Finding the synagogue at Thane, Mumbai proved to be quite a task, with the most unexpected results. Armed with a print out of the address given online, the search began with asking the people in that area if they knew where it was exactly. While most just shrugged their heads, some said that the address didn’t exist at all. Walking up and down the entire road proved to be of no use either; though a shopkeeper did give friendly warning about taking permission before going to any Jewish place. Finally, at the end of the road, just at the crossroads, a building in blue and white caught my eye and I burst out laughing. Standing in a shaded corner, right there in a busy street, was the Shaar Hashamaim Synagogue.
Though I spoke to the authorities for the permission to enter and look around, the high security measures during the Passover didn’t let that happen. The police van outside spoke ominously of the fear inside that peaceful structure. Hidden from those passing-by, stand the ‘Gate of Heaven Synagogue’ , trying hard to remain that way more so
The Kippah or the Yarmulke is the traditional Jewish skull cap worn by observant muslims all the time and sometimes by both men and women in orthodox or reform Jewish societies. However, every Jewish man must wear a Kippah in during religious services and when at a religious site. The Talmud states
“Cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you.”
Yarmulke/Kippah
Meaning:
In Hebrew, word kippah (כִּפָּה) means “dome”, similar to the Arabic qubbah (قبة), referring to the common dome-like shape of the skullcap. While other words, such as “yarmulke” are commonly used, only the word “Kippah” is used universally amongst all Jewish communities both in the Middle East and the Diaspora. Another popular name for the Kippah is a Yamaka, which probably is a derivative of the word Yarmulke.
Breslov Hasidim wear a full-head-sized, white crocheted kippah with a knit bell on top. Some Breslov Hasidim, followers of the late Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser, wear it with the Na Nach Nachma Nachman Meuman mantra emblazoned upon it.
Bukharan Kippah
Popular with children,and also worn by liberal-leaning, feminist and reform Jews.
Yemenite Kippah
It is a single dome-shaped piece of cloth that is either black, brown or white and resembles a hat more than a kippah.
Significance:
The Kippah is worn by Jewish men as an indicator of modesty and fear of God. Jews, who believe in the existence of the Creator and His presence everywhere, behave modestly and respectfully towards Him and accept upon themselves the yoke of God. The covering of one’s head is an expression of this belief. On the contrary, walking bareheaded symbolizes egotism and immorality.
The Kippah is also a symbol of the Jewish nation and sets it aside from the rest of the world. Just as every country has its own symbol and flag, so too the Jewish nation carries its flag – which is the Kippah – with pride as part of their code of dress.
One of the most commonly recognized visual elements of Judaism is the form of the Menorah. Said to be a candelabrum in the Torah, the menorah has been a symbol of Judaism since ancient times and is the emblem on the coat of arms of the modern state of Israel. According to Exodus 27:21:
“In the Tent Of Meeting, outside the veil which is before the Testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep the lamp burning in order from evening to morning before HaShem: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of bnei Yisrael.”
Emblem of the State of Israel with the Menorah
Meaning:
Originating from the Arabic word Manarah- meaning the ‘place of light’- the Menorah is a seven or nine branched candelabrum, essential to Jewish culture, signifying their ideal of universal enlightenment. In Hebrew, Menorah simply means ‘lamp’. In mordern day Hebrew a Hanukkah menorah is simply called a chanukkiyah.
Types of Menorah:
The Temple Menorah is the seven branched version of the Menorah, often depicted with six curved branches made to the height of the central shaft. Originally made out of solid gold, the construction and making of the Menorah has been specified in the Torah, Exodus 25:31-40 in minute detail. Alluding to the branches to human knowledge, the six branches are symbolically guided by the light of God,represented through the base branch. The Menorah also represents the seven days of creation, the central branch standing for Shabbath.
The Talmud (Menahot 28b) states that it is prohibited to use a seven-branced menorah outside of the Temple. In the synagogue it is to be placed in front of the Ark where the Torah is kept in order to signify the eternal light.
A Temple Menorah
The Hanukkah Menorah is the nine branched version of the lamp lit during the eight-day holiday of Hanukkah. The eight branches signify the eight days of Hanukkah, while the last candle is the shamash or the ‘helper’ candle, used to light the rest of the branches. One branch is lit every day of Hanukkah, beginning from the left to right. This tradition is intended to “illuminate” the miracle of Hanukkah.
A Hanukkah Menorah or a Chanukkiyah
Traditionally the Menorah should be lit using olive oil only but modern times have seen more and more people are opting for colorful candles instead of the traditional menorahs.
