Book of the chief rabbi of Israel is a vivid account of the commandments of the Jewish religion has performed in practice in our time
INTRODUCTION
The book "The practice of Judaism" - a response to the questions asked by people who belong to a variety of circles of Israeli society: "Who are we? What has our Jewishness? What it obliges us? What is the Halacha and what it means in practice in our daily lives? On what foundation - the ideological and worldview - it is based? "
Similar questions we hear most often today than they have ever had - literally from all sides. Many, many people, especially young people, do not accept their Jewish identity for granted. They seek to find out what is the origin of the people, where is the source that powers the very existence of the Jewish people themselves.
Hundreds of times I ran into these questions, it is generated by a thirst for knowledge - in lectures, radio and television studios and in private conversations. It seems that the time when the Jews were ashamed of the fact that they - the Jews are gone for good. Today, Jews are ashamed of their ignorance, and hence a lot of questions, which I showered at every meeting: "What is prayer? What are "tefillin?" Why is it so important to wear a "pile"? What is the meaning of "Kadish"? What does the "Ketubah", which is read under the "chuppah"? Why can not light up on Saturday? Why not go on a Saturday to the sea? Why Rosh Hashanah is celebrated for two days? "
It is this longing to know what Judaism has made it necessary appearance of the book, which could be responsive to offer the reader. This book is now in front of you. She follows day schedule of Jewish life that respects the Torah (mitzvot) - from morning wake up to the moment when he goes to bed at night, it shows how a Jew prays like pronounces the blessing of the behavior in everyday life - dressing, eating, drinking, it states that such kashrupg what family life according to the Torah, mitzvot which can perform only in Eretz Yisrael (Land of Israel) ... But at the same time the book takes the reader and throughout the Jewish year: it talks about the other day, other than special sanctity, - the Sabbath and Jewish holidays, anniversaries of the Jewish calendar.
The book introduces the reader to the Jewish way of life, revealing its inner meaning, and also in regard to his personal, individual life. This joyous event - the birth of a child, his "bar mitzvah," wedding - and not, Gd forbid, sad, - as, for example, the death of a loved one. How to proceed with this? What exactly should I do? What is the inner meaning of these practices as they arise? And finally, what is the essence of our faith, the product of - and at the same time wired - which all these traditions?
This vital task and is designed to solve our book. We set out to uncover the spiritual and moral value of our heritage is from the practical fulfillment of the commandments of the Torah, referring to the generation in the education that is so annoying gaps. But even people who are not suffering from a lack of knowledge about Judaism, it would also be useful, as reveals the roots of the mitzvot and customs that often and remain hidden.
This book is designed to meet the renewed interest in our primary sources. Let the basis of this interest is not always on faith, but in any case it is impossible to understand without the phenomenon of the revival of the Jewish people in our time and the mystery of his existence for so many centuries.
This book is, of course, in no way does not pretend to replace the "Shulchan Aruch" or "Siddur". She - a door leading to the origins of Judaism. The role of the rabbi - adviser and scribes - will continue, no doubt, to the end of all generations. This role can not take no book, and certainly not out of the question on the resolution of the halachic issues based on what is written in this book. The only address to allow halachic difficulties - a rabbi, a teacher who knows our laws.
We hope that this book will be able to "open a window" into the world of faith and Halacha - the world, the basics of which was, is and will be "Shulchan Aruch", the works of halakhic authorities and solutions now living rabbis, pointing the way to the Jewish people. Of course, not all the richness of Jewish life is reflected in our book, but we deliberately went for it, preferring to focus on issues that arise in daily life. We have no doubt that if the interest and desire to get acquainted with the world of Judaism grow enough, will find their place, and the topics that are not covered in this book, and the time will come for a new and which will be made up for lost time. We will be very grateful to those readers who will send us your comments, doing what King David said, "From all those who taught me, I plucked up the mind."
And finish with a quote from the book "Elijah Tana dvey"-words that were standing in front of our eyes during the writing of this book:
"When everyone has to appear before his Creator, he hears the question: What did you do to not forgotten the Torah in Israel?"
And we humbly hope that this book will help you find the answer to this question addressed to everyone, everyone who belongs to the nation of Israel.
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
Content
"I'm looking for my brothers'
Preface to the Russian edition
Introduction
Theory and practice
"I thank you, living and eternal King ..."
Here is a man wakes up early in the morning ...
What is a "blessing"?
"Mezuzah"
Synagogue
"Talit" and "tzitzit"
"Tefillin"
Tfila
"Kadish"
"Shema Yisrael!"
"Shmone-esre"
"Tahanun"
Reading of the Torah on Mondays and Thursdays
The completion of the prayer "Shacharit"
The rest of the daily prayers
Prayer "Maariv"
At the table ...
Before the meal
Blessings "negenin"
After meals
Blessings - for joy and for sorrow ...
The blessings pronounced ...
Kashrut
Kasherovanie meat
Meat and milk
Mitzvot of the Land of Israel
Sanctity of the Land of Israel
What commandments relate to the mitzvot of the country of Israel?
Trumot umaasrot
Hernia
Shviit - year Schmitt
Saturday
"The memory of the work of creation"
Sabbath eve
"The meeting of the Sabbath"
Saturday's "Shacharit"
Saturday's "Musaf"
"Kiddush" and the daily meal
On Saturday afternoon
"Keep the Sabbath day"
Several laws of a general nature
Jewish Holidays
How to define the Jewish holidays?
Rosh Chodesh
Elul - the month of mercy and forgiveness
Rosh Hashanah
Ten Days of Repentance Fast of Gedaliah and Shabbat Shuwa
Yom Kippur
Holiday of Sukkot
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Hanukkah
Fast of the tenth of Tevet
Tu-Bishvat
Purim
Month of Nisan
Passover
27 Nisan
"Sefiras gaomer"
Iyar
Shavuot
Bain gametsarim
"Up to one hundred and twenty! .."
Brit Milah
"Shalom Zachar"
"Pidon Gabin"
"Bar Mitzvah"
"Hoop" and "kiddushin"
Clean family life
"Blessed is the true judge righteous"
Afterword
English
Russian
