Anybody practice Judaism here? Please answer this if so.

[pips]

Hey. I have a final project to do in my religions class that is due Sunday of next week (a rough draft due Friday). I have to compare my religion (Christianity) with another, and I chose Judaism. Part of the paper has to be from answers from an interview with a person of the religion I am comparing. I am kind of cheating or something and asking if any of you practice Judaism and are willing to answer any of these questions. Any help would be appreciated. I have a decent understanding of Judaism, but please explain any of your answers if you feel that a person not so familiar wouldn't understand. Thanks!

1. What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion, and what are they celebrated or practiced for?
2. How has religion shaped your life?
3. What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?
4. What are the important documents used regularly for this religion, and what are they used for?
5. How often do you or a typical Jewish person worship a week?
6. How does a typical worship go about?
7. What are the special aspects of a synagogue? Altar? Flowers? Decoration? Special rooms? Things like that.
8. Are there any restrictions on things you can and cannot do, or are there any mandatory things you must do? If so, what are they?
9. Is Israel any different than practicing Judaism here? Explain.
10. I am comparing Judaism with Christianity for my final project: does Judaism recognize Christ as anybody important, just not the Messiah? Does Judaism recognize anyone else as very important? If so, who?
11. Is there anything else important you would like to add?

[Bringerofpie]

1. What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion, and what are they celebrated or practiced for?

Yom Kippur=Day of Atonement (literally)
Rosh Hashana=New Year (Literally: head of the year)
Passover (Pesach)=Freedom from slavery in Egypt

2. How has religion shaped your life?

Feeling of community?

3. What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?

Fasting on Yom Kippur (I don't believe in it)

4. What are the important documents used regularly for this religion, and what are they used for?

Torah=holy book (bible)

5. How often do you or a typical Jewish person worship a week?

0-7

6. How does a typical worship go about?

Pass?

7. What are the special aspects of a synagogue? Altar? Flowers? Decoration? Special rooms? Things like that.

Aron Kodesh (holy arc) to hold the torah
Neir Tamid (eternal flame)

8. Are there any restrictions on things you can and cannot do, or are there any mandatory things you must do? If so, what are they?

No pork, shelfish, milk and meat, driving on sabbath
You must do a whole slew of crazy shit.

9. Is Israel any different than practicing Judaism here? Explain.

Pass

10. I am comparing Judaism with Christianity for my final project: does Judaism recognize Christ as anybody important, just not the Messiah? Does Judaism recognize anyone else as very important? If so, who?

"We believe that robot Jesus existed and that he was a very well programmed robot, but he was not the messiah."
There are the prophets (Samuel, King David, Samuel, etc.)
We also have Isaac, Jacob, Abraham
When Elija the prophet comes back, he'll be the messiah (supposedly)

11. Is there anything else important you would like to add?

No?

PM if you have any more questions.

[Guest_1]

1. What are the important holidays and traditions of this religion, and what are they celebrated or practiced for? The super major ones are Rosh Hashana is the day of judgement, Yom Kippur it is sealed, and Passover is the exodus of Egypt. There is over one holiday a month, actually. Shabbat (the day of rest) is an important tradition.
2. How has religion shaped your life? It has given me instructions on how to live a life more focused on pleasure instead of just going through the motions.
3. What are the challenges, if any, to practicing this particular religion?
Staying connected. It's easy to just get into the motions.
4. What are the important documents used regularly for this religion, and what are they used for? Torah and Talmud

5. How often do you or a typical Jewish person worship a week? It depends on the person. Men are supposed to three times a day.
6. How does a typical worship go about? On a good day? There's ten men together with structured prayer.
7. What are the special aspects of a synagogue? Altar? Flowers? Decoration? Special rooms? Things like that.
8. Are there any restrictions on things you can and cannot do, or are there any mandatory things you must do? If so, what are they? 365 negative commandments like the number of days in the solar year, and 248 positive commandments „
—Talmud, tractate Makkoth, 23b

9. Is Israel any different than practicing Judaism here? Explain. Yes. In Jerusalem is sooo much easier. It's like trying to play footbag here and getting support from strangers and playing at worlds and getting support from people you don't know, but are BAP.
10. I am comparing Judaism with Christianity for my final project: does Judaism recognize Christ as anybody important, just not the Messiah? No. In fact he's seen as a false prophet who tried to steer people away from their faith.
Does Judaism recognize anyone else as very important? What do you mean by this?
11. Is there anything else important you would like to add? I'm not knowledgeable enough to be answering these questions adequately enough for you, so I hoped I helped.

[pips]

Saweet! I just got my grade back from this paper, and I got a 100! Thanks to both of you for helping me out. It really helped.

[Bringerofpie]

Jews value education above any other Jewish law. Even Jew-Quakers, like myself.