BARMITZVAH TEST SYLLABUS

Boys will sit a written test one to two weeks before the actual barmitzvah. If necessary, they may sit an oral test, at the
discretion of the Shul. The pass mark is 60%. Boys will need to know the following:
1. The Laws and Customs as presented in this syllabus.
2. The basic geography of the Siddur. Barmitzvah boys will be given a Siddur and will be required to find certain prayers and
blessings, including the following:
 All the prayers said at the Breakfast Minyan.
 From Shacharit: Tachanun (Artscroll p.124) and Shir shel Yom (p.162).
 From Mincha: Ashrei (p.232), the Amidah (p.234), Tachanun (p.250) and Aleinu (p.252).
 From Maariv: Barchu (p.256), Shema (p.258), the Amidah (p.266) and Aleinu (p.280).
 From Shabbat: the start of the Kabbalat Shabbat service (p.308), Lecha Dodi (p.316), Shacharit Amidah (p.420), Musaf
(p.462), Mincha (p.502), and Havdalah (p.618).
 From Yom Tov: the Shacharit Amidah (p.660) and Musaf (p.674).
3. How to put on Tallit and Tefillin and say the appropriate brachot: boys must have their own Tallit and Tefillin.
4. The name of their Barmitzvah Sedra and the general contents of their Aliyah.
5. Their full Hebrew name (e.g. Yaakov ben Yitzchak).

NOTE:
a) All brachot start with the Hebrew words - Baruch ata A-donai E-loheinu melech ha-olam... - which means - Blessed are
you, L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe...
b) Brachot that relate to the performance of a mitzvah then continue with the words - asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu... -
Who sanctified us with His commandments and instructed us to...
c) In the sections that follow, the first part of the bracha will be shown by - Baruch... and the second by - asher... The
barmitzvah boy will be expected to be able to write the full bracha in each case.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR THE BARMITZVAH TEST - LAWS AND CUSTOMS

SECTION A: OUR BELIEFS

1. Q. WHAT ARE THE 13 PRINCIPLES OF FAITH?

A. 1. I believe that G-d creates and guides all creatures, and that the Universe only exists because He makes it. There is nothing
independent of Him.
2. I believe that G-d is One. He cannot be divided. He alone is our G-d.
3. I believe that G-d is not physical and is not affected by physical things.
4. I believe that G-d was, is and will be: He is above time, because He created time.
5. I believe that G-d is the only One to Whom we should pray.
6. I believe that G-d communicates with man in order to tell him what to do and that all the words of the prophets are true.
7. I believe that the prophecy of Moshe was true and that Moshe was the greatest of prophets.
8. I believe that the entire Torah now in our hands is the same that was given to Moshe, including the Oral Torah.
9. I believe that the Torah will never be changed or replaced, since it comes from G-d.
10. I believe that G-d is aware of all man’s thoughts and actions.
11. I believe that G-d rewards the good and punishes the evil.
12. I believe that the Mashiach will come at the time G-d considers proper.
13. I believe that the Mashiach will revive the dead, and that the world will achieve a new spiritual and physical level of
perfection.

2. Q. DO ALL PEOPLE HAVE A SOUL?

A. Yes. Not only do all people have a soul, but even the animals, plants and minerals. If G-d may be compared with a fire, then
each soul is a spark from that fire. This soul is the spark of G-d that gives it existence and life.
3. Q. DO WE HAVE FREE CHOICE?
A. Yes. We possess a good inclination and an evil inclination. Our task is follow the good inclination. Therefore, all people have
the ability to choose between right and wrong, between good and evil. We are rewarded for the good we do and punished
for the bad.

4. Q. IF WE HAVE FREE CHOICE, DOES THIS NOT LIMIT G-D?

A. No. Firstly, because G-d is the One who gives us this ability to choose. If Hashem wanted, He could take it away from us
temporarily (as He did with Pharaoh) or even permanently. Secondly, although we control our choices, Hashem controls
the results of these choices. As a result, whatever occurs, happens the way Hashem wants it to.

5. Q. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JEW AND A NON-JEW?

A. The Jewish people were chosen by G-d to set an example for the rest of mankind, to be ‘a light to the nations’, so that all
people will become moral and righteous, living their lives following G-d’s laws. We Jews have 613 commandments, non-
Jews have 7.

6. Q. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE MITZVOT?

A. Mitzvot are the rules by which we lead moral lives. The mitzvot make us into the type of people we should be, refining us
and bringing us closer to G-d.

7. Q. DO WE BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER DEATH, HELL OR REINCARNATION?

A. We believe that the soul is part of G-d & is therefore eternal, like G-d is. While we are alive, we strive to perfect ourselves &
come close to Hashem through the mitzvot. The closer we come to Hashem here, the closer we come to Hashem in the
World-to-Come. The ultimate reward for mitzvot and for being good people is in the World-to-Come, when the soul
experiences closeness to G-d without the body interfering. That is true pleasure: all the good things of this world are
nothing by comparison. ‘Hell’ is a temporary stage of preparation for the World-to-Come. There the soul is purified and
cleansed of the impurities that ‘cover’ it as a result of the mistakes and sins it committed, and which stop the soul from
being close to Hashem. Sometimes the soul does not fulfill its mission in this world and has to return again to complete the
job: this is called reincarnation.

8. Q. WHO WILL BE THE MASHIACH?

A. If a person has these 6 qualities, you may assume that he is the Mashiach. We believe that the Mashiach (Hebrew for ‘the
anointed one’) will be (1) a human being, (2) male and (3) descended from King David. He will be (4) a Torah scholar and
(5) a righteous Jew (Tzaddik), who (6) will encourage all Jews to lead a moral, Jewish lifestyle. If he does the following 4
things, you may know that he is the Mashiach. He will (1) rebuild the Beit HaMikdash, (2) gather in all the Jewish exiles
from all corners of the world and ultimately, (3) bring all dead back to life in a time of (4) spiritual and material plenty and
peace.

SECTION B: TALLIT

1. Q. FROM WHERE DO WE LEARN THE LAW OF TZITZIT?

A. From the third paragraph of the Shema which begins ‘Vayomer Hashem el Moshe’.

2. Q. WHY DO WE WEAR TZITZIT?

A. Because Hashem (G-d) commanded us to insert fringes (Tzitzit) in our four-cornered garments, near the edges of the corners.

3. Q. WHAT IS A TALLIT?
A. It is a four-cornered garment. We attach fringes (Tzitzit) to each of the corners. In English we refer to it as a ‘Prayer Shawl’.

4. Q. DO ALL FOUR-CORNERED ITEMS OF CLOTHING REQUIRE TZITZIT?

A. No. A garment requiring Tzitzit should be large enough to cover the majority of the top of the body of the wearer. Therefore,
handkerchiefs and scarves are too small to require Tzitzit. It is therefore incorrect to buy a Tallit which is as big as a scarf.

5. Q. HOW MANY TYPES OF TALLIT ARE THERE?

A. There are two types. The first is a Tallit Katan (a small Tallit) which is worn under our clothes during the day. The second
one is a Tallit Gadol (a large Tallit) which we wear during Shacharit, when we lead the services and throughout Yom
Kippur.

6. Q. WHICH BRACHA DO WE SAY FOR THE TALLIT GADOL?

A. Baruch...asher....lehitatef baTzitzit.

7. Q. HOW DO WE PUT ON A TALLIT GADOL?

A. The bracha is made when holding the Tallit. Then it is placed on one’s head and the ends thrown over the left shoulder, for a
few moments.

