

"Nobody got cut?"
Hana Sarah Radcliffe writes:
"... I will give an example of the patience and perseverance shown by Sarah Schnirer, the founder of the Beit Yaakov movement. Many stories about her indicate that she embodied the ideal of a person who lives according to the Torah. Classes and living rooms in Sarah Schnirer's seminar were overcrowded to the limit. They were separated by a glass door. One day, in a carefree hurry, the girl moved the bed against the door and broke the glass. Everyone became nervous: what would the teacher say? After all, glass is expensive, and the school was constantly in need of money! Sarah Schnierer came in and quietly asked: "No one cut yourself?" Making sure that everyone was safe and sound, she calmly swept the pieces. And no reproaches, distressed exclamations! But the repair was worth it. big money and it could have been easily avoided." (Hana Sarah Radcliffe. "Emotional Training for Parents" http://toldot.ru/rus_articles.php?art_id=806)

"Our leg hurts"
Rabbi Moshe Pantelyat cites such an interesting case: “They say about the Jerusalem righteous Rabbi Arya Levin that he once brought his wife to the doctor. When asked what was bothering her, he replied: “Our leg hurts.” it was the most ordinary phrase that expressed the actual state of affairs: he felt the pain of his wife as his own, because over the decades of living together he managed to unite with her into one whole.At this level, the commandment "Love your neighbor as yourself" is fulfilled literally, because there is no wall between a person and those who are closest to him." (R. Moshe Pantelyat. "Jewish marriage" http://toldot.ru/rus_articles.php?art_id=1082)
Ritual Purity
How wonderfully Rabbi Elazar talks about how a woman is renewed after a mikveh: “Every month a woman is renewed by dipping into a mikveh and returns to her husband as desirable as on her wedding day. Just like the moon is renewed every Rosh Chodesh (new moon), and everyone is waiting for her appearance, so the woman is renewed every month, and the husband is waiting for her. And she is loved like a newlywed." (Pirkey de Rabbi Elazar. Quoted from: Teila Abramov. The Secret of Jewish Femininity. Israel, p.107)

The secret of shalom bay (family peace)
"Shalom Bait" (peace in the home) is the ideal standard for Jewish family. That is why traditional Jewish marriage is characterized by peace, respect, care for each other. In Jewish tradition, marriage is made in heaven. The marriage ceremony is called kiddushin ("consecration" or "initiation"). Husband and wife understand that they are God's creations and should treat each other as saints, build a family on the basis of love, respect and justice. (http://members.aol.com/Agunah/marriage.htm)
"In one of the wonderful teachings of our sages, the secret of shalom bayt (family peace) is briefly formulated: you will be haughty before him, then he will rule over you as a master and perceive you as a servant.”
“Rabbi Yosi said: “... I called my wife “my house”, and I called my house “my wife” (Gitin 52a). ?art_id=228)
Vladislav NAGIRNER.

Consent and blessing of parents to the marriage of their children
Here is an example from Scripture when children asked for parental consent for their marriage:
“And Samson went to Timnah and saw in Timnath a woman from the daughters of the Philistines. He went and announced to his father and his mother and said, I saw in Timnath a woman from the daughters of the Philistines; take her to be my wife." (Judg. 14:1-2)

What do you do if your parents don't agree?
“If someone seduces an unmarried maiden and sleeps with her, let him give her a vein [and take her] to his wife; and if the father does not agree to marry her to him, let him pay [as much] silver as [relies] on the vein of the maidens.” (Ex. 22:16-17)
"The consent and blessing of the parents was considered a prerequisite happy marriage(compare the words "were a burden" in Genesis 26:35, which says that the choice of the bride was made without the consent of the parents)."" (Brockhaus Bible Encyclopedia, Germany, 1999, p.107).
“And Esau was forty years old, and took to wife Judith the daughter of Beer the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite; and they were a burden to Isaac and Rebekah.” (Gen. 26:34-35)

More about parental blessings:
“And Abraham said to his servant, the eldest in his house, who was in charge of all that he had: put your hand under my thigh and swear to me by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take my son a wife from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I live, but you will go to my land, to my homeland, and you will take a wife for my son Isaac.” (Gen. 24:2-4)
“And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and commanded him, and said, Thou shalt not take a wife for thee from the daughters of Canaan; Arise, go to Mesopotamia, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take a wife from there, from the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother; (Gen. 28:1-2)
“And Caleb said: whoever strikes Kiriath-Sefer and takes him, to him I will give Achsa my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz the brother of Caleb took him, and he gave him Achsa his daughter to wife. When it was time for her to go, she was taught to ask her father for her field, and she got off the donkey. Caleb said to her, What do you want? She said: give me a blessing; you gave me the land of noon, give me springs of water also. And he gave her the springs above and the springs below. (Jesus 15:16-19)

