At the age of 13 (12 for girls), children become obligated to observe the commandments of the Torah. This is
the rite of passage for a young boy or girl to become a son or daughter of the commandments – taking on
the responsibility of adulthood in the religious community.
Mikveh (Immersion):
The immersion is for entrance into the community of faith, purification, symbol of death and resurrection; and
renewal of covenant.
Wedding:
The traditional marriage under the "Chupah" or canopy (Gen 2:24, Gen 1:28.)
Death and Mourning:
Judaism requires prompt burial. Shiva begins on the day of burial and continues until the morning of the
seventh day after burial. Shloshim lasts until the 30th day after burial. Avelut is observed only for a parent and
lasts for twelve months after the burial. For eleven months of that period, starting at the time of burial, the
son of the deceased recites the mourner's Kaddish every day.
Kaddish (Memorial Service – Funeral):
The Jewish funeral is complete with Mourners' Kaddish (Prayer of sanctification of YHWH's name in the face
of death) And the Al Moley Rachamim (A prayer about YHWH's mercy).
Yarzeit (Unveiling):
A year after the burial the tombstone is put into place and there is a closing of the mourning period.
Y‟shua's childhood―And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all
these things in her heart‖. (Luke 2:51)
Again, Luke alone records this element because he is the one who has special interest in the humanity of
Y‘shua. These two verses (51-52) summarise the development from the age of twelve until roughly the age
of thirty. ―Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them, but His mother
kept all these things in her heart‖.
This is one of the best verses to show that submission does not mean inferiority. Here we have not an equal
in submission to another equal, but we have a superior (YHWH Incarnate) subjecting Himself to inferiors, a
sinful man and woman. Biblical submission does not mean inferiority. It means a point of order, a chain of
command that YHWH has ordained. When the Bible speaks of the wife being in submission to her husband,
it is not a matter of inferiority, but simply the divine order that YHWH wants.
―And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man‖. (Luke 2:52)
We are told that He developed in four areas:
- Wisdom (mental development);
- Stature (physical development);
- In favour with YHWH (spiritual); and
- In favour with man (social).
Y‘shua was well-respected in His community and among His fellow Jews. This would not have been the case
were He in rebellion against the Torah and the traditions and customs of the Jewish people.
From all of the above, it is evident that YHWH chose to send our Saviour and Husband to earth as a Jew,
living among other Jews while participating fully in the Covenant that YHWH had made with the children of
Israel (Hebrew people). As His Bride, it behooves Christians to learn as much as they can about the
traditions and customs of Y‘shua's people (the Jews), for His people are now the Christian people as well.
Hebrew schools from Biblical times till today
A shul (pronounced SHOOL) is a synagogue (assembly). The word ―shul‖ comes from the same root word
for school: the Old German schule, or place of learning, a throwback to the days when synagogues doubled
as community Torah learning centres (as many do today, though informally).