Developing/Creating a Meaningful Level of Jewish Observance
  1. Jewish Prayer Skills
    1. Knowing the first line of the Shema by heart, (p. 100 in Siddur Sim Shalom - Shabbat, Festival and Weekday edition).
    2. Decoding (sounding out) Hebrew and to read, with some competence, the rest of the first paragraph of the shema beginning "v'ahvta."
    3. Reading with facility teh blessings when one is called to the Torah, p. 400 and p. 402 in Siddur Sim Shalom.
    4. Knowing the basic blessings, brakhot, over food and candles, by heart. The blessings aer found in Siddur Sim Shalom on pages 714, 715, 717, 718 and 719.
    5. Recognizing some of the prayers and melodies associated with the synagogue service.
  2. Kashrut
    1. Ideally one should strive to have a kosher home. That is the goal. A kosher fish and vegetarian diet should be maintained outside outside of one's home. At the very least, one has to have eliminated forbidden food from teh diet and not mix milk with meat. This must apply at every time and in every place.
  3. Shabbat
    1. Incorporating into one's observance of the Shabbat hadlakat nerot (candle lighting), kiddish (both Friday evening and Saturday noon), as well as havdalah.
    2. Attending at least one Shabbat service (preferably Shabbat morning) every week.
    3. Avoiding at least some of those practices which are in violation of Shabbat law. Making Shabbat a day that is special by filling it with companionship, community, study, rest and renewal.
    4. Understanding that the observance of Shabbat—the things one must do and the actions one must avoid—are to be maintained even when one is away visiting family or friends or on vacation.
    5. Observing the holidays and holy days of teh Jewish year—Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot/Shimini Atzseret/Simhat Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Shavu'ot, Yom HaAtzma'ut, Tishah B'Av. Building the commitment and will to absent oneself from work on holidays when work is prohibited.
  4. Prayer
    1. Incorporating into one's life Jewish prayers on a daily basis. One should include at least one Amidah, the Shema when going to sleep and b'rakhot before eating food and birkat hamazon, grace after meals, at least in an abbreviated form after one meal each day.
  5. Study
    1. One should have read at least one book about Jewish beliefs and values, one about Jewish practice, and one about Jewish history. The books listed in the Center materials are recommended, but others can be read instead after checking with Rabbi Lerner.
    2. With regard to observance, one should supplement a general introductory book on observance with books on specific subjects: Dresner and Seigel's The Jewish Dietary Laws, The Shabbat by A.J. Hershel, Service of the Heart by Evelyn Garfiel or Understanding Jewish Prayer by Reuven Hammer.
  6. Jewish Knowldge
    1. Knowledge of basic Jewish terms, names, dates is essential. Included is a list of terms that are at the core of Judaism and the Jewish experience. Certainly these are the centerpieces of Jewish life and you should know and be able to discuss them. Learn the Hebrew word or phrase instead of the English equivalent. You should speak of a brit milah rather than of a ritual circumcision.