Judaism: Practices | OCR GCSE Religious Studies (J625)
Judaism: Practices
- 176 questions
- 14 subtopics
- Group 1 papers
- Group 1 papers
Judaism: Practices is examined in Component Group 1, the Judaism beliefs and teachings & practices paper (J625/03), if Judaism is one of the two religions studied.
It covers the synagogue: design, features and the Temple, synagogue services and worship in the Jewish home, Jewish public prayer and the Amidah, Jewish private prayer, the Shema and blessings at home, the Tenakh, the Talmud and Jewish law, Shabbat in the Jewish home and synagogue, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Pesach and the Seder, Shavuot, Sukkot, Hanukkah and the Jewish calendar, kashrut: the Jewish dietary laws, Jewish birth ceremonies and Brit Milah, Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Bat Chayil, Kiddushin and the Jewish wedding and Jewish burial and mourning rites.
Sample questions from Judaism: Practices
Answer each one closed book first, then open the answer.
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The synagogue: design, features and the Temple
How does the position of the Bimah differ between Jewish groups?
Show the answer
Orthodox synagogues usually place the Bimah in the centre of the prayer hall. Many Reform and Liberal synagogues place it at the front, near the Ark. -
Synagogue services and worship in the Jewish home
What role does the synagogue play in the Jewish community?
Show the answer
The synagogue is a centre for education, charity and social events as well as worship. Synagogues run Hebrew classes, celebrate life events and support the bereaved. -
Jewish private prayer, the Shema and blessings at home
Why is Deuteronomy 6:4 significant for Jewish prayer?
Show the answer
The verse states that G-d is One, the heart of Jewish belief. Jews cover their eyes while reciting it to concentrate fully. -
The Tenakh, the Talmud and Jewish law
How are the Ketuvim used in public and private worship?
Show the answer
The five scrolls of the Ketuvim are read at festivals, such as Esther at Purim and Ruth at Shavuot. Many Jews recite Psalms privately in times of trouble. -
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
What symbolic foods are eaten at Rosh Hashanah?
Show the answer
Apple dipped in honey expresses hope for a sweet new year. Round challah stands for the cycle of the year, and pomegranate seeds for many good deeds. -
Pesach and the Seder
What foods are on the Seder plate, and what do they symbolise?
Show the answer
Maror, the bitter herbs, recalls the bitterness of slavery, and charoset recalls the mortar used by slaves. Salt water recalls tears, and the shank bone recalls the Pesach lamb. -
Kashrut: the Jewish dietary laws
What rules apply to fruit and vegetables?
Show the answer
All fruit and vegetables are kosher. Leafy vegetables must be checked carefully for insects, which are forbidden. -
Jewish birth ceremonies and Brit Milah
Why is a chair set aside for Elijah at a Brit Milah?
Show the answer
Elijah is called the angel of the covenant and is believed to attend every circumcision. The empty chair honours his presence.
The 14 subtopics
One subtopic is one session. Work down the list.
| Subtopic | What it covers | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| The synagogue: design, features and the Temple | The three Hebrew names of the synagogue, the Ark, the Bimah and its position, the Ner Tamid, the absence of images, the Mikveh, Ezekiel 11:16, and Orthodox, Reform and Liberal seating. | 13 |
| Synagogue services and worship in the Jewish home | The weekday morning service, the minyan, the Torah reading and Haftarah on Shabbat, the sermon and the chazan, the use of Hebrew, the synagogue's community role, and how a home is marked for worship. | 12 |
| Jewish public prayer and the Amidah | How the Amidah is recited and its three sections, the three daily prayer times, the direction faced in prayer, the four purposes of prayer, confession, and why communal prayer is valued. | 11 |
| Jewish private prayer, the Shema and blessings at home | Spontaneous prayer, when the Shema is said, Grace after meals and blessings before food, teaching children to pray, the tallit, tefillin and kippah, and differing views on dress for prayer. | 13 |
| The Tenakh, the Talmud and Jewish law | The Neviim and Ketuvim, a Chumash and a Sefer Torah and how a scroll is made, the compiling of the Mishnah, the Talmud's use alongside the Torah, Deuteronomy 10:12–13, and Orthodox and Reform views. | 13 |
| Shabbat in the Jewish home and synagogue | Its origins in Genesis 2 and Exodus 20, forbidden work, preparing the home, candles and Kiddush, the two challah loaves, synagogue services, Havdalah, and modern disputes over what is prohibited. | 13 |
| Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur | Numbers 29:1, Teshuva, the shofar, symbolic foods and Tashlich, the Book of Life, Leviticus 16:29 and the rules of the fast, Kapparah, and the Neilah service. | 13 |
| Pesach and the Seder | The Pilgrim Festivals, the commands of Exodus 12, chametz and how it is cleared from the home, matzah, the Seder plate and its symbols, the children's part in the meal, and how groups keep Pesach. | 12 |
| Shavuot, Sukkot, Hanukkah and the Jewish calendar | The Leviticus 23 commands, building and using a sukkah, the four species and rabbinic readings of them, the origins and celebration of Hanukkah, and why festival dates cause difficulty in Britain. | 13 |
| Kashrut: the Jewish dietary laws | Kosher and terefah, the animals of Leviticus 11, fish, poultry and produce, shechita, Leviticus 7:26–27, keeping meat and milk apart in the kitchen, when the laws may be broken, and food prepared by non-Jews. | 13 |
| Jewish birth ceremonies and Brit Milah | Welcoming a baby girl, the circumcision ceremony and the covenant with Abraham, the Mohel, the Sandek and the father, Pidyon Haben, Elijah's chair, and reasons for delaying the ceremony. | 13 |
| Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Bat Chayil | Preparing for a Bar Mitzvah and the service itself, the father's words, what changes afterwards, Reform and Liberal Bat Mitzvah, Orthodox practice for girls, the first public Bat Mitzvah, and Kabbalat Torah. | 13 |
| Kiddushin and the Jewish wedding | The Ketubah, the Huppah and its symbolism, wine and the ring, the seven blessings, breaking the glass, the bedeken, Genesis 2:24, women's roles, and when weddings are not held. | 12 |
| Jewish burial and mourning rites | How quickly burial follows death, preparing the body and the plain coffin, tearing clothes, the graveside, Kaddish and how long it is said, shiva and sheloshim, cremation, and the stone setting. | 12 |
How the guide is worked
Answering a question from memory stores it far better than reading the answer again. The guide runs that as a fixed procedure on one subtopic at a time, about twenty minutes a session.
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Step 1 · Closed book
Cover the answers. Work through one subtopic and write down what you can. Leave blanks where you have nothing.
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Step 2 · Open book
Go back to the top. Read each printed answer and write it out in full, including the ones you had right.
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Step 3 · Closed book again
Same questions, same order, from memory. The gap between pass one and pass three is the session result.
Read the full method, the return schedule and the research behind it.
Nearby topics
OCR GCSE Religious Studies Active Recall Guide
Every topic, not just this one. 2,800 questions with their answers.