The Rites of Passage Within Judaism

The Rites of Passage Within Judaism

(a) Examine the rituals and teachings which are associated with

circumcision and Bar Mitzvah

(20 marks)

Two very important rites of passage within Judaism are circumcision

and Bar Mitzvah, both of which are only for boys and happen during

childhood. Circumcision, also known as Brit Millah, symbolizes the

covenant between God and the Jewish people, which was agreed with

Abraham. In return for Jewish people physically showing their Jewish

faith through being circumcised, God agreed to protect them, as they

were the chosen race, and lead them to the Holy Land where they could

create a great nation. This is instructed in Genesis 17:9-12, "And G-d

spoke to Abraham saying: ...This is my covenant which you shall keep

between Me and you and thy seed after you -every male child among you

shall be circumcised." Unless there are medical implications, the

child is circumcision is performed when the boy is 8 days old and only

in daylight hours. This includes all days, however, if the baby was

born by caesarean section, it may not take place on the Sabbath or a

Jewish holiday and usually takes place in a synagogue or the home. The

circumcision is performed by a mohel who has been specially trained.

The baby is carried into the room by the kvatter and kvatterin, who

are the Jewish equivalent of godparents, and upon entering the room

the guests say, ‘Blessed is he who comes.’ Women are not permitted to

be present in the room during the ceremony. Once the mohel has been

passed the child, he momentarily places it on an empty chair whilst

the mohel says a prayer to ask God to watch over the child during the

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...ied. However, the

most important thing is to build new hope for the future and make the

Jews stronger so that such a thing is prevented from ever happening

again. Ezekiel 37 talks of resurrection and hope for a new life in the

future, which can be applied to the Jews new life, after the holocaust

had taken place. Two more types of Jew were also created as a result

of the holocaust, as previously most were orthodox but now, reform and

liberal Jews are both common.

None of the views from Jewish theologians can be judged right or

wrong, because nobody is certain even whether God exists, let alone

his apparent reasoning behind things that happen. Therefore, although

some views can be assessed as more believable than others, it is up to

the individual what they believe to have happened to let the holocaust

take place.