“The appointed days had not yet passed, when David arose and went himself and his people with him, and killed two hundred people of the Philistines, and David brought their circumcisions, and presented them in full to the king to become the son-in-law of the king. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter in marriage.” (1 Samuel 18:27)

Like any people, the Jewish people have their own traditions and customs. Israel is an amazing country where peoples live different countries world and nationalities, and where the traditions of the Jewish people are closely intertwined with the traditions of representatives of other nationalities who migrated to Israel. It is because of the mixing of races and mentalities that Jews try to live strictly following the customs and traditions of their people.

Jewish holidays

In Israel, customs and traditions are celebrated that are unique to the Jewish people.

The most famous Jewish traditions.

1. Pesach - Jewish Passover, when instead of traditional Orthodox Easter cakes, Jews bake unleavened flat cakes (matzo).
2. Hanukkah, which is celebrated in November-December. On this holiday, special candles are lit, which are placed in nine-candlesticks (hanukkah or minori).
3. On the holiday of Purim, which is celebrated in February, everyone tries to do charity work and arrange a generous treat with poppy seed pies and strong alcohol, which are obligatory for the festive table.
4. Yom Kippur is the holiest holiday for the Jews, when they fast and pray for 25 hours without washing or wearing genuine leather shoes. This day is called the "Day of Atonement" and it ends with a lingering sound from a ram's horn.

This is one of the most ancient Jewish rituals. More recently, the wedding took place with the help of a matchmaker, who, at the request of the parents, looked for and connected suitable candidates for brides and grooms. Today, only members of the ultra-orthodox community use the services of a matchmaker.

Pre-wedding chores and customs

Today it doesn’t matter how the couple was formed, it is important that the potential groom ask the bride’s hands from her father. The groom must confirm the seriousness of his intentions with a solid ransom, which he gives for the bride. The wedding ceremony is preceded by an engagement (tenaim), on which a plate is broken, which means the ruins of the destroyed temples in holy Jerusalem. This tradition encourages everyone to remember the suffering and loss of the Jewish people. They also break a plate at a wedding ceremony.

Jewish wedding time

You can celebrate the wedding on any day, except for the day of Shabbat, which begins on Friday evening and ends on Saturday evening. Weddings are not held on Jewish holidays either.

When is the most auspicious time for Jewish weddings?

The most unfavorable time for a wedding is considered to be between Pesach and Shavuot. During this period, it was the most difficult in the life of the ancient Jews, therefore, no entertainment events are held these days.

Today's Jewish youth do not adhere to this tradition, which Orthodox Jews continue to honor.

Herself wedding ceremony starts a week before the appointed day and is considered the most delightful time for the bride and groom.

A party (ufruf) is organized for the groom, when the groom must go to the synagogue for prayer. After the prayer service, the groom informs his relatives and friends about the upcoming wedding, and they shower the groom with sweets and sweets and offer to drink wine.

For the bride, another ceremony is performed. The bride is taken to a special pool (mikveh), where she undergoes a rite of spiritual purification, according to which she must enter into family life spiritually and physically cleansed. To do this, the bride must remove all jewelry, remove nail polish, get naked and enter the water, saying a prayer of purification. The rite takes place under the vigilant supervision of older women who monitor the correct execution of the rite.

Advice

According to ancient Jewish tradition, the bride and groom should not see each other before the wedding, but today the majority of Jewish youth neglect this prohibition. If you want to have a real Jewish wedding, keep this in mind.

Husband and wife

The bride and groom are married under a special canopy (chuppah) - this is another ancient wedding tradition. Usually the marriage ceremony is held in the synagogue, but there are no strict rules on this. The marriage ceremony opens with the signing of the ketuba by the bride and groom - a kind of Jewish marriage contract, in which a separate clause (get) spells out the husband's right to give his wife a divorce if she asks him about it. If the couple breaks up, then the man does not have the right to challenge this get. According to the customs of the Jewish people, if a woman was not given a get, then she does not have the right to remarry. Jews are very sensitive to the family, so divorces are very rare among Jews.