8. Q. WHAT IS THE BRACHA FOR THE TALLIT KATAN?

A. Baruch...asher...al mitzvat Tzitzit.

9. Q. WHEN DO WE MAKE THE BRACHA FOR THE TALLIT?

A. Before we put it on. In general, brachot are said BEFORE the act or mitzvah is performed. (However, lighting the Shabbat
candles and washing our hands are exceptions to this rule).

10. Q. HOW MANY FRINGES MUST THERE BE ON EACH CORNER OF THE TALLIT?
A. Eight.

11. Q. HOW MANY KNOTS AND THREADS ARE THERE & WHY?
A. The word ‘Tzitzit’ stands for 600, then we have 5 double knots and 8 threads = 613, the number of commandments in the
Torah. The 613 mitzvot in the Torah are called ‘Taryag Mitzvot’. Taryag is Hebrew for 613. The mitzvot are further sub-
divided into 248 positive commandments (things we should do) and 365 negative commandments (things we shouldn’t do).

12. Q. HOW DO WE MAKE THE TZITZIT ON THE CORNERS?

A. (First we say ‘Leshem mitzvat Tzitzit’ – ‘For the sake of the mitzva of Tzitzit). After we pass the 4 threads through the hole
near the corner, we now have two sets of 4 threads. We tie a double knot and then wind the longer thread 7 times around all
the others, make another double knot, make 8 windings, another double knot and 11 windings, another double knot and 13
windings, then a final double knot.

13. Q. WHY DO WE MAKE THIS NUMBER OF WINDINGS?

A. 7 windings + 8 windings = 15, the numerical value of Hashem’s name – v-h. The 11 windings = 6 + 5, the last 2 letters of
Hashem’s name – v-u. The 13 windings equals the word – sjt (one). So the 4 sets of windings – 7,8,11,13 – represent
‘Hashem is One’.

SECTION C: TEFILLIN

1. Q. WHAT IS A BARMITZVAH?
A. On the day a Jewish boy reaches his thirteenth Hebrew birthday, he becomes barmitzvah. It is automatic, and there is no
need, as far as Jewish law is concerned, for lavish parties or elaborate Synagogue rituals. Barmitzvah literally means ‘son
of a commandment’. From the day of his barmitzvah, a boy is considered mature enough to keep Hashem’s
commandments. One of the most important of these commandments is wearing Tefillin. Wearing Tefillin every day (except
Shabbat and Yom Tov) is a lifelong duty. Tefillin are usually put on just before the morning service and worn during the
entire service.

2. Q. WHY DO WE WEAR TEFILLIN?

A. Because Hashem commanded us in His Torah ‘to tie them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be boxes between your
eyes’.

3. Q. WHAT LESSONS ARE WE SUPPOSED TO LEARN FROM FACT THAT THE TEFILLIN ARE WORN ON OUR ARM
AND OUR HEAD?
A. a) We are reminded that our actions (which are done mainly with our hands) and our thoughts (which arise in our heads) are
to be guided by Hashem’s commandments.
b) We are also reminded that Hashem took us out of Egypt with a ‘mighty hand’ and an ‘outstretched arm’.

4. Q. WHAT DO TEFILLIN CONSIST OF?

A. Two small leather boxes (Battim) each containing four passages of the Torah written on parchment in special script, and
leather straps (Retzuot) to secure the boxes to the arm and head respectively. The head box is called the ‘Shel Rosh’, and
the arm box is called the ‘Shel Yad’.

5. Q. IN WHAT WAYS DOES THE TEFILLIN SHEL YAD DIFFER FROM THE TEFILLIN SHEL ROSH?
A. a) The four passages in the ‘Shel Yad’ are written on one piece of parchment, while in the ‘Shel Rosh’ the same four passages
are each written on separate pieces of parchment.
b) The ‘Shel Yad’ consists of one compartment and the ‘Shel Rosh’ has 4 compartments.
c) The ‘Shel Rosh’ has the letter ‘Shin’ on its sides, the ‘Shel Yad’ does not.

6. Q. WHY DID WE CHOOSE THESE FOUR PASSAGES OF THE TORAH?

A. Because these are the 4 places in the Torah that speak about the mitzvah of Tefillin.

7. Q. WHAT SUBJECTS ARE COVERED IN THESE PASSAGES?

A. Passage 1) The acknowledgement that Hashem is Master over us. Passage 2) The acceptance of Hashem’s commandments.
Passages 3 & 4) The great wonders and miracles Hashem performed for us when He took us out of Egypt.

8. Q. WHICH BRACHA DO WE SAY FOR THE ‘SHEL YAD’ TEFILLIN?

A. Baruch...asher...lehoniach Tefillin.

9. Q. WHICH BRACHA DO WE SAY FOR THE ‘SHEL ROSH’ TEFILLIN?

A. Baruch...asher...al mitzvat Tefillin.

10. Q. WHAT DO WE DO IF WE CANNOT PUT TEFILLIN ON IN THE MORNING?

A. If for any reason we cannot say the Morning Prayer, we should put on Tefillin anyway. Where necessary, this may be done
until sunset. We can fulfill the commandment of Tefillin by just putting them on and immediately taking them off. It need
not take more than a few minutes. If possible, one should also say the Shema while wearing the Tefillin.

11. Q. WHY DO WE NOT PUT ON TEFILLIN ON SHABBAT AND FESTIVALS?

A. We need 2 signs to remind us at all times of the ‘Brit’, the Covenant (special relationship or contract) between Hashem and
His people. Circumcision is one. The second is Tefillin. But Shabbat (and the Festivals) is also a sign of the Covenant, so
the sign of Shabbat and Festivals replaces that of Tefillin.

12. Q. ONCE A YEAR WE PUT ON TEFILLIN IN THE AFTERNOON INSTEAD OF THE MORNING. WHEN IS THAT?
A. On Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the year, we do not put on the Tefillin in the morning, as a sign of mourning, rather we do
it in the afternoon. Tefillin are beautiful and on the saddest day of the Jewish calendar we do not wish to look our very best.

13. Q. WHY ARE THE TEFILLIN PUT ON AFTER THE TALLIT?

A. Because the Tallit is used more frequently, since the Tallit is used even on Shabbat and Yom Tov, and that which is
performed more frequently is done first.

14. Q. WHY DO WOMEN NOT HAVE TO PUT ON TEFILLIN?

A. Women do not have to do positive mitzvot that have a set time and the Tefillin have a set time, since they are only put on
during the daytime.

15. Q. ON WHAT HAND MUST A LEFT-HANDED PERSON PUT ON TEFILLIN?

A. A left-handed person (who writes with the left hand) must put the Tefillin on his right hand.

SECTION D: MEZUZAH

1. Q. WHAT IS A MEZUZAH & WHERE IS IT PLACED?

A. It is a small scroll of parchment attached to the right-hand door post of the entrances to the house and on the entrance to each
room of the house (except for bathrooms and toilets).

2. Q. WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE MEZUZAH PARCHMENT?

A. The opening sentence (Shema Yisrael...) and the first two paragraphs of the Shema which mention the mitzvah of Mezuzah.
The word ‘Sha-dai’ (Almighty G-d) is written on the other side of the parchment so that it can be seen after the parchment
has been rolled into a tight scroll.

