RELI 216 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Modern Orthodox Judaism, Jewish Wedding, Mishnah
7 Apr 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Jewish identity exists as a mixture of religious, national, and ethnic identity. Fundamentally, the jewish community is defined by its participation in a unique covenant with the divine. This covenant was initially made with specific groups, the tribes of israel; jewish identity also denotes physical descent from this particular group of people. There are four major rites of passage practiced in judaism: the first is the brit milah (ritual circumcision) of male children, which takes place eight days after their birth. Marriage in judaism represents the ideal state for mature adults and so this ceremony is extremely important in families and communities. The body is washed, purified and dressed for burial. The close relatives of the deceased are exempt for many of the regular observances of judaism, as they are expected to be in a deep state of mourning. After prayer and a eulogy, the body is escorted to the burial grounds.
