Jewish/Buddhism rituals

Jewish/Buddhism rituals

Rituals of Jewish religion

Rites of passage in Jewish religion

Like all religions, children birth is considered as an especial occasion in Jewish religion and is celebrated with passion as described in Torah “Be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28). The birth of a male child is termed as “Male circumcision” is celebrated by majority of people and in Judaism; religion people celebrate it according to the instruction of Divine.

Circumcision is the first ritual of child life as described in Torah that generally shows the obligation made by Jewish people to the divine. Further, this ritual is being celebrated just after the birth of the child, and in this, all the family and friends are invited to offer prayers and gives blessing to the newborn child (Fine, 2002).

On the other hand, the birth of the daughter in Jewish family is being celebrated by the father after reciting the Torah on first Monday or Thursday that fall after the birth of the daughter. Further, the birth of the daughter is considered as a blessing for the family and on that, this name is announced mostly by the father of the family.

Bar mitzvah

This ritual is described as 'son of the mitzvoth' (commandements). It is not imperative to celebrate this ritual however, it is observed as soon as the boy turns to 13 years of old, and after this age the child is bound to obey and live his life according to the instructions described in Torah. Among all responsibilities, his major obligation is towards his personal live and it is his honored to be called to recite Torah in religious festivals (Geffen, 2005).

Bat Mitzvah

Like young man-child, “The Bat Mitzvah” ritual an innovation in the religion of Jewish for girls, that is celebrated in different ways and in different places. Generally it has been observed as girls become sensible and mature way before their sex counterpart and hence is observed when girls reaches twelve years of age.

Moreover, it has been described that ritual of girls is almost identical in certain aspects to boy's ritual as like boys reciting of Torah in the temple on the month of Sabbath. However, the reciting of Torah in the temple by girls is not appreciated by Jewish authorities and law, but majority of conventional people has presented several solutions to these problems as by dividing the temple is to portions and allowing girls to recite similar portion of Torah in women's gathering. On the other hand, girls can recite similar reading of Torah on another day without being formally blessed.

Jewish public festivals

After discussing the personal ritual, this section will cover the public festivals that are commonly celebrated by Jewish people (Fishman, 2005).

Shabbatthis ritual is celebrated on the weekdays' normally on Saturday. Normally people celebrate this day by staying at home with family or friends, transport is being suspended, public and private business are close, and other essential needs of live are constricted and government tries to grant leaves to soldiers if ...