3. Q. WHERE IS THE MEZUZAH PLACED ON THE DOORPOST?

A. At least one handbreadth (10 cm.) from the lintel (crossbar), within the top third of the doorway, preferably at the bottom of
the top third.
4. Q. WHAT IS THE BRACHA FOR ATTACHING A MEZUZAH?
A. Baruch...asher...likboah Mezuzah.

5. Q. HOW OFTEN MUST I CHECK A MEZUZAH (& TEFILLIN) & WHY?

A. Twice in every seven years. After a length of time they can become spoiled and therefore ‘Pasul’ - not Kosher - either
through moisture, heat or water, or the letters can fade away, so it is important that your Mezuzah and Tefillin be regularly
checked.

SECTION E: PRAYERS

1. Q. HOW MANY TIMES A DAY DO WE PRAY?

A. Three times; morning, afternoon and evenings. as was the custom of sacrifices in the Temple in Jerusalem.

2. Q. WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THESE SERVICES?

A. Shacharit (morning service), Mincha (afternoon service) and Maariv (evening service).

3. Q. HOW MANY TIMES A DAY DO WE SAY THE ‘SHEMA’ AND WHEN?

A. Three times; at Shacharit, Maariv and again before going to sleep.

4. Q. WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIVISIONS OF THE WEEKDAY SERVICE?

A.
Shacharit Mincha Maariv
Morning blessings (Birchot HaShachar)
Verses of Song (Pesukei DeZimrah) Ashrei
Barchu Barchu
Shema and its blessings Shema & its blessings
Amidah Amidah Amidah
Tachanun (Supplications) Tachanun
Torah Reading (Monday, Thursday & Fast Days) Torah Reading (Fast Days)
Concluding prayers, including Aleinu Aleinu Aleinu

5. Q. WHAT IS THE ‘AMIDAH’ AND HOW IS IT TO BE SAID?

A. The main prayer of each service. We say it quietly, while standing straight, facing Jerusalem, with our feet together. On
weekdays it consists of 19 Brachot (blessings); 3 introductory, 13 middle and 3 concluding blessings. The middle blessings
are the prayers for our daily needs.

6. Q. HOW MANY TIMES DO WE SAY ‘ASHREI’ AND WHEN?

A. Three times a day - twice in Shacharit (once in Pesukei DeZimrah, the second after Tachanun) and the third is said before
the Amidah of Mincha.

7. Q. WHAT IS ‘TACHANUN’?
A. ‘Tachanun’ is a prayer said after the Amidah in Shacharit and Mincha. The word ‘Tachanun’ comes from the word ‘Chanun’
- ‘mercy’. This is the time that we confess our sins and ask Hashem for forgiveness.

8. Q. WHAT IS THE ‘SHIR SHEL YOM’?

A. ‘Shir Shel Yom’ means ‘The Song for the Day’. In the time of the Beit HaMikdash the Levites would sing a different song
from the Psalms of King David every day of the week. We say it at the end of Shacharit.

9. Q. HOW DOES THE SHABBAT (OR FESTIVAL) AMIDAH DIFFER FROM THE WEEKDAY AMIDAH?
A. On Shabbat and Festivals we leave out the prayers for our daily needs and say instead a single bracha dealing with the
significance of Shabbat or the respective Festival. (In other words the Shabbat and Festival Amidot contain 7 brachot).
10. Q. WHAT IS A SIDDUR AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
A. It is the Jewish Prayer Book. The word means - ‘the order’ (of prayer).

11. Q. WHAT IS ‘MUSAF’?

A. An extra service held on Shabbat, High Holidays, Shalosh Regalim and Rosh Chodesh. (Musaf means ‘additional’ in
Hebrew).

12. Q. WHAT IS A MINYAN?

A. A Minyan is the minimum number -10 - of adult Jewish men over barmitzvah required for Congregational prayer. Without a
minyan, certain prayers cannot be said.

13. Q. WHAT IS ‘KEDUSHAH’?

A. It is the prayer added by the Chazan at the beginning of the third bracha of the Amidah, said when he repeats the Amidah. It
repeats the angels’ praise of Hashem - ‘Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh... - Holy, Holy, Holy is the L-rd of Hosts’ - and the
bracha deals with the holiness of Hashem.

14. Q. WHAT IS ‘KADDISH’?

A. ‘Kaddish’ is a special prayer of praise to Hashem written in Aramaic beginning with ‘Yitgadal Veyitkadash... - Magnified and
sanctified be His Great Name...’ It contains the declaration - ‘Yehei Shmei...’ (‘Let His Great Name be blessed for ever’)
which should be said with great enthusiasm.

15. Q. WHAT IS THE MOURNER’S KADDISH?

A. It is the kaddish said by mourners and those who have ‘Yahrtzeit’, at the end of the service after Aleinu and after reading the
Psalm of the Day - ‘Shir Shel Yom’.

16. Q. WHAT IS THE RABBIS KADDISH (DERABBANAN)?

A. It is a special kaddish said after studying the Talmud by mourners or by people who have Yahrtzeit.

17. Q. WHAT DO WE ADD TO THE SERVICE ON THE SHABBAT BEFORE ROSH CHODESH?
A. A special blessing for the new month. The Shabbat on which we say that prayer is called ‘Shabbat Mevarchim’.

18. Q. WHAT IS ‘HALLEL’ AND WHEN DO WE SAY IT?

A. It is a selection of psalms of praise (Psalms - Chapters 113 to 118). It is said after the repetition of the Shacharit Amidah;
on Rosh Chodesh, the Shalosh Regalim and on Chanukah.

19. Q. WHAT IS ‘AL HANISSIM’ AND WHEN IS IT SAID?

A. ‘Al Hanissim’ means ‘For the miracles’. We say this prayer during the festivals of Chanukah and Purim, thanking Hashem
for the miracles He has done for us. We say it in the Amidah after Modim and in the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon).

20. Q. WHAT IS ‘YA’ALEH VEYAVO’ AND WHEN IS IT SAID?

A. ‘Ya’aleh Veyavo’ is the special prayer we say in the Amidah right before Modim on Rosh Chodesh and Chol HaMoed, and in
the Grace After Meals (Birkat HaMazon).

21. Q. WHAT IS ‘ATAH CHONANTANU’?

A. This is a prayer we add in the Amidah only on Saturday night in Maariv. This prayer indicates that Shabbat is over and the
weekdays have begun. It is also said at the end of Yom Tov.

22. Q. WHAT IS ‘BIRKAT HALEVANA’ OR ‘KIDDUSH LEVANA’?

A. This is a special prayer said outdoors once a month at night after Maariv, when we bless the moon. It is said within 14 days
of the beginning of the month and only if the moon can be seen.
SECTION F: TORAH READINGS

1. Q. ON WHAT DAYS DO WE READ THE TORAH AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE CALLED TO THE TORAH EACH
TIME?
A.
Occasion Number called
Monday & Thursday Shacharit 3 people
Purim & Chanuka Shacharit
Fast-day Shacharit & Mincha
Shabbat & Yom Kippur Mincha
Chol HaMoed Shacharit 4 people
Rosh Chodesh Shacharit
Shalosh Regalim Shacharit 5 people
Rosh Hashanah Shacharit
Yom Kippur Shacharit 6 people
Shabbat Shacharit 7 people or more

2. Q. WHAT IS AN ‘ALIYAH LETORAH’?

A. This means ‘going up to the Torah’. The man who is called up to the Torah is getting an ‘aliyah leTorah’.

3. Q. WHAT ARE THE HEBREW TERMS FOR THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE RECEIVING ALIYOT?
A. There are three - the first aliyah is for the ‘Kohen’, the second for the ‘Levi’ and the rest for ‘Yisrael’.

