“Seven pillars of Judaism”

As we are studying Second World War, we are learning more about the Jewish culture and their traditions, so our professor told us about the “seven pillars of Judaism”. They are the seven more important traditions of their culture, and they are essential to understand and study their culture. Here is a brief overview of them:

Mezuzah: It is a piece of parchment inscribed with specified Hebrew verses. A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe in Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house". 

Tefillin: Are a set of small black leather boxes containing scrolls of parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah, which are worn by observant Jews during weekday morning prayers. The Torah commands that they should be worn to serve as a "sign" and "remembrance" that God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Shofar: is a Jewish instrument most often made from a ram’s horn, It was used to announce the start of holidays, in processions and even to mark the start of a war. Perhaps the most famous biblical reference to the shofar occurs in the Book of Joshua, where shofarot (plural of shofar) were used as part of a battle plan to capture the city of Jericho:

Tzedakah: literally means righteousness, but it is often interpreted as charity, because Judaism views giving as the ultimate act of righteousness. Whether it is teaching a skill, donating goods, or giving money, tzedakah is an integral part of living a Jewish life and is in fact required of all Jews.

Hanukkah: also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum (Menorah) one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. 

Kosher foods are those that that may be consumed according to halakha (Jewish law) is termed kosher in English, meaning "fit" (in this context, fit for consumption). A list of some kosher foods is found in the book of Leviticus, as are also certain kosher rules. Reasons for food not being kosher include the presence of ingredients derived from nonkosher animals.

Sabbath is generally a weekly day of rest or time of worship observed in Abrahamic religions and other practices. Many viewpoints and definitions have arisen over the millennia. The term has been used to describe a similar weekly observance in any of several other traditions; the new moon; any of seven annual festivals in Judaism and some Christian traditions; any of eight annual paganfestivals (usually "sabbat"); an annual secular holiday; and a year of rest in religious or secular usage, originally every seventh year.