Cultural Diversity - The Civil Service

Land Registry Cultural DiversityJudaismJudaism was founded about 4000 years ago by Abraham, who taught his people toworship one God – Jehovah or Yahweh. The character of the Jewish faith has beenshaped by its history of exile and persecution. The most traumatic event in modernJewish history was the Holocaust, when Hitler attempted the genocide of the Jewishpeople. Jews currently number about 15 million worldwide, with approximately300,000 in the UK. The largest UK communities are in Greater London, Manchesterand Leeds.Key beliefs and holy writingsJews believe in one God and assert this daily in their prayers. The Old Testament ofthe Bible contains the sacred Jewish writings. The first five books comprise the Torahand reveal the will of God. They are central to the Jewish faith.Places of worshipThe Jewish centre of worship is the synagogue; the Hebrew word means “to gathertogether”. It is the focal point of Jewish activity, being the place for prayer, meetingothers and a centre of administration. The Rabbi is a teacher to the community. TheRabbi’s time is spent partly in pastoral duties, studying, teaching and sometimesconducting services.Holy days and festivalsThe Jewish holy day is Saturday, the Sabbath (Shabbat), which runs from sunset onFriday to nightfall on Saturday. It is a day of rest and prayer, and is strongly familycentred.Jews who observe the Sabbath strictly need to be able to leave the workplace on Friday in time to be home before sunset.The main festivals of the Jewish year are:• New Year (Rosh Hashana). The Jewish calendar is based on the cycles of themoon and the New Year occurs in September or October. It is marked by twodays of reflection and prayer.• Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). This follows ten days after the New Year and isthe most solemn day in the Jewish calendar. It is spent in prayer and a 25 hourfast.• Sukkot. Five days after Yom Kippur, this is also known as the Feast of Tabernaclesand commemorates the Biblical story of the Jews wandering for 40 years in thewilderness.19