4. Q. WHAT ARE ‘HAGBAH’ AND ‘GELILAH’?

A. ‘Hagbah’ means ‘lift up’ and ‘gelilah’ means ‘to roll’. At the end of the reading from the Torah, two people are called up to
do hagbah and gelilah; one to lift up the Torah so everyone can see, and the other to roll and fasten it.

5. Q. WHAT IS ‘BIRKAT HAGOMEL’?

A. This is a blessing a person says after being saved from a dangerous situation (a man says it in front of the Torah).

6. Q. WHAT IS THE ‘ARON HAKODESH’?

A. The Holy Ark where the Sifrei Torah are kept.

7. Q. WHAT IS THE ‘BIMA’?

A. The platform from where the Torah is read.

8. Q. WHAT IS A ‘BA’AL KOREH’?

A. The one who reads from the Torah.

9. Q. HOW MANY PORTIONS ARE THERE IN THE TORAH?

A. 54.

10. Q. WHAT ARE THE FOLLOWING:

A. a) ‘Keter Torah’ - The crown put on the Torah Scroll.
b) ‘Parochet’ - The Ark Curtain.
c) ‘Peticha (or Pesicha)’ - The honour of opening the Ark.
d) ‘Yad’ - The pointer used by the Torah reader (often in the shape of a hand).

SECTION G: SHABBAT

1. Q. WHAT IS SHABBAT?
A. It is the seventh day of the week that we observe as a day of rest. (Sunday is the first day of the week).

2. Q. WHAT REASON DOES THE TORAH GIVE FOR COMMANDING US TO OBSERVE THE SHABBAT?
A. Because Hashem created the universe in six days and made the seventh day holy and rested on it.
3. Q. WHAT ARE WE NOT ALLOWED TO DO ON SHABBAT?
A. ‘Melechet Machshevet’, which means ‘creative activity’. This includes many activities, among them lighting fire, cooking,
writing and carrying outside.

4. Q. WHAT IS AN ‘AV MELACHAH’ AND HOW MANY ARE THERE?

A. ‘Av melachah’ means ‘category (father) of work’. There are 39 categories of work and we learn them from the Mishkan -
Tabernacle. There were 39 categories of work in the Mishkan, and these 39 things are the basic things we cannot do on
Shabbat.

5. Q. WHY ARE WE PROHIBITED FROM DRIVING A MOTOR CAR, STRIKING A MATCH AND SWITCHING ON A
LIGHT?
A. These things involve making a fire, which we must not do. During the weekdays we, as people, are ‘creators’, making and
creating things, and on Shabbat we are supposed to show Who is the real Creator - G-d. So we do not do things that
indicate that we are creators, such as switching on lights that man has made.

6. Q. WHAT TIME DOES SHABBAT START AND FINISH?

A. It starts on Friday afternoon 18 minutes before sunset (the times can be found in Jewish newspapers and Calendars). Shabbat
ends on Saturday evening after 3 stars can be seen in the sky, about 30 minutes after sunset.

7. Q. WHY DO WE HAVE TWO LOAVES (CHALLOT) ON THE TABLE ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SHABBAT DAY?
A. To remind us of the double portion - ‘Lechem Mishna’ - of manna which fell on Friday in the desert.

8. Q. WHY IS THERE A TABLECLOTH UNDER AND A CLOTH OVER THE CHALLOT?

A. a) To remind us of the layers of dew which surrounded the manna.
b) So the challot are covered during Kiddush, since a bracha is normally said on bread first. By covering them, the challot are
not embarrassed by being overlooked.

9. Q. HOW DOES SHABBAT BEGIN AT HOME?

A. By lighting two (or more) candles and pronouncing the bracha - ‘Baruch... asher... lehadlik ner shel Shabbat’.

10. Q. WHO LIGHTS THE SHABBAT CANDLES?

A. The mother and if she is absent, any other adult at home.

11. Q. WHY DO WE LIGHT AT LEAST TWO CANDLES FOR SHABBAT?

A. a) The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Torah. The first time we are commanded ‘Zachor (remember) et yom
haShabbat’ and the second ‘Shamor (keep) et yom haShabbat’. The two candles represent the words Shamor and Zachor.
b) The two candles also symbolize husband & wife.

12. Q. WHAT IS ‘SHALOM ALEICHEM’ AND WHEN DO WE SAY IT?

A. ‘Shalom Aleichem’ means ‘welcome to you’. We say this prayer before Kiddush and it is addressed to the angels that follow
a person to his/her home on a Friday night in order to bless them for keeping the Shabbat.

13. Q. WHAT IS ‘KIDDUSH’?

A. It is a special prayer of sanctification that is said twice on Shabbat and the Festivals – before the evening meal and the day
meal. It is usually said over a cup of wine or grape juice, or without them, over the two whole challot.

14. Q. WHAT ARE ‘ZEMIROT’?

A. Special songs about Shabbat, sung at all Shabbat meals.

15. Q. WHAT IS ‘KABBALAT SHABBAT’?

A. The service said before Maariv on Friday evenings, through which we accept Shabbat at Shul, made up of 6 Psalms, the
Lecha Dodi song and the Psalm of Shabbat.

16. Q. WHAT IS THE ORDER OF THE SERVICE ON SHABBAT MORNING?

A. 1) Shacharit, 2) the Torah reading and Haftarah, then 3) Musaf.

17. Q. WHAT IS THE ‘MAFTIR’ AND ‘HAFTORAH’?

A. On Shabbat and Festival mornings the Rabbis instituted that we should read a portion from the Prophets in addition to the
weekly Portion from the Torah. The portion from the Prophets is called the Haftarah. But before this, the person called to
read the Haftarah is also honored with a short portion from the Torah reading as well, which is called the Maftir.
18. Q. HOW DOES THE MINCHA SERVICE ON SHABBAT DIFFER FROM THE WEEKDAY MINCHA SERVICE?
A.
Weekday Shabbat
Ashrei (only) Ashrei and Uva LeTzion
No Torah Reading except on Fast Days Torah Reading
Weekday Amidah Shabbat Amidah
Tachanun Tzidkatcha Tzedek
Aleinu Aleinu

19. Q. WHAT IS ‘SHALOSH SEUDOT’?

A. The expression means ‘three meals’, since we are obliged to have three Shabbat meals - one in the evening, one in the
daytime after Shacharit and Musaf, and one in the afternoon. This last meal is usually called ‘Shalosh Seudot’ (or more
correctly Seudah Shlishit). Many Synagogues serve a Seudah Shlishit (a third meal) between Mincha and Maariv on
Shabbat.

20. Q. WHAT IS ‘HAVDALAH’?

A. This is the prayer said at the conclusion of the Shabbat or Festival. After Shabbat it consists of four brachot;
a) on wine,
b) on spices,
c) on the flames of a candle (since we were not permitted to make fire on Shabbat),
d) on the various divisions established by Hashem; between day and night, between light and darkness, between Israel and the
nations and between the Shabbat and weekdays.

SECTION H: THE FESTIVALS

1. Q. WHAT IS ‘YOM TOV’?

A. Literally, ‘a good day’, referring to the Festivals.

2. Q. WHAT ARE THE ‘SHALOSH REGALIM’?

A. Literally, ‘three feet’, referring to the three pilgrim festivals - Pesach, Shavuot and Succot - when all Jews walked to the Beit
HaMikdash in Jerusalem.

