Minority Ethnic Communities in Northern Ireland
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THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BACKGROUND
There is a small but longstanding Jewish community of approximately 250 people living in Northern Ireland, the majority of whom were born and brought up in Belfast. The community was established by a group of German businessmen who settled in Belfast in the 1860's. There was also an influx of Russian refugees around the turn of the century. Today, as in the past, the community is concentrated in the areas around Antrim and Malone Road.
LANGUAGE
English is the first language of the Jewish people living in Northern Ireland. Hebrew is taught to children from an early age because it is used in worship and religious ceremonies. The vast majority of Jewish people will speak Hebrew only in prayer and ritual and not as a language. Older people may use some Yiddish.
RELIGION
People of the Jewish faith live their lives according to the Shulchan Aruch (code of Jewish Law) which was derived from the Torah (Old Testament).
Jewish people worship in a Synagogue, but may also do so at home. Prayers should be said three times daily and additional prayers are said on the Sabbath, festivals and New Moon (the beginning of a new month in the Jewish Calendar).
As with all religions, the degree to which prescribed practices of the Jewish faith are observed by individuals will vary. However, it is probably true to say that the majority of Jewish people in Northern Ireland are not as strict-practising as some of the Jewish communities living in Great Britain.
Religious festivals
The religious year is marked by festivals commemorating events recorded in the Old Testament. The Jewish faith follows the Lunar Calendar - months last twenty-nine or thirty days following the cycle of the moon. With twelve months in a regular year this means there are three hundred and fifty four days in the year. This is made up by having a leap year every two or three years, during which there are thirteen months. This is the reason why Jewish Festivals fall on different dates each year.
Sabbath
The Sabbath is a weekly day of rest which begins on Friday before sunset and ends on Saturday after nightfall. Orthodox Jews will refrain from working, travelling, cooking, carrying, switching on electrical appliances and using the telephone on the Sabbath day.The Sabbath is 'welcomed in the home' by the lady of the house (and the girls) lighting (at least) two candles and reciting a blessing.
The man of the house will begin the meal with Kiddush (sanctifying) which involves reciting blessings over a cup of wine. The household then wash their hands (using a cup) and a blessing recited over 2 loaves of bread. Sabbath songs are sung during the meal which ends with grace. This is repeated twice - with slight variation - on Saturday.
The Sabbath is bade farewell on Saturday night with the ceremony of Mavdala (separation). Blessings are recited over wine, spices and fire by using braded candle with several wicks). A festive meal called MelavehMalka (escorting the Queen - the Sabbath) is traditional.
Passover
The first of the Pilgrim festivals commemorate the Exodus from (Pesach) Egypt. During this time no leaven must be used in any food. Only unleavened products are eaten. It may not be unusual for homes to use two sets of crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils during this time.Shavuot
Celebrated seven weeks after Passover and lasting two days it commemorates Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Many people will eat dairy products on this festival and cheesecake is a traditional favourite. Celebrated shortly after New Year (usually in December) and lasts seven days.Rosh Hashanah
This is the start of the Jewish New Year. The festival lasts for two days which are two of the most solemn days of the year. It is customary to eat sweet foods on these days particularly apple dipped in honey. Honeycake is a traditional favourite.Yom Kippur
This is the holiest day of the year occurring late September or October. It is also a fast, which like the Sabbath, begins at dusk and ends at nightfall the following evening. Jews are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke. They may not wear leather shoes or use perfumes or cosmetics. Most of the day is spent in the Synagogue and work is forbidden.Hanukka
This is an eight-day celebration in December or January. It is an important festival for children and women. It is customary to eat foods made with oil on this festival. Doughnuts and latkes (deep-fried potato pancakes) are traditionally eaten.Purim
This is a one day celebration occurring in February or March. It is the festival in the year for celebrating. People, particularly children, have the custom of wearing fancy dress and there are parties with lots of food and alcohol. On this day, Jews will attend Synagogue for the public reading of the megilla (the Book of Esther).DIET
Most devout Jews adhere to the Dietary Laws known as Kashrut.
