The objective of the course
The Halachah concerns itself with the regulations, rules
and customs of Jewish religious life. As future prayer leaders, cantors and specialists of
liturgy take our courses, our primary objective is to make sure they can practice their
profession in their communities. After a brief introduction the course material therefore
consists of the history and structure of prayers, the history of the synagogue and the
rules of prayer at weekday and holiday rituals. As most of our students come from rural
areas, we can conclude that Jewish life has long-standing traditions in Hungarian villages
and rural towns. It is our duty to preserve, cultivate and teach this storehouse of
melodies and customs which is a part of our culture. It is also our duty to teach and
learn the laws embracing every vibration of life – from birth to death.
Forms of our objective’s
realization
Students participate in one or two class hours of
consultation each month, 5 or 6 times per semester, in the form of lectures of which we
also make audio recordings. We hand out lecture notes and determine the suggested reading.
The course requires at least two hours of thorough home preparation per week. Daily
prayers are, besides instances of devotion, practice and preparation for the eventual
interpretation of others’ prayers by our students. At the consultations students receive
answers to questions arising during home preparation of the assigned material. They take a
written exam once a semester.
Thematics of the course
1.) Fundamentals of Judaic studies, names of the religion,
the source of the Halachah.
2.) The history of prayer and the structure of daily prayers.
3.) The synagogue and the conditions of prayers recited in community.
4.) Furnishings and personnel of the temple.
5.) Tasks of the prayer leader and the cantor, their role in leading the ritual.
6.) Weekday morning prayer.
7.) Weekday afternoon and evening prayer.
8.) Our most important prayers: the Shmah Yisrael and the Amidah.
9.) About the Sabbath in general.
10.) Welcoming the Sabbath at the Temple and at home.
11.) The extension of the prayers for the Sabbath and for holidays, the Musaf prayer.
12.) The reading of the Torah, crowning the ritual.
13.) Order and manner of reading the Torah.
14.) Regulations of the Sabbath and holidays.
15.) Leave-taking from the Sabbath and holidays at the Temple and at home.
16.) The new moon and the Jewish calendar.
17.) The three Pilgrim Festivals.
18.) Significant prayers of the holiday, the Hallel, the Priestly Blessing, Remembrance of
the Dead (Mazkir).
19.) The fearful days, the New Year and the Day of Atonement.20.) Significant prayers of
these days: the Unosanetokef and the Kol Nidrei.
21.) The fasts developed in post-Biblical history.
22.) Post-Biblical feast days: Purim, Chanukkah, the Day of Independence.
23.) Dietary laws: the Kashrut.
24.) Laws of family life; marriage, birth, b’rith, Bat Mitzvah – Bar Mitzvah.
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