3. Q. WHAT IS ‘CHOL HAMOED’?

A. Literally, ‘the weekdays of the Festival’, referring to the middle days between -
a) The first 2 days of Pesach and the last 2 days.
b) The first 2 days of Succot and the last days - Shmini Atzeret & Simchat Torah.
On these days, important work that cannot be done later, is permitted.

4. Q. WHAT ARE THE ‘HIGH HOLY DAYS’?

A. Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

5. Q. WHAT ARE THE ‘TEN DAYS OF REPENTANCE’?

A. The ten days from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur, inclusive.

6. Q. WHAT CREATIVE ACTIVITIES PROHIBITED ON SHABBAT ARE PERMITTED ON YOM TOV?

A. Those creative activities which are needed to prepare the food for that day - such as cooking, baking, transferring fire (but
not lighting fire) and carrying in the street (even outside an Eruv).

7. Q. WHAT IS FORBIDDEN ON YOM KIPPUR?

A. 1) All activity that is forbidden on Shabbat and, in addition, 2) eating and drinking, 3) wearing of leather shoes, 4) bathing,
5) anointing and 6) marital relations.

8. Q. HOW DOES THE HAVDALAH AT THE END OF YOM TOV DIFFER FROM THE HAVDALAH AT THE END OF
SHABBAT?
A. The blessings over spices and over fire are omitted.

9. Q. TRANSLATE THE HEBREW NAME OF EACH OF THE FESTIVALS AND HOLY DAYS AND GIVE A REASON
FOR THAT NAME.
A. a) Rosh Hashanah: The ‘head (beginning) of the Year’, because it is the start of the new year.
b) Yom Kippur: The ‘Day of Atonement’, because on this day Hashem forgives all our sins.
c) Succot: ‘Huts’ - because Hashem commanded us to remember that the Jews lived in frail booths or huts when He took them
out of the land of Egypt.
d) Pesach: ‘Passover’ - because during the plague of the death of all the Egyptian first -born, Hashem passed over the houses of
the Jews and no Jewish first-born died.
e) Shavuot: ‘Weeks’ - because we are commanded to count 7 weeks from the first day of Pesach and celebrate Shavuot.
f) Chanukah: 1) ‘Rested on the 25th’ - because final victory came to the Maccabees on the 25th day of Kislev, and 2)
‘Dedication’ - as the Temple, defiled by the Greeks was rededicated by the Jews.
g) Purim: ‘Lotteries’ - because Haman used a lottery to pick the day on which to try to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire.

10. Q. WHAT IS THE PRAYER BOOK USED ON FESTIVALS?

A. A ‘Machzor’, literally a ‘cycle’, the cycle of our yearly prayers.

11. Q. WHICH ARE THE MINOR FESTIVALS?

A. Chanukah & Purim. They are called minor, because the usual restrictions of Yom Tov do not apply.

12. Q. WHAT OTHER FESTIVE (HAPPY) DAYS DO WE OBSERVE TODAY?

A. Lag BaOmer, Tu BiShvat (the New Year for trees), Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) and Yom Yerushalayim
(Jerusalem Liberation Day).

13. Q. IN WHAT WAY DO THE FESTIVALS OUTSIDE ISRAEL DIFFER FROM THOSE IN ISRAEL?
A. In Israel we celebrate one day of Yom Tov for each festival, while outside Israel we always have two days.

14. Q. WHAT ARE THE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE?

A. a) Rosh Hashanah, which is also celebrated for two days in Israel.
b) Yom Kippur, when all fast for one day, even in Israel.

15. Q. WHAT ARE THE 2 SPECIAL RESTRICTIONS OF PESACH?

A. The Torah forbids having chametz (leavened products) in one’s possession or eating it during Pesach.

16. Q. WHAT EXACTLY IS ‘CHAMETZ’?

A. A mixture of flour made of any of the 5 grains (wheat, barley, oats, spelt and rye) and water which has remained for more
than 18 minutes without being baked. Many products contain these ingredients and are also forbidden.

17. Q. WHAT IS ‘MECHIRAT CHAMETZ’ & WHY IS IT NECESSARY?

A. It is the legal procedure by which we sell all our chametz to a non-Jew before Pesach begins, because we may not have
Chametz in our possession during Pesach. Usually we are able to buy it back after Pesach ends and thus use it later.

18. Q. WHAT IS ‘BEDIKAT CHAMETZ’ AND WHAT IS ITS REASON?

A. It is the search for chametz which we do the night before Pesach. Not only is it forbidden to own chametz during Pesach, it is
even prohibited for a Jew to have any benefit after Pesach from chametz that was left in a Jews’ possession over Pesach.
We therefore either sell our chametz or destroy it. The night before Pesach we search our home as a final check to make
sure we have removed all the chametz.

19. Q. WHAT IS THE ‘HAGADAH’?

A. It is the book containing the order of service for the Passover Seder.

20. Q. WHAT IS ‘MATZAH’?

A. It is the special unleavened bread which we are commanded to eat on Pesach.

21. Q. WHAT FOODS ARE ON THE SEDER PLATE AND WHAT DO THEY SYMBOLIZE?
A. a) A roasted egg - reminding us of the Pilgrim-Festival offering in the Temple.
b) A roasted meat-bone - reminding us of the Passover offering in the Temple.
c) Maror (bitter herbs) - reminding us of the bitter experience as slaves in Egypt. (Some customs use two sets of maror).
d) Charoset (a mixture of nuts, apples and wine) - reminding us of the mortar used by the Jewish slaves to build the cities of
Pitom and Ramses in Ancient Egypt. The wine symbolizes the blood of those Jewish slaves who died doing this work.
e) Karpas (a vegetable) - eaten as a type of appetizer to show we are free people & to stimulate the children’s interest. It is
dipped in saltwater.

22. Q. WHY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SETS OF DISHES REQUIRED FOR PESACH?
A. Because all leavened foods are forbidden on Pesach and we may not use dishes which have already been used for leavened
foods.

23. Q. SHAVUOT FALLS ON A FIXED DAY AFTER PESACH. WHY?

A. a) Hashem commanded us to count 49 days (7 weeks) starting with the second day of Pesach (when the Omer sacrifice was
brought). On the 50th day we celebrate Shavuot. These days are called ‘Sefirah’ or ‘Sefirat HaOmer’ which means ‘to count
the Omer’.
b) It took the Children of Israel that time to march from Egypt to the foot of Mount Sinai.

24. Q. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SHAVUOT?

A. a) On this day the Torah was given to the children of Israel on Mount Sinai.
b) During Temple days, the farmers in Israel brought the first ripe fruits on this day to the Temple (the first ripe fruits are called
bikkurim in Hebrew).

25. Q. WHAT IS A ‘SUCCAH’?

A. It is a temporary home used during Succot. It has to have at least 3 walls, which may even be made of brick. The roof is
‘temporary’ - it must be made of cut-off branches or loose, thin strips of wood or bamboo. It is also customary to decorate
the Succah so as to make the mitzvah as beautiful as possible.

