Thinking About Jewish Commitment Services

By Debra Hayes


There is just so much to know and so many practices that govern this religion. Jewish commitment services encompass all facets of life for the Jew from when he or she is born up until their dying day. As an example, there are laws that govern the foods Jews eat as well as how they are eaten.

There is something that affects the layperson when for example attending a funeral service. Firstly, one's head must be covered with a skullcap if man and a scarf or sheitel if one is a woman. This is a sign of respect and is there to remind the person that there is a higher power in this world that controls the flow of life and death.

If watched by fellow Jews then this process is called Chalav Yisroel which many keep over and above other kosher hechshers or stamps of approval. The laws of Kashrut are vast but in essence is derived from the decree that a kid may not be consumed in its mother's milk. This is the basic laws from which all the other laws of kashrut are derived.

From here the milk may be transported to factories where yoghurts and other dairy products are manufactured. Here too the production is supervised by qualified and learned men and women to ensure that no traces of any other materials can enter the production process. The product will then be labeled Chalav Yisroel and consumed by those Jews who will only eat these foods under this certification.

There are many other areas of practice where there is a commitment by fellow Jews to uphold age old practices. Burial of the dead is another area of life which is governed by Laws from the Bible and are put into practice up until today. For example, the body must be washed a wrapped in a shroud before it can be accepted by law for burial.

There are men and women who will prepare the body for burial which is known as Taharah. It is an honour to do this type of work which involves washing the body and sewing it up in a shroud before it is placed in a coffin. These are laws that are derived from the Torah or Five books of Moses.

If one is unsure about how to proceed with regard to any facet of life that is governed by Jewish Law then it is best practice to consult with a Rabbi or someone who is learned in that particular field. This can range from anything such as getting married or even how to get to bed at night by saying the appropriate prayers. There is so much to know so it is best to get the information from the right source.

Judaism is a very exact religion. There is much to learn and to understand. A bit at a time ensures that one understands what is required and how to put laws into practice.




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