Construction of a Menorah:
The construction of the Menorah is explained very specifically in the Torah, Exodus 25:31-40. Said to be imparted to Moses by God, the instructions to make the menorah in th Torah is as follows:
31 And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made, even its base, and its shaft; its cups, its knops, and its flowers, shall be of one piece with it. 32And there shall be six branches going out of the sides thereof: three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candle-stick out of the other side thereof;33 three cups made like almond-blossoms in one branch, a knop and a flower; and three cups made like almond-blossoms in the other branch, a knop and a flower; so for the six branches going out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick four cups made like almond-blossoms, the knops thereof, and the flowers thereof. 35 And a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, and a knop under two branches of one piece with it, for the six branches going out of the candlestick. 36 Their knops and their branches shall be of one piece with it; the whole of it one beaten work of pure gold. 37 And thou shalt make the lamps thereof, seven; and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it. 38And the tongs thereof, and the snuffdishes thereof, shall be of pure gold. 39 Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made, with all these vessels. 40 And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being shown thee in the mount.
The Star of David is the symbol most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is actually a relatively new Jewish symbol. The Zohar (vol. III 73a) states:
“There are three knots connecting [three entities] one to another: the Holy One, blessed be He; Torahand Israel.”
Magen David or Star of David
Meaning:
The Star of David or Shield of David (Magen David in Hebrew, מָגֵן דָּוִד with nikkud or מגן דוד without, academically transcribed Māḡēn Dāwīḏ by Biblical Hebrewlinguists, [maˈɡen daˈvid] in Modern Hebrew and Mogein Dovid [ˈmɔɡeɪn ˈdɔvid] or Mogen Dovid [ˈmɔɡen ˈdɔvid] in Ashkenazi Hebrew and Yiddish) is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.
Significance:
The double triangle of the Star of David (Magen David) symbolizes the connection of both dimensions of God, Torah and Israel: The external level of the soul connects to the external expression of God via studying the exoteric parts of Torah; the essence of the soul connects with God’s essence through the study – and application of – the teachings of Kabbalah.
Another explanation is that the six points of the Star of David symbolize God’s rule over the universe in all six directions: north, south, east, west, up and down.
The star is now on the flag of Israel. It became a Jewish symbol starting in late medieval Prague, and was adopted by the First Zionist Congress in 1897.
The Star of David was a sad symbol of the Holocaust, when the Nazis forced Jews to wear an identifying yellow star.
Tear down their altars, smash their sacred pillars, burn up their Asherah poles, cut down the carved images of their gods, and wipe out their names from every place. Don’t worship the LORD your God this way.
It is interesting how so many websites I visited, like www.chabad.org and www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org, do not use the word God keeping in accordance with the above judaic law. It is said that the name of God must not be written anywhere it can be desecrated or erased. Writing G-d instead of God effectively conveys the message without actually spelling it out. Other Jewish names for the creator besides G-d include Hashem, YHVH, Elohim, and El Shaddai, none of which are written in their proper form.
(Deuteronomy or Devarimc is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and the fifth of five books of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch.A large part of the book consists of three sermons delivered by Moses reviewing the previous forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and the future entering into the Promised Land. Its central element is a detailed law-code by which the Israelites are to live within the Promised Land.)
The Tallit in itself is a white rectangular piece of fabric. There is no particular religious significance to the tallit (shawl) itself, other than the fact that it holds the Tzitzit (fringes) on its corners. Wearing the tzitzit is also commanded in Deuteronomy22:12:
“You shall make yourself twisted threads, on the four corners of your garment with which you cover yourself.”
Tallit
Tzitzit (the knot)
Meaning:
The tallit is a prayer shawl worn by Jews during weekday morning services, on the Sabbath, and on holidays. Tzitzit or tzitzis (Hebrew: Biblical ציצת Modern ציצית) are “fringes” or “tassels” worn by observant Jews on the corners of the Tallits. Since they are considered by Orthodox tradition to be a time-bound commandment, they are worn only by men
Significance:
There is a complex procedure for tying the knots of the tzitzit, filled with religious and numerological significance. The tallit is worn by the Jewish as a constant reminder of their obligations to God and their fellow people. Their strings and knots are a physical representation of the Torah’s 613 do’s and don’ts. It works like this: Each letter in the Hebrew alphabet has a corresponding numerical value. The numerical values of the five letters that comprise the Hebrew word tzitzit add up to 600. Add the eight strings and five knots of each tassel, and the total is 613.
Things to keep in mind while wearing a tallit/tzitzit:
The Tallit must be long enough to be worn over the shoulders (as a shawl), not just around the neck (as a scarf), to fulfill the requirement that the Tzitzis be on a “garment.”
The tallit may be made of any material, but must not be made of a combination of wool and linen, because that combination is forbidden on any clothing. (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11).
Most tallitot are white with navy or black stripes along the shorter ends, possibly in memory of the thread of techeilet.They also commonly have an artistic motif of some kind along the top long end (the outside of the part that goes against your neck). The motif is called an atarah (crown). There is no particular religious significance to the atarah; its simply to inform the wearer which end is up.
It is a common practice to write the words of the blessing for putting on the tallit on the atarah, so you can read the blessing while you are putting the tallit on.
If the tallit has a blessing written on it, one must not wear it inside a bathroom.
Nes Gadol Haya Sham 