26. Q. WHICH ARE THE FOUR SPECIES WE USE ON SUCCOT?

A. The palm branch (lulav), the willow (aravah), the myrtle (hadas) and the citron (etrog).

27. Q. WHICH FESTIVAL IS CONNECTED WITH JUDAH THE MACCABI?

A. Chanukah (also called the ‘festival of lights’).

28. Q. GIVE ANOTHER NAME FOR ‘ROSH HASHANAH LA’ILANOT’ (THE NEW YEAR FOR TREES)?
A. Tu BiShvat (the fifteenth of Shvat).

29. Q. WHEN DO WE RECITE THE MEGILLAH AND HOW OFTEN IS IT READ?

A. On Purim - the megillah is read twice, once at night and once in the morning.

30. Q. WHEN DO WE CELEBRATE PURIM IN A LEAP YEAR?

A. In Adar Bet (See page 18).

31. Q. WHAT 3 OTHER CUSTOMS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH PURIM?

A. a) Mishloach manot - the sending of gifts of food. Every Jew has to send a gift of at least two types of ready-to-eat food to
another Jew.
b) Matanot laEvyonim - charity to the poor - at least 5 cents each is given to two or more poor people.
c) Eat a festive meal during the afternoon.

32. Q. WHEN AND WHAT IS ‘YOM HA’ATZMA’UT’?

A. On the 5th of Iyar. It is Israel’s Day of Independence.

33. Q. WHICH DAY IS CONNECTED WITH THE BAR KOCHBA REBELLION?

A. Lag BaOmer.

34. Q. WHAT ARE THE FOLLOWING AND WITH WHICH OCCASIONS ARE THEY ASSOCIATED?
A. a) Tashlich - a prayer said after Mincha on the first day of Rosh Hashanah near a spring of water with fish in it. ‘Tashlich’
means ‘to throw away’ - referring to our sins which we ask Hashem to throw away (cancel).
b) Kaparot - a custom of swinging a chicken or money over one’s head on the day before Yom Kippur. Kaparot comes from the
word ‘kapara’, which means ‘to atone for’. We realize that we deserve to be treated like the chicken, but Hashem forgives
our sins. Money may be used instead, which we give away to charity. The chicken is then slaughtered by a shochet and it,
or it’s value, is given to the poor.
c) Menorah - candelabra - a lamp for candles with 8 branches (+ 1 Shamash) that we light on the festival of Chanukah,
reminding us of the miracle of oil that burnt for eight days in the time of Yehuda HaMaccabi.
d) Shofar - an instrument made out of a ram’s horn, that we blow on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This is a reminder of the
self-sacrifice of our father Yitzchak when he was willing to give up his life on an altar, and later was exchanged for a ram.
e) Hakafot - ‘going around’ the Shul with the Sifrei Torah on the Festival of Simchat Torah.
f) Selichot - Prayers that are said before Shacharit in the mornings before Rosh Hashanah. This comes from the word ‘selicha’ -
‘pardon’ - when we ask Hashem to pardon our sins. Selichot are also said on fast days.

SECTION I: SAD OCCASIONS AND FASTS

1. Q. WHAT DO THE FAST DAYS COMMEMORATE?

A. a) The 10th of Tevet - The siege of Jerusalem began.
b) The 17th of Tamuz - The day the Romans broke through Jerusalem’s walls.
c) The 9th of Av (Tisha B’Av) - The day the First and Second Temples were destroyed.
d) The Fast of Gedaliah - Following the destruction of the First Temple, on the day after Rosh Hashanah, Gedaliah, the
governor of Jerusalem, was murdered and the Jews left behind fled from the land of Israel, thus ending the first Jewish
settlement in Israel.
e) Fast of Esther - The day before Purim; in memory of Esther’s fast before she went to plead for the Jews.
f) Fast of the Firstborn - The day before Pesach; to recall that Jewish first-born males were spared from the Plague.

2. Q. WHY IS SEFIRAH A PERIOD OF MOURNING?

A. Because after the destruction of the Second Temple a great plague broke out amongst the great Torah scholars of that time,
the pupils of Rabbi Akiva, which lasted 33 days. This period of mourning lasts the entire month of Iyar.

3. Q. HOW DO WE OBSERVE THE PERIOD OF MOURNING DURING SEFIRAH?

A. No weddings or joyous occasions may be held for a 33 day period.

4. Q. WHEN MAY WEDDINGS BE HELD DURING SEFIRAH?

A. On Lag BaOmer (33rd day of the Omer) when the plague stopped.

5. Q. WHAT ARE THE ‘THREE WEEKS’?

A. The period between the 17th of Tamuz and Tisha B’Av (9th of Av) when the Romans fought inside the city of Jerusalem until
they reached and destroyed the Temple.

6. Q. HOW DO WE OBSERVE THE THREE WEEKS?

A. By observing a period of mourning. No weddings or joyous celebrations are held.

SECTION J: MEALS

1. Q. WHY DO WE MAKE A BRACHA BEFORE WE EAT?

A. Every living thing - plant, animal or human being - must have food to live. The Creator has provided food for all living
things - sunshine and rain make plants grow from the soil, the plants provide food for animals, and human beings feed on
both plants and animals. The fact that food sustains life is such a ‘natural’ thing, that most people take it for granted. People
eat and drink when they are hungry and thirsty, without giving a thought to the wonder of nutrition. We Jews have been
taught to look at the daily routine of eating quite differently; we have been taught not to take it for granted. When we say a
bracha we thank Hashem for looking after our needs and providing us with our sustenance.

2. Q. WHAT DO WE DO BEFORE STARTING A REGULAR MEAL WHERE BREAD IS EATEN?

A. We wash our hands - twice the right hand and then twice the left - and say the blessing ‘Baruch...asher...al netilat yadayim’
and then dry our hands.

3. Q. HOW DO WE START THAT MEAL?

A. By saying the bracha over bread - ‘Baruch...hamotzi lechem min haAretz’.

4. Q. WHAT DO WE SAY AFTER A MEAL WHERE WE ATE BREAD?

A. We say the Birkat HaMazon, the Grace after Meals.

5. Q. WHAT IS A ‘MEZUMAN’?
A. When at least three males over the age of Barmitzvah eat a meal (with bread) together, one invites the rest to join him in
saying Grace.
[He says - ‘Rabbotai nevarech’ (‘Gentlemen, let us say Grace’) and the others respond - ‘Yehi Shem A-donai mevorach me’ata
v’ad olam’. The leader repeats this and adds (If there are ten or more males aged 13 or older, adding the word in brackets) -
‘Birshut maranan verabanan verabetai nevarech (E-loheinu) sh’achalnu mishelo’. The others answer - ‘Baruch (E-
loheinu) sh’achalnu mishelo uve’tuvo chayinu’. The leader repeats this and adds - ‘Baruch Hu u’mevorach shemo’. Birkat
HaMazon continues.]

6. Q. WHAT DO WE SAY AT THE START OF A MEAL WHERE BREAD IS NOT EATEN?

A. The bracha for each main type of food, e.g. cake, fruit, vegetables, meat etc.

7. Q. WHAT BRACHA IS SAID AFTER EATING FOODS OTHER THAN BREAD?

A. The shorter form of Grace (Al Hamichiya etc., found in the Artscroll Siddur p. 200) is said when one eats - foods made of
wheat or barley (e.g. cake and biscuits), wine, figs, grapes, pomegranates, dates and olives. After all other foods and drinks
a bracha of Borei Nefashot (Artscroll p.202) is said.

SECTION K: DIETARY LAWS

1. Q. WHAT ARE ‘KOSHER’ ANIMALS?

A. Animals whose meat we are allowed to eat - those which have cloven hooves and chew the cud and such birds (fowl) which
we know by tradition to be permissible.

