Marriage

Author(s): Natubhai Shah
Publisher: UK Jain Academy

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Holy Days and Festivals
Jews celebrate many festivals; main ones are: the Purim (thanksgiving) and the Pesach or Passover (celebration of freedom, the exodus Israelites from Egypt) during spring; the Shavuot (commemoration of the Ten Commandments from God); Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year), Yom Kippur (the day of atonement) during autumn; Sukkot (to commemorate the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land) and the Chanukah (the festival of lights to commemorate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem).
Dietary Regulations
Judaism has a series of dietary regulations: food is either permitted (kosher), forbidden (treif) or neutral (parve), but these restrictions apply to animal products only, and Jewish law prohibits the mixing of milk products with meat; for meat to be kosher the animal must have been humanely slaughtered in accordance with a particular ritual; fruits and vegetables are, by definition, kosher.
Animals
Judaism teaches that animals are part of God's creation and should be treated with compassion. It also teaches that it is acceptable to harm or kill animals if that is the only way to fulfil an essential human need. Human beings are therefore allowed to use animals for food and clothing - and to provide parchment on which to write the Bible, if that is the only way. Hunting for sport is forbidden. Animal experiments allowed if there is a real possibility of a benefit to human beings and if there is no unnecessary pain involved.
Interfaith Relations
The Jewish leadership encourages participating in the interfaith movement. They respect other faiths. They are also active in the field of equality, human rights and justice.
Marriage and Divorce
Judaism believes that marriage is a sacred institution, gift from God to build a family life and is for life. It also recognizes that some marriages sadly do fail and, if this should happen, it has the structure to help and sympathise with those who find themselves in such a situation. Jewish law requires a religious divorce after the breakdown of marriage.
Jewish death and burial
When a Jew dies, a funeral is held by friends and family to grieve for the person who has died and give thanks for his/her life and bury the body usually within a week. The service is conducted by the rabbi.
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