Meat is permitted providing it is Kosher i.e. the animal must be put down quickly, the blood allowed to drain and a blessing said over it. Pork or pork products are prohibited as the pig is considered unclean. Blood products are also prohibited.
Only fish which has fins and scales are Kosher and therefore shellfish and the like are prohibited. Any derivatives from animals that are prohibited or are not prepared in the Kosher manner are also prohibited. Animal fats, gelatine, colouring and preservative may contain such products and any foods containing these may be refused, for example, cheese and jelly.
It is forbidden to mix, cook or eat meat and milk together. Therefore, pots, crockery, cutlery, utensils, etc used in the preparation and serving of meat and milk are kept separately. They are distinctively marked red for meat and blue for milk.
Milk and meat foods should not be eaten immediately after each other. The prevalent custom is to wait three hours after eating meat before taking milk/dairy foods and thirty minutes after milk or three hours after hard cheese, which takes longer to digest, before eating meat.
For all of the above reasons, some Jews may be reluctant to eat out. Alternatively, when eating out, a vegetarian dish may be requested to avoid prohibited foods. Cheese which
contains rennet and biscuits with animal fat should not be offered. Vegetables (especially greens) and fruit must be thoroughly washed and checked before use as eating insects is also prohibited.
Before eating, a short blessing is said. Prior to eating bread, a Jewish person must wash his/her hands and will say an additional blessing. A blessing is also said after eating.
LIFESTYLE, CUSTOMS AND SIGNIFICANT RELIGIOUS PRACTICES
Hygiene
Upon awakening, a Jew must wash his hands even before getting out of bed. A cup and basin beside the bed may be welcome gestures.
A Jew may not pray, study or make blessings in a place with a foul odour and, therefore, it is required that there be no body wastes in the same room when doing so. A child's potty or soiled nappy, for example, must be removed.
Dress
All Jews should dress modestly. All males should keep their heads covered as should married women. Women will not wish to undress in the presence of men - even partially and for medical examination. Women may, therefore, prefer to see female doctors, especially at childbirth.
Birth
Following the birth of a boy, circumcision will take place on or after the eighth day if the baby is in good health. The ritual must be performed by a trained and medically qualified person usually in the presence of a doctor.
When a boy (not a girl) is the first born, the ceremony of 'Redemption of the Firstborn' takes place on the thirtieth day. This involves a Cohen (a Jew descended from the family of priests who ran the Temple) taking the child and his father redeeming him for five selah of silver - though today sterling currency is used. The money is given to a charity or the parents buy a gift for their child.
Childhood
When a boy reaches the age of thirteen he becomes Bar Mitzva. In ritual, he is considered a man and can now play a full part in public service. This is marked by the boy being called up' to read from the Torah for the first time. The occasion is marked by celebrations and gifts are given to the Bar Mitzva boy.
Girls reach maturity at twelve years of age and become Bat Mitzvah. Ceremonies marking this occasion are becoming more prevalent.
Death
In the event of death, the funeral usually takes place within twenty-four hours. Cremation is forbidden to Orthodox Jews.
Post mortem examinations are prohibited unless absolutely necessary.
Before burial, a team of men or women (depending on the sex of the deceased) will wash and shroud the body.
There are three mourning periods depending upon relationship to the deceased. The first seven days are kept by all close relatives, during which time they sit on low chairs and do not leave home.
For the first thirty days (including the first seven) mourners neither shave, have haircuts, listen to music nor join in celebrations. They should also not watch television.
People mourning for parents remain in mourning for eleven months. The above restrictions remain with the exception of shaving and haircuts.
Special prayers are said throughout these mourning periods. On the anniversary of a death, special prayers are said and a candle is lit in memory of the soul.
CONTENTS
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