2. Q. WHAT IS ‘SHECHITA’?
A. Shechita is the method by which kosher animals have to be slaughtered before we are able to eat their meat. A very sharp
knife is used to cut the food pipe and wind pipe - it is the most painless way to kill animals.

3. Q. AFTER SHECHITA, IS THE MEAT OF A KOSHER ANIMAL PERMITTED TO BE EATEN IMMEDIATELY?

A. No. We still have to remove as much of the blood from the meat as possible and we therefore remove some of the main veins
(called ‘treibering’) and soak, salt and then rinse the meat again (this is called ‘kashering’).

4. Q. HOW DO WE ‘KASHER’ LIVER?

A. Since liver contains much blood, soaking and salting will not help. We have to grill it over an open fire to ‘kasher’ it.

5. Q. HOW DO WE KNOW IF MEAT IS KOSHER TODAY AND HAS BEEN SHECHTED AND KASHERED?
A. To ensure that all the kashrut requirements have been met, we buy ‘pot-ready’ meats from a kosher butchery under the
supervision of the Beth Din.

6. Q. WHICH FISH ARE WE ALLOWED TO EAT?

A. Those fish that have fins and scales.

7. Q. DO KOSHER FISH REQUIRE SHECHITA OR KASHERING?

A. No. We must only be sure that they are not alive.

8. Q. WHY DOES A JEWISH HOME HAVE SEPARATE SETS OF CROCKERY, CUTLERY, POTS AND PANS FOR MEAT
AND MILK?
A. Because we are strictly forbidden to cook or eat any mixtures of meat and milk.

9. Q. EXPLAIN THE FOLLOWING HEBREW WORDS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE DIETARY LAWS.
A. a) Kosher - Literally it means ‘fit’ or ‘acceptable’, referring to food that conforms to Jewish dietary law requirements.
b) Kashrut - The state of being ‘kosher’.
c) Treif - The opposite of ‘kosher’, therefore it means ‘unfit’ or ‘unacceptable’.
d) Pareve - Used to refer to food that is neither dairy nor meat, e.g. fish, fruit, vegetables.
e) Milchik - Yiddish for ‘dairy’.
f) Fleishik - Yiddish for ‘meaty’.

10. Q. ARE ALL EGGS KOSHER?

A. No. a) Only eggs from kosher birds may be eaten – e.g. chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and doves.
b) Furthermore, if a spot of blood is found on the egg yolk, it is considered treif and may not be eaten.
11. Q. IS ALL MILK KOSHER?
A. No. We may only drink the milk of kosher animals. Horse milk and pig milk, for example, are prohibited. Therefore, milk
should require Rabbinical supervision, but today we rely on the laws of the government, which prohibit the milking of non-
kosher animals.

12. Q. MAY WE DRINK ANY WINE, GRAPE JUICE OR BRANDY?

A. No. If these drinks have been touched by a non-Jew in an unsealed container prior to pasteurization, they may not be drunk
by a Jew. We therefore buy only kosher wine etc.

SECTION L: THE CALENDAR

1. Q. HOW LONG IS A JEWISH MONTH?

A. Our calendar follows the moon. Since it takes the moon 29.5 days to circle the earth, our months will be alternately 29 and
30 days. There are 12 months in a year, so the Jewish year has 354 days.

2. Q. HOW DOES THE JEWISH CALENDAR DIFFER FROM THE GENERAL CIVIL CALENDAR?
A. Our year has 354 days, while the general calendar follows the sun and has 365 days in a year. We are therefore short 11 days
each year.

3. Q. WHY DOES THIS MATTER?

A. Because our festivals have to fall in the same season every year (specifically, Pesach must fall in the Spring). The seasons
depend on the sun, hence our calendar must follow the sun also and we must make up the difference between the sun and
moon years (by having leap years).

4. Q. HOW DO WE ADJUST THE DIFFERENCES?

A. The Rabbis devised a system under which the moon (lunar) calendar and the sun (solar) calendar can be synchronized every
19 years. This is done by adding one leap month in the year - seven times in every 19-year cycle.

5. Q. WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE EXTRA MONTH (13TH) IN A JEWISH LEAP YEAR?
A. Adar Sheni or Adar Bet.

6. Q. WHAT IS ‘ROSH CHODESH’?

A. The day on which the new moon appears is Rosh Chodesh and it is observed with special prayers. At the end of every month
that has 30 days we observe two days Rosh Chodesh - the 30th day of the previous month and the 1st day of the new month.
At the end of a month that has 29 days we have only one day Rosh Chodesh - the 1st day of the new month.

7. Q. WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE HEBREW MONTHS? (IN CONSECUTIVE ORDER)
A.
1. Tishrei 2. Cheshvan 3. Kislev 4. Tevet 5. Shvat 6. Adar 6a. Adar Sheni (in a leap year)
7. Nissan 8. Iyar 9. Sivan 10. Tamuz 11. Av 12. Elul

NOTE: LEARN THE DATES OF THE JEWISH CALENDAR. (SEE PAGE 18 OF THIS SYLLABUS)

SECTION M: LAWS OF HUMAN CONDUCT

1. Q. HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE TO TZEDAKA?

A. The Torah says - ‘You shall open your hand wide to him and give him sufficient for his need’. The Sages set a figure of
between 10% and 20% of your (after-tax) income.

2. Q. WHAT IS ‘GEMILUT CHESED’?

A. All acts by which we help our fellow men, whether by giving or lending money, or doing some needed personal service,
whether for the rich or the poor.

3. Q. WHAT IS ‘LASHON HARAH’?

A. Literally, ‘a bad tongue’ or ‘bad speech’. It refers to anything negative we say about another person, whether about that
person or about something they said or did. It is forbidden even if we would say it in their presence, even if we would not mind
it being said about us, even if it does not cause them any harm or damage and even if it is said as a joke. Our words are
considered ‘lashon harah’ if they are true. If what we say is not true, it is called ‘slander’ and is even worse.

4. Q. HOW DO WE CARE FOR THE SICK?

A. We are to visit the sick (‘bikkur cholim’), a) to find out and attend to their needs, b) to pray for them, and c) to keep them
company.

5. Q. WHAT IS ‘HACHNASAT ORCHIM’?

A. Hospitality to guests. The mitzvah to show hospitality to guests is so great that it is considered even greater than speaking to
Hashem, since Abraham excused himself before Hashem and went to look after 3 strangers.

6. Q. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS IN WHICH WE MUST HONOR OUR PARENTS?

A. a) We are not allowed to contradict them, b) we obey their instructions, c) we are not allowed to wake them, unless they
have told us to beforehand, and d) we do not sit on their seats, even when they are away from home.

7. Q. HOW DO WE BEHAVE IN THE PRESENCE OF ELDERS?

A. The Torah requires us to rise before the aged, to give honor and respect to our elders and to Torah scholars.

8. Q. WHAT IS ‘NICHUM AVELIM’?

A. This is the mitzvah of comforting mourners. We visit them during the first week of their mourning (Shiva) and we wish them
- ‘May the Almighty comfort you among the rest of the mourners for Zion and Jerusalem’. (The local custom of wishing
‘long life’ is really an optional extra).

9. Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE JEWISH LAWS CONCERNING KINDNESS TO ANIMALS?

A. a) We are not allowed to hurt or overwork them, b) we are not allowed to work them on Shabbat, c) if their burden is too
heavy we have to help lighten it, d) we must feed them before we sit down to our own meals.

SECTION N: BIBLE

1. Q. WHAT ARE TWO OTHER NAMES FOR THE FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES?
A. Torah and Chumash.

2. Q. WE READ THE TORAH DURING THE SHABBAT MORNING SERVICE. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO READ
THE WHOLE TORAH ONCE?
A. One year.

3. Q. WHEN DO WE START AND END?

A. We end the Torah on Simchat Torah and to show our enthusiasm and love for the Torah, we begin again to read a little of
Genesis immediately. We formally begin again with the whole Sedra of Genesis on the Shabbat afterwards.

4. Q. WHAT IS THE GENERAL TERM FOR OUR HOLY SCRIPTURE?

A Tanach.

5. Q. HOW IS THE WORD ‘TANACH’ DERIVED?

A. From the first letter of the three sections of our Holy Books -’T’ from Torah, ‘N’ from Neviyim (Prophets) and ‘C’ (h) from
Cetuvim (Writings) = T(a)N(a)C(h).

6. Q. HOW MANY BOOKS ARE THERE IN THE TANACH?

A. 24

7. Q. WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE BOOKS OF TANACH?

A.
Torah Neviyim (Prophets) Cetuvim (Writings)
Genesis Joshua Psalms
Exodus Judges Proverbs
Leviticus Samuel (I & II) Job
Numbers Kings (I & II) Ecclesiastes
Deuteronomy Isaiah Esther
Jeremiah Ruth
Ezekiel Lamentations
12 Minor Prophets - Song of Songs
Hosea, Joel, Amos, Daniel
Obadiah, Jonah, Micah,
Nachum, Habbakuk, Ezra-Nehemia
Zephaniah, Haggai, Chronicles (I & II)
Zechariah and Malachi

8. Q. EXPLAIN THE FUNCTION AND PURPOSE OF A PROPHET.

A. A prophet is a human being whom Hashem appoints as a messenger to tell the Jews (and all the nations of the world) of
Hashem’s word.

9. Q. WHAT HAPPENED ON EACH DAY OF CREATION?

A.
Day Hashem created...
1 Heaven and earth, and light.
2 Hashem separated heaven from water.
3 Hashem separated land from water and created plants, trees
and grass.
4 Stars, sun and moon.
5 Animals.
6 Man and woman.
7 Hashem rested.

10. Q. WHO LIVED THE LONGEST OF ANY HUMAN BEING AND HOW LONG?
A. Methuselah - 969 years.

11. Q. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE NOACH TO BUILD THE ARK AND HOW OLD WAS HE WHEN HE COMPLETED
THE ARK?
A. It took 120 years to build the Ark. He was 600 years old when he completed it.

12. Q. HOW MANY OF EACH SPECIES WERE TAKEN ON THE ARK?

A. 14 (7 pairs) of each Kosher animal and 2 (one pair) of each non-Kosher animal.

13. Q. FROM WHICH OF NOACH’S SONS ARE THE JEWISH PEOPLE DESCENDED?
A. From Shem.

14. Q. WHO ARE THE ‘AVOT’ (PATRIARCHS)?

A. Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.

15. Q. WHO ARE THE ‘IMAHOT’ (MATRIARCHS)?

A. Sara. Rivka. Rachel and Leah.

16. Q. WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE ‘AKEIDAH’?

A. Yitzchak.

17. Q. HOW MANY WIVES AND CHILDREN DID AVRAHAM HAVE?

A. He had two wives - Sara and Hagar, and two children - Yitzchak and Yishmael.

18. Q. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF AVRAHAM’S SERVANT?

A. Eliezer.

19. Q. HOW MANY WIVES AND CHILDREN DID YAAKOV HAVE?

A. Four wives - Rachel, Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah, and 12 children.

20. Q. NAME THE 12 TRIBES OF ISRAEL.

A.
1. Reuven 2. Shimon 3. Levi 4. Yehuda
5. Yissacher 6. Zevulun 7. Dan 8. Naftali
9. Gad 10. Asher 11. Yosef * 12. Binyamin

* Sometimes Yosef is counted as 2 tribes - Efraim and Menashe. In that case, Levi is not counted as one of the tribes, but as a
special, separate group.

21. Q. WHAT ARE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?

A.
6. You shall not murder. 1. I am the L-rd your G-d, who brought you out of the land
of Egypt, out of the house of bondage (the mitzvah to
believe in Hashem).
7. You shall not commit incest or adultery. 2. You shall have no other gods before Me (You shall not
make an idol).
8. You shall not steal (kidnap). 3. You shall not use the name of G-d in vain.
9. You shall not testify falsely. 4. Remember the Shabbat and keep it holy.
10. You shall not desire (the belongings of another). 5. Honour your father and mother.

SECTION O: BRACHOT

1. Q. WHAT ARE THE BRACHOT FOR THE FOLLOWING?

A. 1. Washing hands - Baruch...asher...al netilat yadayim.
2. Tallit Katan - Baruch...asher...al mitzvat Tzitzit.
3. Tallit Gadol - Baruch...asher...lehitatef baTzitzit.
4. Tefillin shel Yad - Baruch...asher...lehaniach Tefillin.
5. Tefillin shel Rosh - Baruch...asher...al mitzvat Tefillin.
6. Lighting candles for Shabbat - Baruch...asher...lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Lighting candles for Festivals - Baruch...asher...lehadlik ner shel Yom Tov.
Lighting candles for Chanukah - Baruch...asher...lehadlik ner shel Chanukah, and then - Baruch...sheAsa nissim laAvoteinu
bayamim hahem bazman hazeh.

7. Bread - Baruch...hamotzi lechem min haAretz.

8. Cake/biscuits - Baruch...borei minei mezonot.
9. Wine/grape juice - Baruch...borei peri hagafen.
10. Fruit - Baruch...borei peri haEitz.
11. Vegetables - Baruch...borei peri haAdama.
12. Any other foods and drinks that do not come from the earth - Baruch...shehakol nihiyeh bidvaro.
SECTION P: THE JEWISH CALENDAR AT A GLANCE

Date Month 1 – Tishrei Date Month 2 – Cheshvan Date Month 3 – Kislev

30 days 29 or 30 days 29 or 30 days
1&2 Rosh Hashanah No special days 25 to Chanukah
3 Fast of Gedaliah end (5 or 6 days)
10 Yom Kippur
15-21 Sukkot
22 Shmini Atzeret
23 Simchat Torah
Month 4 – Tevet Month 5 – Shvat Month 6 - Adar *
29 days 30 days 29 days
1 & 2 (3) Chanukah 15 Tu BiShvat 13 Fast of Esther (usually)
10 Fast Day 14 Purim
15 Shushan Purim
Month 7 – Nissan Month 8 – Iyar Month 9 – Sivan
30 days 29 days 30 days
15-22 Pesach 5 Yom HaAtzmaut 5 End of 7 weeks of counting the Omer
16 Start Counting the Omer 18 Lag BaOmer
27 Day of Remembrance 28 Yom Yerushalayim 6&7 Shavuot
Month 10 –Tamuz Month 11 – Av Month 12 – Elul
29 days 30 days 29 days
17 Fast Day - start of the 3 9 Fast of Tisha B’Av - end Last 4-8 Selichot - prepare for High Holidays
weeks of the 3 weeks days

 Month 6 - Adar: in a leap year, there are 2 months of Adar - Adar I and Adar II. In that case, Adar I has 30 days and Adar
II has 29. Purim falls in Adar II.